Earl Weaver Rules

The Orioles re-signed utility infielder Chris Gomez to a one year, $850k deal yesterday. Gomez is one of those guys where you look at his numbers and wonder how he made it fourteen years in the league but then you realize he’s a nice guy to have around because he can play anywhere on the infield.

The Orioles signed outfielder Jay Payton to a two year, $9.5 million deal.  Payton had a pretty mediocre year in 2006 and while he’s a career .286 hitter, his career OBP is only .330.  He does make good contact though and he doesn’t strikeout too often.

Payton will fill in at left field.  While I wouldn’t say this is a huge signing, for the money, we could have done worse.

Minor League guru John Sickels recently unveiled his preliminary list of the top Orioles prospects.  At the top is third baseman Bill Rowell.  The top pitcher is Brandon Erbe.  He gives six Orioles farm hands a B or better rating.  Unfortunately, nobody earned even an A- in his book.  These are pretty much in line with Baseball America’s top ten list.