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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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Jun 13, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) throws the ball against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) throws the ball against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Derek Holland

Derek Holland was once one of the more promising young left-handed starters in the game of baseball. He won 16 games for the Texas Rangers in his age-24 season and threw four shutouts that year. Holland also threw over 200 innings with a 3.42 ERA in 2013 at the age of 26. However, since his best full season in the big leagues, Holland has struggled to stay healthy.

Holland logged only 203 total innings at the MLB level from 2014 to 2016 and had a 4.30 ERA. Last season he went 7-9 in 20 starts with 15 home runs allowed in 107.1 innings. Holland’s strikeout rate fell to a career-low 5.6 per nine. His struggles forced him to take a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox for only $6 million.

The pillow deal in Chicago has paid off nicely for all parties involved. The White Sox were merely looking for a live body to sop up innings while their rebuild began. If they were lucky, Holland might pitch well enough to generate some trade interest in July. With a good performance, Holland would pitch himself into a multi-year deal at the end of the season.

The one-year arrangement for Holland and the White Sox has worked out as well as anyone could have hoped. He has run his record to 5-6 with a 3.79 ERA and an improved strikeout rate. The peripheral statistics will not be as attractive to potential trade partners. For better or worse, this is the type of pitcher the Orioles will have to settle for if they are going to target a starting pitcher.

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