Earlier this week, Orioles general manager Dan Duquette seemed poised to market some of his veterans in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but that no longer looks like the case. Even though the Orioles are 46-50 and 4.5 games out of a wild-card spot, Duquette told reporters Saturday that they’re planning to approach the deadline as buyers. “Whatever we do [at the trade deadline], we are going to try to help the club,” he said (via Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com, on Twitter). “I still like a lot of our core players. I don’t believe all the stuff that says we have half the club on the market, because we have a lot of baseball left to be played.” Specifically, the Orioles will attempt to upgrade a rotation that entered Saturday ranked in the majors’ bottom three in ERA (5.93) and fWAR (2.0). Duquette noted that “if we can get a little bit better starting pitching or add to the pitching we can make a run at this.”
A couple more notes from Baltimore:
- One of the few positives for the Orioles this year has been second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who has flashed improved plate discipline and slashed an excellent .303/.351/547 with 20 home runs in 388 PAs. The Orioles had interest in keeping him around for the long haul even before the season, as Duquette revealed that he discussed an extension with Schoop over the winter (Twitter link via Ghiroli). Whatever the asking price was then, it has certainly gone up between the 25-year-old’s 2017 performance and his dwindling team control. Schoop, who’s on a $3.475MM salary this season, has two more arbitration-eligible years before free agency.
- The Orioles may have a couple of trade chips in left-handers Alex Wells and Tanner Scott, both of whom have drawn interest, according to Duquette (Twitter link via Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com). A team called Duquette on Friday about the 20-year-old Wells, who has logged a 2.56 ERA, 6.97 K/9 and .88 BB/9 in 102 Single-A innings this season. He ranks as the Orioles’ 28th-best prospect at MLB.com, which places Scott 10th. “Teams covet” Scott, notes Connolly; although the 23-year-old has walked 5.98 batters per nine in 52 2/3 Double-A frames this season, he has posted an 11.45 K/9 and managed a stingy 2.05 ERA.
Really? This team is not contending this year or next. This team needs not just a piece or two. It is several pieces shy of making the playoffs. And if it does miraculously play itself into a playoff spot, it will lose in the first round. Dan! Set this team up for the future! The organization can’t afford to go through another 14 year stretch of losing.
They really are just one piece away from being a WS contending team. All they need is a Starting Rotation and they are set.
3/5 of the rotation hits free agency this year so who says any of those 3 are coming back and they can’t sign someone who can pitch to a sub 6 ERA or even sub 5 ERA to replace them. which would be an improvement..
So much for Britton :[
Probably for the best…..O’s can’t scout/developer worth a dam, coulda received 10 “prospects” in return 4 Brit, Manny, n they woulda all been turds….team will always come up short cause Angelos runs it as business, only tryin to win at a discount…..Ripken n Plank need to buy the team n bring hope to poor O’s fans….
Cant scout/develop worth a damn…..
But successfully scouted Chris Davis (failed in Texas) Brad Brach (failed in San Diego etc) Darren O Day (failed in Texas) Joey Rickard ( rule 5 pick) found a gem this year in Bleier (from yankees),
And successfully developed Jones (prospect from trade), Schoop, Machado, Tillman, Mancini, Britton, Givens.
But yeah other than the 12 guys on the 25 man roster they scouted/developed they cant do so worth a damn.
Oh, my bad, yea that lil hiccup of ’98 to 2011 of consecutive losing seasons, upon which u would have the benefit of very high draft choices…..nada, bupkis, when’s last real ace starter developed in system…..Mussina, Tillman’s not a #1 n has era north of 6 right now, Gausman’s taken steps backward after his 1 nice season last yr, had Arrieta, all the promise in the world…wouldn’t let em throw his cutter, gift wrapped him n solid BP arm Strop to Cubs 4 Feldman rental, Cy Young once out from under O’s n there wonderful system of developing Ps, how’s Hunter Harvey, Corey Sedlock, Matt Hobgood doing lately…? Why do they punt on international signings by trading their allotted money for AA, AAA scrubs….they don’t even employ international scouts….Davis, Brach, O’Day, all already developed in other organizations n in majors when acquired, n Jonesy n Tillman were Mariners wise draft picks who McPhail fleeced dealing clubhouse cancer Bedard, sure Manny, Schoop, Britton(failed starter for yrs), Mancini r nice homegrown players, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while…. n gonna lose Manny cause they can’t afford em n should have already dealt em because after this season only 1 yr controllable, goes dwn in value everyday as tradable commodity….but ur right they r a minor league streamlined machine, a juggernaught pipeline, dealing straight all-stars every yr….
Or have Angelos kick the bucket. Hate to say that, but it’s what’s best for the franchise.
Why are people still stuck on this, “Angelos won’t spend money” idea? O’s opening day payroll was $163mm! Some of the money may not have been spent in the right spots, but he has give them a top 10 highest payroll. He is spending money.
Duquette is either lying or he’s an idiot
Little column A little column B
Yeah, that’s how I feel too. Let’s just count all of the starters Duquette has either traded away or let go to other organizations: Arrieta (probably more Rick Peterson’s fault since he’s the guy who insisted that all pitchers have the same mechanics; thank god he’s gone); ERod for a two month rental in Miller; Davies, another SP in the majors right now, again for another two month rental in Parra; Hader for Norris; Bridwell released and now starting for the Halos; Triggs in the Oakland organization (on the DL now).
Did I forget that we gave up a #1 pick for a washed up Gallardo that became Seth Smith.
Most baseball fans would wonder how DD even has a job. But since Angelos has scared off so many GMs with his meddling, there weren’t many options for him.
Don’t forget Miranda in Seattle who we gave away for Miley. I wonder when they are going to learn that trading young cheap arms with some upside for garbage doesn’t make a lot of sense. Getting a middling pitcher (or two) isn’t going to make a bit of difference for this year’s team.
If Bridwell, Davies, Miranda and Triggs were in the Al East they wouldn’t be very good pitchers. But I know what you mean, trading away guys who might be able to pitc for us for garbage gets old. I don’t think you can look at the EROD deal as a real bad one because miller was a key piece to our success. The mistake there was not resigning miller. Hader wasn’t highly regarded back then and still hasn’t started in the big leagues but it’s hard to have guys plucked out of your system like that and then turn around and watch guys like Tyler Wilson and Alec Asher start games for us
Exactly. It’s always hard to know how young pitchers will pan out. But if you move all of them for two month rentals or worn out guys, you end up in the situation the Orioles currently find themselves in. There are no good starters to reach for in the farm system now.
To the list of Wilson and Asher, you can add Wright. Always had a good fastball, but that’s about it. He’s coming off the DL so it will be interesting to see if he can help. Maybe he’s made some adjustments, but I kind of doubt that he’s going to be that much better.
Miranda ERA+ 98, Davies 93, Triggs 97, come on that is a bunch of #4 slightly below average starters (Wade Miley-esque) who the Orioles would wait and trade for past their primes. Bridwell to early to tell, 6 starts does not a career make. EROD they thought they were making a WS run but got beat by a hot KC team in the ALCS. They need to stop overpaying for garbage like Miley and Jimenez and take that 23+ million and buy a legit starter.
Excellent point. But I think most fans are discouraged and frustrated with the team’s difficulty with developing starting pitchers. I give McPhail (and Duq to a smaller extent) a lot of credit for building the foundation of this current team. But his “promise” was to buy the bats and grow the arms. It seems we’ve done the opposite. Not this year of course, but Tillman has been very good for the team. Who else has McPhail or Duquette developed? Matusz? Wright? Wilson? Does Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-yen Chen count? We’ve seen glimpses of hope from Gausman and especially Bundy. But the jury is still out on them.
O’s fans don’t want a team that barely gets (or doesn’t) into the playoffs. We want a team that has a nice opportunity to win a World Series. I just don’ think the current path leads us to that end.
Nope. Sure doesn’t. When the O’s were one of the best organizations in baseball in the ’60s and ’70s they always kept talent in the pipeline.
Important piece of context to Duquette’s statement, this was not a statement given in response to a question about his deadline plans. This was a statement made to season ticket holders at a midseason state of the O’s event. and he didn’t even say he wasn’t going to sell. I think people are taking this complete out of context, and I’d be surprised if Britton, Brach, Smith, and Castillo are still in Baltimore after the deadline.
That’s good to know. Thanks.
Now is there a chance if the O’s win a bunch in the next week that Angelos says go for it? Yes, unfortunately, but I don’t think Duquette’s comments changed anything, they are still looking to sell relievers and non-core pieces. IMO, they should do a bigger sell off, but that’s not going to fly with ownership.
Yep. I almost feel like you just stated our worst case scenario. I’d rather tank this year and assure ourselves of a rebuild. Winning right now could set us back years.
The Orioles badly need to sell some pieces, but they have enough marketable talent that it would only need to be a brief retool and not a full rebuild.
Trade Britton because he’d get serious value back and they can use Brach as the closer (while saving a ton of money), trade Seth Smith and Welington Castillo each for a lottery ticket or something because neither of them has a long-term place in Baltimore anyway (plus it would clear space for Chance Sisco behind the plate when he’s ready), and I’d even consider trading Machado because he’d bring back some insane talent (maybe even someone who could play third for them next year). They could also consider moving Gausman or Bundy because there’s at least a chance that someone would give up a worthwhile package for a controllable starter like one of them (and if not, you hold on to them).
These are all moves they can make that would drastically improve their long-term outlook without significantly altering the present. Duquette probably understands this even though retooling isn’t his M.O…Angelos probably doesn’t understand though because he seems too stubborn for it.
They’d still have Schoop, Davis, Mancini, and Jones in the lineup, and they’d still have Brach, O’Day, Givens, Bleier, et al in the bullpen.
Those guys alone could be good enough to possibly catch lightning in a bottle and make a playoff run, but having a deeper farm system would help them a lot too.
Dealing gausman right now while his value is so low makes no sense for us. I don’t think dealing Britton right now makes sense either with the way he’s been throwing the ball. Unless teams trust in his body of work up to this season, we’d be selling him too low right now. Dealing bundy would remove the only competent starting pitcher in our rotation who we have years of control left over. I think we’d be better off waiting for him to break out as a frontline starter before giving him up. Dealing Machado and everyone else besides schoop,givens, Mancini, and sisco im perfectly fine with. We’d get a ton for Machado and a nice return for brach. But I’d let gausman and Britton rebuild their value before shipping them away
You’re probably right about Gausman and Bundy, but in this market for starters I wouldn’t at all be surprised if someone gave them an offer that would be too good to pass up. As for Britton though, I think his value is already plenty high; he has a strong track record and he’s healthy now, plus he’s getting to be pretty expensive financially. I definitely think they could still get a really good return if they traded him right now.
The orioles do a phenomenal job getting value out of unheralded prospects and reclamation type players, that has been a cornerstone of the teams success these past 5 years. With all that being said it’d be nice if we kept 2 of our promising pitching prospects because there isn’t enough pitching for us to acquire to make this team a championship contender right now. We could get so much talent if we tore it down, the only thing we’re going to be able to add is Jaime Garcia types if we go the buyers route. That’s not going to do it
I can see it now though. Angelos is putting it in duquettes ear to buy 2 5th starter type pitchers. I guarantee he’s looking at hellickson right now. We’ll end up giving tanner Scott for hellickson and Ryan mountcastle for Jaime Garcia and it’ll accomplish absolutely nothing.
Author really out to mention the fantex angle when writing about Schoop contract issues.
Orioles put too much money down on one-dimensional players like Davis and Trumbo and banked too much on Bundy and Gausman (who I have never seen as more than a “meh” starter). They need to start shopping, whether it’s now or at the end of the season. Realistic O’s fans do NOT want to see this same roster next season.
It sucks again to be an Orioles fan. Too many things gone wrong.
You got that right. They have to trade off some players now to get some guys that are going to be good young starters over the next five years. Their current quality starters are more than two years away.
If they acquire one good starter it still won’t be enough if everyone else pitches the way they’ve been pitching. This reminds me
of the Parra, Miley and Feldman deals, while not dealing Chen when they had the chance.
I’m sure it’s tough admitting that they’ve thrown in the towel but they have to think of the future.
But it’s hard to have confidence in them if they did acquire some young pitching with their track record. They’ve built a bullpen not a rotation.
I don’t know. I’m very interested to see how this plays out.
Dealing Chen when we had the chance? We were a contending team why the hell would we have dealt Chen?
The Marlins just shook down the Mariners for four prospects when they traded David Phelps. The Os better look at all their alternatives is all I’m going to say…..all alternatives.