Baltimore Orioles may prefer draft pick over Mark Trumbo

The Baltimore Orioles are moving closer and closer to the start of the season, and it appears more and more likely that Mark Trumbo may not be part of those plans.

The Baltimore Orioles look enamored with keeping the draft pick attached to Mark Trumbo, and in a way that isn’t a bad thing.

Baltimore Orioles’ Dan Duquette was on MLB Network Radio over the weekend, where he repeated that the club values the draft pick attached to Mark Trumbo should he sign elsewhere.

Let’s be honest here, the only team that has reportedly offered Trumbo a deal wears black and orange, and it is not the San Francisco Giants. So Duquette has all the leverage.

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The Orioles’ offer, which appears to be their final offer, is four years, $52M. That offer is $13M a year, a substantial deal, but not what Trumbo and his agent are looking for right now.

Now, I think that there is some merit to taking the draft pick. However, I wonder the change in philosophy.

You may remember, last season the Orioles signed Yovani Gallardo, losing the pick. Gallardo now plays for Seattle.

Sure, as Duquette stated on MLB Network Radio, the pick this year is worth more before the CBA changes for next season, and that pick is not as valuable. But, it is not any more costly than last year.

So, it comes to need. Was Yovani Gallardo a more pressing need in 2016 than Mark Trumbo is now?

The obvious answer is yes. Last year, the Orioles had Chris Tillman they could rely on in the starting rotation. Ubaldo Jimenez is always a question mark, no one knew what would happen with Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy was expected to be in the bullpen. Miguel Gonzalez was thought to be a lock, but we see how that worked out.

The Orioles do not need Trumbo in right field, in fact, they don’t want him there. So, can Trey Mancini, and possibly a platoon partner, make up for Trumbo’s departure?

No, probably not. But, they also can likely strike out less, and provide the team with a better on-base percentage and ability to get on base.

A DH does not need to lead the majors in home runs, especially if they can work the count and put balls in play. Sure, you expect a certain number of home runs from the position.

Pedro Alvarez hit 22 home runs in 2016. And, just when he was getting scorching hot, his playing time diminished. He could have easily hit 30, and he mainly only hit versus right-handers, since he is a left-handed bat.

Mancini is a right-handed bat, who hit three home runs in 10 plate appearances versus left-handers.

In my mind, the Orioles should save the money and sign Alvarez to another one year deal and find a pitcher, like Jason Hammel, who Duquette mentioned the Orioles might be interested in bringing back to Baltimore during the MLB Network Radio interview.

Plus, it would free up more money to offer down the road to Chris Tillman, Manny Machado, Zach Britton, and a litany of other major free agents.

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I was a big fan of what Trumbo did in 2016, but let’s be realistic. The Orioles should easily be able to get 25 home runs at the DH position, while potentially upgrading at batting average and on-base percentage without him?

Sign me up.

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