At the beginning of the offseason, Orioles general manager Mike Elias expressed a desire to add infield depth at different levels of the organization. Some specific players of interest in that pursuit have emerged.
Baltimore has been in touch with representatives for free agent infielder Jonathan Villar, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. The switch-hitting speedster spent part of 2018 and all of 2019 with the O’s. Villar hit .270/.338/.438 across 950 plate appearances in that time, popping 32 home runs and stealing 61 bases. Baltimore traded him to the Marlins in a salary-slashing move last offseason. The 29-year-old then slumped through a dreadful 2020 season between Miami and the Blue Jays. That’ll depress the first-time free agent’s market, with Villar almost certainly looking at a one-year deal for less than the $8.2MM arbitration salary the Orioles deemed too pricey last year.
A handful of other infielders are also on Baltimore’s radar. The organization has varying levels of interest in Freddy Galvis, Ehire Adrianza and Daniel Robertson, Kubatko adds. Galvis has spent the past six seasons as a regular shortstop for the Phillies, Padres, Blue Jays and Reds. He’s a durable, reliable defender with a bit of power but significant on-base concerns. Adrianza and Robertson have spent most of their MLB careers in utility roles. All four potential targets are capable of playing shortstop. The Orioles have an obvious hole there after trading José Iglesias to the Angels. Additions at second base, on the other hand, don’t seem to be a target. Kubatko notes the team seems “inclined to use” waiver claim Yolmer Sánchez at the keystone.
None of the players mentioned would come at particularly exorbitant costs. Elias downplayed the likelihood of Baltimore making a multi-year free agent splash at the outset of the offseason, and there’s no reason to believe that has changed. However, the Orioles could look to bring in multiple free agent infielders, per Kubatko- one on a single-year MLB contract and another on a minor-league arrangement.
Umm…..your ‘Canada’ filter must be on- Galvis also played 112 games for the Blue Jays in 2019.
Thanks for the heads up!
Did I miss something in this article? All it does is mention Galvis’ name, nothing about games played with which team. Just confused by the comment “Canada filter”. Again if I missed something my apologies.
I think the article initially didn’t mention that Galvis played for the Jays. The article was edited to include that information.
Speaking of Orioles’ infielders…..Hanser Alberto’s versatility and domination of left handing pitching should find him a job on a contending team..
I would like to see what Adrianza could do with 500 ABs. He’s slick at 3b. Good luck to him, was hoping the Twins would keep him in house.
I hear the O’s are “in on” Bobby Grich.
Orioles might talk to Rangers about Tejeda and Guzman for Santander.
What use would they have for Guzman? What he offers they already have in spades.
I was thinking about Mancini in left for Santander if he was traded, but forgot about Mountcastle, who I believe is a 1B originally. So, perhaps replace Guzman another prospect or two to go with Tejeda.
Umm… no, in more ways than one. First, Santander is a young, controllable OF with good offensive skills and above average to great defense (GG finalist). Second, Mancini just spent a year doing chemo for cancer. They want to protect him so he’ll be either at DH or 1B, No outfield duty for him. Third, the O’s have at least four shortstops in their minor league system better than Tejeda, who looks to be yet another “swing first and ask questions later” guy with questionable defense (I know it’s not a great metric but his career minor league fielding percentages at second and short are miserable).
Rebuilding clubs try to get guys like Santander, not trade them away.
how many “Rangers#” profiles are on this site!?
How many of them know how to capitalize their sentences?
4 that i know of
only saw the one below. Omgosh why was that so funny. lol
Texas has nothing the Orioles want. Maybe Jung.
🙂
Robertson makes sense for them as a potential long term piece.
No he doesn’t.
@lolzmets
What’s your beef with DarkSide? All you do is nitpick minor grammatical errors (on a forum; who cares) and claim he’s wrong with no counterargument of your own
Literally no one, at least at this time, makes sense for them as a long-term piece
He makes sense as a controllable piece. Arguing semantics. Whether he works out or not is anyone’s guess. None of those SS prospects aside from Vavra will be ready in the next 2 years. Nor are any of them “cant” miss guys.
Gunnar is going to be a 3B. There’s a question if Westburg sticks at SS as well. So there’s nothing wrong w grabbing a guy w control for sure. Definitely makes sense to take a flier on Robertson. The r/r is worth it.
Vavra is also a questionable defensive SS. So there’s plenty of question marks there for the long term. I would imagine internally they think Westburg is the most likely SS of the future.
No it doesn’t. He might have value as a one year stopgap as a starting shortstop until one of the six shortstop prospects they have is ready, but then he’s just another utility guy on a team that has collected utility guys for years.
Nothing against the other teams in the AL East but I’d love to seethe O’s rise up someday soon and take the division. Lots of good history in their organization. I guess I just feel bad for them.
I too would love to seethe that.
Tremendous username BTW iron.
Talk about a team with the wherewithal to compete but doesn’t bother….
Certain teams have a legit excuse.
Baltimore isn’t on that list.
They have the wherewithal to compete? Explain how a team that had Thomas freaking Eshelman lead their team in wins be able to compete. I’ll wait.
Baltimore is smack in the middle of a planned rebuild. They could sign several top free agents and still be terrible.
Robertson was a bust in Oakland and Tampa. Orioles would not be getting nothing in return if they signed him.
I would imagine Baltimore would be targeting players they can either pawn off at the deadline for a minor return or lottery tickets they hope can reach their potential. Galvis would draw some interest at the deadline with his solid defense, while Schoop could be a fit as a power option. Although, his lack of versatility limits the upside.
Robertson is probably their best option for a reclamation project out of the aforementioned targets, but all they really need for now is a stopgap until their youth takes over
I didn’t know Baltimore still had a team.
“We have uniforms and everything. Its great”
Shame we got rid of iglasies but I wouldn’t mind galvis
Bring back Villar or sign Galvis. Funny thing is both could end up costing more than Iglesias did. If not Valaika is the most likely in-house option to play SS, unless they want try Richie Martin again. Ryan Mountcastle was drafted as a SS and played over 220 games there in the minors but also had 43 errors in three seasons at the position. Not sure if the Orioles would consider letting him try to play there, they did let Machado when he wanted to so who knows
Nope about Mountcastle. His days as a left side infielder are gone. He proved he doesn’t have the arm for it.
Agreed, Chris Davis has a better shot at winning the MVP award this season than Mountcastle has starting a single game at SS.
Facts lol. But he’s probably saving that for his last season with baltimore 53 HRS 147 RBIS .328
How funny would that be!