Baltimore Orioles News: Luis Sardinas Re-Signs, R.A Dickey as Possible Free Agent Target
Could the 24-year-old infielder earn a spot on the Baltimore Orioles roster in 2018?
As the 2017 World Series progresses, fans can look forward to the abundance of Baltimore Orioles rumors as MLB free agency approaches.
For now, the Baltimore Orioles front office is making final touches to free agent targets (hopefully) and completing a minor league deal with shortstop Luis Sardinas, per Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
Sardinas started the 2017 MLB season with the San Diego Padres but was quickly designated for assignment after a .163/.226/.163 slash line. The utility infielder was claimed on waivers by the Baltimore Orioles and was immediately outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk where he vastly improved at the plate.
Just how much did Sardinas progress at the plate? In 310 at-bats, Sardinas produced a career-best .319 batting average with five home runs and 30 RBIs with the Norfolk Tides.
The 6-foot-1 shortstop from Upata, Venezuela began his career in 2010 with the Texas Rangers organization by signing as an international free agent and posted a .311 batting average as a rookie in the Arizona League.
It wasn’t until 2014 when Sardinas made his MLB debut with the Rangers. From there, Sardinas experienced stints at the MLB level with Milwaukee, Seattle and San Diego, but his .229 career MLB batting average displays his struggles at the plate.
Orioles to Target Pitcher R.A. Dickey in Free Agency?
Over the next few weeks, Rich Dubroff of PressBoxOnline.com will be going down the list of possible free agents the Orioles may target this offseason.
In his latest piece, Dubroff explores the possibility of the Orioles landing a deal with veteran right-handed pitcher R.A. Dickey. The knuckleball specialist has pitched 15 years in MLB level with an array of teams including the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and most recently, the Atlanta Braves.
Dickey, who turns 43 years old before the end of October, is coming off a 10-win season with a mediocre 4.26 ERA as a member of the Braves starting rotation.
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Dubroff goes on to mention the connection between Dickey and Orioles manager Buck Showalter as the two united in Texas from 2003-2006. However, if the two were to reunite in Baltimore, Dickey would be used primarily as a reliever instead of joining the rotation.