Grading Mike Elias and the Baltimore Orioles front office at the season’s midway point
By Bill Felber
Free agency
Seven players have come to Baltimore either through free agency, extension or re-signing. Probably the most important is starter Kyle Gibson, who signed for $10 million for one year after being released by the Phillies.
With the Orioles, Gibson has made 17 starts to the tune of a 4.66 ERA and an 8-5 record. While his use has been extensive, the results have been so up-and-down that Gibson’s value to the team at the halfway point works out to a quite neutral -0.1.
Aaron Hicks, who signed at the end of May a few days after being released by the Yankees, might turn out to be a bargain basement pickup. The Yanks are committed to Hicks to the tune of about $42 million through 2026, so any positive contribution he makes to any team other than New York will come at minimum salary.
And so far Hicks’ contribution to the Orioles has measured positively, +0.2 to be precise. It has consisted of a .260 average and four homers in 92 plate appearances, mostly in the outfield. There are few things that would please an Oriole fan more than to have the Yankees pick up the tab for one of their players’ success.
At the end of 2022, Elias had to decide whether to try to hold on to pitcher Jordan Lyles or let him walk. Elias let Lyles walk (to Kansas City as it turned out) and that judgment has been vindicated. In K.C., Lyles is 1-11 with a 6.68 ERA in 11 starts. He dodged a bullet there.