masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIn case anyone missed it on Twitter, I’ll pass along that teams like players who might be able to help them, but there may not be active discussions between the two sides.
Also, everyone likes Zach Britton.
There may actually be more inquiries about Brad Brach than Britton. I’m hearing that there’s heavy traffic on Brach, who was dangled at the Winter Meetings for the proper return.
The Orioles aren’t simply going to unload him.
Brach also can become a free agent following the 2018 season….

In case anyone missed it on Twitter, I’ll pass along that teams like players who might be able to help them, but there may not be active discussions between the two sides.

Also, everyone likes Zach Britton.

brad-brach-white.jpgThere may actually be more inquiries about Brad Brach than Britton. I’m hearing that there’s heavy traffic on Brach, who was dangled at the Winter Meetings for the proper return.

The Orioles aren’t simply going to unload him.

Brach also can become a free agent following the 2018 season. It’s just not trumpeted like the statuses of Britton, Manny Machado and Adam Jones.

Moving Brach would bring less in return than Britton, which is one reason why so many teams are checking on him.

Brach has blown four saves and been tagged with two losses, the latest coming Friday night against the Cubs when Addison Russell homered in the ninth inning. However, he has 15 saves, a 2.75 ERA and 0.864 WHIP in 39 1/3 innings.

Brach strung together 13 consecutive scoreless outings before surrendering a two-out solo home run to the Blue Jays’ Troy Tulowitzki on June 27 while recording his 14th save. He retired all six batters he faced with five strikeouts in his last two appearances before Russell’s home run.

One bad pitch tends to be remembered a lot longer than all of the quality offerings.

Teams can view Brach as a set-up man or potential closer. Manager Buck Showalter is comfortable using him in both roles.

Ubaldo Jiménez makes his first start of the second half today as the Orioles close out their series against the Cubs and try to avoid being swept. He’s allowed nine runs and 10 hits and walked seven batters over 10 innings in his last two starts since his eight scoreless innings in Toronto.

Jiménez’s face should be plastered on every box of chocolates.

Jon Jay is 3-for-8 with two doubles and a home run against Jiménez.

Left-hander José Quintana is making his Cubs debut following Thursday’s trade with the White Sox. He faced the Orioles on May 7 at Camden Yards and allowed four runs and nine hits over five innings in a 4-0 loss.

Quintana is 1-4 with a 4.29 ERA and 1.346 WHIP in six career starts against the Orioles over 35 2/3 innings. He’s 1-3 with a 5.16 ERA and 1.632 WHIP in four starts at Camden Yards over 22 2/3 innings.

Jones is 8-for-14 with two doubles and two home runs against Quintana. Johnny Giavotella is 4-for-8 with a double.

I’d start Giavotella at second base today and slide Jonathan Schoop to shortstop.

Chris Davis is 1-for-12 with a double and four strikeouts against Quintana.