Do the Baltimore Orioles need to find a Mark Trumbo replacement? If so, they can turn to a variety of different men available in free agency.
The Baltimore Orioles may need to start looking for a Mark Trumbo replacement in free agency. They have yet to reach a deal with the reigning American League home run champion thus leaving them with a big hole. Losing his 47 home runs is significant, but not impossible to restore with another move. Perhaps it’s not even power they should seek in finding a professional bat to fill his roster spot.
The hope seems to be that the Orioles will enter 2017 with a similar team as they did in 2016. Chris Davis will be the big power hitter in the middle of the lineup. He’ll see time at first base, right field, and occasionally as the DH. Rookie Trey Mancini is another guy they will use regularly at DH. Even with Manny Machado and Adam Jones also present, this may not be enough. One more solid hitter is probably required.
One plan could be to platoon Mancini with a veteran bat. This idea is a pretty good one as it’s difficult to know what we can expect from him after the small sample size in 2016. Thankfully, this free agent class offers plenty of choices for the Orioles in finding their Trumbo replacement.
Several free agents remain ready to ink a deal with Baltimore. Excluding Jose Bautista, as the Orioles have made their opinion of him clear already, these are a few of the men we could see the Orioles sign should they move on from Trumbo.