The Orioles have struck a deal with righty Nate Karns, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports (Twitter link). He’ll earn $800K on a one-year term, with up to $200K in incentives.
This signing, the first of new GM Mike Elias’s tenure, looks to be a nice match for all involved. Karns will help fill out the O’s rotation, which had some questions at the back end. He’ll have a chance to show he can finally move past the health issues that have plagued him in recent years.
There’s upside here as well for the Baltimore organization. If Karns is at all successful, he ought to represent an appealing arbitration asset next fall. That’s not too great a concern for Karns, since he only would have one season of arb eligibility remaining. Effectively, the O’s pick up a club option the value of which will float with Karns’s on-field contributions. That contract situation also boosts the potential trade appeal if things go well.
Karns had hoped to get back on track last year after thoracic outlet surgery cut short his 2017 campaign. He agreed to a $1.375MM deal with the Royals for his first arb-eligible season. As it turned out, though, elbow issues arose that cost him all of 2018.
Previously, Karns had established himself as a talented, if somewhat inconsistent, MLB starter. He has thrown 310 2/3 total innings at the game’s highest level, carrying a 4.37 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9.
Karns relies primarily on a four-seamer that sits just below 94 mph and a curve that he has historically spun on about one of every three pitches, with a change and sinker also rounding out his arsenal. That combination showed particular promise early in the ’17 campaign, with Karns carrying a personal-high 12.5% swinging-strike rate before going down.
This is the last signing before Machado signs with the twins
Twins could never afford Machado!
The Orioles staff is solidified. So is mine.
Heck no it’s not, right now karns is ur number 3 bro
Ok but the second part is still true
Bundy, Cobb and Cashner. So number 4
Because No performance statistics were included, it’s difficult to judge this acquisition only on me factor of cost, but 800 K is nothing.
Dan Duquette would have re-signed an equivalent player for 20 times as much, so this is at least a step in the right direction, regardless of performance.
That’s why you click on his name (when it’s highlighted in red) to link to Baseball Reference…..
Always liked this guy. Hopefully he can get healthy this season.
This is perfect for a rebuilding team. Low cost and a player who is looking to get back into the game. If he is good then flip him for prospects at the deadline or keep him as a low cost innings eater.
This is a great deal, only 800k for a guy with a lot of upside. That’s barely more than the league minimum, and who knows, maybe we can flip him.
I’m a big fan of Nate Karns – was hoping the Royals would re-sign him. Yeah – chances of him pitching a full season are slim – but the upstairs is there.
Fine signing here.
Now it makes sense that this deal was in the works. I was wondering why the Orioles were passing on some DFA players, Chase DeJong in particular, he is much better than some fringe 40 man candidates the Orioles have. My guess is Aruajo gets DFA’d
No, Wright Or one of our vast quantity of useless infielders will probably get tossed.
Last in, first out. The guy with the long R name, haha.
Nailed that one. New article just appeared.
Yea wright needs to go too… I don’t think infielders move until spring gets deep. Benefit of slow offseason on rebuilding teams, they can swoop in on unsigned free agents after they asses rule 5 picks. I’m pretty sure by mid March they will know that they won’t hold onto Martin/Jackson for whole season
Please keep Wright and see what the new regime can do with him. One of the best arms in the system. Relax.
Nate the Great!
Thoughts and prayers
Really? From a SD fan? When were you guys good again?
great signing. another option is he pitches himself into a tradable piece during the trade deadline, helping to bring back a quality prospect to help the O’s farm system.
Needs to be moved to the pen.
Good signing
great potential but simply can’t stay healthy
Great pickup. No risk at all. Could end up being half decent.
Will he pass the physical though?
This is not really funny anymore. The Os were right about all of their failers.
(what happened to Grant Balfour anyway? Oh…..his arm fell off after some OTHER team signed him)
It wasn’t funny to begin with, but it is really lame and sad now. Har har har.