Call to the pen
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Baltimore Orioles 2017 review, offseason preview

By Jason Burke

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: The Baltimore Orioles mascot waves the American Flag during the seventh inning stretch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: The Baltimore Orioles mascot waves the American Flag during the seventh inning stretch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez /

Free agents

The Baltimore rotation is not necessarily a strong part of the club on a year-to-year basis, but this winter many of the names that were making starts for them down the stretch could be hitting the free agent market. In other words, this is an opportunity for addition by subtraction if the team plays their cards right.

Ubaldo Jimenez: -1.3 bWAR, 6.81 ERA, 5.54 FIP. Made $13.5 million in 2017.

Jeremy Hellickson: 0.2 bWAR, 6.97 ERA, 6.33 FIP with Orioles (10 starts). Made $17.2 million between Phillies and O’s.

Wade Miley: -0.3 bWAR, 5.61 ERA, 5.27 FIP. Has $12 million team option for 2018 that includes a $500K buyout. 

Chris Tillman: -2.2 bWAR, 7.84 ERA, 6.93 FIP. Made just over $10 million in 2017.

While none of these arms would be back in the rotation in a perfect world, that’s a lot of innings to replace without spending some money. Each of these players would require a modest stack of cash, but wouldn’t break the bank, unlike some of the other free agents set to hit the market, including Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta.

More from Call to the Pen

One player that could have helped this situation was Parker Bridwell, whom the Orioles traded to the Angels for cash after a couple of rough Triple-A outings from the bullpen this season. He made it to the bigs with Los Angeles and went 10-3 with a 3.64 ERA. He’s a long way from a repeat of Jake Arrieta, but this does potentially speak to a larger issue in the Baltimore player development arena potentially giving up on players too early.

Anyway, back to more free agents!

J.J. Hardy has a $14 million team option, but after a down year that included a right wrist fracture, it’s hard to see the O’s bringing back Hardy for his age 36 season. The emergence of Tim Beckham‘s offensive prowess likely didn’t help Hardy’s case much either.

Welington Castillo has a $7 million player option, and with his 113 wRC+ and league-leading 49% caught stealing percentage, it’s safe to say that Baltimore is hoping he stays. The folks at MLB Trade Rumors think he’s likely going to opt out, but could re-sign with the O’s on a more lucrative contract.

35-year-old Seth Smith will also be a free agent, and if Joey Rickard was better with the bat this one would be easy. Instead, the O’s will likely have to scour the free agent market for a replacement if they’re hoping to compete in 2018.

Pedro Alvarez, Ryan Flaherty and Craig Gentry round out the rest of the free agent list, and each could return, but there should be upgrades on the free agent market to be had as well.

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