Let’s assume for a moment that the Orioles are sellers in the next week.
Let’s assume they are willing to move Zach Britton, Brad Brach or maybe Manny Machado to a contender.
And let’s assume that the Orioles’ No. 1 target in return for one of their big guns is young, controllable, high-ceiling pitching.
If all of that’s true, who should the Orioles be looking at in contending organizations such as the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals among others?
Our Adam Pohl asked that question in this week’s Minor League Podcast to Josh Norris, a Baseball America writer and prospect guru.
Norris explains why the Houston Astros may be the best fit; they have young pitching throughout their system from 19-year-old Franklin Perez in Double-A to 21-year-old Francis Martes (pictured above), who is already in the majors. Norris also discusses the Dodgers’ system and highly coveted starter Walker Buehler, whom the Orioles have scouted recently.
The Nationals’ and Cubs’ minors are somewhat depleted due to recent trades, so Norris suggests the Cubs would have to make available some of their young talent (Ian Happ, Javier Baez) in the big leagues, and the Nationals likely would have to dangle outfielder Victor Robles in a blockbuster.
While he’s at it, Pohl, the voice of the Double-A Bowie Baysox, chatted with Norris about the Orioles’ Midseason Top 10 Prospect list, which the Baseball America scribe compiled recently for his site. You can check that out here.
In the second half of the podcast. Pohl talks with BaltimoreBaseball.com minor league writer Dean Jones Jr., about the recent happenings in the Orioles’ system, including a discussion about Ryan Mountcastle’s switch from shortstop to third base.
Normally, we focus on the Orioles’ system in this podcast. We do some of that in this episode. But this is a different week – and we have some special content to prepare you in case the Orioles make a big trade. Download the podcast from iTunes or click the arrow below and check it out.
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They have no clue, ownership is late & asleep at the wheel as usual. Britton's stock is falling, Machado's value will have dropped significantly this offseason....their attendance is plummeting b/c fans do not believe in the people at the top. They have no charisma or passion for the sport, no vision or transparent message....following this this team is growing more & more futile.
OK, all the way: I'm gonna have to disagree a lot here based on my conversations with people in the game. Britton's stock is not falling. That's a knee-jerk fan reaction because he has been rusty, especially in non-save situations. Trust me, it doesn't wipe out two years of dominance. And his velocity, sinker are all back. No worries of injury. It's just location. I've talked to evaluation people; the value hasn't changed. As for Manny, might be a slight dip on the back end of a prospect package between now and offseason, but not much. Only 25 and one of best all-around players in baseball.
Personally, I don't buy that there isn't a substantial difference in value between having a guy for two playoff runs/postseasons vs. one. IMO, teams value years of control now more than ever, and it often shows in the packages they pay for rentals vs non-rentals. Wade Davis is an example that comes to mind. With only one year of control left, he netted the Royals just one player (Soler) over the offseason. I'd think that had he been healthy/effective during July 2016 and been dealt at that time, the Royals could've gotten a decent amount more.
Flip side: Look at what Chapman netted the Yankees as a rental to the Cubs, the same team that acquired Davis in offseason. The difference is that Davis headed into 2017 as an injury question. That affected his value a lot more than 1 year vs 1 1/3 years. And Soler was still really highly touted.
I can't blame ownership if no trade happens. I believe the teams don't want to meet the Orioles demands for Britton or even Manny or anyone else. Can't just let these guys go and get nothing in return
I'd agree. The bar is set high.
Could we get an open "Tap Room" discussion as to why everyone hates Peter Angelos so much? I mean, outside of the fact that he is a Tort Lawyer, making him about as sleazy a creature as possible, why do Orioles fans hate this man so much?
Is Duquette really a dumpster diver or are his hands tied? Why aren't we signing international prospects--that CAN'T be on the GM, can it?
Up not very long ago, we had a horrible International League city (Ottawa) and an absolute joke of a spring training complex.
The Ken Rosenthal article about Brady Anderson points to a toxic organizational structure.
This is all scratching the surface.
Duq & Ferreira spent "bigly" on int'l FA's in Boston & Montreàl
I think Angelos is oftentimes just an easy target for fans to hate. Partially because of a disruptive nature early in his tenure. The "he doesn't spend money" mantra no longer fits. But those at the top are always gonna be criticized when things don't go well. That's understandable. And there are some philosophies I don't agree with -- like the lack of international spending -- But it does crack me up how Angelos gets blamed for everything, including things well below his pay grade.
I have no issue with his budget, it's the restrictions he puts on his baseball people as to how they allocate;
-Demands to sign his favorite players
-Little international budget
-No opt outs in contracts
-Meddles in trades, everything requires his approval
-Large contracts cannot go to SP's
-Reports indicate he used to dictate who the O's drafted
-His teams have always had low scouting & development depts
I mean why even pay a GM if you will not allow them to construct a team as they see fit??
The International scouting thing is flummoxing, I agree. I'll need a little more background on the demanding he sign his favorite players. The only player I can recall the Orioles absolutely bending over backwards to assuage was Cal Ripken Jr and, well, that was Cal Ripken Jr. As for all the financial stuff, people tend to forget that, as baseball owners go, Peter Angelos is hardly a big fish in terms of net worth. A very rich man, yes, but certainly not one who can cavalierly throw 200 million at a pitcher and not bat an eye like down in Washington (Ted Lerner, net worth 5.5B) or in Boston (John Henry, net worth 2.3B). I don't know what Angelos net worth looksl like, but I know it ends with an M, not a B. The Orioles are a small market team playing in a half empty stadium, funded by Mesothelioma money. Unless you anticipate Kevin Plank riding into Camden Yards on a Golden Chariot at some point, expecting them to spend like the big boys is foolhardy.
They have a top ten payroll, you can't argue with that, again it's the limitations he places with certain things. Why can't he just give his baseball people a budget & let them build how they see fit?
Dan, Angelos is getting up in age. What do people in the industry think will happen to Orioles ownership once Peter no longer around?
The assumption is his sons take over some capacity. Lou has become more visible with the team over the past few years. And John has had a hand in MASN's management. Don't know if they'll want it all or not.
The best deal is no deal. Stand Firm. That way, you cannot be criticized.
I am so glad we kept Garcia as a Rule 5
Not sure if you are being sarcastic o the first comment. But I know the second was definitely sarcasm. Yeah. Big arm. But has never been able to harness it.