Baltimore Orioles not ready to sell, looking to add pitching

Despite their lackluster recent performance, the Baltimore Orioles would prefer to improve their pitching rather than give up on the season.

After being as many as 12 games over .500 on May 9 – and in first place in the American League East – the Baltimore Orioles have gone 14-27 since then and now sit two games under that magic threshold at 36-38. They have also dropped to fourth in their notoriously competitive division. With just over a month to go until the trade deadline, it’s time to think about selling, right?

Not so fast. General manager Dan Duquette believes it’s “premature” to start having those discussions, according to Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun. The executive thinks his team is still capable of returning to form and playing like it did in the season’s first month. Right now, he’s more concerned with helping the club’s flailing pitching staff than trading his own players.

“Our pitching hasn’t been up to standards,” Duquette said. “We’re going to keep our eye out and try to get our pitching back to a competitive level, and see if we can make some additions to the team and see where we are in terms of contending for a playoff spot.”

Over in the dugout, Buck Showalter sounds even more unperturbed. In typical Showalter fashion, the skipper claims he hasn’t bothered to look at the standings in “about three weeks.” If he had, he’d see that despite the Orioles’ prolonged slump, they are by no means out of the playoff hunt. The O’s are five games behind in the division and three out of a Wild Card spot.

So perhaps Duquette is right not to slam the panic button just yet. But the next few weeks are going to be crucial in regards to determining whether Baltimore contends for another postseason appearance or puts up the for-sale sign.

In looking to make improvements, the mound isn’t a bad place to start. On Friday the O’s tied a major league record by allowing five or more runs for the 20th consecutive game. The last team to do so was the 1924 Phillies. By limiting the Rays to three yesterday, they avoided making some unfortunate history.

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As much as pitching is an area of need, the Orioles’ typically powerful offense hasn’t been helping much either. They rank just 20th in the league in runs scored (336) and 21st in OPS (.742). While you might think they need a boost there as well, Baltimore will probably bank on their underperforming lineup regulars – Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, Manny Machado, etc. – turning it around as the calendar flips to July.

The starting rotation has long been a sore spot for the O’s, and this year is no different. Orioles starters own a 5.75 ERA as a group; only the Reds are worse (6.26). Last year’s ace Chris Tillman has been nightmarish since returning from the DL, posting an 8.39 ERA in nine outings. Poor showings from Ubaldo Jimenez (7.26 ERA) and Kevin Gausman (6.47 ERA) have added to the problem. Twenty-four-year-old Dylan Bundy (3.73 ERA) has been the one pitcher holding it all together for Baltimore thus far.

If the Orioles plan to compete in the second half, another starter is practically a necessity. But what caliber of arm are they likely to find before the deadline? With a relatively weak farm system, they probably won’t be able to snare the quality of pitcher that would make a genuine difference in the team’s chances. Leaving them with the kind of middle-of-the-road arms they already have in spades.

Next: Chris Tillman and the contract year from hell

It will be a difficult task, but it sounds like Duquette is prepared to refrain from giving up on his team for the time being. We’ll know soon whether it was a good choice or ill-advised hope.

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