The Orioles lead the American League with a 26-13 record, putting them half a game above the Yankees at the top of the AL East. Baltimore again looks like one of the best teams in the league and is trending towards buying at the deadline.
One area that could be a priority this summer: fortifying the back of the bullpen. Baltimore lost star closer Félix Bautista to Tommy John surgery last fall. They signed Craig Kimbrel — their only major league free agent pickup of the winter — to a $13MM deal to solidify the ninth inning. That hasn’t worked out quite the way the front office envisioned. Kimbrel has run into recent struggles that put his status as closer into question.
Baltimore used Kimbrel in the seventh inning in last Friday’s win over the Diamondbacks. Manager Brandon Hyde was noncommittal after that game about whether that signified a permanent role change for the nine-time All-Star. The O’s haven’t had a save situation since then, though they used Yennier Cano in the top of the ninth in a tied game (a situation in which a team typically calls on its closer) on Saturday. Kimbrel threw a scoreless 11th inning in that contest and got the win when the Orioles walked off in the bottom half.
There are more than two months for Kimbrel to pitch his way back into the ninth inning before the deadline. Still, the situation is flexible enough that the Orioles could consider alternatives if the veteran’s performance remains uneven. To that end, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote over the weekend the O’s will monitor the status of established closers like Jordan Romano, Ryan Helsley and Ryan Pressly.
All three players are theoretical deadline trade possibilities, although they’re each on teams that entered the season expecting to contend. The Blue Jays are four games under .500 and sit last in the AL East. The Cardinals are at the bottom of the NL Central with a 16-24 record. At 15-25, the Astros have an even worse mark, though they’re at least ahead of the Angels in their division.
None of those clubs are going to start moving veteran players anytime soon. Houston GM Dana Brown recently shot down the possibility of selling in any capacity, although it seems likely the team would reconsider that approach if they remain well below .500 in July. All three are veteran-laden teams that surely won’t pivot to selling unless it’s clear they don’t have a path back to competing this year, though.
Romano, 31, has operated as Toronto’s closer for the last three seasons. He’s a two-time All-Star who has saved 36 games in consecutive years. Romano hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs per nine in any of the past three seasons. He opened this year on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He was reinstated in mid-April and has worked at his typical velocity (96.5 MPH fastball, 86.4 MPH slider). Romano is playing on a $7.75MM salary and is under arbitration control for one more season.
Helsley is also arbitration controlled through 2025. He’s making $3.8MM this year for the Cardinals. The 29-year-old has been one of the game’s most effective relievers on a rate basis going back to 2022. Helsley owns a 1.65 ERA with a massive 36.5% strikeout rate in 120 1/3 innings over the past two-plus seasons. The power righty pairs a fastball that averages more than 99 MPH with an upper-80s slider. After missing a good chunk of the 2023 campaign to a forearm strain, Helsley has been healthy this season. He has allowed just three earned runs with 21 strikeouts and two walks over 19 innings.
Things have been more rocky for Pressly, who has surrendered 11 runs (nine earned) in his first 14 1/3 frames. The 35-year-old righty has managed 22 strikeouts with six free passes, though, and he’s keeping the ball on the ground more than half the time an opponent makes contact. Those secondary marks and Pressly’s career track record should lead to plenty of interest if the Astros get to a point where they’d seriously consider moving him at the deadline. Pressly has worked in a setup capacity to Josh Hader this year; he saved more than 30 games in each of the last two seasons.
From a financial perspective, Pressly would be a costlier add than either Romano or Helsley. He’s playing on a $14MM salary and has a matching option for 2025 that would vest if he appears in 50 games this season. He’s at 16 appearances already and looks well on track to triggering that option barring a notable injury.
I still can’t figure out how Kimbrel got 13mil in FA market.
I bet only the Orioles offered him a contract
“I still can’t figure out how”…Seeing as how Lance Lynn also got $13M I’m not surprised at all how Hall-of-Famer in waiting Craig Kimbrel was able to command $13M. In both cases, both these pitchers(Kimbrel/Lynn) are almost always willing, able and healthy enough to take the ball. That plus the short term nature of their deals gets them a aav premium.
Teams are paying for what players have done, that’s the issue. You could have a kid that has more talent than a Lynn or Kimbrel and they’d be making league minimum, but teams would rather pay $13m because a guy has been there before… despite being a shell of his former self.
“More talent than a Lynn or Kimbrel..Because a guy has been there before”..Would you hire a mechanic(to fix your car) who’s never successfully fixed a car or would you hire the guy that’s fixed hundreds of cars?
How could I forget that fixing a car is just like being a professional athlete? I honestly don’t know how some of these baseball players aren’t playing into their 60’s or 70’s like mechanics work til. They must just be lazy, and it has nothing to do with the inability to perform at a high level in MLB as a person ages.
Some teams have a big enough need that they’re willing to overspend. Believe it or not Lynn recently said he got offers with more money elsewhere but took a little less to go back to St. Louis
Wiz – We are not talking about the Dodgers or Yankees here, the Orioles have been very frugal under the old ownership. They wouldn’t have overspent for Kimbrel, he got market rate.
In 4 of the past 6 seasons (not including this one, which would currently make it 5 out of 7) he’s barely been replacement level according to WAR on baseball reference.
Browns – Just curious ….. we know KImbrel sucked in 2019, and I suppose you’re including his 15-inning Covid season.
What are the other two seasons that you believe he was barely replacement level?
You know how to look up stats. Go there, look up his WAR for the past 6-7 years. You will see that he’s barely over o.oo, which means he’s a replacement level player. Don’t argue with me if you don’t like that assessment, that is what WAR measures, and I didn’t make up the stats.
Browns – Ummm …. WAR is a concept.
First you need to know what exactly it is.
library.fangraphs.com/misc/war/
“Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is an attempt by the sabermetric baseball community to summarize a player’s total contributions to their team in one statistic.”
Then you need to understand no authentic statistic varies from source to source. No clearly established formula exists for WAR, as at least three sources that provide the statistic each calculate it differently.
Go to a website called “Baseball-Reference.com” and then go to a website called “Fangraphs.com”. and you will see they each have much different WAR numbers for Kimbrel, and much different WAR numbers for every other MLB player.
Then you need to understand WAR is highly unreliable especially for relief pitchers. One reason is because WAR doesn’t factor in game conditions, it doesn’t take into consideration context.
My original question to you was why do YOU believe he was barely replacement level. It’s unfortunate you are unable to arrive at that conclusion on your own, instead choosing to take the easy way out by simply repeating one of the several sources that has an opinion on the subject. And that’s essentially what WAR is, an opinion.
I know what it is. And it shows that Kimbrel is just barely at replacement level.
Why are you asking me? I didn’t come up with the formula and statistics behind it. Go ask your question to the people that made it up.
According to those numbers, he barely a replacement level pitcher. There’s no more elaboration that needs to be done. Is my statement true, or not? According to the numbers, that’s what he is. If you don’t like that, that’s too bad for you.
Brown – No worries, as I originally said I was just curious as to why you formed your opinion of Kimbrel based on just that.
All good, enjoy the day!
Easy: his xERA and SIERA were identical to his 3.26 ERA, his BB/9 was close to a 6-year low, and his SwStr% was at a 5-year high. All with continued elite durability for a high-leverage reliever.
The fact that some GMs (and Philly fans) still confuse anecdote for data is the only reason he didn’t cost $15M+.
Kimbrel has spent the past few years walking between the raindrops, and anyone who has seen his act in that time knows what I’m talking about. He throws a lot of pitches – mostly trying to get hitters to chase with mixed results. The guy is genuine toast at this point, and the FO really should have expected it to come to this at some point in the season.
solaris – You said the exact same thing in 2019 & 2020 when he was with the Cubs.
Then from 2021-2023 he saved 69 games with a 3.10 ERA and 1.087 WHIP and 12.7 K/9. He even made the All-Star team last year.
We get you don’t like him, but relievers are almost always volatile and we all know his back isn’t right. Way too soon to be throwing dirt on him.
Fever, when it comes to Kimbrel, I’d personally look to almost anyone else. Forget saves, he had one dominant season in Boston that I can recall and was so undependable in 18, that he was not used when there were other options. He’s the kind of closer who should have gotten a $5m guarantee with realistic incentives for a solid to great year.
Ryan Helsley makes sense for both sides.
I am OK with trading Helsley if it makes sense but what would make sense? Orioles are loaded with lefty hitting outfielders that really isn’t a need for the Cardinals. Mayo would be wonderful if Arenado was dealt but Arenado hasn’t been dealt and he’s worth way more than Helsley. I am open minded just can’t think of a deal that makes sense for both sides.
How about Helsley for James McArthur of the Royals? The Royals have a draft pick they can trade too the 39th overall pick. I would like to have that pick.
Royals would not want to trade McArthur, he is one of the pieces the royals need
My question is if stowers is either too much or too little for helsey
They wouldn’t trade him for Helsley? I bet they would. He has upside I assume that’s why he’s been closing. But he’s not Ryan Helsley. It seems the Royals are playing to win in 2024. They can have Kittredge too he’s a good setup guy. Helsley is also from Oklahoma so close to home in KC.
Cardinals don’t want or need Stowers. They need infielders, specifically corner infielders.
Urias and/or Mateo–Probably a non-starter. Mayo if the O’s would be willing to part with him.
royals don’t need or want guys with two years club control, a la helsley. definitely not for their best rp and a rd 1 pick
Helsley isn’t anywhere near enough to land Mayo. Mayo is likely to be on the big league roster soon. If the orioles were truly desperate maybe maybe maybe they’d trade kjerstad for Helsley+.
Where on the big league roster? The end of the bench? The Orioles need to supplement their big league roster, not wait for prospects to figure it out.
Why wouldn’t the Royals want a stud closer just because he’s a free agent after 2025?
Helsley is better than McArthur. And it’s not close. That’s a trade that makes sense for both teams with where they are at in the standings.
I said point blank Mayo is worth way more than Helsley. And again unless Arenado is dealt the Cardinals don’t need him anyways. But that’s all I see that the Orioles have that makes sense for the Cardinals. Fabian for Kittredge I could do but Orioles need right handed hitting outfielders they appear to have lefty hitters to trade and that’s not what the Cardinals need.
And yes I would do a Helsley plus deal for Kjerstad and that actually could make some sense. He could replace Goldschmidt long term. Helsley and Kittredge for sure could be had. What else do the Orioles need?
Mayo will get playing time at some combination of 3B, 1B, and DH whenever he gets called up. Maybe some COF too if Hays’ bat never wakes up.
Taking a guy down the defensive spectrum just because your team needs dictate it isn’t the best use of your assets.
The Marlins would LOVE to have Mayo. They need a 3b bad. Luzardo and Scott is getting close. I wouldn’t do that deal today but if Luzardo pitches well over the next couple months and the Orioles had some injury or injuries to their starters then it could make sense.
There is a decent chance that Mayo simply cannot stick at 3B long-term, and even if he can, he’s never going to be Brooks Robinson there. Some people think his future is at 1B, but he has a bazooka for an arm, so that would kind of be a waste of a loud tool. RF could be a reasonable compromise, but then again, that seems to be Kjerstad’s future home after Santander departs this offseason.
I was actually in favor of a Mayo-Luzardo trade framework over this past offseason when it still seemed like Luzardo’s injury woes were finally behind him, but now I am extremely wary of such a deal.
I think you gotta give him a chance to play 3b and he’s not gonna get that chance in Baltimore. Someone has to go. As a Cardinal fan Kjerstad makes a lot of sense. Even without Kjerstad the Orioles would have Cowser, Beavers, Bradfield, Fabian, Norby and Stowers. Just gotta get to Bradfield but they wouldn’t miss Kjerstad. Basallo probably ends up at 1b and hopefully can double as a backup catcher.
Mike Elias also seems to value durability a lot in SPs. Which is smart! It’s the biggest separator amongst high-velocity arms. The value of years of team control plummets when there’s an X% chance you’re paying a guy not to pitch for Y% of that term.
I bet the Corbin Burnes deal proves to be the archetype of the O’s rotation strategy over the next several years.
I think if the O’s move Mayo for a closer, that’s a call they make to Oakland. Honestly, they probably don’t start out by trying to get any of these guys, or any big name bullpen arm. They probably trot out Cano and see how it goes, and maybe make a small move for an arm they think they can unlock. Maybe call Toronto up and see if they’d do something with Stowers and Pearson.
Oh, I am definitely in favor of giving Mayo every opportunity to stick at 3B and am actually a bit more bullish on that possibility than a lot of other Orioles fans, who seem to already have him pencilled in as a 1B/DH. If he CAN stick at third, then Westburg likely starts playing some OF (which he did in the minors) and becomes a Ben Zobrist type who doesn’t necessarily have a set position but still plays pretty much everyday and gives you an above average regular to plug in if someone else gets injured.
Of the guys you mentioned, I think Norby and Stowers are the slam-dunk odd men out, much like Joey Ortiz before them. A lot of things would have to go wrong for either of them to become everyday players here. Beavers and Fabian are also probably longshots unless Kjerstad is traded or Bradfield’s bat completely stalls out in the upper minors.
Stowers and Norby are the 5th and 6th outfielders in that scenario. That’s basically odd men out. They would be bench guys. Beavers i think is at least a starters vs righties and Fabian could help cover the lefties. You need 4 good outfielders and I think Cowser, Beavers, Bradfield and Fabian could be those guys.
I could see Royals trading McArthur. He’s already 27, it’s not as though he’s a 20 yr old with a ceiling that could all of a sudden surge.
As for Mayo, there is no way the O’s are trading him for Helsley. He’s currently ranked 21st of all prospects in MLB. O-s would likely be willing to part with one of their top 7-10 prospects. Maybe another in the 10-20 range. Then a lesser none prospect.
I think they would miss Kjerstad. Left handed power still plays at Camden Yards and Santander is gone after this season. Beavers, Bradfield, and Fabian are not ready and maybe never will be. They also aren’t as heralded as Kjerstad. Norby is ready, but is a natural infielder. Cowser likely has left or center locked down for a long time. Hays and Mullins are both currently struggling bad and both free agents after 2025. As much as I hate the idea of trading Mayo, right handed power isn’t as important with Walltimore in left and harder to get a clear path of playing time in the infield. I just hope they get fair value for him if they do trade him and a reliever rental isn’t enough.
Why in gods name would the Orioles want a reunion with Scott? He was maddening when he was with us before and has only gotten worse. Last time I checked, he had blown four saves, had several losses, and a very high WHIP.
Hard pass, thank you very much.
Looks like A. Chapman finds his way back to the AL EAST.
@nyyfan
Hush yo’mouth. Hope that ever happens, unless you all want him to set up for Clay Holmes. Yikes.
Throw the whole baseball media into a frenzy and offer Holliday for Skenes. If pirates bite, make Skenes the 2024 closer, and in the rotation in 2025. Move Westburg to 2nd, probably a better position for him anyway, and bring up Mayo to play 3rd. Krerstad plays RF next season after Santander walks or this season if there is an injury to Santander or O’Hearn. Norby can be traded at deadline for high leverage set up man or another need that may arise. All needs are met and none of the elite prospects are blocked.
mlb – Much more likely Jansen or Martin head to Baltimore at the deadline.
Why would the Orioles want Jansen when they already have Kimbrel. That makes no sense and they will definitely be aiming much higher.
Luzardo & Tanner Scott for a prospects
Call Pittsburgh. Bednar and Chapman are available
They should inquire about the availability of skenes and Jared
If it brings Olivia Dunne to Camden Yards, I’m for it!!!
Yeah, because that trade is the only impediment into you and her getting together.
I meant more to watch from a distance…
“I like to watch.” — Chauncey Gardner, in Being There.
Hahaha. Glad Orioles fans have emerged from the doldrums so much that they are making wild comments about Pirates pitchers.
Jones. Skenes. Ha. About the only two on the roster who may be called untouchable. Bednar? Unlikely even though he’s struggled
But hey, if the Orioles trade for Chapman, I’ll help him pack the moving van
No lead is safe with this guy. A complete waste of $10M
Tigers aren’t trading Skenes. Not even straight up for Holliday.
*Pirates
I think both teams like their respective players and likely wouldn’t make that trade. But it isn’t a lopsided trade idea. Elite prospect bat for elite prospect arm…same amount of team control and risk. In their current states, pirates probably could use a bat over arm and Orioles could use an arm over bat.
No the Tigers are definitely not trading anyone on the Pirates.
On paper, sure. But no way
The Pirates emulated the methods of teams like the Rays and Orioles. And they’re going to have a frontline pitching staff thanks to going that route
But their player development program and scouting department have failed miserably where position players are concerned. There are few hitters here outside of Cruz and perhaps Reynolds
And there is no help on the way in the minors
It’ll be interesting to see how they proceed moving forward. But the most logical idea would be to finally open the wallet and bring a couple A-list outfielders/1st baseman here who have power.
Not sure how they’d take from one of their few strengths and go with yet another “possible” run producer
I could see BAL making a play for Bednar, but Chapman is a high wire act right along the lines of Kimbrel. When Chapman enters the game, a smart manager better keep the bullpen up because at any time he is apt to implode.
I think the Pirates will make a run for a WC spot.
I do too, Bob… unless your RedLegs can get hotter then Ms. Dunne pretty soon.
Give up the farm for Mason Miller
A’s aren’t moving him for sure
They will absolutely move him for the right deal. He’s likely not going anywhere but the A’s would definitely move him IF they receive the right offer. Very few players are legitimately off limits.
“Challenge accepted” – AJ Preller
The only person who would have the balls to acquire a reliever who has played less than a full season and has had TJ would be preller the peeler
A elite closer on a bad team is like a Rolls Royce hood ornament on a Prius. How many saves will he get? How many of those wins will be converted to team capital?
The As should sell high on him, and get as much as they can to prepare for Vegas, by featuring a cornerstone franchise player, which to me typically you’d want to be position players, just due to the long term injury risk picthers can present.
“The guy is genuine toast at this point”?
Bit of an overreaction. At worst, he’s not an above average closer. But even at that, he’d be a more than serviceable set up guy. The exaggerated narrative that folks are spewing is a bit much. I’m not saying the last 2 solid appearances negate his performance before that in the handful of games after his surprisingly good start to the season. But “genuine toast”? His K/9 is still serviceable on most teams. I will agree that on a top tier team that has sights on advancing past the 1st round — he may not be the guy you want to trust in say 4 high leverage opportunities in a single playoff series.
I think that some of these 3 options in the article are reasonable and a little more reasonable than the “Mason Miller or Bust” gang are shouting for.
give the ball to cano or coulombe in the 9th
Webb has been good too
I’d go with Wells
Pressly. That’s a “no”.
Ahhh, he ain’t nothin’ but a non-NTC hound dog…
The best pitcher in the world is pitching in Mexico and is available for league minimum.
Bob Gibson?
Who?
Trevor.
Hoffman?
Plouffe?
Hahaha he is capable, but apparently still radioactive, which is ridiculous, but it is what it is
What is it about Trevor Bauer that so many people like? Seriously, every time the subject of pitching comes up, there are always multiple comments about Bauer. Do you have homoerotic fantasies about TB? Because that is how it comes across. Not pointing at you specifically, just all TB fans, I truly don’t understand it.
Homoerotic? Bauer only punches ::censored::
It’s just a gorilla beating the same ol’ tired drum, for some God-only-knows reason…
Nothing about liking Bauer. More about the selective morality in MLB.
He’s a cancer in the locker room. Even if he does nothing there will be players who hate him and others who support him. He would literally divide a team. He has about as much chance to come back as Wander Franco… Zero.
A nerd yes. A little weird yes. A cancer? No. Being the first two points got him in-trouble in the first place.
He’s pretty much been blackballed by owners. Strange, because if there is one player guaranteed to be on his best behavior, you’d think it’d be Bauer
Completely agree. Seems like he got pulled into situations that have been occurring since Adam first took a bite of an apple. Teams don’t want controversy of any kind. Where is Roberto Alomar these days?
A nerd? What kind of nerd is he? An arrogant perverted nerd?
Tyler Wells will become the closer and he’s as good or better than any of these three
He can’t stay healthy
@tuck, I want to agree with you, but 1st we need to get word that he’s back to a throwing program instead of the dreaded, “going for more tests”. I’d love to see him back and in the form like he was when we made that spot start and shut out Houston last season.
Those 3 games were the most overpowering starts I’d seen back-to-back-to-back in my memory.
I’m a big Os fan but come on…wells is not a better closer than Helsley. Are you nuts? Wells can probably be a very good late inning reliever but you’re simply asserting that he’s better at something he hasn’t done than guys who have been pretty successful, including one who has been one of the top 5 over the past few seasons. Crazy talk
He showed last year that he can be a very interesting late inning arm. But assuming he can also close isn’t a sure thing at all. But for one thing, when he’s himself, he throws a ton of strikes, and that’s a huge asset from a bullpen arm.
Well, I suggested getting Verlander and Hader from the Astros and got poo pooed.
Still though, I would go after those two rather than Miller from the A’s or some other Mystery pitcher/ closer
What would make sense from the O’s farm system for Kenley Jansen? Or maybe Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen.
Tossing in the bean towel already, suit?
I’m getting a little pessimistic and I think they are working more toward a future window of contention. I’m also wondering how many innings they will let the young starters throw. I doubt they would pass up a good deal for two guys that won’t be on the team next year.
I think they’re going to surprise and go for a big arm deal if the opportunity presents itself. Just like Corbin Burnes.
This deal isn’t like the recent past, where it’s an arguable improvement and a ton of “if’s” had to fall your way. These Orioles are already an elite team, and may literally may be one piece away from winning a World Series. If Elias thinks that one deal will be the difference, he’s got to pull that trigger. We know in Baltimore how a single WS win can be franchise-altering moment felt for a generation.
Jansen is just another Kimbrel. The orioles are looking to improve not make a lateral move.
Jansen looks like an improvement over Kimbrel to me. Jansen has a 2.63 ERA and has converted 7 of 8 save opportunities. Kimbrel has a 3.86 ERA and has converted 8 of 11 save opportunities.
Jansen averaging 6 walks per 9 and the sample is really too small on both of them. Jansen hasn’t looked the part of a dominant closer in some time. Pass
We have a Jansen named Kimbrel. No thanks.
O’s finding out hard way why Dodgers left Kimbral off their playoff roster cpl yrs back. Can’t trust em to come in n get 3 outs. He’ll be good for stretches but man when he’s bad it’s awful n can last consecutive appearances. Almost made me ill seeing him come into close games, he’s not good for fans mental health.
He’s quite the rollercoaster ride, indeed. When I think he’s gonna implode, he doesn’t. When I think alls fine; he implodes.
Second December in a row the Orioles FO reached for a veteran RP to address injury.
In 22, signed Givens to temp replace Tate. And last year, Kimbrel to cover for the Mountain. It’s a heck of a FO here in Baltimore. I’m grateful. That said; this seems to be an area where they panic a bit and pull the trigger too early in addressing it. Easy for this armchair GM to say.
Alex Diaz will likely be available.
Crossed my mind too. What would the Reds ask for in return? Hays likely available but we have too many Hays type OF. IF “should” be set I don’t expect them to stay this bad and two are missing but even then I don’t see Baltimore trading from that catalog to acquire a closer who’s been at best off this season.
If starters went the full distance, you wouldn’t need a closer.
Whoa, deep.
@King Floch
Starting pitchers nowadays are just glorified RPs that can’t go more than a few innings Get back to guys throwing 9 innings and we won’t need this BP nonsense.
People in Hell want ice water.
@King Floch
How would you know that? Have you been there?
I went to college there actually. It gets a bad rap tbh.
If your aunt had balls, she’d be your uncle.
@sorengo99
Nowadays, that’s quite possible…
Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways, Yorkie?
@Gwynning
Because I’ll get a ticket if I park on parkways.
Helsley is the guy I want, but I’m not sure I would be willing to pay the price to get him. Shame he isn’t a pure rental.
Someone else mentioned Kjerstad and as a Cardinal fan that’s a guy I would like to have. Helsley, Kittredge and what else?
I think you might be undervaluing Helsley a bit here. He’s a pretty elite backend arm with an extra year of control after 2024 and guys like that are extremely valuable at the deadline. Plus Kitteridge is no slouch either.
I am a big believer in Kjerstad and really don’t want to trade him, but I think we’d pretty much have to pull the trigger if we could get both of those guys for him alone since this may be our only year to go for a ring with Burnes, but I’m not sure the Cardinals FO would do that deal.
Hey if Kittredge and Helsley gets it done for Kjerstad sign me up. I have watched Kjerstad play more than most non Orioles fans and I like him a lot. Defensively he’s meh but I believe in the bat.
I think the Orioles will sign or trade for another stud pitcher after 2024. The money is there. Means and Burns are free agents probably need a lefty starter top of the rotation type of guy. Luzardo if he bounces back if not someone else.
Hey Floch! What’s the local buzz on *any* extension news with Burnesy? What’s the word going ’round? Do you think it’s a possibility, what with new ownership and all?
Burnes is definitely going to free agency, but I think Rubenstein might actually be willing to open up the checkbook to keep him here if Mike Elias and his numbers guys think it’s a sound investment. He’s been wayyyyy more visible and accessible as owner in the past 2ish months (he even took over Bird Bath duties from Mr. Splash for a bit the other night!) than John Angelos was in the entire half decade he ran the team in his ailing father’s place, and I don’t think he would behave that way if he was planning on being a total tightwad like JA was. He’d just be giving the fanbase a face to focus their ire towards.
I still think it’s a long shot though. Hard to beat out the Yankees/Dodgers/Mets of the world if they really want a guy.
The Orioles have very few players making legit money next year and even fewer signed long term. And most importantly they are a good team guys should want to play there. A 5 year deal with all the young talent they have would work out great for a top end free agent like Burnes. Maybe even 6 or 7 if that’s what it takes. Yeah hopefully they sign Burnes.
Yeah, Kjerstad ain’t much defensively but the dude THUMPS. I’d like him to thump here but if he can get us the piece(s) necessary to bring a trophy back to Baltimore for the first time in the OPACY era, I could live with him thumping somewhere else, and Helsley might just be that piece.
As for the pitching next year, if Means stays healthy and pitches fairly well the rest of the way, I think he will be re-signed. He genuinely seems to like it here. He even travelled with the team and hung out in the dugout while recovering from his TJS last year, which was pretty cool. Burnes is probably gone, but I am more optimistic about re-signing him now than I was prior to the ownership change. The money should definitely be there based on our payrolls from 2012-2018 and where we are now. Fingers crossed.
Cardinals FO is clueless and will certainly get screwed on this deal.
I would agree with you if a WS was guaranteed but it’s not. With the current playoff format, it is more likely than ever that a wild card team gets hot at the right time like last year. I would hate to trade a player that likely figures into the future so heavily. Probably a better chance at a WS having the elite prospects for next 6 years than the going for it all approach this year. That’s how we saw Hader ERod, and Walker end up playing for other teams in the Buck Showalter era and still no new WS banner in OPACY to show for any of those trades.
Of course it isn’t guaranteed, but you can meaningfully increase your chances, and putting together a dominant, lockdown bullpen is a good way to do that. We’ve already pushed some chips in to add Burnes, and he is most likely only here for 1 year, so there is some logic to trying to maximize that investment by pushing a few more chips in.
Also, Christian Walker wasn’t traded, he was waived and then bounced around a bit before getting his big opportunity in AZ.
Yeah you gotta go for it to some extent. You don’t have to sell the farm but the Orioles farm is so great they can trade from it and still have lots of young talent left. I said last year the Orioles should have made a bigger move or moves at the deadline and this year I feel even stronger about that. Flags fly forever. The Cubs traded the number 1 prospect in baseball in Gleyber Torres, basically what Jackson Holliday is now, for a rental pen arm in Chapman. Do you think they regret it? I am sure they do not.
Mets could be sellers at the deadline. Diaz could be available, too.
How much of the lettuce for Diaz would Uncle Stevie pay down? 50%??
Maybe, but I think they’d have to eat some money for Mike Elias to be interested. He doesn’t seem like the kind of GM who’d want $20 million a year tied up on a RP for multiple years, even a top-tier RP like Diaz.
I don’t think the Mets will shop him that aggressively though.
The Orioles can have Helsley and any two other players in the organization. The Cardinals need a full on rebuild and that would kick it off.
They can take Kenley and his salary
You can have Carlos Estévez for free.
Is that a threat?
Please, trade for Aroldis Chapman. What did Pirates fans ever do to deserve him? Haven’t we been through enough?
Definitely need back end bullpen help, but I don’t see anyone worth trading for.
I just hope that if it comes to removing him from the closer’s role that he doesn’t become a distraction once his precious saves are no longer available (the only reason guys like this are in HOF discussions)
Given how fickle relief performance is, Kimbrel could well be the best performer of these names by trade season. If you were making a trade now based on performance to date this season, the reliever you want from Toronto is not Romano. It’s Yimi Garcia. He’s surely available as he’s a rental. Good track record too. But he’s throwing exceptionally well this year.
Just because the O’s are boiling over with a seeming surplus of young talent doesn’t mean they should just toss it out for name brand relievers with control. Nab a rental or two and keep those premium prospects for something bigger. A guy to start a postseason game perhaps. Luzardo seems like a good target in season. But you’ll also need to replace Burnes in the offseason. If I were an O’s fan, I’d trust Elias to find relief help in a less household name on the relief end. It wouldn’t shock me at all if they made a cash trade for a DFA’d guy in the next month who ends up in leverage innings before July. Or someone already in the system emerging.
Since Romano is still under control, I doubt Toronto sends him to a division opponent. The more likely arm is Yimi Garcia who is a free agent after this season and has been excellent at the back-end of the bullpen. While not currently a closer, he’s better than anyone the O’s currently have so would be a good fit for them.
Jays would get more dealing Romano and should consider it – except the Jays do not believe they are out of contention and therefore will trade neither.
Hopefully if the Jays start trading away quality for the future….they will also cut ticket prices and reduce the price of their $30 hotdogs….
They might cut upper deck tickets. But the renovations can’t be paid off if they start slashing. Plus toonie Tuesday hot dog night is a real hit! Maybe it should bat third.
Hopefully he can turn it around because he was pitching well before the back flare up. He’s yet to get back to closing duties and if the O’s are feeling uncomfortable enough to start thinking about a trade for a closer, I think that tells you all you need to know. I seem to remember somebody saying that he was about to blow up only a couple weeks ago…..
I’ll trade you Diaz for any help.
-Reds