Orioles can use depth at first to acquire an arm
If the Baltimore Orioles wanted to acquire another starting pitcher, they could use one of their first base prospects to sweeten a trade.
Having a key free agent signing almost fall through is not the way a professional baseball team would like to start spring training, but Yovani Gallardo’s deal with the Baltimore Orioles had to be restructured after health concerns almost derailed the deal. The Orioles have also reportedly signed outfielder Dexter Fowler to a three year deal, which solidifies their ranks at that position.
[Note: News broke Thursday that Fowler has signed a deal to return the Chicago Cubs, nullifying the reports he was going to the Orioles.]
If the Fowler deal doesn’t hit any snags, the Orioles will be set at almost every position for the near future. Yes, catcher Matt Wieters will be a free agent at the end of the season, but Caleb Joseph is under team control through 2020 and prospect Chance Sisco will be ready soon.
Even with the Gallardo deal finalized, the Orioles’ biggest question heading into this season and the future is the rotation. Wei-Yin Chen is gone and the rest of the rotation doesn’t scare anyone, even in a division where there are lots of rotation concerns.
Starting pitching help won’t come from the farm system. The Orioles have Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy but Harvey, even though he is a highly-ranked prospect, is multiple seasons from the majors and Bundy has dealt with serious injuries the past few years, so he’ll be limited to bullpen duty. Kevin Gausman could step into the ace role the Orioles envisioned when they drafted him in 2012, but he’s likely to spend time in the pen as well.
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One solution would be to dip into the minors and use one of their first base prospects as a trade piece to acquire a starter. Trey Mancini and fellow first base prospect Christian Walker were discussed as potential replacements should the Orioles fail to re-sign first baseman Chris Davis. Now that Davis is back to resume his home-run-mashing duties, Mancini and Walker are in essence blocked.
They aren’t the only two first base prospects on the Orioles’ farm. Last year’s first round draft selection DJ Stewart likely won’t stay in the outfield and will need to be moved to first base. Third base prospect Jomar Reyes faces a similar move given his size—he is listed as 6 feet, 3 inches and 220 pounds.
That makes four first base prospects. Davis will be moved off first base and take over the designated hitter role at some point during his seven year deal, so there will be an open position up for grabs. Reyes and Stewart won’t be ready for a couple years, but considering the potential offensive upside of Reyes and Mancini, parting with one of them could bring back a solid starter in return.
If a trade does occur, it won’t bring back an ace such as the one the Toronto Blue Jays got when they traded for David Price, but another quality starter such as Gallardo can add significant value.
And while the Orioles don’t have ample blue-chip prospects on whom to call on for help, there is a healthy amount of role players who can help the team in the future or sweeten a trade. In the near future, Sisco should be a productive offensive catcher and Mychal Givens will pitch in lots of high leverage innings and Mancini could provide some offensive help later in the season.