If the O’s don’t make another move this offseason, did they do enough to position themselves to win the division?
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
In less than three weeks, the Orioles will report to spring training. Their first Grapefruit League game is in 29 days. Baseball season is growing ever closer.
It’s possible the O’s will pull off a major, surprise acquisition before camp opens — and I’m contractually obligated to remind you that last year’s Corbin Burnes trade didn’t happen until Feb. 1 — but it’s more likely that the Orioles’ roster we see now is basically the one with which they’ll open the season.
If that’s the case, how are you feeling about the Orioles’ offseason, Camden Chatters? To me they simply haven’t done enough. Letting Corbin Burnes walk away without replacing him with another ace-type pitcher is a rotation downgrade for sure — with all due respect to Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano — and it’ll put added pressure on the offense and the bullpen to try to make up the difference. And perhaps they can. But a part of me was expecting the Orioles to make more of a splash in their first offseason of David Rubenstein’s ownership tenure.
Then again, it’s not as if Rubenstein hasn’t spent money this winter. As The Baltimore Banner’s Jon Meoli writes, the Orioles’ projected Opening Day payroll is about $156 million, up more than $60 million from last year’s opener, and about middle of the pack among MLB teams this year. That’s nothing to sneeze at, and a big improvement over the previous ownership regime. It’s just that those additional funds haven’t gone to any superstar free agents, but rather to less-heralded players like Tyler O’Neill, Gary Sánchez, and Andrew Kittredge, plus a slew of arbitration raises.
“The question that will define the Orioles’ season isn’t going to be whether they spent enough,” Meoli concludes, “but did they spend it well?” This offseason Mike Elias has opted to spread the Orioles’ money around to patch multiple holes rather than go for broke with one superstar signing. I can’t say it’s a terrible strategy, even if it’s not as flashy as landing a high-profile starting pitcher. But will it be enough for the Orioles, who fell short of a division crown last year, to gain ground in a difficult AL East? I guess we’ll find out in a few months.
Links
Orioles getting closer to newcomers arriving in camp – School of Roch
The new Orioles seem to be genuinely good clubhouse dudes, which hopefully will help a team that seemed off-kilter during their second-half struggles last year. It was that or bring back Rougned Odor.
O’s get three players on the Baseball America top 100 listing of MLB’s best prospects – Steve Melewski
There was a time not long ago when O’s fans would have been thrilled to have three players in BA’s top 100. But after four straight years of 5+ prospects on the list, dropping down to “only” three this year seems like a disappointment.
Can Trevor Rogers help Orioles in 2025? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
I sure hope so. The Connor Norby superfans never get tired of telling us what a huge mistake that trade was.
Anthony Santander will be missed in Baltimore – MLB.com
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Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with two former Orioles: left-hander Ashur Tolliver (37) and righty Tim Stoddard (72).
On this date in 1961, the Orioles swung a seven-player trade with the Kansas City A’s, acquiring outfielders Whitey Herzog and Russ Snyder. Snyder spent the next seven years with the Birds and was a contributor to their 1966 championship team, while Herzog lasted just two seasons in Baltimore to wrap up an undistinguished playing career before becoming a Hall of Fame manager.