"Blockbuster"

When it was announced the Orioles made a trade at the Winter Meetings, I was hoping that it was a little more substantial than Steve Kline for LaTroy Hawkins. But I guess I cannot complain too much. The trade filled two needs for the Orioles. The first need was to get a veteran reliever to go out in the bullpen. Secondly, it sent Kline out of town. Kline wore out his welcome extremely fast in Baltimore, pining for St. Louis less than a week into the season. He is gone now, and everybody is probably better for that. It creates a left-handed void in the 'pen (Tim Bydrak and John Parrish are the two men filling that role at the moment) but that can be fixed one way or another.

At least they are not spending like the Blue Jays, who are breaking the bank with their A.J. Burnett signing. It is the first time since Chan Ho Park a starting pitcher got a five year contract, and we know how well that worked.