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Offseason In Review: Baltimore Orioles

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The Orioles added outfield depth and bolstered their bench this winter. Yet Dan Duquette’s second offseason as the club’s top baseball executive was even quieter than his first. The Orioles spent with extreme caution this winter, even after making their first playoff appearance in 15 years.

Major League Signings

Notable Minor League Signings

Trades and Claims

Notable Losses

Needs Addressed

Duquette re-signed left fielder Nate McLouth to a deal that's both low-commitment and low upside. While McLouth hit respectably with the Orioles last year, recent history suggests he has become a below-average hitter (.221/.320/.346 batting line since 2010). It's possible Nolan Reimold will produce at the plate and McLouth will be the club's fourth outfielder, a role he may be better suited for given his struggles against left-handed pitching.

Manny Machado - Orioles (PW)

The club also bolstered its bench with a pair of former Twins: Danny Valencia and Alexi Casilla. Valencia could provide some pop against left-handers and Casilla, a switch-hitter, represents insurance in the event that Brian Roberts spends time on the disabled list.

The Orioles didn't sign any prominent free agents, but Duquette did add Jair Jurrjens on a low-risk deal. This move could pay off for the Orioles, who are positioned to create room in their rotation in case Jurrjens proves to be healthy. Still just 27, Jurrjens required only a minor league commitment.

The relatively quiet offseason seems to reflect confidence in internal options. Perhaps Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez can build on last year’s success while Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman prepare themselves for significant MLB roles. There’s reason for optimism elsewhere, as Manny Machado prepares for his first full season and the bullpen returns undiminished.

Questions Remaining

The Orioles would look stronger now if they had found an everyday alternative to Roberts at second base. Or if they had added a number three starter to pair with Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen atop a rotation that includes its share of uncertainty. Or if they had acquired an impact bat for left field or designated hitter.

Flirtations with Joe Saunders and other free agent starters didn’t develop. Nor did inquiries to the Diamondbacks regarding outfielders Justin Upton and Jason Kubel. The Orioles reportedly showed interest in free agent bats such as Josh Hamilton and Nick Swisher, only to see them sign elsewhere. 

There were potential upgrades available on the trade market (Kubel, Michael Morse) and in free agency (Cody Ross, Lance Berkman, Mike Napoli). Instead the Orioles are left with DH Wilson Betemit hitting right-handers and Valencia and others matching up against lefties. There’s no point in spending for the sake of spending, but the Orioles had real needs at a time that solutions were available in free agency. It would have been encouraging to see owner Peter Angelos spend on a power bat or a free agent starter.

Deal of Note

The Orioles didn’t sign any players to long-term deals this winter, but their leadership structure figures to remain in place for a while. The club extended Duquette and manager Buck Showalter through the 2018 season with deals that were completed last month. Both had strong cases for extensions. Duquette’s moves, particularly his ability to find quality pitching in unexpected places, led to the Orioles’ first playoff berth in 15 years. Showalter managed the pitching staff skillfully, coaxing 93 wins from a team picked by many to finish in last place. 

Overview

The Orioles enter the 2013 season with questions in the rotation, at second base and in left field. Some regression seems likely, especially in the stacked American League East. It’s a good thing the Orioles have experience proving doubters wrong. They know better than most that pre-season predictions can be wildly inaccurate.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Orioles Notes: Upton, Uehara, Urrutia

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A few notes on the Orioles..

  • The Orioles considered trading pitching for a hitter last offseason, but decided not to deal their young hurlers, Jayson Stark of ESPN reports. Stark says the Orioles would not include Dylan Bundy in a deal with the Diamondbacks for Justin Upton, and also ultimately passed on Jason Kubel. “Some of the bats that we could get would have improved our team,” says executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette. “But it wasn't a huge improvement. And we wanted to hold onto the pitching depth and see if we could utilize the pitching depth to have a competitive team. And we could always take a look at that [later].”
  • Koji Uehara thought he might return to Baltimore this offseason, Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun reports. "I thought that there would be a possibility [of playing in Baltimore], but I didn't especially put a lot of weight on each team or one particular team," says Uehara. "I thought that every team had a chance." The Red Sox signed Uehara to a one-year, $4.25MM deal in December.
  • Outfielder Henry Urrutia has finally arrived in the United States, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports writes. The 26-year-old Cuban defector received a $779K bonus from the Orioles in 2012, but had been in Haiti and has only now received a work visa. He will take a physical, then head to Orioles minor-league camp in Sarasota. The O's had intended to send Urrutia to Double-A Bowie last year, Kubatko notes.

East Notes: Young, Phillies, Orioles, Yankees

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Phillies offseason acquisition Michael Young won't come out and say it, but his frosty relationship with his former team's front office likely has to do with the Rangers' decision to put him on the trading block immediately following the 2010 World Series, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Statistically minded analysts don't love Young because of his relatively low walk totals and questions about his defense, but he's looking forward to having the chance to play third base in Philly.  Here's more out of the AL and NL East..

  • In a piece for Insider subscribers, ESPN.com's Jim Bowden has five crucial questions for the 2013 Phillies.  Ben Revere should have no problem manning center field, but Bowden is concerned about Delmon Young in right and the group of players vying for the job in left.  A last minute deal for Alfonso Soriano is still possible in his eyes but the veteran's below-average defense won't solve their issues.
  • The Orioles' bullpen was remarkably strong in 2012 and Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun asks if they can replicate their success this season.  The O's pen will look rather similar this season but the group's low strikeout totals coupled with the workload of Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day could raise issues for Baltimore.
  • After a relatively quiet offseason, the Yankees have a great deal of uncertainty surrounding them as they look ahead to April, writes Hal Bodley of MLB.com. 

AL Notes: Lohse, Cano, Granderson, Orioles

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MLBTR's Mark Polishuk examined the market for Kyle Lohse and wrote it would be very surprising to see the Royals make a move for him. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star agrees, even if a rash of injuries were to hit their starters, because the Royals are $10MM over their projected break-even point in payroll. Dutton adds James Shields, Ervin Santana, Jeremy Guthrie, and Wade Davis can't pitch poorly enough this spring to lose their spots in the rotation. Elsewhere around the American League:

  • The Yankees will not let the way Alex Rodriguez's ten-year, $275MM contract has panned out affect their negotiations with Robinson Cano, GM Brian Cashman told ESPN Radio's Ian O'Connor (transcript courtesy of ESPNNewYork.com). "There's only so much you can spend, but we'll look at Robbie as an individual, not as it relates to whatever we're doing with Alex Rodriguez and our commitment and the regression we have experienced with Alex," said Cashman.
  • The Yankees announced Curtis Granderson will miss the next ten weeks with a fractured right forearm after being hit with a pitch during today's Spring Training game. Non-roster invitees Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera plus minor leaguers Melky Mesa and Zoilo Almonte are the in-house candidates to replace the Yankees' leading home run hitter from a year ago, tweets the YES Network's Jack Curry.
  • If the Yankees do go outside the organization to replace Granderson, they can find a better option toward the end of camp, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. 
  • A deal for Alfonso Soriano could make sense for the Yankees and the Cubs have made it clear to the industry they would be willing to pay much of the $36MM owed Soriano for the next two years, according to ESPN's Buster Olney (Twitter links).
  • Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com asked if the Yankees turn to Vernon Wells to replace Granderson. If so, the Angels would still have to eat a majority of the $42MM due Wells over the next two years (Twitter links).
  • Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters, including CSNBaltimore.com's Rich Dubroff, he's satisfied with the DH candidates already in camp and will not scour the free agent market. "We’re answering the questions here,” Showalter said. “We’re going to find it right here. We spent a lot of time getting this group in. We’re going to look in our backyard." Wilson Betemit is the main candidate to DH against right-handers while Russ Canzler and Danny Valencia are the favorites against left-handers. Dubroff also sees Nolan Reimold in the mix as well as regulars whom Showalter wants to give a breather.

 

AL East Notes: Yankees, De La Rosa, Red Sox, Orioles

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Here's the latest out of the American League East..

  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com ran down his likes and dislikes on the Yankees this season.  Heyman likes that the Bombers have kept their strong rotation in tact and believes that even though they acted like a small-market team this winter, they will go out and spend in July if they need to.  Meanwhile, Heyman is concerned about the club's age and lack of depth in the minors.
  • Pedro Martinez believes that Rubby De La Rosa, one of the key pieces of the Red Sox's blockbuster trade with the Dodgers, has a chance to be "someone special", writes Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.  De La Rosa is rebounding from Tommy John surgery and will see his innings capped in 2013.
  • Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com wonders if quality is more important than quantity when it comes to a team's farm system.  The Orioles had just two players ranked in the Baseball America top 100 prospects list this year, with Dylan Bundy at No. 2 and Kevin Gausman at No. 26.  Manny Machado also would have been towards the very top of the list had he qualified for rookie status.
  • Orioles reliever Darren O'Day told the local press, including CSNBaltimore.com (video link) that he is especially happy to have a contract extension with the club given the way that he has bounced around in the past.  O'Day inked a two-year extension with a club option for 2015.

AL East Notes: Britton, Posada, Yankees

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The Yankees and Orioles won 90-plus games in 2012, but they're candidates to regress in 2013, according to MLBTR readers. Those two AL East clubs were by far the most popular answers to the question 'which 90-win team will disappoint in 2013.' Here's more from the division…

  • One rival executive expects the Orioles to discuss trades involving left-hander Zach Britton later in the spring, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The Orioles have limited roster spots and lots of young arms, including Britton and Jake Arrieta. Troy Renck of the Denver Post suggests the Rockies will call later on in Spring Training (Twitter link).
  • Jorge Posada, now a guest instructor with the Yankees, says he's not going to be coming out of retirement any time soon, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports (on Twitter). "I have no interest in playing ball," Posada said.
  • While the Yankees are optimistic about their chances in 2013, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that others are skeptical. One GM has his doubts that the Yankees will be playing in October. "I don't think they are a playoff team," the GM said. A second GM wondered why they weren't more aggressive this past offseason and an owner suggested they're "a little long in the tooth."

East Notes: Phillies, Steinbrenner, Yankees, Red Sox

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Despite what some observers may think, the Phillies refuse to believe that their window has closed, writes Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  "If I really thought the window was closing," said Cole Hamels, "I would have been gone. I play to win. They didn't have to give me any assurances. You can see it. You can feel it."  There are a number of questions surrounding the Phillies, including offseason acquisition Michael Young's ability to play third base, but Ryan Howard cautions fans not to be surprised by their success in 2013.  Here's more out of baseball's eastern divisions..

  • Hal Steinbrenner has been adamant about the Yankees cutting their payroll to $189MM, but ESPN New York's Wallace Matthews reports that he may return to something resembling his father's free-spending ways. "This is the first time since George died that it appears a Steinbrenner is actually running the Yankees," a source tells Matthews. A change in the Yankees' approach would have dramatic implications throughout the free-agent market, and it could have a near-immediate impact on Robinson Cano as he enters his walk year.
  • The Red Sox generally haven't incorporated former major league players into their decision-making, but GM Ben Cherington appreciates special assistant Jason Varitek's input, writes Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.  In the coming months, Varitek will assist the front office in player development and draft scouting.  Two other former Red Sox stars, Pedro Martinez and Tim Wakefield, are also working with Cherington.
  • In addition to being a key bullpen piece for the Orioles, the recently extended Darren O'Day is also a mentor to his fellow Baltimore sidearmers, writes Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com. O'Day recently agreed to a two-year, $5.8MM deal with a club option for 2015.

Charlie Wilmoth contributed to this post.

AL East Notes: Cano, Soriano, Orioles

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The Yankees and Orioles made the playoffs last year and a third AL East club, the Rays, won 90 games. The Blue Jays and Red Sox disappointed in 2012, but after a winter of offseason moves both teams hope to contend in 2013. Here are the latest AL East links at a time that the division truly seems wide open…

  • The Yankees say they’re prepared to discuss a significant long-term contract with Robinson Cano, but as Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes, there’s lots of rhetoric involved at this stage. The sides will declare their mutual interest in working out a new deal while remaining inflexible on financial details. Sherman expects agent Scott Boras to seek a ten-year deal in the $225-240MM range. The Yankees could start by suggesting a high average annual value for a shorter term, perhaps $170-175MM for seven years.
  • The Yankees would not give up a good prospect to acquire Alfonso Soriano, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Heyman suggests the Yankees would pay $10MM of the $36MM remaining on the left fielder's contract. Soriano has indicated he'd consider trades to a group of six or seven teams, including the Yankees.
  • The Orioles announced that they promoted Brady Anderson to the role of VP of baseball operations. Ned Rice, who had been the club’s assistant director of Major League operations, was promoted to director of Major League administration.
  • The Mariners have a list of Red Sox players that they're looking at as a player to be named later in the Mike Carp trade, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times (on Twitter).  All four players are lower level non-premium minor leaguers in the Red Sox system.
  • Here are some more notes on the Red Sox.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Orioles Sign Darren O’Day To Two-Year Extension

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The Orioles and Darren O'Day have agreed to a two-year deal with a club option for a third year.  The Beverly Hills Sports Council client will earn a guaranteed $5.8MM over two years when factoring in the $400K buyout.  The 2015 option will pay $4.25MM, if exercised.

The two-year deal covers O'Day's remaining years of arbitration, putting him in line to test free agency after the 2014 season if his option is not picked up.  O'Day, who had previously earned Super Two status, filed for $3.2MM this winter while the O's offered $1.8MM.  

O'Day, 30, pitched to a 2.28 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in his first year with the Orioles.  Baltimore first acquired the right-hander after the 2011 season on a waiver claim from the Rangers.

With O'Day signed, the Orioles have now taken care of all of their arbitration eligible players.

The agreement was first announced by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.  Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com had the terms of the deal while Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com first announced that a deal was close.

Minor Moves: A’s, Pirates, Colon, Orioles, Hudson

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Here's a look at today's minor moves, courtesy of Baseball America's Matt Eddy..

  • The Athletics are close to signing Mexican League infielder Antonio Lamas to an undisclosed deal, reports John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter).
  • The Pirates signed right-hander Roman Colon to a minor league deal.  Colon appeared in a few games for the Royals last season but spent the bulk of the year in Triple-A Omaha where he posted a 3.09 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 40 games.  
  • The Orioles signed left fielder Kyle Hudson, who spent the first four years of his career in the Baltimore organization.  The 26-year-old hit just .264/.335/.286 for the Triple-A affiliates of the Phillies and Rays.
  • Right-hander Mark Hamburger is seeking employment once again after being released by the Astros this week.  The 26-year-old was a roster casualty several times last season and spent time with the Rangers, Astros, and Padres. 

Daniel Seco contributed to this report.

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