Baltimore Orioles: Top Five Priorities for the Offseason

Oct 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) during player introductions before the American League wild card playoff baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

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2. Replace Wieters with a low cost veteran free agent

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Now that the O’s are ready to let their longtime catcher walk, he needs to be replaced with a more cost efficient option. This means that bringing in a high quality option like Wilson Ramos is unrealistic because of the numerous holes that the Orioles have to fill.

However, this doesn’t mean that the team won’t be able to find a capable backstop to pair with Caleb Joseph. Prior to this season, I was a much bigger fan of Baltimore backup catcher than I am now. He was solid defensively, but his offensive output was just miserable. The 30 year-old hit for a .174 average and didn’t collect an RBI in the 49 games that he appeared. Getting more consistent at bats should help to improve this 2016 numbers, but his slow bat and poor numbers should not give anyone in the Orioles organization confidence that he can fill the starting catching spot everyday.

In terms of potential fits available in free agency, there are a couple of names that stick out to me as being a good fit on the Baltimore roster. Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley was previously with the O’s in 2014 and has been putting up solid numbers in a pseudo-starting role in Colorado the past two years. He hit for a .260 average while launching 10 home runs in just 83 games.

Chris Ianetta is another potential veteran option. He hasn’t put up as good of numbers as Hundley, but he brings some pop to the lineup and should be able to be had for a reasonable one-year contract. Kurt Suzuki is an under-the-radar option as well after he has a decent season with the Twins in 2016.

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