Baltimore Orioles: Cesar Valdez, from penthouse to outhouse

Cesar Valdez, from penthouse to outhouse. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, the penthouse. For a 36 year old, signed to a minor league contract, who began the season as the team’s closer, Valdez’s prospects were as about as good as they could have been, however.

An even more remarkable aspect of Valdez’s career, is that he latched onto a team this year. After debuting in 2010, he didn’t appear at the game’s highest level again until 2017. Valdez pitched in 47 games the past two seasons, though following his DFA, Chavez may be lucky to land in the Majors again.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cesar Valdez began the year on top of the mountain. To get back there he’ll have to start his climb from the bottom.

The Orioles are in a rebuilding phase and knew wins were going to be hard to come by this year. Therefore it didn’t really matter their closer to begin the 2021 season had three saves to his name in only 29 career games before entering the year.

While the Orioles didn’t turn many heads as the season got underway, Valdez certainly did. Through 13 games he had eight saves and a 1.23 ERA. He had only walked three batters during that span. That’s when his descent began.

One night after picking up a clean save (what would become his last save) in early May, the beginning of Valdez’s demise took place in New York, against the Mets.

Valdez was walked-off after surrendering two runs on three hits, while collecting just one out. In three of the next five games, Valdez allowed the opposing team to have their way with him, effectively ending his short tenure as the Baltimore Orioles closer. In a six game span, Valdez saw his ERA shoot up from 1.23 to 5.30.

Ousted as the closer, Valdez still provided value as a late inning, high leverage option. Until he didn’t. The decline was fast. Closer, high leverage situations, low leverage situations, mop up opportunities, jobless.

Giving up runs in five of his last six games sealed the deal for Valdez. The worst team in the league has parted ways with its one time closer. Now, Valdez hopes to join his eighth organization and work his way back to the bigs.