Danys Baez has told the Orioles that he wants to be a starter in 2009.
Not only hasn't Baez started a game since 2002, he hasn't pitched at all since September of 2007 following Tommy John surgery. However, the Orioles have plenty of rotation openings and are paying him $5.5 million for 2009, so team president Andy MacPhail said Thursday that he's open to the idea. "There are probably going to be more openings out of the rotation than out of the bullpen at the present time," MacPhail said.
If MacPhail is seriously going to consider this, then he better hire a full-time trainer to work with Baez to get him ready for 160 innings in '09. I don't think this is a wise move but the Orioles need starters and Baez is only 30 years old. I say he is best served in the bullpen but maybe its worth a shot. The last year he started was '02 and he went 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA.