Here’s the latest from the Orioles’ FanFest event…
- Zach Britton and the Orioles haven’t been discussing an extension, though the ace closer tells MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli (Twitter link) and other reporters that there is mutual interest between the two sides on working out a new deal. Britton and the O’s avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $11.4MM contract for 2017, and Britton has one more arb year left before entering free agency.
- There also haven’t been any extension talks between Manny Machado and the O’s, the star third baseman told reporters, including Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. Machado reiterated that he hopes to remain with the Orioles and he understands if the club is focusing on other priorities right now rather than open talks. Needless to say, negotiating a Machado extension will be a major task given the huge amount of years and dollars (ten years and $300MM is a ballpark figure) it would take to prevent Machado from hitting free agency at age 26 following the 2018 season.
- The Orioles have made a contract offer to right-hander Vance Worley, executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette told reporters (including the Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli). Worley was projected to earn $3.3MM in arbitration this winter and was non-tendered by the O’s last month. The righty posted a 3.53 ERA, 5.8 K/9 and 48.1% grounder rate over 86 2/3 innings for Baltimore last season and has value as a long reliever and spot starter, even if the Orioles weren’t keen on meeting his projected price tag.
- Duquette also stated (to Eduardo A. Encina and other media) that the Orioles are planning to go to hearings to decide their three unsettled arbitration cases with Kevin Gausman, Brad Brach and Caleb Joseph. Brach and Joseph discussed their takes on the hearing process with MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko, with Brach also talking about his name being mentioned in offseason trade rumors.
No way machado stays in B-more. If he got 10 year and $300 mill from the Os then most of their payroll will be tied up in a handful of players and those contracts will only hamstring the club years down the line.
Best thing for them to do it put up Brit and Manny on the trade block and get tons of prospects back then they can contend again in 4 or 5 years rather than wait 10 years for a contract to expire.
You are way, way off.
He’s not off at all. They have no farm and those guys would help replenish it.
100% agree with this. Regardless if you think that Machado is worth $300 MM, that’s what the market will call for, unless he breaks down. Personally, the Orioles’ window to win is closing fast, so it’s time to get what you can for Machado and Britton (should be massive hauls).
Hope Manny and Briiton stay. Britton is sometimes called the best reliever on the planet.
Baltimore can’t compete with big markets for Machado. Ownership would never go that high. They would be better suited trading him next winter and get some superior minor league talent. As far as Briton the closer role is volatile. How many excellent closers have gone from unhittable to average. Can happen quick. Let him go year to year and play it out.
I have a feeling Machado will be with the phillies when he is a free agent, and Harper with the yankees.
Phils have Franco. Unless Franco can be moved to play first base. Phillies need to focus on Corner OF, Bullpen, and Starting pitching.
Who is the last team to lead the league in payroll other than the Yankees or Dodgers? Answer: Orioles Don’t forget they get the lions share of MASN revenue which also broadcasts Nationals games.
So Baltimore, Maryland is a small market now?
Baltimore has the 9th smallest market out of 30 TEAMs! Do your research before u try to call people out
It depends how you define the market. Baltimore itself is a small market, but draws regionally from northern VA, southern PA, DC, even into the south. When I lived in North Carolina, fans were for either Braves or Orioles. Obviously the Nationals have infringed on this territory (for which Angelos was well-paid). There is plenty of room to contradict your self-assured reply.
It’s funny that people act like the O’s don’t have money. They’re going to re-sign Machado. You don’t let Hall of Famers walk out the door.
I missed the bit where Machado got elected. When was this?
Far too premature.
There are teams with more money and much better situations.
If they do they’ll cripple there ability to do anything else
Um, no.
The Orioles are the 7th most valuable franchise in baseball (according to Bloomberg). Ahead of the Phillies, Rangers, Nats, Blue Jays, etc.
They have money.
If the O’s can’t get a deal done with Britton, they should look to the Cardinals for a trade. A closer like Britton could get Reyes and probably someone like Sosa, Perez, or Sosa.
Don’t count out the Cardinals
If a player is worth it, they will pay you and Machado is well worth it
It’s true that teams that spend too much of their payroll on a player or two are often terrible. A-Rod didn’t help the Rangers when he set that precedent. I would love to see him stay, and I think it’s possible the clubhouse and ballpark and fans keep him in Baltimore, maybe for less money. I object more to spending a lot of money on mediocre players (David Segui made over $7M for less than 300 AB the year O’s let Mussina walk, refusing to pay him close to $15M – and he was in the top 3 best pitchers in baseball every year, and in his prime). If we look at how many players on the roster are making way too much…it seems like many 8 and 12.5 million dollar players could be replaced more easily than the best fielder in baseball. In my mind, the only comparable player in baseball for both offensive and defensive contributions, and the number of prime years left is Mike Trout. Keep Machado if you can. Sell him on more than just dollars. And have a plan for how to build around him.
And if we trade anyone right now, I’d say Brach. Strike while the iron is hot. I doubt he will have any better seasons ahead. Reload, don’t dump our future.