A Baltimore Orioles Lineup with Neil Walker

Sep 23, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker (18) hits a two run single in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles are reported to have continued interest in Neil Walker as a possible first baseman and designated hitter.

Walker is in his final year of arbitration with the Pirates. Pittsburgh entered the offseason with nine such players who were projected to end up settling for about $45 million. The Orioles actually had one more, though the total predicted cumulative salaries total out at about $10 million less.

So Pittsburgh is dangling some of these players, including Walker. What might the Orioles give up in a trade? I have no idea, but if I were Duquette, names like Ryan Flaherty and Brian Matusz would come to mind.

The 30-year-old Neil Walker was born in Pittsburgh and is a fan favorite there — drafted #11 overall in the first round in 2004. Along with good production historically at second base, he is known for his hustle and passion for playing the game. But those are traits that will translate well to Baltimore, which is honestly not that far away.

Walker is a career .272 hitter who has averaged about 16-17 home runs as a regular starter. His career OBP is .338, although it was his lowest such in 2015 at .328. Even so, that would be good by Orioles standards.

As a switch-hitter, Walker has hit .275 left-handed and .260 right-handed. The Orioles significantly need more lefty hitters, and this could be a good addition.

Defensively, the Birds are really set at second base in Jonathan Schoop. But Walker is deemed to be capable of playing at first, though he has never actually done it in his major league career.

So where might Walker bat in an Orioles lineup? The assumption here for this suggestion and lineup is that Chris Davis does not return and that no other outfield acquisition of significance happens.

For this exercise, let’s put him second in the batting order. He can handle the bat behind a leadoff hitter, and the Orioles could use some better OBP in front of their big guns. In fact, second in the lineup is actually where Walker has batted more than in any other place.

So let’s go with this lineup …