The Baltimore Orioles have been shut out on every top international free agent thus far. Those failures are self inflicted.
After years of ignoring the international free agent market, the Baltimore Orioles had high hopes heading into this year’s period. They had the most money available to spend, and actually made several trades to acquire even more cap room. This time would be different, as the Orioles would be targeting the international market, looking to bring new blood into the organization.
However, we all know what they say about best laid plans. The Orioles have fallen short in their pursuit of that high level international talent, being spurned by Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr., and Sandy Gaston. Along with those signings, the top 30 international prospects had all been inked to contracts, with the Orioles missing out.
It is not a surprise that this would be the case. Even with the most available money, the Orioles still do not have a general manager, manager, or an international scouting director. Baltimore also lacks a real presence in Latin America, the byproduct of years of disinterest and a general ignoring of the region when it comes to top talent.
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That refusal to take part in the international market has come back to bite the Orioles this year. While they have a cap of more than $6 Million, they have yet to find anyone willing to take their money. The Orioles not only have to contend with other teams, but also their reputation and their history when it comes to those international free agents.
When a new regime is brought in, these self inflicted wounds may be the most difficult to overcome. Families, players, and agents build relationships with teams; the Orioles do not have any connections. They are essentially starting over, years behind every other team in the league, as they look to establish themselves.
Perhaps, in time, they will be able to do so. The Orioles did sign several international free agents, but no one that would constitute a major name. This is par for the course over the past decade, when the last major international free agent, Radhames Liz, who the Orioles signed back in 2007. Liz only appeared in 27 games for the Orioles over three seasons, before resurfacing with the Pirates in 2015 as a reliever.
It may be possible that the Orioles still land a major figure when it comes to international free agency. Wang Po-Jung is expected to be posted, although his ability to make an impact at the major league level immediately is questionable at best. Still, Wang may be the best that the Orioles can hope for, as they look to make up for their past failings.
The Baltimore Orioles were hoping to be major players in the international free agent market. Instead, they had to battle with their reputation and past indifference, leading to their struggles today and into the foreseeable future.