Baltimore Orioles Reversing Course at Deadline Again

Earlier in the month, Dan Duquette proclaimed that the Baltimore Orioles would be buyers at the trade deadline. Last week he said the team would sell. On Saturday, Duquette changed his mind again.

At 46-51, and 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, the Baltimore Orioles would appear to be in prime position to sell. It also appeared as though they would do just that, as general manager Dan Duquette had indicated earlier in the week that he could look to move a few players to start the rebuild. Given the state of the Orioles farm system, and their record, such a move would make sense.

However, Duquette and the Orioles have reversed course yet again. On Saturday, Baltimore went back to its earlier stance, and proclaimed that they would be buyers at the trade deadline. To Duquette, being that close to the Wild Card makes the postseason attainable, if the Orioles can add some starting pitching.

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There is a kernel of truth to that logic. At this point in the season, being 4.5 games out of the playoffs is not an insurmountable distance. Yet, the Orioles would need to bypass six other teams to make the postseason. As the Mariners and Yankees have already begun adding to their roster for their own push forward, and teams like the Royals and Rays are looking to do the same, that distance may be larger than the numbers would indicate.

Baltimore is also in a precarious position with players like Adam Jones, Zach Britton, and Manny Machado poised to hit free agency after the 2018 season. If Duquette is looking to add a pitcher or two that is controlled into next year, buying at the deadline could make sense. But a rental player would just be a waste of time.

Next: Yankees interested in Darvish

Barring a miracle, the Baltimore Orioles will not make the playoffs this year. That apparently will not stop Dan Duquette from looking to add to the roster.