The Orioles had interest in Donovan Solano earlier this offseason, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. The exact timing of the interest isn’t known, as since the O’s also signed Rougned Odor to a Major League contract just prior to the start of the lockout, Kubatko observes that Baltimore might have simply chosen Odor over the 34-year-old Solano to address its infield needs.
Then again, the argument can certainly be made that the Orioles might continue to have interest in Solano or other players, considering the many question marks around the infield. Odor is penciled into the regular second base role, though he could also see some time at third base along with Kelvin Gutierrez. Jahmai Jones and recent minor league signing Shed Long are also in the second base mix, plus the Orioles have several other prospects either competing for bench jobs, or are tentatively slated to receive big league promotions at some point in 2022.
With the O’s still rebuilding and the focus clearly on the younger members of the organization, Baltimore’s interest in veteran acquisitions has been limited to inexpensive short-term contracts. Odor, for instance, won’t actually cost the Orioles anything besides a minimum salary — the Rangers are still responsible for the rest of the $15MM ($12MM in 2022 salary, $3MM for the buyout of his 2023 option) owed to Odor, as per the terms of Texas’ original extension with the infielder back in March 2017.
The price tag might’ve been a bigger factor than the on-field performance for the Orioles, as since wins and losses aren’t important for a team not trying to contend, obtaining Odor for virtually nothing might be preferable to giving more significant guaranteed money to Solano on a one-year deal. While Odor has struggled badly for the better part of five seasons now, Solano is coming off three very solid years with the Giants.
One of the several unheralded pickups who blossomed in San Francisco, Solano hit .308/.354/.435 with 14 home runs over 775 plate appearances with the Giants from 2019-21, and won the 2020 Silver Slugger Award for NL second basemen. His production did drop in 2021, however, though a pair of trips to the injured list likely contributed to some diminished power. Still, Solano’s .280/.344/.404 slash line over 344 PA last year was still above average, as per OPS+ (103) and wRC+ (105).
Solano played mostly as a second baseman with the Giants, though he had a good chunk of playing time at shortstop in 2019 and a handful of games at third base. Assuming he is still on Baltimore’s radar, the Orioles could use Solano and Odor interchangeably at either second base or third base, or even in a platoon situation. (The right-handed hitting Solano did much of his damage against left-handed pitching over the last three years, though even his performance against righties has outperformed Odor’s recent hitting numbers.) The Orioles would then likely use Solano, Odor, or other short-term veterans as trade chips at the deadline, in order to clear room for any prospects who might get the call for some big-league seasoning.
Donnie Barrels is a great value. FO in SF hates him for some reason. They took to him to arbitration over 500K after posting a .828 OPS.
The FO doesn’t hate him. He was a silver slugger in 2020 and a great bench bat in 2019. They just see him declining
They don’t hate him, they literally helped him resurrect his career. He’s in his mid 30’s. And he was pretty awful last year. Defensively he’s a big ?
hes 34!
I had interest in watching baseball prior to games being canceled.
Solano is the better of the two in overall value, but Odor is cheaper and comes with better defense.
Still would have preferred them signing the former.
No reason they can’t have both. Odor hits left handed and has experience at second and played some third last year. Solano hits right handed and has experience around all of the infield. And it isn’t like the Orioles have a Cano or Pedroia at second, jeter or Nomar at short and beltre or chipper Jones at third. Plenty 9f ABs to be had
I’d prefer we have neither bc a veteran rebound 2B like either one of them brings back nothing as a trade chip.
The orioles have about 4 internal options to play 2B already. Play one of the young ones.
I was hoping today we’d have our first real signing of a player of significance post the lockout. Oh, well. We get Donovan Solano.
Hey man, don’t throw dirt on this. O’s owner showing he’s willing to use some of that extra revenue money!! Yeah, buddy…..This is going to be huge for them. Their payroll could crest, like……$30M if they sign him. They’re playing with the big boys now.
“The price tag might’ve been a bigger factor than the on-field performance for the Orioles,”
A thing that obviously will not be changed with any new CBA. The O’s have assembled a top farm system, but you’d think they could give their fans a little more quality on the field now. Perhaps not….
What’s in the water in San Fran?
Hydrogen and Oxygen.
A good coaching staff
They have Tommy LaStella coming back after an injury filled year & young Estrada. Their #1 prospect Marco Luciano is a year away.
Don’t forget about Dubon.
Needles. Trust me.
Solano was a great “little” Giant and is considered a Giant-For-Life by many Giants fans, teammates and members of the Giants org. I could see them offering him a job when he hangs ’em up.
He’d be a nice inexpensive pickup for somebody.
He was a good Giants but by no means a “Giant for life”
It’s not an official designation or something – it’s a subjective idea about certain players who were good Giants on the field and in the clubhouse – even if only for a short time. There are plenty who feel like he’s ensconced himself as a member of the Giants family. It’s a term of appreciation – not an official honor. Naturally there are many like him who are held in that kind of regard. It doesn’t make him some kind of rare, exalted outlier. Just, he’s family now, deservedly so.
Given that the best option for the O’s at 2b is to talk Billy Ripken out of retirement, Solono’s not a bad alternative,
Solid 2B on a bad team
Good utility bench piece on a good team
Liked him in SF, but Estrada has filled his role now.
Love Donnie Barrels. With the fences moving out in Baltimore I don’t like the park for him. He’d be great in Colorado though.
He doesn’t have any power anyways so the park dimensions for wherever he goes doesn’t really matter
Meh. An uninteresting player for an uninteresting team. He’s not worth much. They will over pay. They’d be better off trading for a young player.
Jorge Mateo is the young enough of a player. They don’t need to be trading for anyone right now. Waivers is how they’ll get younger guys
Jorge Mateo & Ramon Urias can play up the middle at least until Jordan Westburg and Terrin Vavra are ready for a shot.
I hate adding old garbage that’ll just clog up ABS from young guys. No reason for it. Ultimately it’s possible none of those guys winds up to even be Donovan Solano but we know what Donovan Solano is and that’s not getting you anywhere.
This is where you trade means, Santander or bullpen arms for an upside prospect or six.
Breaking news: “The Orioles Had Interest In Donovan Solano Prior To Lockout.”
OMG the season needs to start.
It’s even as if that goes without saying … especially since this is just another in a long series of similar such reports.
wouldn’t mind seeing him added to the INF mix in Philly if the price is reasonable.
Can see Solano on a one year deal for White Sox..
Odor gives the O’s some LH power and could be had at league minimum. Solano is another RH hitter which they have a few options already