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Orioles Seeking Veteran Shortstop And Pitching Depth

By TC Zencka | November 9, 2019 at 12:18pm CDT

The Baltimore Orioles primary goal for the near-term remains adding as much talent to the organization as possible, primarily in the minor leagues. That said, GM Mike Elias does have a winter checklist in this, his first full offseason as GM  (the Orioles hired him on November 16th of last year). Namely, the Orioles will be looking for pitching and a veteran shortstop, per MASNSports’ Roch Kubatko.

While still in the infancy of their rebuild, the Orioles do not plan to shop in the premium aisles of the free agent market, but adding free agent talent is as much about protecting the organization’s youngsters as it is about the talent influx itself. Said Elias, “…we want to have more depth than we went into last year in the event that injuries occur, that we can protect our young pitching prospects who will be coming up.”

The Orioles first have to decide which of their own players to protect before the Rule 5 draft, and with rosters expanding to 26 players this season, teams could use the extra roster spot to be more aggressive in the Rule 5 draft, as the Orioles themselves were last year in keeping shortstop Richie Martin on the roster. It was a tough campaign for Martin, who authored a .208/.260/.322 line across 355 plate appearances, likely ticketing him for extended time in the minor leagues in 2020 now that he is officially a part of the Baltimore organization. Martin’s example is the reason Baltimore will emphasize adding depth this winter, both on the hill and at shortstop, so that they are not forced to rush further prospects before they are ready.

Jonathan Villar is the only rostered player who saw significant time at shortstop last season, almost equally splitting his time between second and short. Hanser Alberto covers second and has spent some time at shortstop in the past, but the Orioles roster is devoid of middle infield depth beyond those two, assuming a Martin demotion.

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View Comments (55)

Comments

  1. afsooner02

    3 years ago

    Orioles seeking a baseball team…..

    Reply
    • rayrayner

      3 years ago

      Addison Russell will be non-tendered soon unless they want a definite two years control, send a player the Cubs way.

      Reply
      • Cstan

        3 years ago

        I’d be ok with that. Maybe one of those change of scenery things

        Reply
      • anthonyd4412

        3 years ago

        Exactly what I was thinking

        Reply
        • slider32

          3 years ago

          How about Starlin Castro/ Jose Iglesias?

          /

      • SilvioDante

        3 years ago

        Amen!! Have always believed there would be a match between the Cubs and O’s involving Russell. A couple of Maryland Crab Cake sandwiches should do the trick!

        Reply
    • twinstc32

      3 years ago

      Haha

      Reply
    • Baltsportsfan

      3 years ago

      Comments like that show you are ignorant

      Reply
      • anthonyd4412

        3 years ago

        You sir are one of the children that alters a civil sports conversation to a Sesame St episode

        Reply
        • Cstan

          3 years ago

        • Cstan

          3 years ago

          Hahaha

    • E munchy

      3 years ago

      Hahaha hell yeah

      Reply
  2. nats3256

    3 years ago

    As a outsider to the Os organization looking in, it seems like they have been trying to build a team for 15 years.

    Reply
    • Joe Says...

      3 years ago

      During the mid teens, they were very good. They just didn’t win, or make it to a WS.

      Reply
      • TLB2001

        3 years ago

        “Our bad”

        -xoxo
        2014 Royals

        Reply
    • BashBroJoe

      3 years ago

      The O’s were the winningest team in the American League from 2012-2016.

      Reply
      • davedsg

        3 years ago

        And also the losingest team of the decade. Funny the contrast. They were really good for a really short window, though.

        Reply
    • Bobby Mongan

      3 years ago

      Don’t you mean as a Nats Fan who doesn’t like Baltimore Outsider? You definitely are in need of a history lesson… and pretty soon.. there will be a pin in your future.. it’ll pop that balloon .. you know the one with The Walgreens logo.

      Reply
  3. joedirte4life

    3 years ago

    Adeiny Hechavarria would be a good get for the Os. He played tremendous for the braves in the 2nd half and he is a great fielder and he could have value for a trade at the deadline.

    Reply
  4. Lumps of Cole

    3 years ago

    Derek Dietrich will be cheap depth up the middle.

    Reply
    • Christian Larsen

      3 years ago

      Dietrich doesn’t play short.

      Reply
    • some guy

      3 years ago

      It does seem like there is more supply at 2B. Move Villlar to SS and get a cheap vet at second.

      Reply
  5. rmullig2

    3 years ago

    They could get Cashner and or Miley back for pitching depth.

    Reply
  6. whitemule70

    3 years ago

    The Orioles don’t need depth. They need major league players. All over the diamond.

    Reply
  7. Mollysdad

    3 years ago

    Jose Iglasias, Jordy Mercer, Adeiny Hechavarría, Wilmer Difo, José Peraza, Addison Russell

    Reply
    • gleybertorres25

      3 years ago

      Difo is arb eligible

      Reply
  8. Christian Larsen

    3 years ago

    Jordy Mercer or Hechavarria?

    Reply
  9. ForestCobraAL

    3 years ago

    Pitching depth?

    Is Matt Klentak back with the Orioles?

    When you’re tanking you want the worst pitching in MLB. That’s how you do it.

    Reply
    • mlb1225

      3 years ago

      Every tanking team does it. They still have to find guys to put on the field. Plus, how much impact does signing like Jhoulys Chacin, Shelby Miller, or Tyson Ross really have? They’re ovbisously not going to go after Gerrit Cole or Stras. But the point of signing depth guys like that is to see if they perform throughout the season to trade at the deadline for a team in need of pitching.

      Reply
      • ForestCobraAL

        3 years ago

        That would be “bounce back candidates” that can be dealt at the deadline.

        Reply
    • gleybertorres25

      3 years ago

      You need pitchers to pitch in the big leagues. don’t want to have to rush the real prospects to the big leagues just cuz you need an arm to throw out there

      Reply
  10. MB_

    3 years ago

    I don’t get the nonstop jokes about the Orioles. True they have been embarrassingly bad the past two seasons but not in the to distant past they had the highest winning percentage in the AL over like a 4 year period. Not like they are the Mariners

    Reply
  11. Phiilies2020

    3 years ago

    Jose Iglesias for SS. Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller, Matt Moore as SP.

    Reply
  12. WereAllJustGuestsHere

    3 years ago

    Galvis, Peraza and a minor leaguer for Villar.

    Reply
    • jimmertee

      3 years ago

      I was thinking they should go after Galvis as well. Seems a little much for Villar though, no?

      Reply
      • WereAllJustGuestsHere

        3 years ago

        It’s Cincy. This current regime likes to give up a lot for a little.

        Hey BTW, another knob seems to think we are the same person. I’m no scoutseyes!

        Reply
  13. Huracan

    3 years ago

    get Howie Kendrick , he plays second and first and dh . villar at short and Alberto second or third

    Reply
  14. dmarcus15

    3 years ago

    Cards trade Matt Carpenter, Tyler O’Neil and Ermundo Sosa to the O’s for John Means and some prospects.

    Reply
    • Zachary Hines

      3 years ago

      Depends

      Reply
      • Zachary Hines

        3 years ago

        Villar and Means for Carp, Carlos Martinez, Sosa

        Reply
    • sn33

      3 years ago

      Hahaha um no. Classic cardinals fans. They really think they are getting Lindor too.

      Reply
    • Corazon5

      3 years ago

      Why in the world would the Orioles trade their only decent starting pitcher, plus prospects, when their goal this offseason is to add some decent starting pitching?

      Reply
  15. Jeff Kisamore

    3 years ago

    Brock holt if he doesn’t resign with the Sox. Versatile player, great leader in the clubhouse.

    Reply
  16. davedsg

    3 years ago

    Some fans over in Birdland seriously think the Orioles will be competitive in 2022.

    Reply
  17. arc89

    3 years ago

    never understood why they took a chance on Martin. He has never hit above AA and struggled all but 1 year in the minors. That was the reason the A’s did not protect him. Its much easier finding a defensive SS than one that can hit.

    Reply
    • MisterB_71

      3 years ago

      Until last season Martin never played above double-A — suggesting he’s never hit above a level when a guy has never PLAYED above that level is silly. The O’s took a chance on a 23-year-old former 1st rounder because they’re looking to add depth to the organization. And if you took the time to look at his last season with Oakland’s double-A club you’d see he had a rather nice slash line — .300/.368/.439 in 118 games with Midland. Oakland did not protect Martin because they have a wealth of middle infield prospects and Martin was expendable.

      Reply
  18. mjones650

    3 years ago

    Giants fans would be happy to ship you Crawford for a prospect or two. Btw, thanks for Yastrzemski!

    Reply
    • ShieldF123

      3 years ago

      You would have to send them prospects just to take Crawford

      Reply
    • TrusttheprocessSF

      3 years ago

      Definitely lol

      Reply
  19. CoachSantoni

    3 years ago

    How about a trade with Phillies Rhys Hozkins, Jean Segura & Mike Williams for John Means & Mychal Givens.

    Reply
  20. steelerbravenation

    3 years ago

    Camargo, Alex Jackson & Touki for Mancini & Givens ????

    Reply
    • JDGoat

      3 years ago

      Not even close to enough going to Baltimore and id love to see the O’s screw up a Mancini trade as he literally destroys the Blue Jays.

      Reply
  21. JDGoat

    3 years ago

    Bring back JJ Hardy

    Reply
  22. groundhog5150

    3 years ago

    If the O’s don’t plan on resigning T-Man, they need to trade him now. Too bad he isn’t a lefty, the Padres need to make roster room before the R5 draft and new additions. Maybe a 4 for 1 centered around Cal Q and a couple of their top 30.

    Reply
  23. TrusttheprocessSF

    3 years ago

    Orioles need Brandon Crawford!

    Reply

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