Kenley Jansen, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, and Nick Pivetta are still available. Should the O’s be interested?
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
We’re just about a week away from Orioles pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. It’s getting close. At this point we should expect that the roster as it looks right now is the same roster that will be headed to Sarasota.
Still, Mike Elias told reporters recently that he remains on the lookout for possible upgrades to the team before camp. The best remaining free agent pitcher, Jack Flaherty, came off the board two days ago by rejoining the Tigers, with whom he had a great first half of 2024 before his trade to the Dodgers. The deal was for just two years and $35 million (with an opt-out after the first year), and I’ll be honest — as much as I’m unenthused by Jack Flaherty, I would’ve taken him on the Orioles for that price. That’s a reasonable contract for a pitcher who would clearly be in the upper part of the Birds’ rotation.
Flaherty aside, a few stragglers remain on the free agent market. The biggest name is third baseman Alex Bregman, the two-time All-Star who’s been left in limbo, with the Astros appearing to move on from him while other teams have steered clear of his demand for a six- or seven-year deal. Despite Bregman’s obvious ties with Elias — who drafted him #2 overall in 2015 when he was the Astros’ scouting director — he’s not a fit on an Orioles team with a stacked young infield.
Others still out there include Pete Alonso, who I wrote about a couple weeks ago. I’d like his power at Camden Yards but he probably won’t age well, and signing him would necessitate a trade of someone else, probably Ryan Mountcastle. The best starting pitcher still available is Nick Pivetta, but he’s bogged down with a qualifying offer that would cost the Orioles a draft pick. For bullpen help, there’s Kenley Jansen, currently fourth on the all-time saves list. That’s intriguing, because when has signing a veteran closer with 400+ saves ever worked out badly for the Orioles? Surely you can’t name any examples from the past year.
If those are the best options left, I’m fine with the Orioles just rolling into spring with what they’ve got. Their offseason might not have been perfect, but the O’s in their current form are certainly good enough to contend for their third straight postseason berth. I’m tired of waiting through an endless winter. I’m ready to see how the 2025 season plays out.
Links
Rich Dauer, Orioles Hall of Famer, dies age 72 – MLB.com
Rest in peace, Rich Dauer, one of just seven players in history to spend his whole career with the O’s and play at least 10 years. He was a true embodiment of the Oriole Way.
Baltimore Orioles 2025 top 20 prospects: Samuel Basallo, Coby Mayo lead the way – The Athletic
Keith Law profiles the Orioles’ top 20 prospects, featuring a particularly glowing review of Nestor German at #8. Before this I couldn’t have told you that the O’s had a prospect named Nestor German, but now I’ll be keeping an especially close eye on him this year.
Checking on health of a few Orioles, Cowser on playing new left field, Rutschman on Chirinos hiring – School of Roch
Multiple Orioles have discussed how happy they’ll be to see Félix Bautista back on the mound this year. You and me both, guys. I just hope he’ll look something close to Vintage Félix.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! The Orioles don’t have a single player in their history with a Feb. 4 birthday. All the more reason to trade for the Mariners’ George Kirby (who turns 27 today).
On this date in 1999, the Orioles signed veteran reliever Mike Fetters to a one-year deal. Baseball Reference tells me that his nickname was “Fett Dawg,” but sadly he did not have any of that dawg in him as an Oriole. He posted a 5.81 ERA in 27 forgettable games.
And on this day in 2004, the Orioles signed utility man Mark McLemore, bringing him back to Baltimore a decade after he’d spent the 1992-94 seasons with the club. Alas, McLemore didn’t make it out of spring training, becoming one of the Orioles’ final cuts before Opening Day. He signed with the Oakland Athletics to wrap up his 19-year MLB career.