2019 MLB Season: The AL East’s best GM
Mike Elias, Baltimore Orioles
Nobody could have had high expectations when Mike Elias was named last October to take control of the woeful Orioles. It’s no surprise, then, that Baltimore finished deep in the AL East cellar, and that Elias failed to do anything to upgrade the on-field performance.
Indeed, his -7.0 short-term score was easily the division’s worst, and among the worst in baseball. That’s not a criticism of Elias; given the sorry talent base he began with any short-term upgrade would have been ephemeral and pointless.
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Instead, what Elias tried to do was accumulate talent for future growth. Elias acquired or purchased 15 players in deals with other teams, and if any of them eventually become stars perhaps they will redeem Elias’ 2019 reputation.
Among them, the best was probably pitcher Asher Wojciechowski and infielder Hansel Alberto. Wojciechowski went 4-8 in 16 starts, compiling a 4.92 ERA following his July 1 purchase from Cleveland. In Baltimore, those are considered promising numbers.
Alberto, selected off waivers from San Francisco in March, batted .305 in 550 plate appearances while generally shifting between second and third.
As might be expected, the Orioles dabbled only lightly in the free-agent market. Elias did sign pitcher Dan Straily to a minimum dollar deal in April, then sold him to Philadelphia at the trade deadline.
Among the rookies, pitcher John Means was easily the star. A 26-year-old, Means managed a 12-11 record and 3.60 ERA, not bad for a team that only won 54 games during the 2019 MLB season.
Short-term acquisitions: -7.0
Short-term trade losses: +2.9
Short-term free agent signings: -2.3
Short-term free agent losses: +2.7
Short-term rookie production: -3.3
Short-term total: -7.0