We are more than half way through the Major League Baseball season and our beloved Baltimore Orioles sit at 56-45, holding a three game lead in the AL East. Many are wondering – and anxious to find out – if they have what it takes to stay in first place throughout the duration of the season. The month of July is usually when teams either become “buyers” and make a run for a pennant or “sellers” and build their team for the following season or seasons. The trade deadline is July 31st and many believe the Orioles need to make a big move in order to remain at top of the division. While I would like this, I am not sure I agree that they will or even that they can.
The O’s have managed to secure their first place standing, to date, without their starting catcher, who is lost for the year; their 53 home run first baseman of last year, who is now hitting around .200; and, their usually 25+ home run shortstop, who has just four home runs so far. Not to mention, their big pitching acquisition, Ubaldo Jimenez, has just three wins. These players hopefully will get going in the second half of the season and, if they do, the Orioles will win the AL East rather easily.
In addition to all this, the rest of the division is the weakest it has been in years with the Red Sox and Rays practically out of it and the Yankees making a “splash” by acquiring Brandon McCarthy to address their pitching woes. Top to bottom right now, with no more moves made, the Orioles are the most talented team in the division and will make the playoffs.
The issue with the Orioles is not if they will make the playoffs, but if they have what it takes to win the World Series. The goal of this team is to make it to – and win – the Fall Classic, and every move they make should be to aid in that happening. Can the O’s beat the Tigers or A’s in a seven-game series with their pitching? The problem is that with the second wild card there are a lot more teams in contention and a lot less teams willing to deal an ace or big bat.
David Price would be a great acquisition for the Orioles, but in order to get him they will have to offer the Rays multiple prospects and probably Jonathan Schoop. I hear a bunch of fans saying, “let’s just offer this mid-level prospect and some average player and get him.” That won’t work. You have to realize it takes two teams to trade and no organization, especially not one as savvy as the Rays, will just give away an elite pitcher.
So if Price doesn’t come to Birdland, who else is out there? Is there really anyone, who can realistically be acquired, who you would take over Chris Tillman or Kevin Gausman? No, there isn’t. There are a bunch of average pitchers out there and I am not sure I want any of them. To me, the O’s big pitching move would be to keep Kevin Gausman in the rotation permanently and for Chris Tillman, who had a bit of a groin issue, to be 100% healthy. We have seen Gausman and Tillman shut down the Tigers lineup this season, so who is to say they can’t do it.
The Orioles should look to add a piece or two, but not just make a move to make one. There are a bunch of players I would really want, but they can’t be realistically acquired.
The Orioles have shown they can compete and beat the likes of the Tigers, Angels and A’s. While I am not confident they can beat them in a seven-game series, I don’t think they are that far off. The likes of Davis, Machado and Jimenez heating up, plus Kevin Gausman in the rotation permanently, will be better than bring in a mid-level player at the trade deadline.
Orioles: please don’t just make a move to make one. There will be October baseball in Baltimore and in the postseason anything can happen.
In Duquette we trust!
