Baltimore Orioles: Sorting Through Rumors and Press Statements

Jun 15, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen (16) pitches to Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) during the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

It is a complicated affair to sort through Baltimore Orioles rumors and press remarks by Dan Duquette in advance of the Winter Meetings.

Sunday involved a day with the Darren O’Day daisy, picking petals one after another, “There is a deal; there isn’t a deal; there is a deal; there isn’t a deal.”

I guess that the accurate summary of the matter would be that there is a deal rather certainly going to happen, but that it is not yet official and finalized with every detail.

Duquette and the team’s beat reporters are in Nashville for the annual meetings, and the VP of Baseball Operations held a presser before the sessions began. The primary points have been reported by Roch Kubatko. Although DD is the ultimate master of political speech — the ability to say something without really saying anything — here are a couple of takeaway points …

The primary focus would sound like it is on securing a left-handed hitting outfielder.

As things stand at this moment, the only left-handed bat in the regular lineup would be switch-hitting Matt Wieters. This is discounting any possible signing of Chris Davis, or that Henry Urrutia could become a starter in right field. Beyond that would be the possibility of Jimmy Paredes as DH (although he has really become lost in conversation right now).

Alex Gordon is the first name to come up in terms of the best LH-hitting outfielders. He would be great for the Orioles to have, though he likely costs nearly as much as Davis. And as an example of DD’s coy responses, about Gordon he said, “He’s a free agent, right?”

Another possibility would be Denard Span. While certainly cheaper, concerns would permeate the O’s front office about his health after several situations, including a September surgery. If healthy, he could be a great acquisition.

Beyond this, there are not a lot of well-known options. Gerardo Parra is out there, but it seems to me like that was a been-there, done-that experience that is not worthy of a repeat.

It does not sound good for getting a known starting pitcher.

While confessing to the need to bolster the rotation, everything that Duquette is saying about starting pitchers involves his expression of utter amazement at the outrageous prices. It is a major case of verbalizing sticker shock. And I’m not saying that these contracts aren’t bordering on insanity, I’m just reporting that there is a tremor of amazement in DD’s voice that would lead to the belief that it simply is not going to get done.

This next point is the logical extension that follows …

Current options dominate the pitching discussion.

On the heels of the sticker shock comments, Duquette has been talking about how Kevin Gausman, Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright need to be developed. And that is for sure. A successful team increasingly needs to work hard to “grow the arms,” because buying them is terribly expensive.

Following also in this discussion is the breakdown of RH/LH pitching. Duquette made it clear that the Orioles would not necessarily be averse to going with five right-handed starters if necessary. And I agree with this. It is not the way you draw it up on paper, nor is it the very best option. But neither is it necessarily the end of the world for having an effective rotation.

More from Baltimore Orioles

• What other Baltimore Orioles Offseason Storylines will you be interested in seeing?
• Baltimore Orioles to Face Numerous Playoff Contenders Down the Stretch
• Baltimore Orioles Showing Encouraging Signs During Recent Wins
• The Baltimore Orioles and the Expanded September Roster
• Orioles Josh Rogers Expectations in his Major League Debut

There also seems to be more conversation in the past week about re-considering Brian Matusz for the rotation. He is stretched out each spring, so that is an option. Again, I’d rather have five righties than do that, but it is thrown out there.

All in all, the Orioles have the appearance of going these days in the philosophical pitching direction of the Royals — to shorten the game with a powerful bullpen, while having a rotation in the bottom third of the league. While I don’t think you try to have a poor rotation, I have become a believer in having quality throughout the bullpen, even if more expensive than in the past.

It would sound like any hopes for Chris Davis are as a default situation.

Duquette has repeatedly said over the past week that the O’s continue to have contact, but that he does not know who else has built what level of market price for Davis. One would speculate that the Orioles have given a ceiling already, and if no other team beats that, perhaps then he comes back. There truly is not a big first base market. It is imaginable that Davis will not get the size of a deal originally anticipated.

Next: An Orioles lineup with Trumbo and Alvarez

Overall — There are simply limitless possibilities as to what direction this offseason will take, including activities this week. Even in the absence of any deals, we need to remember that seeds are sown and watered in conversations over these days, and some may later come to fruition. But even with all the uncertainty, the current situation certainly beats just a few years ago when there was so little hope for building a contending team, and where free agents walked wide circles around the Baltimore Orioles.