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Orioles Plan To Be Aggressive With Keeping Own Free Agents

By Brandon C. Williams

Oct 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) in game two of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) in game two of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /
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The AL East champion Baltimore Orioles will have major decisions to make on Thursday morning, as Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis are among six free agents the team will look to bring back

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The genesis of defending their AL East crown begins for the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday morning, as six key members (OF Nelson Cruz, RP Andrew Miller, SP Wei-Yin Chin, OF Nick Markakis, C Nick Hundley, OF/DH Delmon Young) will either hit the free agent market outright or become free agents should the team not pick up their options.

Already, the Orioles have targeted Cruz, Markakis and Miller as their top priorities, with hopes of being able to take advantage of the five-day window the team will have to negotiate with their own free agents. The biggest challenge could come with Markakis, who is the team’s longest-tenured player who also has a $17.5 million mutual option with a $2.2 million buyout. The Orioles want to keep him, but will have to find a common ground with a more friendly salary number.

Longtime Orioles beat writer Peter Schmuck feels the team could make a serious error in judgement if the team isn’t aggressive in free agency:

“It would be no great surprise if (the Orioles) project the return of absent stars Matt Wieters, Manny Machado and Chris Davis and conclude that (they) don’t need to make any drastic upgrades to make another run at the big trophy next season. That might be a mistake.”

Schmuck added that pursuing a Jon Lester or Max Scherzer would be a “pipe dream” for the Orioles, who will see their salary take a significant step this winter.

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