The Baltimore Orioles have a hole at first base, but plugging it with an albatross doesn't seem like the best choice. Apparently they disagree with that sentiment, because they've reportedly had some discussion with the agent of Richie Sexson. Hey, I can see that ... you just lost out on Mark Teixeira so you go out and please the fans by bringing in a guy the Mariners cut last season. That's really like the same player, no? The Orioles fans should be pumped.
After a promising beginning to his career -- where he was a stud for five seasons -- Sexson has virtually evaporated over the past two seasons. He even -- according to several reports -- became a bad clubhouse guy in his last days in Seattle. We're talking about a guy who went .221/.321/.382 last season in stints with the Mariners and Yankees. He was 33 years old. I guess I could see a lowly team like the O's signing him to a cheap, incredibly incentive-laden contract with the desperate hope that he returns to his 45-homer form.
Still, going into the season with Richie Sexson as your starting first baseman is like waving a white flag, especially when you are competing with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays.
UPDATE: The O's have also added a veteran from the scrap heap, in Mark Hendrickson. Hendrickson will be 35 this season, and he's only pitched in one full season where he had an above average ERA. His career ERA is 5.07 and career WHIP stands at 1.47. He's not a strikeout guy, but hey, he's left-handed and really tall. So there's that.
Orioles Considering Richie Sexson at First? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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