Baltimore Orioles: Consider the farm sold

If you thought the Baltimore Orioles weren’t going to do anything at the trade deadline, you were wrong. Starter Kevin Gausman and reliever Darren O’Day were traded to the Atlanta Braves in a deal that broke at approximately 3:15 PM. Just about 40 minutes later (just prior to the 4 PM deadline), second baseman Jonathan Schoop was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Let’s go trade by trade in terms of the return. For Gausman and O’Day, the Birds got RHP Evan Phillips, INF Jean Carlos Encarnacion, C Brett Cumberland, and LHP Bruce Zimmerman. They also received international signing bonus slots.

In return for Schoop, the O’s got RHP Luis Ortiz, INF Jean Carmona, and INF Jonathan Villar – the latter of which was previously on the DL and about to come off. Villar of course has been at the big league level with Milwaukee, and Houston before that. He’s under team control until 2021.

Regarding whether or not this was good return, that will have to remain to be seen. The Orioles didn’t get any top prospects per se in these trades. However they did get a big league infielder. Villar’s spent time both at short and second base. I suspect he’ll slide into the starting lineup as the second baseman in lieu of Schoop.

They also got international bonus slot money, which can’t be shoved under the rug. Ultimately, the Orioles saved about $30-$35 million in salary money between the rest of this year and next year. That’s a lot in savings. Now they have to hope that some of the prospects that have been acquired in the past couple of weeks hurry up and get to the big leagues. And that they’re good at their trades. Because that’s the true judgement of any trade – if it works out or not.

Baltimore Orioles: Looking more and more like Adam Jones will stay in Baltimore

The MLB trade deadline is at 4 PM this afternoon, and Baltimore Orioles fans have their eyes on Adam Jones. The center fielder’s contract of course is up after this season, and he’s a free agent. He also has the right to veto any trade due to his 10-and-5 rights. In essence, any player who’s been in the league for ten years and with the same team for five of those years can veto any trade.

And in a somewhat surprising move, Jones appears intent on invoking that de facto no trade clause so as to remain in Baltimore. It’s been stated time and time again that it at least outwardly appears that both parties are interested in Jones being an Oriole in 2019 and onward. GM Dan Duquette has been quoted as saying that he thinks Jones will be an Oriole after today.

This kind of comes across as a scenario in which both the Orioles and Jones could have their cake and eat it too. The Birds could trade Jones to a contender and get a couple of prospects back. Jones in turn would have a shot at competing for a ring. Then as a free agent after the season, he could re-sign with the Orioles. So is Jones doing a disservice to the organization and the fans by hanging on?

There are plenty of people who are going to look at it that way. But Jones is also wary of having to uproot his family, or spend more time away from them than he already does. Along with his wife and two kids, he lives in Baltimore and makes this his year-around home. He’s away from his family when the team’s on the road, but if he were traded he’d be away from them for the next two months plus.

Issues like that do make a difference. I would remind fans that Adam Jones has really been adopted by Baltimore as it’s own. Baltimore isn’t like New York or Los Angeles where mercenaries come, win them a title, and then sometimes depart. Baltimore really embraces it’s athletes, and Jones is a perfect example of that. Baltimore’s a part of who he is, and it’s helped him become the family man he is now.

I suppose I would say that yes in fact the organization could get better in the future if they had the liberty to deal Jones and get something back for him. And if he signs a new contract to remain here, it’s really no harm no foul, right? But you can’t begrudge Jones for not wanting to waive his 10-and-5 status for the reasons he’s publicly cited. As a father and husband, he has to follow his heart first.

The Orioles head to the Bronx tonight to open up a short two-game set with New York. Yefry Ramirez gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Masahiro Tanaka. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Chris Davis rocks the yard as Birds win third straight

Based squarely on league play yesterday, you’d have no choice but to say that the Chris Davis contract was a good signing by the Baltimore Orioles. Whether it was or wasn’t is up to the beholder; Davis has struggled this year. This much we know. But he’s shown signs of breaking out a bit of late. That was certainly true yesterday.

Dylan Bundy dominated Tampa hitters in yesterday’s game, becoming the third straight Orioles’ starter in as many days to post a win. Bundy’s line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 7 K. Bundy had good control, and was hitting his spots in the zone. If anything he was hitting his spots too much, as the three runs he gave up were solo homers. But with that said, it’s tough to argue with seven strikeouts.

The O’s had runners at the corners with one down in the last of the first, and Trumbo grounded into a force out which scored a run. However credit Adam Jones with half of that run, as he slid hard into second base to break up the double-play. It wasn’t a dirty slide or an attempt to intentionally injure someone, it was just a good clean – but hard – slide. And it netted the Orioles a run.

Tampa presumably would have turned a double-play if not for that slide, which would have ended the inning. And seeing that Chris Davis smacked a two-run homer following that play, you can partially credit Jones with that as well. Little things like that in games do matter. All Jones was trying to do was to keep the inning alive. When the dust cleared, that hard slide assisted the Orioles in netting three runs.

And it’s a good thing that they were able to put those runs on the board,, as for a moment it appeared that Tampa was going to make a game of it. Cron smacked a solo homer in the second inning. He would also smack one in the fourth. However between those two homers, Jones would net an RBI-single for the Orioles. Austin Wynns‘ would also homer in the last of the fourth (a play that was reviewed for fan interference and upheld), and the O’s held a 5-2 lead.

Jace Peterson‘s RBI-double in the fifth seemed to break the game open a bit, however Tampa still had a slight window. Bauer’s solo homer in the sixth inning kept the Orioles thinking that they needed more runs with a 6-3 lead. So they decided to keep scoring…as has been the case for most of this series. They truly busted the game open in the seventh with Jonathan Schoop‘s three-run homer, running the score to 9-3.

Tampa attempted to make the game not as crooked as it looked with two runs in the eighth. But the Orioles got those runs right back on Davis’ second home run of the game – another two-run shot. And the Birds went home with an 11-5 victory.

This series won’t be anything more than a footnote in a season that faded to black a long time ago. However for once it was the Orioles seemingly “getting well” against a hapless team. The Birds have played some bad teams this year, series’ in which one might argue that they could seemingly correct themselves. But instead it was those teams “getting well” against the O’s. Whether it was Oriole mistakes or bad bounces, somehow the opponent would find a way.

But in this series it was the Orioles finding a way. Detractors will say now that the pressure’s off a bit they’re finding themselves, however wins are still wins at the major league level. Does Chris Davis’ two homer effort make up for how things went in April and May? Not really. But it meant something for yesterday’s game.

Almost immediately following the game the Orioles announced that they had traded reliever Brad Brach to the Atlanta Braves for $250,000 in international signing bonus slot money. For what it’s worth, it’s the first time in the team’s history that they’ve ever done that. As we know they’ve dealt international slot money before, but never acquired it.

I’ll be honest; I’m not so sure the Orioles didn’t sell low on Brach. Granted he’s had his struggles this season, and international signing money is the way of the future. (The Orioles are expected to sign some players on the international market as soon as this week.) But I’m of the impression that players are better than slot money. I would have expected the O’s to get perhaps a low level prospect in return for Brach. But I’m old school, as has been said ad hoc. Needless to say, at least they got something for another piece.

Baltimore Orioles: Is today Adam Jones’ final game at Camden Yards?

The MLB Trade Deadline is 4 PM on Tuesday, but the Baltimore Orioles have already been very active. This much we know. The question is will anyone else be dealt away? Namely, will Adam Jones be traded away?

As we all know, Jones is in the final year of his contract. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season. If you read the tea leaves, it appears that both parties would be amenable to a new contract moving forward. That might involve Jones moving to right field, but again it appears that both parties might be okay with that.

So it makes sense that perhaps the O’s consider trading Jones now (sending him to a contender), and perhaps getting an additional prospect or two in return. The fact is that the more prospects they get, the quicker the rebuilding process will be. Jones of course would have to waive his no trade clause in order to make this happen, and again it does appear that he’d be willing to do that.

If the O’s were to do this, that would mean that this afternoon’s game would be Jones’ last at Camden Yards. As an Oriole at least – for now. It’s easy to suggest that it appears to be a given that he’ll return, but nothing’s guaranteed in this world. Least of all tomorrow.

If in fact this ends up being Jones’ final game as an Oriole at Camden Yards (again, for now), it’s certainly bittersweet. There’s no doubt that regarding this year Jones would be worth more to the Orioles on the trade market than he would on the roster. However he’s also a fan favorite, and he’s done more for this community using his status as an Oriole than anyone since Ripken. Simply put, he is and always will be an Oriole.

Milwaukee and Philadelphia appear to be the two teams that are interested in trading for him. And it really boils down to whether or not they or someone else is willing to give the Orioles what they want in exchange for Jones. Just like Machado and Britton, you aren’t going to give the guy away. Especially not when this one guy has been the fact of the franchise for some time.

And in saying that, I hope that Orioles fans recognize that today could be a swan song of sorts for Jones – again, for now. I hope that they give him the salute that he’s due. The chapter of Orioles’ history over which he’s presided will forevermore go down as a successful one – withstanding this season. This isn’t to say that he shouldn’t be traded. Ideally, he’s dealt this week, goes to a contender, and re-signs with the Orioles in the off season. But either way, he deserves his due today. And my hope is that the fans show up and give it to him.

Baltimore Orioles: Trey Mancini and friends ensure that big wheels keep on turning

The Baltimore Orioles are thinking about petitioning MLB to play Tampa for the rest of the season. They put up 15 runs last night, and 11 in this evening’s ballgame on Trey Mancini bobble head night behind Kevin Gausman, who gave a great starting effort. Gausman’s line: 7.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

Similar to last night, Tampa actually had an early 1-0 lead in this game – on Sucre’s first inning RBI-single. But that didn’t last long, as Mancini’s two-run homer in the second inning gave the Orioles the lead for good at 2-1. Joey Rickard followed suit with a solo shot, giving the Orioles back-to-back homers, and a 3-1 lead.

Tampa’s Kiermaier would smack a solo homer of his own in the third, cutting the Orioles’ lead to 3-2. And at that singular moment it appeared that this would be a game. That notion didn’t last long. The Birds loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth, and Rickard’s bases-clearing double extended the Orioles’ lead to 6-2. That ended the competitive portion of the evening.

The game ballooned further and further out of control (from Tampa’s perspective at least) from there. Caleb Joseph‘s RBI-single later in that fourth inning gave the O’s a 7-2 lead, and two innings later in the sixth Rickard netted the Birds an additional run with an RBI-double. Add in another RBI-single by Joseph, an RBI-double by Adam Jones, and a sac fly-RBI by Mark Trumbo, and when the smoke cleared the O’s had themselves an 11-2 victory over Tampa.

It’s either been feast or famine for this team thus far in 2018 – and in saying that, I mean mostly famine. So this has been a special two games for the Orioles, who have tried in vain to date to re-capture the form they showed from 2012-2016 or so. But needless to say, for at least two nights in July we saw the Orioles of old.

I think perhaps the biggest thing was that the O’s came back this evening after a big win on Friday night and won again. Not only that, but they won with ease once again. This is a team that’s struggled to put back-to-back wins or even good performances together this year. But they did it tonight.

I’m not one who buys into the idea that players have struggled on the field because of uncertainty regarding the direction of the franchise. It just seems to me that players are paid to play regardless of anything else. The ownership/leadership issues should bear no relevance to how hard guys play on the field.

However you’d be remiss not to recognize that since the Machado trade when the Orioles committed to a rebuild, there’s been a skip in guys’ steps once again. And I’m a guy who likes to know the reasons for things, or at least knowing that reasons exist. So it kind of baffles my mind that something like that could have been such a big deal. But it’s a lot easier to justify than by saying it’s mere coincidence that the team is playing slightly better.

The series with Tampa concludes tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards. Dylan Bundy gets the start for the Orioles, and Tampa hasn’t yet announced a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles fans get the game they’ve waited for

It would be a tough sell to suggest that Jonathan Schoop and the Baltimore Orioles exorcised all of their demons last night. But needless to say, they wowed their fans for the first time this season. Andrew Cashner picked up his first win at Camden Yards, and it was a rout. Cashner’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K.

Following an 80 minute rain delay, there was a sign early in the game that this would be the Orioles’ night. It was subtle, but it was there. Adam Jones came to the plate with a runner on third and one out – Tampa already led 1-0. Conventional wisdom says that in a situation like that you play the infield back and sacrifice the run for an out – because it’s early in the game.

The Orioles of course are nothing if not conventional. And conventional wisdom has gone belly-up on them this year. Instead Tampa’s one of these teams that thinks they can reinvent the wheel. They do nary anything in a conventional manner. So Tampa played the infield in (to cut the run off at home plate) – whereas “the book” says not to do so. Not only that, but Jones got a first pitch fastball, which he smacked into center field for an RBI-single (hitting it right by where an infielder would have been had Tampa gone by ‘the book.” If you’re going to play the infield in, the idea is you want to induce a ground ball to cut down the run. Tampa out-thought itself there.

The Orioles took a 3-1 lead in the fourth on Danny Valencia‘s two-RBI single. And in a way, they were off to the races. Schoop smacked his fifth home run in as many games (tying a franchise record) in the fifth. Tampa would inch closer by putting runs across in the sixth and seventh, this before the Orioles put up a crooked number and then some in the last of the seventh.

The Orioles got an RBI-single from Schoop, a three-run homer from Jones, a bases-clearing double from Joey Rickard, and another RBI-single from Schoop. The Orioles batted around in the inning, and they led 12-3 when the smoke cleared. Keep in mind that Tampa had started to chip away in the sixth and seventh innings. But that last of the seventh shut the door and ended the competitive portion of the game.

And when the smoked cleared for the entire game, the Birds had themselves a 15-5 victory. Thus far in 2018 we’ve seen the Orioles on the other side of games like this. Not last night. For once it felt like old times at Camden Yards, as the Orioles bludgeoned a small ball team.

Ironically the final score indicates that perhaps Tampa played their infield in back in the first inning on the Jones RBI-single with good reason. Obviously they had no way of knowing that then, but that sticks in my mind as an interesting decision on the part of Tampa. Mainly because it makes no sense, although that wiry type of thinking has worked for them most of the time this year. It didn’t on Friday night.

The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Ryne Stanek. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Trusting the process can be difficult at times

Part of the rebuilding process for the Baltimore Orioles is trying out new players and seeing what they have in the organization. That can at times be a painful process given that mistakes are going to happen on the field. And moving forward, many of those mistakes will cost the Orioles games.

The O’s got yet another decent outing from Alex Cobb, who at times has to wonder just what he has to do to get a win. Cobb’s line: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 earned), 1 BB, 2 K. And this came in a game where the Orioles’ offense did score, just not in bunches.

Tampa took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on two RBI-singles. At first it looked once again like your typical death by a thousand paper cuts type of game with Tampa. They get people on base, and they trickle in one-by-one. But they get them in, making things tough for you.

However even at rapidly reduced power, the Orioles’ offense will always be one that lives and dies by the long ball. One inning later the game was tied thanks to a Jonathan Schoop two-run homer. It was only a two-run shot, but it tied the game. And imagine that – a homer with at least one other person on base!

The Orioles caught a major break, which was odd for them, in the seventh inning. Choi hit what was ruled a double to lead off the inning. However the play was challenged by Tampa – and eventually upheld. It appeared to me that the ball deflected off of some fans in the first row in left field before coming back into play. The umpires saw it differently and upheld the call.

But Tampa wasn’t about to let the Orioles get a break and in effect keep it. Hechavarria smacked an RBI-single later in the inning. That scored Choi, and gave Tampa a 3-2 lead. The Orioles have seen numerous bad calls this year, and in effect have let them fester. Tampa just brushed it off and found another way to score.

Later in that seventh inning Tampa would net another run on a throwing error up the first base line by pitcher Jhan Marinez. That netted a fourth run for Tampa, which in effect was the deciding run. Chris Davis would smack a solo homer in the eighth, but that was as close as the Orioles got.

So the Marinez error could be looked at as the deciding factor. However keep in mind that games are always the sum of all parts. You never blame one guy, especially when that guy’s in effect auditioning for a job in the future. But again, this is where Orioles fans will have to trust the process. Games such as these where a mistake stands out are going to happen. In fact, they’re going to happen much more frequently moving forward. But in sum, that’s really just part of the deal. Trust the process.

The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Andrew Cashner gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Chris Archer. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles rained out vs. Boston

The Baltimore Orioles were trailing Boston 5-0 this evening in the second inning when the umpiring crew called for a rain delay. Two-and-a-half hours later, we got word that the game had been canceled. That means that Boston’s lead and all of the statistics garnered in the game are wiped out. A makeup date will be announced at a later time. For the record, Boston’s back at Camden Yards August 10-12th – the 13th is an off day for both teams.

Boston manager Alex Cora was apparently less than thrilled with how the rain delays in this series were handled. He might have a point, for the record. But with that said, the home team handles rain delay situations up until the umpire says PLAY BALL! Once that happens and the game starts, it’s up to the umpiring crew – and thus MLB.

The Orioles also announced today that Hall of Famer Eddie Murray is returning to the organization in the role of “Special Advisor to Ownership.” Murray was hired by John Angelos, and will begin his role immediately. It’s unclear exactly what that role is, short of Murray saying that he’ll be at spring training next year. However this is a move that Orioles fans should be behind. Eddie Murray’s a huge piece of Orioles history, and he’s returning to the organization hoping to help return it to glory.

The Orioles will open up a four-game set with Tampa tomorrow evening at Camden Yards. Dylan Bundy (who pitched briefly tonight before the rain out) gets the call for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Hunter Wood. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

UPDATE: The Orioles have updated their starter for the opener with Tampa, and Alex Cobb will get the start.

Baltimore Orioles close to dealing Zach Britton to New York (updated – deal is done)

As the Baltimore Orioles are taking on the Boston Red Sox this evening at Camden Yards, they’re also very close to finalizing a trade involving closer Zach Britton. The deal has Britton going to the New York Yankees, in return for three prospects. As a disclaimer, as I write this the deal is not done. But it’s close.

Again, this is a fluid situation. But as I’m writing this it appears that the deal is Britton to New York in return for prospects Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers, and Cody Carroll. Tate is a RHP, and Rogers a LHP, and they have ERA’s of 3.38 and 3.95 at Double-A and Triple-A respectively. Carroll, a relief pitcher, has pitched to a 2.95 ERA in Triple-A.

None of these is a top ten prospect, however it’s a pretty legit return for a one-inning reliever – assuming that the deal is Britton for Tate, Rogers, and Carroll. Those are all fairly low ERA’s, which could translate into big league nuggets at some point along the way. Key word there is could…that’s the Orioles’ hope, at least.

I’ve said before that I personally feel that trading in the division is a bad idea. Granted Britton is a rental for New York because he’s a free agent, however the fact is that teams don’t make trades out of the goodness of their hearts towards their competitors. They make trades because they think they’re making their team better (either right now or in the future). Granted the Orioles are doing that also, but why help a division rival do that in the here and now?

But that aside, it does appear that they’re getting a decent haul for Britton if this materializes. Also keep in mind that Britton had achilles surgery seven months ago. If you told most fans that at the deadline the Birds would flip Britton for two potential future starters and a potential future reliever, I think most would take that.

Again folks, this is a fluid situation. As I write this Britton is still an Oriole, and sitting out in the Birds’ pen at that. Anything could happen – the deal could fall through, another team could offer a better deal, etc. So stay tuned!

UPDATE: The trade became official early this morning. Britton is on his way to Tampa to join the NY Yankees. Tate and Rogers were assigned to Double-A Bowie, and Carroll to Triple-A Norfolk.

Baltimore Orioles: Jonathan Schoop stays hot, Birds hold on by a thread

The Baltimore Orioles endured perhaps just about everything they possibly could have to defeat Boston this evening at Camden Yards. The game was a bit more exciting in the end than the Orioles would have liked, but nevertheless it goes as the Birds’ first win of the second half. And it was the ever-hot Jonathan Schoop who spiked the Orioles’ offense.

The O’s were put in a spot to win the game by starter Yefry Ramirez, who took home his first big league win. Ramirez’s line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Ramirez had an inauspicious beginning to the game, giving up a solo homer in the first inning to Martinez, however he quickly settled in. And the Orioles proceeded to take the lead themselves in the last of the third on Jonathan Schoop’s two-run homer.

Boston was able to take the lead in the fifth on back-to-back homers by Swihart and Betts. And just prior to the sixth inning, the umpires called for the tarp and we had a 29-minute rain delay. The remainder of the game (once it resumed) was played in a steady drizzle at best, and a steady rain at worst. Quite frankly I’m shocked that the game went the complete nine innings.

But when the game went to rain delay, the Orioles did have the lead – by virtue of Tim Beckham‘s two-run homer in the last of the fifth. Beckham would also add a sac fly-RBI in the sixth, followed by an RBI-single by Schoop. That brought Adam Jones to the plate, who’s RBI-single gave the Orioles a 7-3 lead.

However Boston made a run, and ultimately was almost allowed to come all the way back. Martinez’s two-run homer in the eighth cut it to 7-5. But as the game went to the ninth inning the skies appeared to open up. And the umpiring crew seemed intent on starting and finishing the ninth inning and thus the game. So on we played.

Boston got a runner aboard on an infield single, after which Beckham’s botched flip to first base allowed the runner to get to second. That runner would later score on Devers’ RBI-single. The Orioles at one point had the go-ahead run on base, however Betts grounded into a game-ending double-play, making 7-6 winners out of the Orioles.

The entire game of course was played with all kinds of trade rumors being out there regarding closer Zach Britton (as covered here – earlier this evening on Birdland Crush). Britton at first didn’t come back out to the bullpen after the rain delay. That fueled speculation, however he later re-joined his teammates in the ‘pen. The trade appears all but done, but probably won’t become official until tomorrow.

The series concludes tomorrow evening at Camden Yards. Dylan Bundy gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s David Price. Game time is set for just prior to 7 PM.