The Orioles are among the teams to have shown interest in right-hander Bronson Arroyo, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. The question, notes Olney, is regarding contract terms.
Though they saved nearly $11MM in 2014 salary by trading Jim Johnson to the A's, the Orioles have done little with that savings to this point. They looked to be on their way to allocating a significant chunk of that money to a cheaper option in Grant Balfour, but the O's controversially backed out due to concerns over Balfour's physical.
The money saved on their ninth inning situation would likely be enough to pay Arroyo in the first year of a multiyear pact, especially if the contract were backloaded. Baltimore will have Nick Markakis' salary coming off the books following the 2014 campaign, which could allow them to pay Arroyo more following the first year of a deal.
Arroyo has also been connected to the Twins, Reds, Mets and Pirates this offseason, with the Twins and Reds being the most frequently mentioned suitors for the soon-to-be-37-year-old. Recent reports indicated that as many as four teams have made two-year offers to Arroyo, who is currently holding out for a third guaranteed season. Arroyo has thrown 199 or more innings in each of the past nine seasons, pitching to a 4.10 ERA in that time. He's also succeeded in a hitter-friendly environment — Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park — for the vast majority of that stretch.
The Orioles are “interested” in everybody, but Peter Angelos isn’t interested in paying for anybody.
It’s not Angelos. It’s Duquette and Moneyball. Free agents typically are poor investments, when looked at sabermetrically.
The Orioles haven’t spent any significant money since 2004 when they signed Miguel Tejada. Prior to that, it was Albert Belle in 1998.
Believe me. It’s Peter Angelos.
No. Angelos has been hands off since the hiring of Andy MacPhail in 2007.
He has been hands off but that does not mean he has given the team any financial flexibility to sign anyone of note.
I happen to agree that free agents in general, do not provide the WAR value that their salaries and durations would seem to warrant. From an actuarial perspective and considering sabermetrics, they tend to be poor investments. Many articles have been written on this. Ask the Angels how they feel about Pujouls, or the Phillies about Papelbon, or the Yankees about Tex or A-Rod. “Top” free agents usually get contracts their new teams deeply regret.
I don’t disagree there but free agency is a necessary evil if the O’s want to compete next year as there are to many holes in the roster and not enough depth in the farm. I’m not arguing signing any player to a mega deal but a 4-5 year deal with Garza or Jimmez could prove to be worth the investment.
And 1st round draft choice compensation on top? That is a price Duquette probably (and probably, rightfully) will not pay. Not Angelos but Duquette.
No one is asking the Orioles to go out and sign someone to an eight or ten year contract at $18MM+ per.
Just to do *something* impactful to complement a very good core.
Actually I am. Tanaka! But that’s not happening. That aside, I don’t see an impact player out there that will make this team that much better. Do you?
Mark, have some rachmones on us (and yourself). Can the
sabermetrics (does that have to do with Brett Saberhagen?), and focus on some isometrics.
The day myopic fellow fans do not regard Angelos with terminal miserly chutzpah, yup. Until then…
Angelos is incapable of being hands off.
Sure he has.
how did the orioles do in 2004 i forget. Them spending a ton of money that offseason worked out awesome for them right?
Adding Miguel Tejada to a collection of has-beens and never-would-be’s obviously made no sense.
Adding a similar talent to their current core would be absolutely huge.
Hey! Marty Cordova and Chris Singleton were a solid core.
Took the words out of my mouth.
Bingo!!! Duquette/Angelos are always “interested” in order to quell fan
angst. It’s the same interest they have in winning powerball.
Meh…
Two or three years, probably at $10MM+ per for a guy who has averaged 9.2 H/9 and 1.3 HR/9 in the National League?
Pass.
I agree, I see this as a disaster in Camden
Cincy’s park isn’t exactly pitcher friendly.
Of course, you don’t get a free out every third inning in the National League.
And you don’t have to pitch in Boston and New York a couple of times each year.
Arroyo has a 4.91 ERA in 200 innings at Fenway. And he last pitched there regularly nine years ago.
I wouldn’t expect him to set the world on fire, but the O’s need another starter to eat innings lest they absolutely destroy their pen. He could likely put up a 4.50-4.75 ERA with 200 IP and push Norris to the pen. It’s not sexy, but there’s nothing sexy out there that’s realistically coming to Baltimore (other than the potential of Gausman/Bundy eventually).
Exactly. Ryan Dempster didn’t exactly bring those nice NL numbers to the AL East and he’s got an out pitch (splitter). orioles are better off looking for someone else, even seeing if Santanna even will sign for a couple of million than giving Arroyo 8-10m for 1y even.
I think a shorter term solution makes more sense. If they aren’t going all in, why tie themselves up for three years with a so-so guy?
Is Bronson a less promising 5th starter than Britton????
But you have to put it in context. The Orioles are not looking for a good pitcher. They are looking for the best pitcher they can find who will sign with them. And Arroyo is that, assuming that it is even true that he would sign with them.
In all fairness at this point in the off season I don’t think free agent pitchers are going to be that picky (outside of Tanaka). They will take the best contract available to them regardless of the team.
I’m with you on this one… I think Arroyo is a decent pitcher, but think it’s a waste of money for the O’s. If they truly want to sign a pitcher, they should get in the Tanaka sweepstakes.
He’s got a cool last name, how did you not factor that in?
The Orioles need to add someone to their rotation, but it shouldn’t be Arroyo. Arroyo would go from pitching to the Cubs and Brewers to the Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, and Blue Jays who if their lineups stay healthy are all above average. Remember, their rotation is looking like its gonna be even worse than last year with Feldman and potentially Hammel gone, and if they don’t get a Garza/Jimenez/Tanaka type pitcher they’re prob a last place team, great lineup or not. They also need to add a closer, question is will Angelos spend, but at this point it looks like he’s content with going into the season with this team, and I feel bad for Orioles fans. Again, add a pitcher, but not Arroyo since he would get destroyed in the AL East.
Brewers actually have a pretty good offense. As do the Cardinals and Reds. The Pirates don’t have a great offense but they are a good team and produce against poor pitching. The NL Central is no weak division.
Arroyo would be fine.
However signing Jimenez first and then signing Morales to appease some O’s types would be better!
I flat out don’t want Morales. I think our farm system is too barren to give up a pick for a DH.
Would you give up a draft choice for Jimenez.
If not, then Arroyo and then trade for Ike Davis provided that the O’s are willing to give up Britton and the Mets would want him in return.
I mean, I honestly don’t know at this point. I just want the O’s to do something because this is beyond ridiculous! At least that’s the way I feel about it.
I wouldn’t want to give up a draft pick for anyone on the market right now, but I’d rather Jimenez over Morales. Agreed on the O’s in general, people forget, last offseason was just as bad.
How many draft picks make it to the Major leagues!
66 percent of first rounders make it to the Major Leagues though the duration varies greatly. 49 percent of second rounders make it that far. 32 percent for rounds 3-5, 20 percent for rounds 6-10, 11 percent for rounds 11-20, 7 percent for rounds 20+.
Double sided coin, How many mlb teams can sustain success without a farm system. You have to play the odds.
AL East HR hitters rejoice. IMO Arroyo’s numbers in the NL just won’t translate in the AL East. In the last 7 years he has made 23 interleague starts, given up 37 HR in 135 IP and has an ERA close to 6, Say it ain’t so Duke.
Then who would you want and how much would you pay?
I mean there’s:
Tanaka
Jimenez
and the rest of the parade:
Garza
Santana
and so on
I’d rather have Charles Bronson.