Baltimore Orioles Showing Interest in Several Free Agents
By Nate Wardle
Baltimore Orioles are continuing to look for players to fill out their team, and there is talk they have expressed interest in several players.
Baltimore Orioles could make a move over the next few days before the holiday weekend. In fact, a year ago, the Baltimore Orioles were finishing up their deal with outfielder Hyun-Soo Kim. However, that doesn’t mean Baltimore Orioles fans should expect the team to bring back slugger Mark Trumbo as talks have seemed to come to a halt.
More recent reports have shown that the Orioles are interested in three different players, Colby Rasmus, David Hernandez and Vance Worley. Let’s examine how each player fits the needs of the Baltimore Orioles.
Colby Rasmus, OF
I touched briefly on Rasmus recently in an article on free agent outfielders. I don’t think he is a great fit for the Orioles, especially when compared to the other two players I mentioned above.
The Orioles are looking for someone who can leadoff, play defense, and has a high on-base percentage.
The last five years, Rasmus has only had an OBP above .315 once, and that was in 2012 when he hit .276/.338/.501with 23 HRs and 75 RBIs, the best numbers of his career.
Rasmus has also struck out over 120 times each of the last five years. He also has never walked more than 47 times in a year in the previous five years.
Rasmus does not rate poorly as a defender, especially when he is in right field, which would be the Orioles likely spot for him. In fact, Rasmus was third in outfield assists in 2016 in the American League.