Baltimore Orioles pointlessly release Jonathan Villar

For no real reason whatsoever, the Baltimore Orioles have released Jonathan Villar.

To say that 2019 was a rough season for the Baltimore Orioles would be an understatement. The rebuild was in full effect, with the franchise struggling in virtually every facet of the game. The lineup was mediocre at best, the pitching was disastrous, and they struggled to catch the ball.

Yet, not everything was a disaster for Baltimore. They had several players that appeared to be possible building blocks or trade candidates. One of those, Jonathan Villar, had recaptured the form that made him one of the more exciting players in the game back in 2016, when he appeared to be on the cusp of becoming a solid all around player and dynamic leadoff man for the Brewers.

Despite his solid 2019 campaign, the Orioles determined that Villar was not a part of their future. After they were unable to find a trade partner for the infielder, they have reportedly placed him on waivers ahead of Monday’s deadline to offer contracts to arbitration eligible players.

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Although one could understand why Villar’s anticipated $10.4 million in arbitration would be a deterrent on the trade market, that is not the case with Baltimore. The Orioles, even with that salary factored in, would still be projected to be under $80 million. There was no reason to cut him loose.

If Villar can replicate his 2019 campaign, that decision would look even more indefensible. He had posted a .274/.339/.453 batting line, hitting a career best 24 homers while stealing 40 bases. Villar provided a dynamic threat on the bases that the Orioles had been missing for years while playing solid defense at second and short.

Even though there was not much of a trade market for Villar at this point, that would not necessarily be the case come July. Teams are always looking to add depth in the infield, and a player like Villar could be an attractive target. His salary would certainly be more palatable over the final two months of the season, and the Orioles could have received pieces needed to accelerate the rebuilding process.

Instead, the Baltimore Orioles decided to cut ties with Jonathan Villar in an apparent attempt to cut salary when they did not need to. The tanking efforts in Baltimore are not over.