Baltimore Orioles: How another starting pitcher would fit
By Nate Wardle
The Baltimore Orioles have talked about adding another starting pitcher to their roster. Making that move work for the team’s roster would be difficult, but possible.
The Baltimore Orioles recently traded Yovani Gallardo to the Seattle Mariners, giving them what is expected to be five starting pitchers in Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Wade Miley and Ubaldo Jimenez.
However, there has been talk by Dan Duquette himself and among fans of signing another starting pitcher.
Jason Hammel has been mentioned, even by members of the Orioles’ staff. Doug Fister is another pitcher who would make sense.
However, the question is, how can the Orioles fit another pitcher on the roster? It wouldn’t be easy, but it is possible.
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Last year, the Orioles got rid of Miguel Gonzalez, despite not having enough starters as it was. Then Kevin Gausman went on the DL and Dylan Bundy was put in the bullpen. That put Chris Tillman, Ubaldo Jimenez, a not-healthy Yovani Gallardo, Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson in the rotation, and it was a predictable mess.
Going into 2017, if current roster holds, the Orioles would appear to also be short on reserves. However, in addition to Wright and Wilson, there is also Logan Verrett and Joe Gunkel who could be spot starters. So, I’m not as concerned.
But, let’s say a starter such as Hammel or Fister was signed, what would it mean? Well, I think there are three options, each with their downfalls:
1 – Ubaldo Jimenez, who had a very good second half of 2016, is sent to the bullpen. This would not be ideal, but Jimenez has shown he can be a long reliever.
2 – Dylan Bundy is sent to the bullpen. This would anger the masses, as it should. If Bundy is not on a pitch limit, he should be in the rotation, period.
3 – Wade Miley or Jimenez is released. Because their contracts are significantly more than what Gonzalez’s was, I don’t find this likely. However, if either, especially Miley, have a rough spring, the Orioles have shown they mean business.
The Baltimore Orioles are a team that prides itself on finding hidden gems and outworking other teams. If Mark Trumbo is resigned, as could happen again as reported earlier, it may mean the end to signing a rotation piece.
Starting pitchers signed could be headed toward AAA Norfolk, or a competition for a long man spot (such as if Vance Worley was resigned).
Next: Trumbo willing to take less to return to Baltimore
As it appears, the Orioles’ Opening Day pitching staff seems largely set. However, there are creative ways around that, and if Dan Duquette is nothing else, creative is certainly a work that describes how he works a roster.