Baltimore Orioles: Is Andrew Cashner a good signing?

The Baltimore Orioles wowed their fans with their most exciting day of the off season yesterday when they announced they had signed Andrew Cashner. Okay, perhaps there was a hint of sarcasm there. However the fact is that Cashner will be on the Orioles for at least the next two years, possibly three. The two years guarantee him $16 million.

So…what does or should the fan base think of this? I’ve heard mixed reviews, although nobody’s out there saying this is the greatest or worst ever signing. I think that the best way to classify it is as just “a signing.”

Cashner posted a 3.40 ERA last year with Texas, which was down from 5.25 the year before with San Diego and Miami combined. He also only gave up 15 homers last year, playing his home games in Texas where the ball flies – similar to at Camden Yards. In fact, some of his career’s lower ERA’s have come with hitter’s park’s being his home field.

Detractors of course would point out that throughout his seven years in the majors, Cashner’s only had one winning season. He was 10-9 in 2013 with San Diego. This is far from a marquee signing, however consider the alternative. Ubaldo Jimenez posted a 6.81 ERA for the Orioles last year, and 5.44 the year before. So if Cashner lives up to last season’s numbers, that should be a good thing for the Orioles.

Financially, $16 million over two years isn’t that much. The contract could pay him up to $41 million with bonuses and if he ends up staying a third year. Many fans will say that the Orioles will be forever betrothed to contracts like these to players as such. However keep in mind that they took a risk with Jimenez – and were burned big time. The same is true with others as well.

So again, this is “a signing.” I don’t see Cashner winning a Cy Young, but I think he’ll at least be solid. Time will tell. As I’ve said before, the upcoming Florida Grapefruit League season is going to be a big one for the Orioles this year.

Baltimore Orioles: Andrew Cashner makes three

Another free agent has fallen, and this time it’s to the Baltimore Orioles. They’ve signed RHP Andrew Cashner to a two-year, $16 million deal. Cashner is now the third starter in camp.

I wouldn’t print your World Series tickets quite yet, however the fact is that Cashner’s another pitcher in camp. His deal also includes a vesting option worth $10 million for 2020 if he reaches 340 innings over the two years. If he reaches 360 years, it becomes a player option.

As time goes on we’ll try to figure out if this is a good move or not. Cashner’s hardly a top line starter, but he’s a warm body in camp. The O’s now have three prospective starters in camp. It appears that at least one slot is going to be filled internally by the Orioles. So…is there another free agent signing out there to be had?

Time will tell on all of that. But for now the news is that Cashner’s coming to Camden Yards – well, first to Sarasota.

Baltimore Orioles: Is business ruining sports?

As the Baltimore Orioles carry on training down in Sarasota, the clock continues to tick when it comes to free agents. And not just for the Birds – there are lots of free agents that need homes, and time is running shorter and shorter. Grapefruit and Cactus League play begins at the end of next week. Heck, the MLBPA is holding it’s own training camp which is closed to the public and to scouts in Bradenton, FL.

Whether teams are colluding not to sign anyone or the Players Association is colluding not to have anyone sign is another story. The big story is that lots of guys aren’t signed. This of course has to do with payrolls, and more broadly with the business of the game. But…do fans really want to hear about that? Do they really care?

The savvy ones do for sure. In fact the savviest of the savvy are actually fascinated by it. However that doesn’t attest for Johnny Fan Boy sitting in the bleachers who just wants to watch baseball. All he sees is a bunch of rich millionaires who may well be good players, but who are holding out and splitting hairs over whether they’re going to make $15 or $17 million.

That type of attitude tends to turn people off. And while there are a lot of other types of factors involved as well, don’t be so sure that the same isn’t true in the NFL. Have ratings not gone down the past two seasons or so? So what does this all mean? That everyone should just play ball and not worry about the rest of it?

That’s a tough sell to players and coaches. All the public sees and knows is that these guys make a heck of a lot more money than most people. They travel on charter flights which in terms of amenities is probably leaps and bounds ahead of flying first class on a commercial airline. They stay in the nicest hotels in every city, and eat at the best restaurants.

But there are other things that the public doesn’t see or chooses not to see. The travel schedule is grueling, especially when you finish up with a night game in one city and have another one in another city the next night. In terms of money, players also pay fees to their union, which comes out of their pockets. That and they all pay clubhouse fees towards the services they get in the locker room.

I suspect that the pros far outweigh the cons. But even still, the general public doesn’t want to hear about the cons. All they know is that millionaires are squabbling over pennies. However the fact is that if your attitude is I don’t care about the money I just want to play, you’re going to get exactly what you asked for. You’ll play, and make no money. Why should a team pay you the big bucks when you just said they didn’t have to?

So there has to be a happy medium somewhere. Because the same fate that’s befalling the NFL right now could happen to baseball as well. People could stop showing up or stop watching. That would be hard for me to imagine, but stranger things have happened.

Baltimore Orioles avoid arbitration with Kevin Gausman

The Baltimore Orioles and Kevin Gausman agreed to a contract yesterday for 2018. Or a salary, that is. The contract will pay Gausman $5.6 million in base salary, with the possibility of up to $200,000 in incentives. In the business world that translates as a bonus.

This means that all seven of the Orioles’ arbitration-eligible players have agreed to deals. Gausman’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for today in Phoenix, however that’s no longer necessary. This is a good thing for the Orioles, because first off Gausman doesn’t miss any time. However secondly, it also means that the front office did their job in coming to agreements with players. Any year you don’t have to go to arbitration is a good year.

Gausman and Bundy are the only two starters in camp right now. But that will change. Gausman was the team’s Opening Day starter last year, and my prediction is that he’ll also get the starting assignment on Opening Day here in 2018. This is an important Spring Training for him, because the Orioles really need him to step up and have a quality season in 2018.

All the more reason to be happy that Gausman’s signed and in camp. Now that his salary is set they can focus on fundamentals. And on whomever else ends up trickling into camp in terms of starting pitchers.

Baltimore Orioles: Pitchers and catchers are reporting

Well here it is, the day for which we’ve been waiting. Pitchers, catchers, and injured players report to Sarasota today for the Baltimore Orioles. Let’s be frank, however; this isn’t earth-shattering. The world doesn’t look different today as opposed to yesterday, nor has anything changed.

However pitchers and catchers reporting is the first beacon of light in the off season which indicates that baseball season is coming. Heck, position players reporting next week doesn’t even really get the fanfare that we see when pitchers and catchers report. And that’s probably because many of those position players are already there.

We all know some of the challenges facing this Orioles team right now and this year. And many of them will be highlighted throughout camp. However for now, the Birds are in Sarasota and working towards the season. As I said above, position players will report next week – at least those who aren’t already there. The Grapefruit League schedule opens one week from this Friday, with a home game in Sarasota against the Tampa Rays.

Fans cal follow along right here on The Orange Crush for updates about camp progress on a daily basis. However once games start we’ll really kick it into high gear. Follow along for game updates and scores via twitter, @DomenicVadala. Happy Spring Training!

Baltimore Orioles interested in Houston’s Collin McHugh?

Over the weekend MASNsports’ Roch Kubatko reported that the Baltimore Orioles were talking to the Houston Astros about a trade that would send Collin McHugh to the Birds. Despite being injured for much of last year, McHugh garnered a 3.55 ERA. He also went 5-2 on the season.

He’s also looking at the reality of potentially not having a spot in Houston’s rotation. The Orioles obviously need starting pitchers right now, so there could be a potential match there. The downside is what would the the O’s have to give up to get McHugh? And honestly, I’m not even going to speculate. It’s worth mentioning that the Orioles have quite a few outfield prospects that could be flipped, but I digress.

You’re going to have a portion of the fan base who’s not going to like a move like that because it would cost the O’s something. But those are the same folks who no matter who they sign and for how much, are going to say that they overpaid. You can’t please everyone.

But we’re getting to the point in the off season where Dan Duquette starts to kick into overdrive. Most of his big deals seem to occur in February and March. And with spring training games starting one week from this Friday, we’re getting down to crunch time to get players into camp.

Baltimore Orioles: Are chips beginning to fall?

The Baltimore Orioles and the rest of MLB may be starting to see the very beginning of chips starting to fall in regards to free agency for the 2018 MLB season. RHP Yu Darvish yesterday signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs. The deal is a six-year contract worth a reported $126 million.

This is in reality the first big name free agent to fall this off season. And go figure, it was a pitcher. However mind you that there are still well over 200 free agents that are going to need to find a team for the upcoming season. And pitchers and catchers report this week.

However this tells us two things. First off, perhaps the idea of waiting this long to sign someone isn’t necessarily going to “get you a deal.” Previously teams used to think that if you waited until right before spring training or perhaps even once it’s begun, you’ll be able to get a player (potentially of Darvish’s quality) on a shorter contract worth less year-over-year. The deal that Darvish just signed is hardly “on the cheap.”

But the other thing it could tell us is that Chicago isn’t about to wait for Jake Arrieta. The Orioles of course traded Arrieta to Chicago in the middle of the 2013 season. Since getting there, his career has taken off. Might he be willing to return to his old team?

At the end of the day, it really matters as to whether his old team is willing to pony up the money to get him. But as I said, many teams used to think that if you waited this long to get someone the price would go down. That’s potentially been refuted by Darvish’s signing, however I suspect that if anyone’s still sitting out there after next Friday (Opening Day of spring training), the price will in fact go down.

Baltimore Orioles: Division rival getting a new park?

One of the two worst ballparks in which the Baltimore Orioles play each year is Tropicana Field. In fact, it’s probably one hair above having to play at the Oakland Coliseum, which in my opinion is the worst park in the majors. The difference is that the O’s play at Tampa nine times a season since they’re in the AL East. Unfortunately, it’s a ballpark they kind of know well.

However yesterday the Tampa Rays announced that they had settled on a site for a new ballpark, in Tampa’s Ybor City. The Orioles, along with the rest of the league, are probably looking forward to the Rays getting new digs. Whether it’s in Ybor City, or – anywhere really. As long as it’s not “The Trop.”

I have my doubts as to whether this will happen. Apparently the Rays have nine years left on their lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. My question would be whether or not their current situation is tenable for nine years. What exactly do I mean by that? Well, when they’re playing midweek evening games in front of 4,000 people, tell me that their continued existence there is possible for nine years.

Tampa’s never been a place where baseball should have expanded. And yes, I recognize that I’m calling out a division rival. However aside from their first game, they’ve had attendance issues from the start. And the fact is that there are a lot of northeastern transplants in the Tampa area. Miami also. And sure while some people might venture out to a game if they get tickets here or there, in reality those people are only going to go when their hometown team comes to town.

So it’ll be interesting to see if they’re able to work something out. However one thing is certain – neither the Orioles, nor any other visiting team, will be sorry to see the Trop go by the wayside.

Baltimore Orioles: Get in shape!

Pitchers and catchers report for the Baltimore Orioles next Tuesday. Roughly a week later all players will report into camp. At that point the focus becomes Opening Day, however also February 23rd. That’s Opening Day for the Florida Grapefruit League.

The Orioles will take on Tampa at Ed Smith Stadium that afternoon. In fact, their first two spring games are at home, which is good for the starters and veterans because they’ll get work in. These spring games are as much about guys getting into shape as anything else.

And literally, that used to be “a thing.” Nowadays guys work out almost the entire off season, so they don’t really fall out of shape. However you still need to work yourself back into the grind of a major league season. And while the early spring workouts are somewhat of a shock to the system in terms of getting into game shape, the spring games take it a step further.

Keep in mind also that some of these games will be like watching paint dry. There’s very little ebb and flow, and the regulars who see action in the games will only play a few innings – at least at the beginning. As time goes on they’ll get more and more playing time. Which means they’ll get more and more into shape.

It’s also worth remembering that with pitchers and catchers reporting next week (ahead of position players), they’ll be further along in their workouts than hitters once games start. So you may see elevated strikeouts, and bad strikeouts from Oriole hitters at first. But they’ll catch up – they always do.

Baltimore Orioles projected to finish last

I was amused yesterday when I read in USA Today that the Baltimore Orioles are projected to finish last in the AL East. They have the O’s at a 72-90 mark, with New York finishing in first place at 93-69. Boston is a close second at 89-73.

I don’t have so much of an issue with the top of those projected standings, because both New York and Boston are stacked. The only wild cards with them are their managers, both of whom are rookies. And it’s of course in the dugout where the Orioles have the big advantage, as Showalter’s arguably the best manager in baseball. But time will tell.

However my point would be that the Orioles have no reason to be predicted to finish behind both Tampa and Toronto. Both teams have lost big time members in the off season – the likes of Bautista, Longoria, and others. So…how exactly are they better teams than the Orioles?

The Orioles of course are questioned about their pitching. That’s really what it boils down to across the board. However I suspect that the team-wide offensive tailspin in September rides on the minds of analysts as well. And my point there would be that whatever happened at that point happened to a hapless team that was dead tired. Granted they have to work on their stamina and on ensuring that they can keep it going for 162 games, however that wasn’t the real Orioles team.

Furthermore, NOBODY has been signing free agents. Some blame the players association for that, and some blame the owners. All I know is that pitchers and catchers will start reporting next week. If guys are going to start signing so as to get in full spring training workouts before the season, it’s going to have to be soon.

The point there of course is that there are a lot of chips left to fall. My personal opinion is that the O’s will sign at least one free agent pitcher, and most probably two. That would fill four rotation spots, leaving one up for grabs in camp. Does any of that mean that the O’s won’t finish in the basement? Not necessarily. However as things stand right now, I do believe that they’re a better team on paper than Toronto or Tampa.

In other news, former Oriole Ryan Flaherty signed a minor league deal with Philadelphia yesterday. The 31-year old utility infielder will get an invite to spring training, and will compete for a big league job. I hope that Orioles fans will join me in wishing Flaherty well. He wasn’t a superstar, nor was he an everyday starter. But when he was in the lineup he was fairly solid, and he ALWAYS played hard.