J. R. House opts out...or not

[nilodnayr]

Wouldnt be a bad idea to take a flyer on him. Hes always been a good hitter.

 

J.R. House exercised an out-clause in his contract and has left the Orioles organization.

House, who was hitting .296 with seven home runs and 48 RBI for Triple-A Norfolk this season, had an opt-out clause that gave him his release if he wasn't on the major league roster by July 1.

[anabiono]

what position does he play?

[NCCubFan]

He was originally a top catching prospect with the Pirates' organization, but I believe he had a major arm/shoulder/elbow (I don't recall specifics) injury. I'm not sure if he's still a catcher.

[nilodnayr]

As far as I can tell he was still catching for Norfolk this year where he hit 296/359/446. Las year he hit 345/392/521 splitting time between AA and AAA.

[Guest]

I'd love to have House replace Hill and play a kind of a Doumit role for us.

[Bruno7481]

I'd love to have House replace Hill and play a kind of a Doumit role for us.

 

I'd go into some state of shock if the Cubs could find someone as offensively valuable at the catching position as Doumit has been this year.

 

.307/.384/.515

[nilodnayr]

I'd love to have House replace Hill and play a kind of a Doumit role for us.

 

Agreed, now that we have Bowen, Hill is extremely redundent. House could be a big right handed bat off the bench for late inning double switch situations on days he doesnt start.

[CubinNY]

I thought he was going back to play football.

[nilodnayr]

From the Baltimore Sun.

 

Triple-A Norfolk catcher J.R. House, who was hitting .296 with seven home runs and 48 RBIs, left the organization. House had an opt-out clause stating that if he wasn't on the major league roster by July 1, he could ask for his release. House played for the Tides on July 1 and July 2 before deciding to leave the team. House remains on the Tides' roster, according to a club spokesman.

 

Team officials liked his bat but didn't feel he had a strong enough arm to catch in the major leagues.

[shnsajax]

I thought he was going back to play football.

 

I was getting ready to say he should. I think it was West Virgina that initially recruited him.

[TruffleShuffle]

I thought he was going back to play football.

 

I was getting ready to say he should. I think it was West Virgina that initially recruited him.

 

he already did go back to west virginia, but he returned to baseball after one year. Apparently the injuries and the time off have taken their toll on what was a promising qb arm.

[Post Count Padder]

He will remain with the club:

 

J.R. House-C-Orioles Jul. 11 - 2:00 pm et

 

Although it was reported that he exercised the out clause in his contract, J.R. House is expected to remain with the Orioles and continue to play at Triple-A.

 

"The latest is we're expecting everything to be fine and he'll be with the Orioles," director of minor league operations David Stockstill said. "There was a situation with the out clause, but I think everything has passed us and he'll be with the Orioles." House could be picked over Jon Knott next time the team wants to add a bat off the bench.

Source: Baltimore Sun