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.
Orioles seeking a baseball team…..
Addison Russell will be non-tendered soon unless they want a definite two years control, send a player the Cubs way.
I’d be ok with that. Maybe one of those change of scenery things
Exactly what I was thinking
How about Starlin Castro/ Jose Iglesias?
/
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!
Haha
Comments like that show you are ignorant
You sir are one of the children that alters a civil sports conversation to a Sesame St episode
Hahaha
Hahaha hell yeah
As a outsider to the Os organization looking in, it seems like they have been trying to build a team for 15 years.
During the mid teens, they were very good. They just didn’t win, or make it to a WS.
“Our bad”
-xoxo
2014 Royals
The O’s were the winningest team in the American League from 2012-2016.
And also the losingest team of the decade. Funny the contrast. They were really good for a really short window, though.
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.
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.
Derek Dietrich will be cheap depth up the middle.
Dietrich doesn’t play short.
It does seem like there is more supply at 2B. Move Villlar to SS and get a cheap vet at second.
They could get Cashner and or Miley back for pitching depth.
The Orioles don’t need depth. They need major league players. All over the diamond.
Jose Iglasias, Jordy Mercer, Adeiny Hechavarría, Wilmer Difo, José Peraza, Addison Russell
Difo is arb eligible
Jordy Mercer or Hechavarria?
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.
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.
That would be “bounce back candidates” that can be dealt at the deadline.
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
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
Jose Iglesias for SS. Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller, Matt Moore as SP.
Galvis, Peraza and a minor leaguer for Villar.
I was thinking they should go after Galvis as well. Seems a little much for Villar though, no?
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!
get Howie Kendrick , he plays second and first and dh . villar at short and Alberto second or third
Cards trade Matt Carpenter, Tyler O’Neil and Ermundo Sosa to the O’s for John Means and some prospects.
Depends
Villar and Means for Carp, Carlos Martinez, Sosa
Hahaha um no. Classic cardinals fans. They really think they are getting Lindor too.
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?
Brock holt if he doesn’t resign with the Sox. Versatile player, great leader in the clubhouse.
Some fans over in Birdland seriously think the Orioles will be competitive in 2022.
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.
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.
Giants fans would be happy to ship you Crawford for a prospect or two. Btw, thanks for Yastrzemski!
You would have to send them prospects just to take Crawford
Definitely lol
How about a trade with Phillies Rhys Hozkins, Jean Segura & Mike Williams for John Means & Mychal Givens.
Camargo, Alex Jackson & Touki for Mancini & Givens ????
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.
Bring back JJ Hardy
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.
Orioles need Brandon Crawford!