Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The dust is still settling on the Grayson Rodriguez-for-Taylor Ward trade and everyone in Birdland has an opinion. It was perhaps the most unexpected trade of the Mike Elias
era, sending away one of the Orioles’ most high-ceiling (but also high-risk) young pitchers for a 32-year-old outfielder with just one season until free agency. The debate about this deal is going to continue for quite some time.
It might not be long until O’s fans have another major transaction or two to analyze, at least if a recent report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal is to be believed. Rosenthal quotes a rival executive who thinks that the Orioles will be “extremely active” this winter, going so far as to say, “It would not shock me if [Elias] was the first one to sign a free-agent starter. I actually almost expect it.”
Rosenthal even writes that “club officials are not ruling out a pursuit of right fielder Kyle Tucker,” which is kind of like saying that I’m “not ruling out” moving to Hollywood and becoming America’s next great action movie star. Listen, I’d love if it were true that the O’s have a real shot at signing the most coveted free agent on the market, but based on everything I’ve ever known about the Orioles, it seems…implausible. Despite whatever rumors Rosenthal might have heard, I remain steadfast in my belief that the Orioles definitely won’t sign Kyle Tucker.
As for the unnamed executive’s expectation that the O’s will be the first team to sign a free agent starter, that would also surprise me a bit, but it’s at least a little more plausible. Note that the executive didn’t specify that it would be a top-shelf pitcher. I could see the Orioles jumping quickly to sign a back-of-the-rotation type of starter, which of course wouldn’t excite anyone but would make the executive’s prediction technically correct. Get hyped for Zack Littell, folks!
I won’t dispute that the Orioles have been aggressive early on. They re-acquired Andrew Kittredge just days after the World Series ended, and then swung perhaps MLB’s biggest trade (for better or for worse) of the hot stove season so far. So, hey, maybe Rosenthal’s scuttlebutt will turn out to be correct and the Orioles will be one of MLB’s most aggressive teams this winter, even diving into the bidding for the most prominent free agents. Let’s just say I’ll believe it when I see it.
Links
Is there more pressure on O’s to now sign a pitcher? – Steve Melewski
The pressure hasn’t changed, in my opinion. The Orioles badly needed a pitcher before the Rodriguez trade just as badly as they need one now. There’s no excuse for not acquiring a good one.
What do you think of the Orioles’ Rodriguez-for-Ward trade? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rich Dubroff tries his best to defend the trade to his readers, who are none too happy about the deal. He assures one reader that it won’t be as bad as the Glenn Davis trade, which I’m sure is true but is not a high bar to clear.
Orioles fill out coaching staff with new hitting and bullpen coaches – The Baltimore Banner
The Orioles hired two more coaches who are younger than me. I’m starting to take this as a personal attack.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three former Orioles were born on this day: outfielder Quintin Berry (41) and right-handers Jason García (33) and Mark Eichhorn (65).
On this day in 1977, O’s first baseman Eddie Murray was named AL Rookie of the Year after a stellar debut season in which he mashed 27 homers and drove in 88 runs while playing all but one of the Orioles’ games. It was just the first of many honors for the legendary Hall of Fame Oriole, who went on to be an eight-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glover, three-time Silver Slugger, and World Series champion.
