The Long and Short Term of It

Look at the following Orioles offseason moves to date from MLB TradeRumors:

Acquired/Re-signed: Chad Moeller, Michel Hernandez, Armando Gabino, Craig Tatum,
Kevin Millwood, Mike Gonzalez, Garrett Atkins, Chris Lamb, Frank Mata, Alfredo
Simon, Mike Hinckley, Ross Wolf, Chris George, Scott Moore, Josh Perrault

See any long-term moves there? I don't.

MacPhail hasn't addressed any position for the long term, instead choosing to go with stopgaps.

We've now signed multiple stopgaps over the past two offseasons under Andy MacPhail

Cesar Izturis, Ty Wigginton and now Garrett Atkins and will likely add one more.

Izturis is fine because you don't need a ton of offense at SS, and his glove has been advertised.

Wigginton has been an extreme disappointment, and although MacPhail was probably counting on him to be Mora's replacement, he probably isn't worth a bench spot, though considering the money owed to him, he'll get one.

As for Atkins, barring a major signing, the Orioles have probably found that RH cleanup hitter they were looking for, and once again are trying to find that Oriole Magic in Atkins' bat. Andy must be dancing in the Warehouse because he was able to get one so cheap.

As for the pitching. Millwood was a good trade for the Yankee BP machine that is Chris Ray and it's hard to argue with the Gonzalez signing but it's interesting to see the Rays get a cheaper and more electric arm in Soriano for less of a commitment and slightly more dollars per year. The Orioles were interested in Soriano, but then backed off. But it looks like a non-valuable pitching prospect could have landed him. In fact it seems AM actually overpaid for his closer slightly when you look at the rest of the market.

In any case neither Millwood or Gonzalez are LT signings. MacPhail chose not to pursue John Lackey who he probably could have landed for 5/90, and would have provided an instant ace at the top of the rotation. Now Millwood was the Rangers' ace, but you might not get much better than a 2.0 WAR performance from him and he's gone after 2010.

In all acquisitions, MacPhail seems to trying to buy time in hopes that all the internal options for the Orioles will bear fruit. But history shows there will be failures. And instead of relying on some of this internal talent, the O's would be a lot better off IMO if they were to consider anything that talent gave them as a bonus.

That way even if the Orioles internal options all develop as MacPhail hopes, the Orioles would have depth and options to pursue other trades.

It just makes sense to start looking for pieces to add to a competitive team for the long term.

Unfortunately for Orioles fans, Andy MacPhail just wants to "stay the course."

But why stay the course when all you are doing is treading water?