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September 3, 2008

Transaction Analysis

Bankers Dozen

by Christina Kahrl

BALTIMORE ORIOLES Team Audit | DT Cards | PECOTA Cards | Depth Chart

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Optioned RHP Radhames Liz to Norfolk (Triple-A); recalled UT-R Oscar Salazar from Norfolk. [8/30]
Activated CF-R Adam Jones from the 15-day DL; recalled LHP Garrett Olson from Norfolk; purchased the contract of RHP Jim Miller from Norfolk. [9/1]
Recalled RHPs Kam Mickolio, Bob McCrory, and Radhames Liz from Norfolk. [9/2]

The only real news is the decision to bring Jones back this quickly, although they'll do so with care. Obviously, this represents a risk of some sort, but I guess if you were trying to find an alternative to Jay Payton, you'd be willing to take one as well. I'd like to see if they'd have instead given Luis Montanez a bit more of a review in center, because while the O's know that Jones is the future and Payton's a mistake on his way to free-agent penury after two years of Angelos-funded largess, there's potential added value to be dug up should Montanez prove playable enough in center to make a perfect fit as the team's fourth outfielder, capable of giving Jones a day off now and again in 2009, while also potentially providing right-handed pop to spot for the two lefty-batting regulars in the corners. Beyond Jones' activation, the only other minor notes to strike would be if you've been keeping score on past Oriole deals, because then you should remember that Miller's part of the package received from the Rockies when the O's needed to make Rodrigo Lopez go away, while Mickolio's one of the lesser (yet still useful) bits received from the Mariners in that gift that keeps on giving, the Bedard deal. It should say something about the team's shifting fortunes that where Miller's going to have to pitch pretty carefully as a flyballer without truly dominant stuff (belying his 96 Ks in 83 IP), he could nevertheless pan out, while Mickolio's another instance where everyone prefers what you're serving up when you cook with gas.