Unsurprisingly, it has been another rather quiet offseason for an Orioles organization that is still focused primarily on improving behind the scenes and building up its talent base for the future. There’s still no reason to anticipate anything approaching a blockbuster move this winter. But there could be some further additions before Spring Training opens. And O’s camp is now set to feature an especially intriguing piece of the future.
The latest from Baltimore:
- In an update on the Orioles’ offseason efforts, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports that the club’s trade talks have gone “quiet.” That’s not terribly surprising. We haven’t seen much action on Trey Mancini or Mychal Givens, who are perhaps the club’s two most plausible trade pieces. In both cases, the club has multiple years of control remaining and needs not be in any rush to make a move. As ever, though, it’s possible that late-developing interest could spur some chatter.
- Beyond that, Kubtako says that the O’s are only “willing to hand out one more major league contract this winter.” That limits the open-market possibilities — not that it ever seemed likely the team would do more at this stage. Buttressing the rotation and infield seemingly remain the two chief goals. Kubatko says the club has dabbled in both 40-man and non-roster deals at both positions.
- While the Baltimore front office works to fill out its slate of candidates at the MLB level in 2020, it has also added a fun twist to the Spring Training festivities. Elite prospect Adley Rutschman has received an invitation to participate on the big league side of camp, per MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (via Twitter). The exciting young backstop won’t be challenging for a job in the majors, obviously, but he will get a taste of the future at the outset of his first full year in the organization. When he was drafted with the top overall pick last summer, Rutschman was billed as both a highly talented and highly polished player. Just how fast he’ll move remains to be seen, but this decision tends to suggest the Orioles anticipate a relatively swift run through the farm.
dynamite drop in monty
I’m back….. and all I can say is Baltimore Orioles Number One!!!
22Leo
Smells more like number two.
Payne Train
lol …… Orioles offseason notes
8ManLineupNoPitcherNoDH
Culture of losing year after year after year after year.. What a garbage organization.
dynamite drop in monty
Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion
HarveyD82
notorious…
DarkSide830
its called rebuilding
gorav114
Clueless much
AssumesFactNotInEvidence
@8ManDumbAss….Orioles were a wild card team in 2016, shut up and sit down
mstrchef13
“Culture of losing year after year after year after year.. What a garbage organization.”
Except for, you know, that period from 2012-2016 when they led MLB in wins and went to the playoffs three times.
But yeah, culture of losing.
jdgoat
They should honestly give Taijuan Walker something like a 10 million dollar guaranteed deal. If he performs either extend him or eat the money and get a nice prospect back.
25thman
Maybe over 2 years that would work. I wouldn’t see any team giving him that much. too much of a history with injuries
jdgoat
I agree he won’t get that much but it’s the Orioles… they will only have like 60 million at most in commitments.
25thman
over 2 years maybe. I don’t see any team giving him that much in 1 year, he has had injury issues as well
bobtillman
Not to break anyone’s heart, but it really isn’t all the uncommon to invite your first pick (especially if he’s #1-1 and has the apparent maturity level of Rutschman). I mean, why wouldn’t you? How many Paul Fry articles can the scribes write about?
Gotta think AR starts at High-A, if not AA. I watched him some on milb-tv, and he already shows that he can handle a pitching staff. Might as well move him right along. Spare me the development thing; college QBs can come out and read complex defensive schemes, but catchers can’t figure out what pitch to call? Especially a smart kid whose grown up around the game?
Move him along…..lots of other spaces to fill……And spare me the service time thing (which will probably change with the new CBA anyway)…it ain’t like the O’s are broke…..
jbigz12
There is no chance Rutschman starts at Bowie.
I wouldn’t be shocked if he started at Aberdeen (A Ball). No reason to promote a Catcher, of all positions that aggressively when your major league team needs years to be competitive. Rushing him up does nothing.
ln13
@jbigz12 There’s no way in hell they hold him back until June to start at Aberdeen.
jbigz12
There is no chance AR starts at Bowie.
I wouldn’t be shocked if he started at DelMarva (A Ball). No reason to promote a Catcher, of all positions that aggressively when your major league team needs years to be competitive. Rushing him up does absolutely nothing positive—with or without considering service time. Players need to develop. Smart organizations allow their players to develop properly.
jbigz12
@ln13 my post got held up multiple times. I meant Delmarva. Which I had in the other reply.
DarkSide830
Rutschman is overrated. not saying he isnt good, but theres no way he lives up to the crazy hype around him.
Les Chesterfield
Totally agree. Top catching prospects go onto hit 240 w 20 homers and 60 rbi every time
jbigz12
Well, you probably get some hype when you out hit the #3 pick in the draft who was a 1B in your same conference—at the catcher position
UhOh!
Is this topic even worth writing an article?
gorav114
Actually exciting to be Os fan right now. When they tried to hang with the big boys in the late 90’s it got them nothing but heartache followed by 14 years of losing. After a few fun years it was back to bottom due to bad farm system and decisions. Now the farm system is top ten, payroll is super low, more top picks coming, and an overhaul in organizational philosophy. Only few years from going on a nice long run again. Rather be in Os situation then a lot of other teams right now
AssumesFactNotInEvidence
No it really isn’t exciting to be an Os fan right now. It really is quite depressing after 45 win season followed by a 54 win season with 2020 looking like <50 wins. Not too many prospect appear ready to play at MLB level. GM Elias is a lying weasel….
eric e.
Are you high?
AssumeFactsNotInEvidence
Please excuse this MySpace version of this profile. He hasn’t gotten with the times yet and his rants are tired and old. Like MySpace he has been crushed by his competitor and will soon be forced to cease operations.
All American Johnsonville Dogs
Orioles should be buying up low cost options and loading up on 1 year deals.
SPs Shelby Miller. Taijuan Walker, Felipe Paulino
RPs Manny Banulos, Aroldys Vizciano, Ryan Buchter, Jared Hughes, Colin McHugh, Andrew Cashner.
Should be giving out cheap ML deals to some of not all those players hoping to catch lightning in a bottle to trade at the deadline.
Les Chesterfield
Os should go into every owners meeting begging to dissolve divisions. They’ll never compete again. Ever
AssumesFactNotInEvidence
@Les, sorry we have to ban you for being a dweeb…
hammer_time24
What? The Orioles were a playoff team more recently than several other teams in baseball. They stink right now, but there is reason for optimism within the organization.
BirdBelters.com
The O’s have a huge back end of the rotation depth situation in the Minors, as well as three guys that fit 1,2,3.
The also have their up the middle players at C Rutschman, CF Hayes, SS Gunnar Henderson, and 2B/SS Adam Hall in the system.
Future looks pretty bright.