Baltimore Orioles: The 2010s All-Decade Team

The Baltimore Orioles are in the midst of arguably the worst stretch in franchise history. So, what better time than now to look back at the All-Decade O’s of the 2010s.

The 2010s weren’t all bad for the Baltimore Orioles. After a subpar start to the decade, finishing last in the AL East in both 2010 and 2011, the O’s bounced back by playing above-500 baseball for the next five consecutive seasons.

In that span, Baltimore made the postseason three times, advancing to the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals in 2014.

They’d finish off the decade by losing 100 or more games in two consecutive seasons. Something the franchise hasn’t done in over half a century.

It’s fair to say that things aren’t looking so bright for Baltimore. In fact, recently the team dumped Jonathan Villar, a switch hitter who lead the team in runs and triples last season. This move signals another dreadful team for the black and orange.

Enough with all the negatives, though. Let’s take a look at some of the best players to call Camden Yards their home over the last decade beginning with…

Nelson Cruz (Designated Hitter)

Nelson Cruz only played one season with the Baltimore Orioles, but boy was it a good one. In 2014, after being implicated in the Biogenesis Scandal, teams were hesitant to give Cruz a shot.

In giving Cruz a shot, the O’s were taking a risk and it paid off. That season, “Boomstick” slashed .277 |.333 |.525 while leading the league with 40 HR. He would also be selected to be an All-Star for the third time in his career before opting to leave Baltimore for a stint in Seattle.

All-Decade Baltimore Orioles Infield

Matt Wieters (Catcher) played seven seasons, from 2010-2016, with the O’s. In that span, he was selected to be an All-Star 4x and won two Gold Glove Awards in 2011 and 2012. As an Oriole, Wieters slashed .252 |.315 |.422.

Between 2010-2012, Wieters presented as an elite catcher, saving a combined 40 runs. After a short stint with the Washington Nationals, he now plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Chris Davis (First Base) could very well be the worst player in baseball. He set record after having failed to secure a hit in 210 days/62 plate appearances. Since being given a 7-year, $161M deal in 2016 Davis has actually managed to produce a negate fWAR (-1.6), according to FanGraphs.

Like his team, however, the 2010s weren’t all bad for Davis. From 2012-2015, he averaged about 40 HR and slugged .533, leading the league in home runs twice in 2013 (53 HR) and 2015 (47 HR). The O’s still owe Davis three more seasons at $17M per. He will, however, impact the franchise for years to come as his deal includes a deferred $42M to be paid until 2037.

Jonathan Schoop (Second Base) played about 5.5 seasons with the Orioles before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. While in Baltimore, Schoop established himself as one of the best middle infielders in the game.

In all, while with the O’s slashed .261 |.296 |.450. He was selected to be an All-Star in 2017 after slugging a career-high 32 home runs and 105 RBI.

J.J. Hardy (Shortstop) played seven seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, winning three consecutive Gold Glove  Awards, his only Silver Slugger Award ever, and an All-Star selection. While with the O’s, Hardy slashed .252 |.293 |.398.

We wrap up the All-Decade infield with none other than Manny Machado (Third Base). Though he only played about 6.5 seasons in Baltimore, Machado managed to establish himself as one of the team’s top 20 players. We’re talking about players like Jim Palmore, Eddie Murray, and Cal Ripken Jr. That’s pretty good company.

In his time with the O’s, Machado was selected to be an All-Star 3x and won two Gold Glove Awards. He hit 30 more home runs in three complete seasons with the team between 2015-2017, earning him the title of the highest-paid third baseman in the game.

All-Decade Baltimore Orioles Starters

In 5.5 years in Baltimore, Kevin Gausman was perhaps the best starter in the organization. Between 2013-2018 Gausman started 127 games, posting a 4.22 ERA with a 1.350 WHIP. His strikeout rate increased with each season, posting an 8.6 SO/9 in his final full season with the organization.

Since then, Gausman has seen time with the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, where he has struggled to find the consistency he had with the Orioles.

Chris Tillman was supposed to be the ace of the staff for a time. In fact, between 2012-2014 he posted a 38-16 record with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.195 WHIP. In that span, he earned an All-Star selection and led the AL in games started in 2014.

Beginning in 2015, however, Tillman struggled to pitch to that level. In fact, between 2015-2018, Tillman posted a 29-29 record with a 5.42 ERA and a 1.498. After the 2018 season, Tillman was granted free agency and signed with the Texas Rangers. He never took the mound in an MLB game in 2019.

Wei-Yin Chen was signed by the Baltimore Orioles out of Taiwan in 2012. While with the O’s between 2012-2015, he provided the organization with the level of confidence needed out of a veteran starter. In that time, he posted a 46-32 record with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.252 WHIP.

He’d go on to pitch for the Miami Marlins beginning in 2016. Four years later, the Marlins would release him outright, eating the remaining $22M and final year of his deal.

Dylan Bundy has shown that he can pitch with the best of them but has struggled to remain consistent throughout his 4-year career in Baltimore. Bundy’s bread and butter is his ability to strike batters out. In fact, over 614.1 career innings, he has punched out 602 batters. His career record, however, is 38-45 with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

He will remain in Baltimore’s control until 2022, giving him plenty of time to find the level of consistency needed to convert him into an ace level pitcher.

All-Decade Baltimore Orioles Bullpen

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Mychal Givens (Middle Relief) burst into the scene in 2015 and demonstrated an elite level of performance over 22 appearances and 30 IP. in that time, he posted a 1.80 ERA while striking out 38 batters. It gave the O’s the confidence they needed in a middle reliever, making him their everyday reliever over the next five seasons.

Between 2016-2019, Givens wasn’t quite the same, but he still demonstrated some value to the organization. In that time, between 2016-2019 he appeared in 262 games, tossing 293 IP and punching out 349 batters. His 3.56 ERA and 1.171 WHIP aren’t exactly what you want out of a shutdown reliever, but he is still reliable enough to take the ball in a tough situation.

Darren O’Day (Set-Up Man) pitched for the Orioles between 2012-2018 earning the title of the most consistent arm on the team’s bullpen. In that time, he posted a 2.40 ERA and a 0.994 WHIP in 391 appearances. He struck out 424 batters in 374.1 innings with the O’s.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more dominant season like the one Zack Britton (Closer) had in 2016. That season, in 69 appearances, Britton led the league in saves with 47. That season, he’d earn a second All-Star selection and placed fourth in the AL Cy Young voting. His 0.54 ERA would be the lowest posted by a reliever in baseball history.