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The immediate reaction to yesterday’s Cole Irvin trade centered on whether he could start for the Orioles on opening day and how his arrival impacted the other rotation candidates.
All of this is according to an industry source with direct knowledge of my mind.
Also, can we confidently say now that the search is over – a nod to “Survivor” – and the Orioles relinquished interest in Michael Wacha and every other starter?
Space is really tight. They might have to build an addition onto the rotation. But never turn away from the spring waiver wire.
The Orioles don’t own a true No. 1 starter with John Means unavailable until probably June or July. Irvin doesn’t qualify, which appears to set up an intense and fascinating camp battle.
The Orioles succeeded today in finding a starting pitcher for their unsettled rotation, consummating a trade after failing to reach terms with a free agent.
Left-hander Cole Irvin and minor league pitcher Kyle Virbitsky were acquired from the Athletics for Single-A infielder Darell Hernaiz. Lefty reliever Darwinzon Hernandez was designated for assignment to make room for Irvin on the 40-man roster.
Irvin, who turns 29 on Tuesday, could be the only left-hander in the Orioles rotation on opening day with John Means recovering from Tommy John surgery and DL Hall a consideration for the bullpen. He’s made 62 starts over the past two seasons and posted a cumulative 4.11 ERA in 359 1/3 innings, with 1.8 walks and 6.4 strikeouts per nine frames in 2022.
The Orioles get more than durability with Irvin, who registered a career-low 3.98 ERA and 1.160 WHIP last year in 30 starts. He’s under team control through 2026.
The Phillies were the third team to draft Irvin, landing him in the fifth round in 2016 out of the University of Oregon. The Athletics acquired him in a cash deal on Jan. 30, 2021.
The Orioles finished their arbitration business today and proved again that the file-and-go approach has its exceptions.
Pitcher Austin Voth agreed to terms on a 2023 contract that also includes a club option for 2024. He’s the last of the six arbitration-eligible players to receive a new deal.
Terms weren’t immediately available. Voth sought $2 million after the sides exchanged figures on Jan. 13, and the club offered $1.7 million.
Voth, 30, is also eligible for arbitration next winter unless the Orioles pick up the option.
The Orioles claimed Voth off waivers from the Nationals on June 7 and it wasn’t viewed within the industry as an impact move. Voth was out of options, and he ran out of chances in D.C. after posting a 10.13 ERA and 2.143 WHIP in 19 relief appearances in 2022.
A week has passed since the Orioles made their last transaction, signing reliever Reed Garrett to a minor league contract. The 40-man roster hasn’t been impacted since they acquired left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez from the Red Sox for cash considerations on Jan. 11 and designated first baseman Lewin Díaz for assignment.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 15. The clock on the countdown is ticking louder. Some teams have declared that they’re unlikely to make any other moves, but the Orioles keep trying to find another veteran starting pitcher.
“We’re definitely not going to rest in terms of improving this roster before we leave for Sarasota,” executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said during Friday’s interview on 105.7 The Fan, “and even after we’re in Sarasota, sometimes things happen.”
They often happen.
Infielder Chris Owings, pitchers Chris Ellis and Conner Greene and catcher Beau Taylor were signed to minor league deals last March after the media arrived in Sarasota. Nothing impactful, as it turned out.
Nothing has changed with the Orioles rotation as we enter a new week. The same group of candidates for five spots, led by … we don’t know.
The thought of an open competition really intrigues. Then again, so does a trade for a legitimate No. 1 starter, but don't leave a candle burning for Miami's Pablo López, because he's headed to the Twins.
Nothing on the free agent market is going to settle the issue. Michael Wacha isn’t the answer, but he’s been successful between stops on the injured list. He’d be a nice insurance policy while the Orioles hope for a continued upward trend with some of their younger arms. And that the road for top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez is a smooth one.
Who really can say until he gets out there, takes the ball every five or six days and pushes himself beyond the number of games he grew accustomed to in the minors?
The Orioles will get back John Means at some point during the summer, perhaps before the All-Star break, certainly after it. They more easily can calculate what they’ll receive from veteran Kyle Gibson based on his 10 seasons in the majors, though they also trust that their studies of video and pitching program will bring out the best in him.
A new top 101 baseball prospects ranking again gives lots of love to the Orioles, with eight players included on the list.
Just not the exact same eight that made Baseball America’s top 100 this week.
Baseball Prospectus also puts infielder Gunnar Henderson at No. 1 while he retains his eligibility. The two publications are in agreement here.
Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is No. 8, shortstop Jackson Holliday is No. 9, outfielder Colton Cowser is No. 38, third baseman Coby Mayo is No. 69, infielder Jordan Westburg is No. 74, infielder Connor Norby is No. 82, and left-hander DL Hall is No. 95.
Not all lists are created equal, and we have another example of the inexact science.
The revelation this week that the Orioles led the majors with eight players ranked among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects, the most in franchise history, illustrated the massive gains made by a farm system that routinely drew heavy criticism for its light weight.
Only the second team to have two different players, catcher Adley Rutschman and infielder Gunnar Henderson, ranked first in back-to-back years, after the Cardinals’ J.D. Drew in 1999 and Rick Ankiel in 2000. The first to do it in consecutive years with players from the same draft class.
The appropriate and predictable focus fell upon the Big Eight: Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez (sixth), Jackson Holliday (15th), Colton Cowser (41st), DL Hall (75th), Jordan Westburg (76th), Connor Norby (93rd) and Joey Ortiz (95th).
Henderson will lose his prospect eligibility early this season. Happens to the best of them. Hall made his major league debut before Henderson and has an excellent chance to break camp with the team, so he’s also on the clock.
Norby and Ortiz shot into the top 100 with huge 2022 campaigns. They seemed neglected. Ortiz is rated 17th in MLBPipeline’s top 30 Orioles prospects.
The competition for bullpen spots on the Orioles roster got a little deeper this morning.
The club announced that it signed right-hander Reed Garrett to a minor league contract, which could put him on the list of spring training invites.
Pitchers and catchers report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Feb. 15, with the first workout held the following day.
Garrett, 30, made seven relief appearances with the Nationals last season and allowed seven earned runs (eight total) with 13 hits, eight walks and six strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings. The Richmond native had his contract selected on June 14 after a three-year absence from the majors.
The Nationals used Garrett in three June games and three more in July. He served as the 29th man in an Oct. 4 doubleheader and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings against the Mets.
How the rotation and bullpens are constructed, with the first influencing the second, are the biggest spring training curiosities for me and many others. The final bench spot must be monitored, with a non-roster, left-handed hitting first baseman hoping to crash the opening day party in Boston.
I’ve already filled this space with some spring training storylines. Here’s a recent story.
What else is worthy of our attention besides the exhilarating pitchers fielding practice and bunt drills?
I’ll take a swing at it with some quick hits.
Every Kyle Gibson side session and appearance is noteworthy because the Orioles gave him $10 million guaranteed, their largest deal since hiring Mike Elias, and he could move near or at the top of the rotation. They expect more out of him than just innings, though they'll gladly take those, as well. He's bound to draw comparisons to Jordan Lyles, the pitcher he basically is replacing.
The Orioles found out yesterday that Lewin Díaz would remain in the organization after he cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Díaz was designated for assignment again a week ago. He may or may not have been told.
Who wants to make that phone call?
But seriously …
Getting Díaz through waivers, which has been harder than AP calculus, increased the list of non-roster invites to spring training that hasn’t been finalized.
The Lewin Díaz saga might finally be over.
The Orioles announced today that Díaz cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. He stays in the organization.
The outcome allows the Orioles to bring Díaz and Ryan O’Hearn to spring training as non-roster invites competing for the backup job at first base. O’Hearn passed through waivers last week and accepted his outright.
Díaz has been a man on the move since the season ended. It's become his unintended claim to fame.
The Marlins designated Díaz for assignment on Nov. 15 and the Pirates claimed him off waivers on the 22nd. He was designated again on Nov. 30 and the Orioles claimed him two days later.
The long-term commitment to the city of Baltimore that Orioles ownership has preached and promised throughout rumors of a potential sale or relocation was reiterated this morning via a sizeable financial donation to a local nonprofit organization.
The point was driven home in tones ranging from mostly celebratory to somewhat heated during a 25-minute news conference.
Orioles chairman and CEO John Angelos, in a rare public appearance, and Mayor Brandon Scott gathered on the sixth floor of the B&O warehouse to announce a $5 million commitment to CollegeBound Foundation in support of “the next Baltimore renaissance.”
The CollegeBound Foundation, in existence for 35 years, is a multi-year support network dedicated to leading Baltimore City public school graduates through college by offering academic and personal guidance, empowering these students to successfully pursue and complete a college degree or other post-secondary options.
The Orioles also are providing paid internships to former city students and current College Completion Program scholars.
The offseason is melting away like Frosty. Not quite a puddle, but it’s getting mushier.
(I’m still wondering why Santa Claus left Karen on the roof of her house rather than dropping her off at the front door. She should have demanded to speak with his manager. But I digress …)
The report date for Orioles pitchers and catchers is exactly one month away. A few days earlier for Dillon Tate (Team USA) and Dean Kremer (Team Israel) as they ready for the World Baseball Classic and are marked as absent in camp.
The Orioles already have them pegged for the 26-man roster on opening day. The only concern is how they’ll ramp up earlier than normal, which in theory could make them more vulnerable to an injury. Manager Brandon Hyde will wave goodbye with fingers crossed.
Knowing how close we are to a Sarasota dateline creates another round of camp curiosities, which I’m formulating this weekend between NFL playoff games.
The depth in the Orioles rotation stacks up “pretty well,” one talent evaluator phrased it recently, when tracking starter candidates fourth through seventh. The back end and overflow.
Potential exists for higher grades. And to be in good hands from top to bottom if small sample sizes prove accurate in the longer term.
The Orioles are hoping that there really is strength in numbers.
They don’t have an established No. 1, 2 or 3 starter, but they want to further explore the group that includes Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall. This can be done with or without another veteran acquisition to go with Kyle Gibson, who’s normally a fourth or fifth.
The club is maintaining its quest for someone with previous experience as a 1, 2 or even a 3, judging by the range of its search. Michael Wacha is the most appealing of the remaining free agents and the Orioles have kept their interest in him. He’s coming off an 11-2 season with a 3.32 ERA and 1.115 WHIP in 23 starts for the Red Sox, but maintaining good health and staying on the mound has been an issue.
The Orioles completed last month’s trade for backup catcher James McCann by sending minor league infielder/outfielder Luis De La Cruz to the Mets today as the player to be named later.
De La Cruz, 20, spent the past two seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He appeared in 33 games in 2022 and batted .291/.396/.349 with five doubles and 12 RBIs in 101 plate appearances.
De La Cruz was part of the July 2019 international signing class at age 16, the first under Mike Elias and Koby Perez.
McCann was acquired on Dec. 21, with the Mets picking up $19 million of the $24 million remaining on his contract over the next two seasons.
Adley Rutschman was the only catcher on the 40-man roster before McCann’s arrival.
The Orioles have reached the point today where they must agree to contract terms with six arbitration-eligible players or risk hearings to determine 2023 salaries.
Outfielders Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander and Austin Hays, infielder Jorge Mateo and pitchers Austin Voth and Dillon Tate were tendered contracts at the deadline. They remain under team control, the most important order of business.
It’s unlikely that the Orioles sign all six players before exchanging figures, but they’re expected to announce some agreements later today. I’m placing the over/under at three.
Make it rain.
Hearings typically are set during spring training. The Orioles have joined other teams operating under the file-and-go approach, but they make exceptions, with Trey Mancini and John Means serving as examples last year.
Major League Baseball announced this afternoon that Orioles pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Sarasota on Feb. 15, with the first workout held the following day.
Position players are due on Feb. 20. The first full-squad workout will begin the morning of the 21st.
The first exhibition game is Feb. 25 against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles finish with a March 27 home game against the Cardinals, a late addition to the schedule.
The Orioles will face nine different opponents, with 11 of 31 games against American League East rivals.
Six games will be played against the Pirates, three in Sarasota and three in Bradenton. The Orioles also will host the Braves, Tigers, Phillies and Twins.
The latest removal of Lewin Díaz from the 40-man roster and the approaching resolution on Ryan O’Hearn didn’t move the Orioles forward in their offseason plans for first base.
They may have already arrived.
The club has sought a left-handed hitter to back up Ryan Mountcastle, and it’s been collecting candidates since November. The first time it claimed Díaz off waivers, on the same day that it signed Franchy Cordero to a minor league deal. Four days before it signed Josh Lester, also to a minor league contract.
The Orioles are going with a quantity approach, and they’re counting Anthony Santander, who worked out at first base last summer but didn’t play in a game. I’ve heard that he’ll do more of it in spring training.
Santander made nine starts with Single-A Lynchburg in 2016. It’s been a while.
While addressing one of their offseason priorities earlier this week, the Orioles created a new question.
Are they done with left-handed-hitting first basemen?
They hadn’t satisfied their craving after claiming Lewin Díaz off waivers from the Pirates on Dec. 2. He was traded to the Braves later in the month.
Franchy Cordero and Josh Lester agreed to a minor league deals in December. They provide depth in camp and perhaps at Triple-A, but the position is relatively new to Cordero.
Ryan O’Hearn, acquired from the Royals Tuesday afternoon for cash considerations, is a first baseman first. He’s made 163 starts and appeared in 185 games at the position over his five major league seasons with the Royals.
The Orioles are bringing back their Birdland Caravan, a four-day winter tour that runs from Feb. 2-5 at multiple locations throughout the region, with some notable participants including executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, manager Brandon Hyde, catcher Adley Rutschman and pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.
Included is autograph sessions and happy hours at three locations with current players, top prospects, members of the front office, broadcasters and the Oriole Bird.
The caravan will make stops at Bowlero College Park and Topgolf Baltimore, providing fans with an opportunity to interact with players and staff while they bowl and tee off. There’s also a community service project with the Maryland Food Bank, which is closed to the public, and fan rallies at Bel Air High School, Wilde Lake High School and Winters Mill High School.
The following stops are confirmed: Baltimore City, Bel Air, Bowie, College Park, Columbia, Frederick, Odenton, Salisbury, Towson, Westminster and York, Pa.
Fans in Elkridge and Owings Mills can take photos with the Oriole Bird.
