It doesn’t appear Orioles general manager Dan Duquette is planning to initiate extension talks with contract-year shortstop Manny Machado. “I would never say never, but we’re going to be more focused on ’18 than beyond,” Duquette told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. “I don’t really know what’s going to happen beyond that.” Machado, Duquette, manager Buck Showalter, center fielder Adam Jones and relievers Zach Britton and Brad Brach are all scheduled to become free agents after the season, leading Duquette to admit to Feinsand that 2018 will be the last hurrah for this particular Orioles core. If he stays the GM into 2019, Duquette hasn’t closed the door on spending in free agency next winter, but he also isn’t dismissing the idea of a rebuild. Regarding a potential teardown, Duquette offered: “There is some logic toward doing that, right? You get the premium picks in the Draft and they can become the core players for your next championship club. A lot of this is timing; it’s cyclical.”
More from the AL…
- The Twins are “unlikely” to sign any of the top remaining free agent starters – Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn – Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio hears (Twitter link). On paper, anyone from that group would bolster Minnesota’s rotation, which will go without injured No. 1 starter Ervin Santana to open the season, but the club hasn’t shown a willingness to meet their asking prices. Even without any of them on the books, the Twins are already on track to begin the year with a franchise-record Opening Day payroll (approximately $121.83MM).
- Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is projected to start the year in the Rays’ rotation, but as a two-time Tommy John surgery patient, he faces long odds of making an impact, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times details. Only 31 other pitchers have made it back to the majors after undergoing a second Tommy John, which Eovaldi had as a Yankee in August 2016, while just 11 returned to start, per Topkin. That 11-man group (which Topkin lists) doesn’t offer a ton of hope, but Eovaldi is nonetheless banking on continuing as a starter. “I definitely want to be a starter and hold it out throughout the entire year,” he said. “As of now, we haven’t had any limitations, and we haven’t even talked about it.” The flamethrowing Eovaldi was a major league-caliber starter with the Dodgers, Marlins and Yankees from 2011-16, so it’s understandable that he and the Rays want to see him continue in that role. Although, his contract does include $2.375MM in relief incentives, Topkin notes.
What an aimless position Duq has taken. Absolute garbage.
Classic Duke!
Never a clear direction
Never? Really?
I think Duquette has likely had his fill of Peter Angelos. Even if Angelos offers him an extension, I see him passing on it.
What’s aimless about refusing to pay $300M-400M it would probably take for an extension? give Dan credit.
maybe if Machado comes out and says he’ll take a hometown discount, or want to stay, then you guys might have a point.
If you don’t want to extend him, then fine. Make a trade and secure future assets. If not, extend him. Doesn’t matter to me which one, but not doing either is as aimless as it gets.
Not if the Orioles FO thinks they can contend this year. They won’t, but it sounds like they think they can.
Every year for the last six years
They’ve only contended three of the past six guy. What are you talking about?
Even through the best pair of rose-colored glasses anyone can see that their pitching staff is the weak link that will prevent them from truly contending this year. I hope I’m wrong, but even if the starters have career years they still have no depth, and if injuries occur they’ll have to sign fill-ins like Matt Latos and Ubaldo just to get by.
Again, blame the owner who should’ve traded him within division, to the prospect-rich Yankees. (And I didn’t even want him, as a Yankees’ fan, with all due respect, for the same price you guys probably have to (and give up prospects)
But it doesn’t matter what I want, from all reports Yanks were interested in trading for Machado….. Angelos was not…. Like the Britton-trade for Astros’ top-prospects, he nixed… in the last hour.
Put the blame on Angelos… not Dan. Budget is given from ownership, and Peter Angelos has shown he is willing to spend with Rest…. He is just a very picky man on how he spends it.
Let’s see if they’re way at the deadline.
he wasn’t very picky when they signed Chris Davis to that huge contract when he had a couple great seasons but is largely inconsistent…
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The Yankees, not the Orioles, should be the ones who are hesitant about a Machado trade. The Orioles only have to face Machado on the Yankees for one year (in which they won’t be contending anyway). The Yankees, meanwhile, have to give up impact prospects and then face those impact prospects for potentially the next decade.
Actually he was picky when he signed Davis to that huge contract. Prefers pay Positional players, not SP.
Maybe it’s because hitting HR sells, and pitching in Camden…= potential landmine.
Not that I agree with his logic, but I think Angelos shows a preference, especially ever since he burned $50M on the Ubaldo Jiménez nightmare. (You would think $50M is nothing to him, especially since he shelled $161M on Davis, but it’s not our money. Lol)
he got ahead of himself Davis had a big year and the hype was real on him but he was always a 1 dimensional type player..You spend that kind of money on a more complete player in my opinion..less risk
The O’s do spend money in odd ways – breaking the bank for below-average players like Davis and Trumbo, always giving away all their international free-agent money (they haven’t signed one of those in years), refusing to spend on pitching (which might be a shrewd move if they were developing their own). I mean, they’ve been competitive throughout, which is a great credit to them, but at some point some of these decisions are going to bite them hard.
Exactly, Dan can only do what Angelos allows him to do. Angelos gives him a set price on what he can spend and Dan does what he can. Granted its not very good but again he isn’t working with much money.
Completely Agree^^^^
Wasting a chance to either Cash-In or Lock Him Up…….PICK ONE!!!
Sounds like they’re going to blow the whole thing up next winter. Davis will be tough to move, unless he hits in ’18……if He Does, 4/$85 Mil doesn’t sound too bad for a Thumper / DH. Maybe the O’s pay $20 mil of that and get a decent prospect back.
That will look cheap next to the Harper & Machado contracts
It still looks expensive next to Machado and Harper, because Davis is a washed up 1 tool player whose presence could be replaced by a 5mil a year thumper dh.
Also, even paying down 20mil nobody wants Davis. This is the guy who said he doesn’t consider Barry bonds to hold the home run record because of steroid rumors, then gets suspended for PEDS, and once he came back it was obvious to everyone that without the PEDS Davis is just another overpaid bust.
I bet he said that cause during his 53 homer campaign he knew where he was really getting the power…
Dodgethis, who cares what he thinks about Bonds?
Davis wasn’t suspended for Steroids (you’re implying)
He was suspended 25 games for amphetamine (distributed, rampart through 1960’s-1980’s)
Davis’ statement following his “PED” suspension you are making such a big deal out of, using to ruin him:
“I apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Orioles organization and especially the fans. I made a mistake by taking Adderall. I had permission to use it in the past, but do not have a therapeutic use excemption (TUE) this year. I accept my punishment, and will begin serving my sentence immediately”
Having a TUE for Adderall isn’t uncommon. That year, 119 MLB players were allowed to use Adderall. So while I know there are a tons of fans ready to scream “gotchya!” and treat this like steroids— given Davis’ power surge, the two are not even comparable (Or equally disgraceful) Don’t lump amphetamines (which Davis has a TUE for now, BTW) with Steroids.
It wasn’t PEDs it was Ritalin…get your facts straight pal..
Wow, 119 out of 750 MLB players have a TUE for Ritalin. Hmmm? I wonder how that compares to the general population. That seems awfully high. I think it’s safe to say that Ritalin is a PED, and just because it’s legal (with the exemption) doesn’t make it any less so.
Not really. A lot of these guys probably really need it. It certainly doesn’t help you in the weight room or at the dinner table. Makes it harder to eat and for some guys it makes it more difficult to lift. Certainly nothing compared to steroids.
It wasn’t PEDS! It was because of an Adderral exemption !
Given how prevalent hyperactivity is, and how often it goes undiagnosed due to the cost for testing, I bet it’s somewhat relative. If everyone had the funds to get full assessments like MLB players do, 1/7 probably isn’t far off.
What the shame is, the Cardinals need him this year!! They have the young resources that it would take to get Machado. They have the money to sign him for the future too. However, like other clubs, the Cardinals would be a fool to trade for him with top prospects (Basically throwing them away!), since Machado has made it known he wants to go to the Yankees. That’s where the Orioles are stupid. Get Frazier and a couple of their big league ready prospects from the Yankees for their own future. Sure, Machado would make any team better. But…. At least the Orioles would get better than just a single draft pick. On the other hand ….Should Machado make it known what teams he’d go to as a trade with the possibility of signing a long term extension in the future, the Orioles might find some takers. Looks like that won’t happen.
Didn’t you read Dan’s quotes about trading for draft picks as at of the cyclical strategy? Obviously that’s Angelos strategy. I mean I feel bad for Oriel fans with an owner like Angelos. He reminds me of Jeremy Jacobs and the Bruins. Trader Dan NEVER had a problem spending money when he it together the team young Theo gets credit for breaking the curse in 04. Pedro, Manny, Damon, he’ll he even went big money on Carl Everett. Either all those years banished from MLB after Lichino fires him
Speaking of Luchino, weren’t the Birds like almost always a World Series contender before he arrived in town? If Young Theo hadn’t walked out of Fenway wearing a gorilla suit, Henry probably would have let Luchino take total control of the team meaning he would have torn down our title poetic bandbox and spent all of Henry’s money on a shiny new stadium which no money left for ayroll
You (and plenty of others) seem to forget that Machado has a say in this extension business. If he wants to test the free agent market, then Duquette can want to sign him to sign an extension all he wants and it’s not going to happen.
Duquette is a lame duck. He obviously is gone after this year and is not allowed to do anything w/o approval , and he knows any proposed move for beyond 2018 wont be approved easily if at all so why bother.
Agreed! While I’m not a big Duquette fan it would make sense to rebuild with a lame duck GM and Manager. This too falls on Angelos who I would wonder if he might be suffering from some form of dementia? So?
He’s 88, so it’s definitely a possibility. If Angelos is determined to keep Machado the entire year and getting only a comp round draft pick when all is said and done, he’s either mentally unsound or dead set on cutting off his nose to spite his face.
I appreciate the Orioles always reminding us Mets fans that we only have the second most irrational management/ownership group on the east coast.
If they’re focused solely on 2018 then why did they sign like no one at all? If this is the Orioles when they are focused I’d hate to see the unfocused version.
What do you mean? They signed Andrew Cashner and Colby Rasmus!
Sarcasm is the best medicine for a thread like this one……LOL
Thank You JD!
ROFL!!! Thank you for that. O’s acquisitions this winter have been nothing but roster spackling. The best moves they made were NOT bringing back Miley or Jimenez
The Orioles ownership is definitely not irrational. It’s very logical, so long as you remember that Angelos is a lawyer by trade and is risk-averse by nature. His actions have been very logical, just not very baseball-fan friendly.
I don’t think the orioles have the capital to extend machado and pay the other players on the team too
They have one of the most advantageous network deals since they also have most of the Nationals’ deal (deservedly so, as this was the agreement when they moved). But they have a very nice income stream that other small markets would kill for.
the Orioles have no direction right now.. the future looks like 100 loss seasons
Did you read the article or even follow baseball? It’s very clear that the Orioles are all in this year before they will be forced to throw in the towel next year. Although I wouldn’t expect a miami/houston/Chicago style rebuild.
Do you follow baseball? They came last in the division last year, lost one of the best relievers in baseball, and added nobody
Similar to the jays who added Curtis granderson, Yangervis Solarte and Randal grichuk in their attempt to get over the hump.
How “all in” do you believe the Orioles to be? they added some mediocre pieces as always and still don’t come off as a playoff caliber team to me…
And as an avid Orioles fan, you’re correct. I can’t wait until Angelos is gone and someone that is actually baseball minded and not cash driven is running/owning the team.
I hear Jeffery Loria is looking for a new team……..Oh Wait….
.LOL
…be very careful for what you wish for. It can always be worse.
What if????
The Yanks & Sox pass on Machado?
The bidding war will be a lot less. That Stanton trade really screwed a lot of players. Think about it.
The weakest link in their (Yanks & Sox) outfield is JBJ. Or Hicks. So Harper isn’t truly a possibility either. All due to Stanton.
I could also see Stanton opting out IF the Yanks win a WS. Why stay when you can go home to LA.
I can’t believe Angelos can’t see the writing on the wall. Should have traded while you could.
The Dodgers weren’t interested in bringing Stanton in this offseason for mere long shot prospects. If Stanton opts out he’ll want at least the 7/220 he’d have remaining. Why would the Dodgers go there for what will be a 31 year old DH at that time. Yanks are stuck with another ARod contract.
What If…????
If Stanton doesn’t Opt-Out, the Marlins owe the Yankees $30 Million.
What If….Instead of the opt-out…..Stanton requests a trade to the Dodgers after his opt-out date??? The Yankees get the 30 Million, and could send it and Stanton to the Dodgers……and get some excellent prospects in return.
Yanks would clear payroll…..and continue to feed the farm.
Stanton will NOT be a 31 yr-old DH at that time. He has fielding skills. He has a cannon for an arm. He’s NOT regressing that much in 3 years.
Stanton isn’t opting out of 7/220. That’s nothing but false hope if you think he would. Nobody’s giving him that again. He can hit 60 hrs again this year and he’s not going to see that money for that period of time. He will definitely be in regression by the end of that deal.
ummm, I don’t think the “prospect” pkg that ny would get would resemble anything that could be construed as “excellent” and “feeding the farm”. no salary responsibility would be ny’s prospect pkg…
The Stanton ship to LA is gone. Seager’s arm/elbow/arm is going to be a long term issue. I see him moving him to 2nd base and they’ll look at Machado at SS.
Davis = one hit wonder
750 is the wrong number to use since in any given season teams have a 40 man rosters not counting those player that move on or off the 40 man roster. Also studies have shown roughly 11 percent of the population may have ADHD. So 116/1200 is right in line with that number.
May have. That’s certainly not diagnosed. Anyway you want to slice it the number in the MLB is higher. I’m not sure the long term effects for a lot of these guys gives them any sort of advantage at all though.
Smart Move: Hold Machado, Jones and company til the trade deadline. Great play with a poor record will equal a trade. Poor play with a poor record will be harder to sell. Either way, expect big moves mid season from the seven nation army!
That would be a great plan, but we both know Angelos will find a way to screw it up. He’ll expect the moon AND the stars for each player, and if nobody is willing to pay that he’ll nix the deal.
Shortsided by the Twins. They have all this money coming off the books in 2019 and Lynn or Cobb puts them on par competing with the Indians. Santana is a free agent at seasons end because his option won’t vest due to the injury. This is amazingly short sided on Minnesota’s part in my opinion.
cman, can the Twins exercise Santana’s option? Or, is the only way it can be exercised is by him hitting the innings mark?
It’s mutual.
The problem is he’s not spending any of it because he thinks that stream is going away as MLB gives more to the Nats.
This should be deja vu for longtime Orioles fans like me. They signed Brady Anderson and Albert Belle to huge deals (to be fair, no one saw Belle’s hip problem coming). They gave a 34 year old injury prone David Segui big money (for the time) and got 1.25 seasons out of him for 4 years.. But they would not pay Mike Mussina and then spun it as him being a traitor when the Yankees paid him??? When Machado is wearing pinstripes or bouncing 55 doubles a year off the Green Monster for the home fans, and Schoop follows him out the door a year later I will not be surprised. I see a repeat of the 1998-2011 era coming. Meanwhile they’ll do something like kick the tires on Mark Reynolds when they already have Davis and Trumbo…wait, they are!
The good news is Peter Angelos won’t live forever, although I could see him cutting some kind of deal with the devil to live forever just so he can stay in control of the team.