Baltimore Orioles and Bolstering the Bullpen

May 26, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) on a phone to the bullpen against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

As the 2016 Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches, everyone knows that the Baltimore Orioles are buyers.

However, everyone also knows that the team doesn’t have a lot of trade chips to part with.

Sure, there is Trey Mancini, Christian Walker, Chance Sisco (likely the O’s catcher of the future) and a few other position players. But, there isn’t a lot to deal.

The O’s are in need of pitching, that is sure. But, what starting pitching is available?

Drew Pomeranz is already with the Boston Red Sox. That leaves the likes of Rich Hill (who would be a rental for the rest of the year), Jeremy Hellickson (also a rental), Julio Teheran (under contract through 2019, team option in 2020), Andrew Cashner (a rental), Sonny Gray (under contract for several more years), and the Rays’ pitchers.

Gray and Teheran would probably cost Jonathan Schoop, or the deal would be off. And, do the O’s really want to go the rental avenue again? Probably not.

So, I have a different thought. Why not bolster the bullpen.

Now, I’m sure most people would say, why bolster an already strong bullpen?

Well, if the starting pitching can get through five innings, then the game could almost be over.

Options in this area would start with Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman. Chapman is a free agent after this year. Miller still has several years to go on this contract.

But, under this situation, the team would only need the starters to go five innings. Then, they could bring in Brad Brach, Darren O’Day, ‘said-traded for reliever,’ and Zach Britton.

Or, if the starters go six, then that is a rest day for one of these guys, as they all couldn’t pitch every day.

The Orioles have an ace already, whether people want to believe it. Chris Tillman is 13-2. He has the second most wins in the AL (behind Chris Sale), second best WAR among pitchers (behind Danny Salazar), he is 9th in the AL in ERA, 6th in AL for hits per nine inning.

Kevin Gausman will get you through six innings on most days. Yovani Gallardo will keep games close through five. Vance Worley may have to be the fourth option, assuming the Dylan Bundy will have reached his innings cap for the year.

But, if this idea sounds bizarre, you don’t have to go far to see where it worked out.

Last year’s World Series Champions, the Kansas City Royals, used something similar. Edinson Volquez started Game 1, going six innings. The game then went to the bullpen tied, before Kelvin Herrera allowed a run in relief. But, the Royals would come back and win, with Chris Young getting the win in the 14th inning.

Game 2, Johnny Cueto goes 9 innings in a 7-1 win. Nothing to say there.

Game 3, Yordano Ventura goes 3.1 innings, allows five earned in a 9-3 loss.

Game 4, Chris Young, who finished Game 1, goes four innings, followed by Danny Duffy, Luke Hochevar, Ryan Madson (winning pitcher), Wade Davis.

Game 5, Royals win 7-2 in 12. Volquez goes six innings, then Herrera 3, Hochevar (winning pitcher) 2, Davis 1.