Here’s the latest from Baltimore…
- The Orioles are interested in Pirates non-roster outfielder Matt Joyce, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports (Twitter link). As an Article XX(B) player, Joyce must be informed by tomorrow if he’s making the Bucs’ 25-man roster or else the Pirates will need to pay him $100K to retain his rights on a minor league assignment. With Hyun Soo Kim’s status in question, Baltimore is clearly looking other left-handed hitting outfield options that could be available. Aside from Joyce, the O’s have also shown interest in David Murphy.
- The Orioles talked to the Astros about outfielder Preston Tucker this offseason, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko reports. Talks didn’t go anywhere, however, since Houston asked for Kevin Gausman in return. Gausman was a popular figure in trade demands over the winter, and as you might expect, the O’s had no interest in dealing the former top prospect. Tucker didn’t have quite the same prospect pedigree (Gausman was selected fourth overall in 2012 while Tucker was a seventh-rounder in that same draft) but the outfielder posted a very strong .867 OPS over 1530 plate appearances in the minors and hit .243/.297/.437 with 13 homers over 323 PA in the bigs last year as a rookie. Tucker will serve in a backup role with Houston this season, as his path to more playing time may have been blocked when Colby Rasmus accepted a qualifying offer last fall.
- Speaking of Gausman, the Orioles officially announced to media (including MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli) that the young righty will be placed on the DL to begin the season. Gausman has been bothered by tendinitis in his throwing shoulder but the injury isn’t thought to be too serious. Buck Showalter said Gausman could be activated in time for a start on April 10 against Minnesota.
Definition of a Softball player: A guy who has very little if any defensive ability but will crush a ball over 400 feet over 40 times if given 500 at bats.
Is it just me, or do the O’s seem to be in on or interested in every Softball player available at any time one becomes available? They already have the KING of the Softball players in Davis, gathered his knights in Trumbo and Alvarez, now they are after another soldier in Joyce.
Just wondering if they are trying to corner the market on low OBP bashers.
I don’t know how to break this to you, but Davis is an above average defender at first base.
Yep Davis is probably even a bit better than above average. I agree with the Alvarez/ Trumbo comment though. Not a lot of defense
Chris Davis has a -2 DRS and 0.2 UZR/150 for his Career at 1B.
I am certainly not going to call him a “softball player”, but for his career he’s been about an Average 1B. Not above average.
Defensive metrics for 1B are generally pretty low in comparison to other positions. I think JT Snow and Keith Hernandez both had negative career DRS as well, so Davis could still be an above average 1B defensively
I’m not sure that you know how defensive metrics work for 1B.
Objectively speaking, Davis is a lot better at 1B than what I thought he’d be when he first got traded to the Os.
At first glance it’s easy to presume he’s a slugger with no glove, but he’s extremely good at scoops and saving errors. He’s also not the typical 1B slugger who stays sedentary. He’s athletic and can move around quite a bit.
If by “every” you mean “two” (Alvarez and Trumbo), one of whom is gonna do nothing but DH. And if you ignore the fact that the O’s are one of the best defensive teams in baseball. So basically, if you ignore everything that’s true to pursue a clever meme you just thought up.
It’s ok….. He’s still a slugger with a low OBP. I read the stat charts just as well as you…. Glad he’s a good first baseman. I guess the rest of my posting missed the mark for you to point out that aspect No soup? I, in no way was trying to bash Davis. I love the guy. He just represents all Softball players in MLB to me. Just me and my caveman mentality I guess.
How many teams in baseball have 4 gold glove winners? (Wieters machado Hardy jones) Davis and schoop are also very good defenders. When healthy the Orioles have the best defensive infield in baseball. I understand your point I guess but wouldn’t it have been easier just to say Alvarez and Trumbo are below average defenders wherever you put them?
Sure. But…… My point was only to point out that it always seems as though the O’s continue to go after the same type of players that they already have a glut of, not to diminish the fact that they have several great defensive players.
“Same type of players they already have a glut of” “they have several great defensive players” I really don’t need to say anything else since your own words are proving that your original statement is pretty off base and ridiculous.
That’s harsh. Off base and ridiculous? They have sluggers, but no guys outside of Machado that produce a high OBP. That’s off base? Ridiculous because if you add Joyce to Trumbo and Alvarez, you have 3 guys on your team that you absolutely want to keep off the field with a glove on his paw? I’d say more accurate and on point. But, you see it the way you do, I see it the way I do.
You are right that was too harsh because like I said I do see your point. I guess I am more frustrated/defensive more than anything. I just think overall they are pretty well rounded but not as much as I would like. Still pissed about fowler haha my bad for acting like a punk.
You’re fine man. I actually had a comment last week when they revisited the Fowler foul-up, and my statement was:
Although I am happy that Fowler came back to the Cubs, I would have rooted for him anyway, and he would have gone a long way in adding that OBP guy to the top of the lineup as well as added a good fielder. He would go a long way in balancing that lineup, and he would seem to be much more of a need to the O’s than the Cubs.
I love the O’s, I just keep wondering why they don’t want a different guy than the ones they have. I meant no offense. Just that 35 solo hr’s from a leadoff guy goes a lot further if you have a table setter in front of him and are not forced to bat that guy who can hit 35 bombs at the top.
@chiguy, now I can appreciate your clarification. I think you have to understand that Duquette wants to improve the roster, but he has to
A. stick within a budget.
B. offseason was held ransom during Davis’ contract negotiations.
C. trading is impossible since the cupboard is bare and EVERYONE only wants to talk about Gaussman.
That said, he is scrapping the bottom of the barrel to fill the holes. This team has a 3-4 year window to do something special before it gets blown up for prospects.
We almost need the blow up now, but I think Angelos wants a winner now. He’s got only a few years left himself. I’m sure he wants to see a winner before he goes to the great law firm in the sky.
Hahah you’re funny
I’m starting to think it might be easier to just list the players the Orioles aren’t interested in.
I feel like Joyce is guaranteed a spot on the Pirates roster, or at least that’s how they’ve advertised it. He didn’t play too well in camp, but who else is going to fill that void?
Orioles should just sign Murph and be done with it. DD needs to come up with a plan and stick with it.
For the record(And for those who took my opening message as a way to devalue the Orioles).:
As a Cub fan of many years, I had to suffer through major streaks of futility. GM’s who brought in an Andre Dawson to bring in fans. Acquired Sammy Sosa to give the fans excitement of a slugger while the rest of the quality was on others’ teams. I, in no way hate the Orioles, they are exciting. I simply wonder why whenever I read a post of a guy that can potentially hit 40 HR’s and might not be a gold glove type, they are always connected the them. That was simply what I was thinking aloud, and it made its way to my fingertips. Go for it O’s! HR’s are exciting. I Love it! I was not trying to kill the O’s, there is just no denying that they love the vaunted slugger and continue to ignore the rotation. If I saw more articles stating the O’s were exploring pitching options, my statement would be false. But when sluggers added to sluggers becomes your narrative and fills your interest to the point that most writers keep writing the same thing, it’s not only obvious, but true when that speculation turns into a signing or trade(Trumbo,Alverez) and speculation(Joyce).
I’m an O’s fan. There’s nothing wrong with your comments. Thanks for your input.
Thinking Joyce will break camp on the 25 man due to Marte and Polonco dinged up right now. If they feel what ails those 2 is not serious then at the very least, 100K is cheap to pay Joyce to be in AAA as insurance. That is the kind of move I think the Pirates will overpay a guy a little on since they are contending now.
LOL… Preston Tucker=.243/.297/.437 with 13 homers over 323 PA… Just to add to the point I was trying to make…..
If the O’s didn’t care about pitching they would already have Carlos Gonzalez. By them not trading Gausman, it proves they are trying to build pitching by not buying overpriced pitchers for $100M-$200M. They are continuously looking for pitchers but can never find one that isn’t overpricing himself.
I’d be careful lumping Preston with your other 3, since he’s only played a half season at the major league level. He had a .368 OBP in 2013 and and .352 OBP in 2014 which were his two full years in the minors. He did have -.9 dWar last year in the majors but just coming up last year. All I’m saying is don’t count him out, I wish the Braves could get a hold of him.
Damn I wish we could move Markakis to the O’s. Sounds like they are desperate to find somebody else for LF. I really don’t like that salary for year 3&4. I think it’s a perfect fit Markakis in RF and move Trumbo over to LF. I don’t know much about who they would give up. But for me it would be more for salary relief and a spot for Mallex when he is ready and move Inciarte to RF. Let Bourne play CF til Mallex is ready.
The key with that is whether they feel Smith will be ready sooner than later. Bourn has something in his contract about getting paid a bunch more/possibly another year as well, based of playing time this season. I don’t want the Braves to be stuck with him, but I agree with trading Markakis to the O’s… Or the White Sox, or the Mariners or anyone else who would give up a decent prospect. Say we send him to the O’s in a 3 team deal.
Braves: Preston Tucker
Astros: Manny Banuelos and Christian Walker
Orioles: Nick Markakis
Yes the Orioles have added 2 players in Trumbo and Alveraz that are below average defensively and they have a ton of as was said before softball players. They do have a ton of talent and a very very good defensive team. They will score a ton of runs. The Rickard rule 5 pickup will be looked at later this year as possibly the steal of the off season. He is a very good defensive player and give the speed and OBP possibilty that can put the Orioles over the top offensively. Drop MACHADO to the 2 spot and with the top 2 getting on base and then the bashers that don’t stop coming at you after that. This team will be scary. Starting pitching is bad but if they can get average starting pitching to go along with a top flight ofense, defense and bullpen how can they not be a playoff team.