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An Early Look at Baltimore Orioles 2019 Free Agent Options

By Nate Wardle

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 29: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves knocks in a run with a first inning double against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on July 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 29: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves knocks in a run with a first inning double against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on July 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JULY 20: Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees bats against the New York Mets during their game at Yankee Stadium on July 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 20: Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees bats against the New York Mets during their game at Yankee Stadium on July 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Outfielders

Looking to the outfield, and the Baltimore Orioles are probably looking for either a corner outfielder or someone who is can be a fourth outfielder and mentor. DJ Stewart’s best fit in Baltimore will be in right field, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play left. He would be better than any of the options the Orioles have there now.

Free agent outfielders:
Hunter Pence
Bryce Harper
Adam Jones
Brett Gardner
Nick Markakis
Andrew McCutchen
Carlos Gonzalez
A.J. Pollock
Michael Brantley
Steve Pearce
Lonnie Chisenhall
Matt Joyce
Curtis Granderson
Carlos Gomez
Marwin Gonzalez
Cameron Maybin
Jon Jay
Colby Rasmus
Chris Young
Rajai Davis
Leonys Martin
Danny Valencia
Gregor Blanco
Melky Cabrera
Shane Robinson
Craig Gentry
Jose Bautista
Austin Jackson
Peter Bourjos

Let’s start with who I am not even considering.

Pence, Chisenhall, Joyce, Granderson, Rasmus, Young, Blanco, Cabrera, Robinson, Bautista and Bourjos are all a no based on age or declining skill set. Harper is a no because I don’t think he is worth what he will get.

That leaves us with Austin Jackson, Gentry, Danny Valencia, Martin, Davis, Jay, Maybin, Marwin Gonzalez, Gomez, Pearce, Brantley, Pollock, Carlos Gonzalez, McCutchen, Markakis, Gardner and Jones.

Gentry could honestly be the most likely because if he isn’t in Baltimore he probably isn’t in the major leagues. But, my eyes are set higher.

Jackson, Martin, Davis, Maybin and Gomez are all a bit of the same player, speed guys. Maybin or Martin would be my choices from those five.

Valencia is a possibility, but he isn’t really an outfielder, so that hurts him here.

Marwin Gonzalez plays all over the field, which doesn’t hurt him, and the same goes for Pearce.

Pollock would be a top free agent if he wasn’t hurt so often. Then you have All-Stars in Brantley, CarGo, McCutchen, Markakis, Gardner and Jones.

If I had to pick two of those six, the answer is easy. The Orioles are looking to become a team that gets on base and hits for average and gets away from swinging for the fences. With that in mind, Nick Markakis and Brett Gardner would be perfect fits.

Top options:
Nick Markakis
Brett Gardner
Michael Brantley
A.J. Pollock (for the right price with his injury history)
Leonys Martin
Marwin Gonzalez
Cameron Maybin

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