It looks like the spots on the coaching staff will finally be resolved within the week for the Baltimore Orioles.
The Baltimore Sun and Orioles.com are reporting that the former manager of the New York Mets, Willie Randolph may be the newest coach. It’s not clear what position he’d take, but it would be more likely be a choice between coaching third or serving as the bench coach.
The two sides are still working on a deal.
The Orioles are negotiating with Randolph, who spent last season as the Milwaukee Brewers’ bench coach, for the final spot on Showalter’s staff, according to team sources. As the Juan Samuel situation proved this month, it’s not a given that the two sides will reach an agreement.
If a deal is finalized, Randolph would work with the Orioles’ infielders and either coach third or serve as Showalter’s bench coach. Randolph was Showalter’s third base coach with the New York Yankees in 1994 and 1995.
Former Pittsburgh Pirates manager John Russell would fill whichever role Randolph doesn’t between third base and bench coach.
Well, Buck and Willie have a relationship from their days with the Yankees in the mid-90’s – so that’s a good thing. In addition, Randolph is a former MLB manager and his knowledge may served the organization very well, assuming he takes the job.
It’s pretty apparent now that Buck has a fairly solid brain trust and is confident with it. While that may not make the Orioles instant contenders, at least they’ll have one of the most experienced and robust coaching staffs in the game.
In other news, the Orioles have a couple of players to offer arbitration. The two biggest names are Kevin Millwood – who will probably not given it – and Koji Uehara. Both men are type-B free agents. In the interim, Andy MacPhail is still playing the market slow, waiting for it develop.
I do hope he and the Oriole front office do become a tad more proactive and aggressive in the off-season.
Finally, Joey Votto was named the National League most valuable player over Albert Pujols in a landslide vote.
Pujols is an obvious Hall-of-Famer and is as consistent as any baseball player has been in history; however, Votto was a main cog in the Reds taking the National League Central division and was steady pretty much throughout the year.
I thought Pujols would have garnered more votes based on his numbers and reputation, but Votto deserved the award and it’s a nice honor for the young man.
