Is It Just Me, Or Is Andy MacPhail Having an Incredible Offseason?

Ryan Freel. Justin Turner. Brandon Waring. Cesar Izturis.

So far, the O's have gotten four players in the offseason. Those aren't names that you may know. Most should know who Freel is. And most should know who Izturis is.

Freel is known throughout the league for his all out play. That all out play earned him 37 stolen bases in 2006. It has also earned him constant injuries. Izturis is known for being a Gold Glove winner and a respectable hitter.

The O's also got prospect infielders Turner and Waring. While they are not known as the best prospects in the league, they are respectable blue collar guys.

Turner is a Cal State Fullerton product that led his team to three College World Series appearances. Turner can play second base and shortstop. In three minor league seasons, he hit .310 and is known for his excellent bat control and ability to make consistent contact. To prove that, he struck out just 73 times last season.

Waring is a 22-year old third basemen who was selected in the seventh round by Cincinnati in 2007. In rookie league, he led the circuit with 20 home runs and posted a .311 batting average. He was awarded Round Tripper Award for leading all players in short season leagues in home runs. The Reds were so impressed and moved him up to Single A. While he did strike out 156 times, he hit 20 home runs, drove in 71 runs, hit .270, and is a very competent third basemen.

While Waring and Turner aren't top-of-the-line prospects, they can get the job done and are competent options for the future. But, Freel and two blue collar prospects aren't the answer, especially for a team who hasn't had a winning season since the days of Brady Anderson, Chris Hoiles, Cal Ripken, and Jimmy Key, to name a few.

Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail acknowledges that. The Orioles have more problems then most. They don't really have a shortstop and don't have a proven starting pitcher other than Jeremy Guthrie. MacPhail signed a cheap guy who can get it done: 28-year old Izturis.

Izturis agreed to terms early last week, but officially signed today for a contract that extends for two years and is worth about six million.

Izturis was targeted by other teams, but the veteran wanted to play in Baltimore because the Orioles wanted him to start immediately. What choice do they have?

In 2004 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Izturis won the National League Gold Glove Award. He hasn't gotten much worse, either. Last year, he posted a .980 fielding percentage while hitting .263 with 24 stolen bases. The most errors he has ever made in a season is 16 and he played 158 games that year.

While Izturis isn't exactly Derek Jeter —nor will he ever be, he can get the job done and provide a veteran presence at arguably the most important position. It was something the O's did not have at all last year, considering the shortstops ranged from Luis Hernandez to Freddy Bynum, Brandon Fahey, and Alex Cintron.

And by veteran presence, I don't mean a Sammy Sosa-like veteran presence. Izturis can play, too. While all I mentioned is fielding, he can hit. A .260 career average doesn't exactly scream Hall of Fame, it's much better then the shortstops the O's had last year and he can run, with 86 career swiped bases.

While that is a very good pick up in my mind, the job is not even close to finished. MacPhail has to land some kind of competent pitcher. Not a CC Sabathia or AJ Burnett, but one who can come in and mentor the young guys and have some success himself.

MacPhail apparently has targeted Nationals pitcher Tim Redding. Redding is not the answer of course, but he was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA last season. Not great, but good considering he played for the Nats.

Also, in a deal O's fans dream about daily, Mark Teixeira apparently is leaning towards his hometown O's. While I have been negative towards this, I wouldn't be opposed to a guy who can hit 40 home runs and drive in 135 runs and hit .300. As long as we get pitching.

Don't you think this has been a good offseason thus far?