Orioles, Phillies still negotiating over Blanton

The Orioles and Phillies were still negotiating late Monday over a possible Joe Blanton deal.

As things stood late in the evening, one person said the Orioles believed the righthander Blanton was "too rich,'' for them, referring to about $3 million left on his contract and how much of it the Phillies were willing to pay.

The Orioles were said by a source to have declined to include infield prospect Jonathan Schoop, a wise call according to one scout, who said, "I liked Schoop when I saw him. I didn't like Blanton.'' Schoop is considered the third prospect in the orioles organization, behind the much more heralded Dylan Bundy and manny Machado.

The Orioles were still seen as a favorite for Blanton as the deadline approached.