This is the rumor that wouldn’t die all winter long. It finally came true. According to multiple reports, the Orioles agreed to terms with designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year $8 million contract.
The Guerrero agreement has a very good chance of being the last of the major roster moves by Baltimore this offseason. With the designated hitter on board, the Orioles can now pencil him in the cleanup spot every night and build the lineup around him.
Andy MacPhail went in to the offseason with a mission to upgrade the offense and pitching staff. He spent the first part of the winter upgrading the offense, then focused on pitching and now has upgraded the offense to bookend the winter months.
Now that Guerrero appears to be a member of the team (he needs to pass a physical and they need to make a roster move to get him on the 40-man roster) let’s compare this year’s projected lineup and last season’s opening day lineup:
2011 Projected Opening Day Lineup:
1. 2B Brian Roberts
2. RF Nick Markakis
3. 1B Derrek Lee
4. DH Vladimir Guerrero
5. LF Luke Scott
6. 3B Mark Reynolds
7. CF Adam Jones
8. CA Matt Wieters
9. SS J.J. Hardy
Actual 2010 Opening Day Lineup:
1. 2B Brian Roberts
2. CF Adam Jones
3. RF Nick Markakis
4. 3B Miguel Tejada
5. DH Luke Scott
6. CA Matt Wieters
7. LF Felix Pie
8. 1B Garrett Atkins
9. SS Cesar Izturis
The O’s lineup may not be great going in to this season, but it has to be better than last season. Hardy is a more accomplished hitter in the shortstop slot and Reynolds has far more power than Tejada at this stage in their respective careers. Markakis goes back to his best spot in the lineup and Jones will see better pitches hitting lower in the lineup.
Is it a perfect lineup? Certainly not. Can it compete? Maybe to an extent. One thing is certain though, the Orioles will be able to hit a little bit better, at the very least, this year than last year.
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