Rich Amaral. Trenidad Hubbard. Delino DeShields. Mike Kinkade. Jack Cust …
Tim Raines and Tim Raines Jr. …
Jerry Hairston Jr.. Marty Cordova. Pedro Swann. Chad Motolla …
Larry Bigbie. Luis Matos. David Newhan. Brandon Fahey. Fernando Tatis.
What do they all have in common? They?ve each played left field for the Baltimore Orioles at one point or another since the 2000 season.
That said, there?s no surprise that the Orioles were in the market for a left fielder heading into this offseason. After signing Jay Payton, they?re still searching for additional offense.
“Because of [Payton?s] versatility, we?re talking about maybe getting another bat. … The outfield is the likely spot,” Orioles vice president Jim Duquette said. “We don?t feel that we?re finished in that area.”
Baltimore used nine players in left field in 2006 ? Matos, Newhan, Tatis, Ed Rogers, Jeff Conine, Luis Terrero, and rookies Fahey, Jeff Fiorentino and Nick Markakis.
Unable to condense production from the position by signing free-agent sluggers Carlos Lee or Alfonso Soriano, the Orioles will likely go with a platoon situation in left next season. Payton won?t offer much power, but he is versatile and consistent.
“He?s more of a real line-drive type of hitter,” Duquette said, adding that if Payton gets a sufficient number of at-bats, he could hit 15-20 home runs.
Still, the club is hoping to add at least one more bat, perhaps a bargain-baseman type of addition. Potential targets include free agents Shannon Stewart and Aubrey Huff, as well as Tigers? outfielder Marcus Thames.
“We?re still exploring some guys that … have had some ability in the past that we could get on with a lesser contract with incentives,” Duquette said.
Having logged significant playing time at all three outfield positions in 2006, Payton is OK with a platoon situation.
“I know my role,” Payton said. “If I play the way I?m capable of … I?ll get my playing time.”
Other in-house options are available. Aside from the group used in left last season, Adam Stern, whom the Orioles acquired from Boston in the Javy Lopez trade, could surface as the fourth outfielder.
A wild card is slugger Nolan Reimold, who is likely to start the season at Double-A Bowie. The right-handed hitting Reimold, 23, batted .255 with 19 home runs and 75 RBI with Single-A Frederick last season.
After Markakis? emergence last season, Reimold is widely considered the club?s top outfield prospect. Still, he could be a year away.
