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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 players Orioles should acquire

By Joshua Sadlock

May 16, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) takes the ball to relieve relief pitcher Alec Asher (51) in the 11th inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) takes the ball to relieve relief pitcher Alec Asher (51) in the 11th inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles have been in a month-long slump since early May; can they right the ship with a key trade?

Hearken back to the first week of May. The Orioles were 22-10 and off to their best start in franchise history. How have things gone since those halcyon days? Well, the O’s season is spiraling down the drain. They have lost 22 of 31 games and have fallen below .500 and are in danger of landing in last place in the American League East.

There is only one place to point the blame for the Orioles as their struggles deepen — the starting rotation. While the team is not the offensive juggernaut that would be expected looking at some of the names in the lineup, even the 1927 New York Yankees may struggle to make the playoffs with this group of pitchers. As the month of July approaches rapidly, the Orioles will be active on the trade market, either looking to add to their roster or selling off pieces with an eye on the future.

Needs

Starting Pitching

Here is how the last six starts have gone for the Orioles rotation entering their game Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox:

  • Wade Miley vs PIT: 2.2 IP, 8 hits, 4 earned runs
  • Alec Asher @ WAS: 4.0 IP, 7 hits, 5 earned runs, 4 walks
  • Dylan Bundy @ NYY: 6.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 HR allowed
  • Chris Tillman @ NYY: 1.1 IP, 7 hits, 9 earned runs, 3 walks, 3 HR allowed
  • Kevin Gausman @ NYY: 3.1 IP, 8 hits, 7 earned runs, 6 walks, HR allowed
  • Miley @ CWS: 2.1 IP, 6 hits, 6 earned runs, 2 walks, HR allowed
  • Asher @ CWS: 5+ IP, 6 hits, 6 earned runs, HR allowed

No surprises here, the Orioles have lost all but one of these games. Baltimore starters have allowed a .285 batting average and have an ERA of 5.27. Somehow that is only 29th in the league, but it’s not good. Not good at all. Kevin Gausman has regressed horribly after being given the start on Opening Day.

The Orioles have already given starts to eight different pitchers this year and currently have one starter with an 8.01 ERA and another with a 6.49 ERA. Ubaldo Jimenez, who made eight starts before being banished to the bullpen has a 6.49 ERA. This is a part of an ongoing trend with the Orioles. Developing starting pitchers has proven an impossible task for an organization that dominated the 1960s and 1970s with an unending stream of quality arms.

Middle Relief Help

All of those ugly starts from the rotation have forced the Orioles to run a constant shuttle back and forth with their Triple-A squad in Norfolk. Twenty-three pitchers have already appeared for the O’s this year, and the shuttle shows no signs of slowing. GM Dan Duquette has been aggressive in acquiring pitchers with minor-league options like Vidal Nuno, Richard Bleier, Logan Verrett, Miguel Castro, and Gabriel Ynoa.

The one area where the Orioles have been massively able to outplay the projection models has been in the bullpen. Not so this year. Zach Britton’s forearm injury has crippled the group, as has the constant need to pitch the final five innings of a game. Baltimore relievers have a 4.26 ERA and Darren O’Day has joined Britton on the DL.

Cycling through retreads or fringe big leaguers like Tyler Wilson, Mike Wright, Stefan Crichton, or Jimmy Yacabonis is not going to cut it for the Orioles. Having a bad starting rotation and an equally bad bullpen is a recipe for more 10-run nights.

Infield Depth

The Orioles have to be in win-now mode with their core expiring after the 2018 season. If they are really serious about making more than one trip to the ALCS with Manny Machado, how much longer can they continue playing J.J. Hardy every day? Hardy is slugging below .300 on the year and his typically reliable defense has been shaky at times this season.

Hardy’s option for 2018 will vest if he reaches 600 plate appearances this season. The Orioles will have to do everything in their power to keep Hardy from locking himself into $14 million next year. One option may be to slide Machado to shortstop and find a sure-handed utility infielder to split time at third base and second base with Jonathan Schoop, whose defense has also been a negative this year.

Trade Assets

The Orioles have one of the weakest farm systems in baseball. They have been forced to dip into their prospect pool for the past four years at the deadline to address deficiencies in the rotation and fill out the lineup with platoon outfielders. Duquette and the front office do not have the pieces in place to acquire a big name at the deadline, but have always found a way to be creative and get what they need.

  • Kevin Gausman, SP
  • Chance Sisco, C
  • Ryan Mountcastle, SS/LF
  • Chris Lee, SP
  • Tanner Scott, RP
  • Trey Mancini, 1B/DH/OF
  • Brad Brach, RP
  • Zach Britton, RP
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