36-year old righty swinging Vladimir Guerrero was signed over the winter to give the Orioles’ firepower at DH this year. Guerrero played in 152 games for the Rangers last season and he was 178 of 593 (.300 avg, .841 OPS) with 83 runs scored, 29 homers, 115 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball in his 15 years in the majors as he has a career batting average of .320 with a .946 OPS. In his last 13 seasons he has averaged 94.0 runs scored, 32.6 homers and 107.1 RBIs per year. You really can’t get more consistent than Guerrero and he should fit in very nicely in the middle of the O’s lineup in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ORIOLES DH IN 2011: A

27-year old righty swinging Mark Reynolds was acquired in a deal with the D-Backs over the winter and he will be taking over at the hot corner for the O’s in 2011. Reynolds played in 145 games for the D-Backs last season and he was 99 of 499 (.198 avg, .753 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 32 homers, 85 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Reynolds whiffed a major league leading 211 times as last season he was pretty much all or nothing as a hitter. He has a career batting average of .242 with a .817 OPS in his first four years in the majors, so I look for his batting average to come up some in 2011. Reynolds has averaged 88.0 runs scored, 34.7 homers, 94.7 RBIs, 14.0 stolen bases and 212.7 whiffs in his last three seasons. You pretty much know what you’re getting out of Reynolds. Reynolds made 18 errors in 142 games at 3B last season while showing good range, so he is an asset in the field. If Reynolds can hit around .240 for the Orioles this season, you can expect 35-40 homers and around 100 RBIs out of him in 2011.

24-year old switch hitting Josh Bell was handed the starting 3B after the Orioles dealt Miguel Tejada to the Padres and he didn’t look too good. Bell played in 53 games for the Orioles last season and he was 34 of 159 (.214 avg, .525 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs. He was a hacker at the plate though as he whiffed 53 times while walking 2 times. Bell was pretty solid defensively as he only had 4 errors in 50 games while showing good range. Bell probably won’t get another chance with the Orioles unless Mark Reynolds gets hurt or Bell starts showing more discipline at the plate.

30-year old righty swinging Brendan Harris played in 11 error-free games at 3B for the Twins last season while showing out of this world range. He could make the O’s bench if he has a big spring training.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ORIOLES 3B IN 2011: B

The Orioles traded for 28-year old righty swinging J.J. Hardy over the winter and they hope that he will give them increased offensive production at SS in 2011. Hardy played in 101 games for the Twins last season and he was 91 of 340 (.268 avg, .714 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 6 homers, 38 RBIs and 1 stolen base. From 2007-2009, Hardy averaged 73.3 runs scored, 20.3 homers and 67.0 RBIs per year and those are the type of numbers the Orioles are hoping for out of him in 2011. Hardy made 11 errors in 100 games at SS last season for the Twins but he showed good range. Hardy has the reputation of being a solid defensive SS so look for him to flash some decent leather this year. I think Hardy is going to have a good all around year for the O’s in 2011.

31-year old switch hitting Cesar Izturis will likely be the top backup infielder for the O’s in 2011. Izturis played in 150 games for the Orioles last season and he was 109 of 473 (.230 avg, .545 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 1 homer, 28 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He is a career hitter of .256 with a .619 OPS in 1,167 games over 10 seasons in the majors, so I look for him to hit a little better in 2011. Izturis only made 9 errors in 150 games at SS last season while showing average range. He will likely adjust well to coming off the bench for the Orioles in 2011.

30-year old righty swinging Brendan Harris will likely be in a fight with 26-year old righty swinging Robert Andino for one roster spot this spring. Harris played in 43 games for the Twins last season and he was 17 of 108 (.157 avg, .446 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. He’s a much better hitter than he showed last season as he is a career .260 hitter with a .701 OPS in his first 485 games in his major league career. Harris didn’t make any errors in 11 games at SS while showing pretty awful range. If Harris plays like he can in spring training he should have little problem beating out Robert Andino.

26-year old righty swinging Robert Andino hit the ball pretty well for the Orioles last season but it was likely a mirage. Andino played in 16 games for the Orioles last season and he was 18 of 61 (.295 avg, .792 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Andino has a career batting average in the majors of .226 with a .592 OPS in 173 games, so don’t expect him to hit .295 again any time soon. Andino had 1 error in 7 games at SS last season while showing pretty poor range.

32-year old righty swinging Nick Green has a outside shot of making the Orioles over Brendan Harris and Robert Andino. Green played in 4 error-free games at shortstop last season while showing average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ORIOLES SS IN 2011: C+

32-year old switch hitting 2B Brian Roberts is the guy who makes the offense go. But last season he was slowed by injuries and it hurt the whole Orioles’ offense. Roberts played in 59 games for the Orioles last year and he was 64 of 230 (.278 avg, .745 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. In his six years previous to 2010, Roberts averaged 100.7 runs scored, 11.5 homers, 62.3 RBIs and 35.3 stolen bases per year. The Orioles hope the Roberts can back to those kind of numbers in 2011 and I think he will if he can just stay in one piece. Roberts only made 3 errors in 59 games at 2B last season but his range was terrible. Hopefully a return to good health will help his defense also.

31-year old switch hitting Cesar Izturis will be the top back up in the middle infield for the Orioles in 2011. He didn’t play any games at 2B last season but he was a smooth defender at shortstop so he should be able to handle the transition. He’s a banjo hitter though, so if Roberts goes down and Izturis has to play 2B, the Orioles’ offense will suffer.

30-year old righty swinging Brendan Harris, 26-year old righty swinging Robert Andino and 32-year old righty swinging Nick Green will likely battle for one spot on the O’s bench this spring. Harris only played in 1 game and 2B last season and he didn’t make any errors. He is probably the best hitter but the worst defender of this bunch. Robert Andino is a natural SS. He played 8 error-free games at 2B for the Orioles last year while showing pathetic range. Andino is the worst hitter of this bunch. Nick Green falls right in between these two as he’s a better defensive player than Harris and a better hitter than Andino. Green played in 14 games for the Dodgers & Blue Jays last season and he was 3 of 21 (.143 avg, .360 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He has now played in 392 games in his major league career and he’s a .237 hitter with a .653 OPS. He didn’t make any errors in 6 games at 2B last season while showing outstanding range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ORIOLES 2B IN 2011: B

The Baltimore Orioles have signed 34-year old righty reliever David Riske to a minor league deal. Riske pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last season and he was 0-0 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has now pitched in 462 games (0 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 20-20 with 22 saves, a 3.67 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Riske might be able to help in the middle innings but he looks like a deer in headlights when pitching late in close games. Still, not a bad signing for the O’s.

The Baltimore Orioles have signed 35-year old righty swinging DH/RF Vladimir Guerrero to a 1-year, $8 million dollar deal. Guerrero played in 152 games for the Rangers last season and he was 178 of 593 (.300 avg, .841 OPS) with 83 runs scored, 29 homers, 115 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He hasn’t lost any bat speed at all either as he only whiffed 60 times last season. Guerrero has now played in 2,002 games in his first 15 years in the majors and he is 2,427 of 7,593 (.320 avg, .946 OPS) with 1,268 runs scored, 436 homers, 1,433 RBIs and 179 stolen bases. Guerrero will be the O’s full time DH with Luke Scott grabbing a mitt and heading out to LF. This addition gives the Orioles the cherry on the top for a fine lineup in 2011.

35-year old righty swinging Derrek Lee is never mentioned when experts talk about great 1B, but he is one of the best all-around 1B in all of baseball. Lee played in 148 games for the Cubs & Braves last season and he was 142 of 547 (.260 avg, .774 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 19 homers, 80 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He was a little dinged up last season and I look for him to hit around .280 with around 25 homers and 90 RBIs if he stays healthy in 2011. Lee is a wizard with a mitt on his hand as the rest of the 2003 Marlins can atest. Lee has won 3 Gold Gloves in his career and he will save Mark Reynolds, J.J. Hardy and Brian Roberts of some errors this year. Lee played in 144 games at 1B last season and he made 7 errors. Lee will be a huge upgrade over the revolving door the O’s had at 1B in 2010.

32-year old lefty swinging Luke Scott is going to be the Orioles’ starting DH in 2011 but he will also backup Lee at 1B. Scott had 3 errors in 19 games at 1B as he has a lot to learn about playing 1B as he is a natural outfielder.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ORIOLES 1B IN 2011: B

The Baltimore Orioles have signed 34-year old righty starting pitcher Ryan Drese to a minor league deal. Drese hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2006 with the Washington Nationals. Drese has now pitched in 105 games (96 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 34-39 with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. I will be shocked if Drese makes the Orioles out of spring training. He will likely start the 2011 season in AAA if he looks good enough this spring to warrant getting an extended chance to prove himself.

The Orioles have signed 36-year old switch hitting outfielder Randy Winn to a minor league deal. Winn played in 116 games for the Yankees & Cardinals last season and he was 49 of 205 (.239 avg, .663 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 4 homers, 25 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,717 games in 13 years in the majors and he is 1,759 of 6,186 (.284 avg, .759 OPS) with 863 runs scored, 110 homers, 662 RBIs and 215 stolen bases. Winn will have a pretty good chance to make the Orioles this spring as a backup.

The Orioles have inked 32-year old righty reliever/starter Chris Jakubauskas to a minor league deal. He pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Pirates last season and he was 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. Jakubauskas caught a bad break in his only major league game last season as he gave up 2 hits while getting 2 guys out when he left the game because of getting hit with a line drive in the head. The bullpen gave up his two runs. Jakubauskas has now pitched in 36 games (9 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 6-8 with a 5.48 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Jakubauskas will get a shot to win the long man job in the Orioles’ pen this spring.