Baltimore Orioles and Trade Talks

Oct 30, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Danny Duffy throws a pitch against the New York Mets in the fourth inning in game three of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday, word came out that the Baltimore Orioles are discussing trading for Mitch Moreland, Adam Lind, Neil Walker, and a trade with the Kansas City Royals.

Who wants to make a deal?

Dan Duquette has talked recently about considering making a trade for a pitcher, since the market to sign starting pitching is astronomically expensive.

My colleague Randy Buchman discussed what adding Walker would mean here.

Moreland is a career .258/.319/.442 hitter, averaging 23 HRs, 27 2Bs, 65 R, 76 RBIs, 136 H and 122 strikeouts a year. In 2015, Moreland had a career year, hitting .278 with 23 HRs, 27 2Bs, 85 RBIs, and 112 strike outs in 132 games. Not quite Davis-like numbers, but a solid year for a first baseman. Moreland also has played over 130 games in three of five full seasons in the majors. Moreland also is a left-handed hitter, which the Orioles need, and can play right field if needed.

Lind is a career .274/.332/.466 hitter, averaging 24 HRs, 34 2Bs, 74 R, 89 RBIs, 157 H and 119 strikeouts a year. In 2015, Lind hit .277 with 20 HRs, 32 2Bs, 87 RBIs, and 100 strikeouts in 149 games in his first season in the National League with the Milwaukee Brewers.

He has been a solid first baseman consistently for years in the major leagues. At age 32 next year, Lind will still have life left in his bat.

Neither of these players is a very good defensive first baseman. Both have rated negatively by dWAR in all of their full seasons. Lind significantly more so than Moreland.

Lind is for a team that is rebuilding, while the Rangers are definitely not on the rebuild. Independently, I think I would rather have Lind, who has a better on-base percentage and less strikeouts, something the O’s need. I also think that Lind would require less in a trade, which is key because the Orioles do not have much, especially in the way of pitching, to offer.

Now, as for the Royals. I’ve discussed several times here about my wife being a Royals’ fan. So I know a little about their roster.

The Royals only have one outfielder who is left-handed, and that is speedster Jerrod Dyson. Dyson is expected to replace Alex Gordon in left field, so I don’t see him being traded.

Other left-handed hitters include Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas…yeah, neither of them are going anywhere. They are both core pieces for the Royals. However, Kendrys Morales, the comeback player of the year, is a switch-hitter. He is in most cases solely a DH, and I can’t see him being traded either.

So, what could the teams have been discussing? My best guess is Danny Duffy. Duffy is a guy who has been primarily a starter. However, with the Royals having Edison Volquez, Yordano Ventura, Kris Medlen, Chris Young and trying hard to get Scott Kazmir, it would leave Duffy without a position. The Royals have few holes in their bullpen, making Duffy expendable.

Duffy is a left-hander, which the Orioles need. He is 26 years old, so he is fairly young. He also is not a free agent until 2018.