Options dwindling: Orioles to acquire Corey Patterson

[riverside sluggers]

Ok now Im pissed, I think they are just playing with Boston now.

 

Cubs, O's 'closing in' on Patterson deal

By Dan Connolly

Tribune newspapers

January 5, 2006, 11:11 PM CST

 

BALTIMORE -- The Cubs finally may have found a taker for Corey Patterson: the Baltimore Orioles. Miguel Tejada, however, is not part of the deal. While Baltimore is no closer to making a blockbuster deal involving Tejada, the Orioles are "closing in" on a deal that would send a minor-leaguer to the Cubs for Patterson, according to one industry source. Club officials would not confirm specifics of the proposed trade, but one source suggested the minor-leaguer would not be one of the team's "top five or so prospects."

 

Patterson, 26, was once considered the jewel of the Cubs' farm system—combining speed, power and strong defense in center field. But last season he batted .215 with a dismal .254 on-base percentage and only 13 homers. If acquired, Patterson likely would compete with incumbent Luis Matos and prized prospect Nick Markakis for the Orioles' starting center-field job.

 

Patterson previously had been mentioned as a potential component in any Cubs deal involving Tejada. The Cubs, among others, remain interested in the Orioles' star shortstop, but nothing is imminent, team Vice President Jim Duquette reiterated. A few more teams have entered the mix, Duquette said but wouldn't offer names.

 

If all it took was a lesser known minor leaguer to acquire him... then Boston could have easily done that trade with Chicago.

[He Hate Me]

man what a steal for the O's. Patterson has so much talent, he just needed to start fresh.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Is it possible that the Orioles are making a move for Patterson which will involve him in a trade with Boston?

[Ray10]

Is it possible that the Orioles are making a move for Patterson which will involve him in a trade with Boston?

 

 

I haven't heard anything along the lines of Patterson coming to Boston at all. So I can't see Baltimore getting him then dealing him off to Boston.

[Beckett95]

mlbtraderumors

According to Bruce Levine on ESPN Radio 1000, four different teams have interest in Cubs former phenom Corey Patterson. The contenders are the Orioles, Mariners, Rangers, and Nationals. Hendry apparently wants at least two young players in return. A trade is possible next week.

 

Personally, I hope Hendry chooses quality over quantity here. Running down the teams:

 

The Orioles have nothing to lose by throwing Patterson in CF and seeing if he can reignite his career. The club doesn't seem fond of Luis Matos at this point.

 

A trade to the Mariners would imply the departure of Jeremy Reed, which would be a curious decision by Bill Bavasi. We've heard in the past that he could go to Boston for various young starters.

 

The Rangers have a lot of outfielders - David Dellucci, Gary Matthews Jr., Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix, and Brad Wilkerson. Dellucci is a fit for DH, and the rest have all been mentioned in trade rumors. Why Daniels would want to replace one of the four with Patterson is beyond me.

 

Ryan Church is a better fit in right field for the Nationals, but that's Jose Guillen's position. Brandon Watson and Marlon Byrd may not be regulars, so moving Church to left and giving Patterson a shot isn't a terrible idea. Although Watson seems like a better option that Patterson based on his Triple A stats.

 

Hopefully he goes to the Mariners, so we can get Jeremy Reed. As long as Marte, Lester and Papelbon are not part of a deal for a CF, id be fine. Im suprised though that the sox themselves aren't interested in Patterson.

[ksushi]

Yeah, this actually is curious why the red sox didn't get involved. I don't want to hear that he "isn't their type of guy"

 

Right now anyone who can play CF is their type of guy.

[riverside sluggers]

Rotoworld: According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles are no longer the favorites to acquire Corey Patterson from the Cubs. Following the reports that the Orioles were close to acquiring Patterson, several teams contacted the Cubs and got into the mix, says the Sun. The Rangers, Mariners and Red Sox are among the teams that were previously reported to have interest in Patterson. If the Mariners acquired him, it would free up Jeremy Reed to be traded, probably to Boston.

 

Baltimore Sun should learn to get its facts straight, they were only discussin Patterson, not actually close to a deal. Im sure the Sox FO is looking into this, or thats what I hope anyway

[elsrbueno]

Baltimore Sun should learn to get its facts straight, they were only discussin Patterson, not actually close to a deal. Im sure the Sox FO is looking into this, or thats what I hope anyway

 

This is the second time that the media in Baltimore (I think the Baltimore Sun in fact) had jumped the gun on Orioles moves. First it was Burnitz, now Patterson.

 

Ksushi-- I hate to say this because I don't like it.... but Corey Patterson isn't the Red Sox type of player. I'd love to have him on the team because like I've said 100 times before he's everything the Red Sox aren't: Young, cheap, and athletic.... but his strike zone judgement is very poor at this point and the Red Sox seem much more interested in the likes of Jeremy Reed.

 

I can see the merits of a guy like Reed over Patterson. Statistically, Reed was one of the best defensive centerfielders last year and Patterson very simply wasn't. Reed is also young and depending on which scouts you ask he's either the second coming of Jim Edmonds or he'll be an all-defense, no hit centerfielder his whole career. The Red Sox love Reed's on base skills and I heard somewhere that their people believe he'll have a higher OBP than Damon in 2006, but IMO Patterson has a higher offensive ceiling.

 

I agree with you that since the leading candidate to be our starting centerfielder is Adam Stern and his only likely competition is David Murphy that they need at least a stopgap guy who can be an everyday man in 2006-- and they're in a state where they can't be as selective as they probably should be... but my guess is that because of Patterson's lack of on base skills that another team will outbid Boston for Patterson's services next year.

 

Patterson's situation will be very interesting to watch though. Seattle's interest in him is probably as a replacement for Reed so they can move him to Boston. If the Nationals and Rangers are searching for a true centerfielder and lose out on Patterson, would they then go after Reed, driving up the price?

 

Either way the Sox need to figure out who's playing centerfield in 2006... and do it sooner rather than later.

[Ray10]

I don't know how true this actually is considering that Baltimore likes to say things before they are actually done. Example being Jeromy Burnitz.

[riverside sluggers]

ESPN is now reporting a deal is set to be announced

 

Cubs get 2 minor leaguers

Orioles get Corey Patterson

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2285777

[KeepTheFaith1229]

mlbtraderumors.com reports:

 

"According to an emailer, WSCR 670 The Score in Chicago is reporting that Corey Patterson has been dealt to the Orioles for 20 year-old 2B/SS Nate Spears and 23 year-old southpaw starter Carlos Perez. I'm working to confirm the info."

 

Since Patterson was not dealt to Seattle, does this hurt Boston's chances of landing Jeremy Reed?

[riverside sluggers]

Not really, Seattle still had acquired 2 outfielders this offseason in Lawton and Everett. Im gunning for Boston to look into getting this kid who's sick defensively in center field. As long as a trade doesnt include one of the "untouchable", Im happy.

 

This is who the Cubs got:

 

Cubs scquired infielder Nate Spears and LHP Carlos Perez from the Orioles for outfielder Corey Patterson. Spears, a 20-year-old picked in the fifth round of the 2003 draft, hit .294/.349/.429 with eight steals in 445 AB in the Carolina League last season. With the potential to perhaps be an average regular second baseman, he was one of the Orioles' top 15 or so prospects. Perez wasn't, though he did strike out 146 batters in 151 1/3 IP for low Single-A Delmarva last season. Neither player is going to be of any help to the Cubs within the next couple of years.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Not really, Seattle still had acquired 2 outfielders this offseason in Lawton and Everett. Im gunning for Boston to look into getting this kid who's sick defensively in center field. As long as a trade doesnt include one of the "untouchable", Im happy.

 

 

Definitely. Reed, to me is hands down the best defensive center fielder in all of baseball. Last year he was a regular on web gems.