Baltimore Orioles: What does the future have in store for Orioles?
By Nate Wardle
The Baltimore Orioles have a window that is closing in the next few years including Zach Britton, Chris Tillman, and Brad Brach.
After the 2017 season, Zach Britton and Chris Tillman are free agents, as are several other starting pitchers and also Brad Brach.
After the 2018 season, Manny Machado is a free agent, as is Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette.
After exchanging arbitration numbers with Britton and Tillman on Friday and reaching one-year agreements, there is talk that the Orioles are discussing an extension with Tillman.
What could losing several of these integral parts of the Orioles mean? Let’s take a look.
5. Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton
Zach Britton is arguably the most valuable closer in the game of baseball. Because of that, he is making over $11 million in 2017, the most the Orioles have ever paid a closer.
If his 2017 season is remotely close to 2016, Britton will be a top free agent option and will likely receive over $15 million a year.
I can’t see that coming from the Orioles, and it is probably for the best. The team is going to need to be able to pay for other integral players, and are already paying Darren O’Day $9 million in 2018.
Plus, the team has several other players they could use as closers. There is O’Day, Mychal Givens, and possibly Brad Brach. Brach is also a free agent and will be cheaper than Britton.
Out of all of the upcoming free agents, I think that Britton will be the easiest to let walk.