It's a simple concept, even if you are not an avid fantasy baseball player.

Close your eyes, if you need a blindfold...fine.

You are now the General Manager for the Baltimore Orioles, after being hired in 2007 to begin an official rebuilding stage you are now experiencing one of the worst seasons in this storied franchise's history.

I'm now going to list the current roster and show you the move I would immediately make on offense.  For anyone who wants to play along these moves can involve pending free agents after this season, or mid-season trades.  These trades have to make baseball sense  Like don't go and tell me you are going to trade Nolan Reimold straight up for Ryan Braun or Kevin Millwood or Ulbaldo Jimenez, let's be logical.  I'd love to walk along the eastern shore with a Victoria's Secret bikini model with a perfect tan while I wear a Calvin Klein signature shirt completely unbuttoned and aviator sunglasses, but I also know how to be realistic....catch my drift?

Here's the current roster and statistics:

BATTERS:

Let's break down the offense, they need a lot of help in this area and it's starts with acquiring a batter that actually strikes fear in the opposition.  There is no one in the current lineup (or in the minor leagues) that the O's can rely on hitting 30 HR., 100 RBI consistantly. 

Now a lot of analysts projected Adam Jones and Nick Markakis to have break out years, but the fact is neither has any protection in this lineup.  Markakis is doing his job, (batting over .300 for most of the season) but he's cutting down on his swing and not trying to drive the ball as much. 

I'm not really sure why that is, it could be that he usually hits with no one else on base, so he's simply trying to get on base, or it could just be that he needs to start hitting the weight room a litte more.  Seriously, I have bigger arms than Nick, a more intense conditioning program could help his power stroke, and his stamina for the remainder of the season.

So with that being said I heavily pursue Milwaukee first baseman and impendning free agent Prince Fielder.  I try to pry open Peter Angelos' wallet and give the guy what he wants.  It will have to be above market value, because his interest level in a team that will likely loss more (many more) than one hundred games is not going to be very high.

Fielder's bat in this lineup could change ALOT.  Protecting both Markakis and Jones...giving more cushion for Matt Wieters, and ultimately present more RBI chances for the bottom of the lineup.  This also hinges on having a completely healthy Brian Roberts at the helm of this lineup.  Roberts is in his thirties now, and it's taking an awfully long time for him to recover from his current injury.  He may never be the productive lead-off guy he once was.

If Fielder spurns a high offer from the O's and goes to a contender (and honestly, why wouldn't he) you've always got to have a backup plan.  First base is the largest area of concern on this Orioles team.  Garrett Atkins was released in late June, and there is no one on the cusp of rising through the farm system.

The bottom line is, you need a power bat, and first base is one of the most clear cut positions in all of baseball to look for one.

Here's a list of other impending free agent first basemen after this season the O's could go after:

Lance Berkman - He's thirty five years old, coming off a couple of down seasons, he won't come dirt cheap but he might be willing to sign a one year deal.  He's got enough left in the tank to be a formidable guy in this lineup.

Adam Dunn - The Nats would be crazy if they don't resign him, his batting average actually improved with Washington.  He'll hit close to forty homeruns, strike out quite a bit, but most importantly he's a guy opposing pitchers are afraid to pitch to.

Paul Konerko - Another guy in the twilight of his career, but another player that could sign a one year deal with the O's, help out this team while they develop minor league talent Brandon Snyder.

Jorge Cantu - Another guy who I really like, he's a corner infielder so he can also give you time at third in case Tejada doesn't return in 2011.  He's come close to thirty home runs twice in his six year career, he'll bat around .280 give or take.  He's not a clean-up hitter, but would mark a much better signing than Garrett Atkins was.

Well...considering the alternatives, I'm just going to bank it all on Fielder.  After a season in which this team could flirt with the worst record of all time, what do we have to lose?