skinfan2k
July-6th-2008, 09:34 AM
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.osnotes04jul04,0,7869204.story
By Jeff Zrebiec and Roch Kubatko |Sun reporters July 4, 2008 Seeking to fill what has become the team's most glaring deficiency, the Orioles have engaged in talks with the Toronto Blue Jays (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/toronto-blue-jays-ORSPT000030.topic) regarding shortstop David Eckstein (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/david-eckstein-PESPT008406.topic), according to industry sources.
Eckstein, 33, is hitting .273 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 198 at-bats. However, he has become expendable on a roster that includes infielders Marco Scutaro, John McDonald and Joe Inglett, who has seen his role increase with regular second baseman Aaron Hill injured.
Because of the glut of middle infielders, the Blue Jays' asking price for Eckstein isn't expected to be too high. The two-time All-Star and former World Series Most Valuable Player signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Blue Jays and will be a free agent after the season.
The Orioles' efforts to find a shortstop have intensified since Alex Cintron went on the disabled list. They've been scouting several players, including Eckstein, 5 feet 7, and the Chicago White Sox (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/chicago-white-sox-ORSPT000167.topic)'s Juan Uribe (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/juan-uribe-PESPT006833.topic). They also had talks with the Washington Nationals (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/washington-nationals-15008033.topic) about Felipe Lopez (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/felipe-lopez-PESPT004441.topic), but their interest in him has waned, according to sources.
Since trading Miguel Tejada (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/miguel-tejada-PESPT008494.topic) in December, the Orioles have used five shortstops, with Brandon Fahey becoming the latest to get regular starts. Eckstein, a member of world championship teams with the Anaheim Angels (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/anaheim-angels-ORSPT000001.topic) in 2002 and the St. Louis Cardinals (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/st.-louis-cardinals-ORSPT000027.topic) in 2006, is a career .286 hitter over eight major league seasons.
Eckstein embodies the hard-nosed style the Orioles are trying to establish, but there are questions about his defense - especially his arm. With the Cardinals last year, Eckstein made a career-high 20 errors to go with a .960 fielding percentage, the second lowest of his career. He has nine errors in 52 games this year, with a .957 fielding percentage.
By Jeff Zrebiec and Roch Kubatko |Sun reporters July 4, 2008 Seeking to fill what has become the team's most glaring deficiency, the Orioles have engaged in talks with the Toronto Blue Jays (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/toronto-blue-jays-ORSPT000030.topic) regarding shortstop David Eckstein (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/david-eckstein-PESPT008406.topic), according to industry sources.
Eckstein, 33, is hitting .273 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 198 at-bats. However, he has become expendable on a roster that includes infielders Marco Scutaro, John McDonald and Joe Inglett, who has seen his role increase with regular second baseman Aaron Hill injured.
Because of the glut of middle infielders, the Blue Jays' asking price for Eckstein isn't expected to be too high. The two-time All-Star and former World Series Most Valuable Player signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Blue Jays and will be a free agent after the season.
The Orioles' efforts to find a shortstop have intensified since Alex Cintron went on the disabled list. They've been scouting several players, including Eckstein, 5 feet 7, and the Chicago White Sox (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/chicago-white-sox-ORSPT000167.topic)'s Juan Uribe (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/juan-uribe-PESPT006833.topic). They also had talks with the Washington Nationals (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/washington-nationals-15008033.topic) about Felipe Lopez (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/felipe-lopez-PESPT004441.topic), but their interest in him has waned, according to sources.
Since trading Miguel Tejada (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/baseball/miguel-tejada-PESPT008494.topic) in December, the Orioles have used five shortstops, with Brandon Fahey becoming the latest to get regular starts. Eckstein, a member of world championship teams with the Anaheim Angels (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/anaheim-angels-ORSPT000001.topic) in 2002 and the St. Louis Cardinals (http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/st.-louis-cardinals-ORSPT000027.topic) in 2006, is a career .286 hitter over eight major league seasons.
Eckstein embodies the hard-nosed style the Orioles are trying to establish, but there are questions about his defense - especially his arm. With the Cardinals last year, Eckstein made a career-high 20 errors to go with a .960 fielding percentage, the second lowest of his career. He has nine errors in 52 games this year, with a .957 fielding percentage.