Baltimore Orioles: The Crazy Days of February

Sep 2, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) rounds second base after hitting a grand slam in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Reds 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles may be gaining a reputation as a team that works late offseason deals in February.

The most famous of these was of course the total steal of Nelson Cruz in 2014, and additionally the 11th-hour signing of Ubaldo Jimenez.

Now the Orioles are said to be nearing a deal with Yovani Gallardo (which have even happened by the time this posts and you read it … it sounds that immanent). Additionally there seems to be expectation for a second deal with Dexter Fowler.

I have often used the word picture that Duquette is like a person at a neighborhood yard sale who wanders around all day chatting up the folks, but then swoops in at the last minute while everyone is packing up in order to grab a bargain or two.

I have to laugh at some of the comments being made by national writers, many who are as confused about this uncharacteristic spending behavior of the Orioles as are the locals. Ken Rosenthal said yesterday in an article examining the two aforementioned potential signings, “Say this for the Orioles — no one can accuse them of tanking.”

A skeptic can say that, yes, rumors are common with the Orioles, whereas action is less common. But honestly, following the Twitter feeds of national writers, the O’s are possibly the most featured team at this point. And they have been for much of the offseason. Truthfully, there has been action.

And the chatter is now not only about Gallardo and Fowler. The O’s are also rumored to be in on trade discussions for Jay Bruce.

Reds believe orioles do have prospects to make a Bruce trade. O's also looking at fowler, alvarez. Likely to add 1 hitter.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2016

Really? The Orioles have something in the minors to make this happen? I’ll believe that when I see it. Some of the lower level O’s teams might go winless at this pace of trading the few prospects and not getting new ones in the draft. That is the narrative at least — not one I completely buy about the Baltimore farm system being so terribly empty.

But what of this Bruce possibility?

He’s a left-handed batter approaching age 29 who was a first-round pick of the Reds in 2005. He already has eight MLB seasons and a total of 208 home runs. Bruce’s lifetime average is .248, dropping to that number after only hitting .226 and .217 over the last two years.

Bruce can hit home runs, clubbing a total of 96 from 2011 to 2013. He strikes out a good bit, though well less than Chris Davis, but he does not get on base anywhere near as often as Crush.

The right fielder is due to get $12.5 million this year with an option of $13 million for 2017 (with a $1 million club buyout).