Sunday was the first day of the Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando. This is a time when GMs meet with other GMs and Player Agents in person to try to gauge interest on potential trades and free agent signings, as well as when baseball gets together to go over potential rule changes.
Orioles vice president of baseball operations, Dan Duquette, met with the Baltimore media Sunday night to share a little bit about the Orioles thought process this off-season. After reading comments by Duquette, it does not give any encouragement to Orioles fans hoping for a major upgrade this off-season. Instead, it’s pretty discouraging.
How do you feel about Ryan Flaherty being your full-time starting second baseman?
Well, I would bet that you disagree with Duquette. He said the Orioles are happy with who is currently on their roster. That means we’ll see Jemile Weeks, Chord Phelps, or Flaherty starting for the Orioles.
Listen, I like Flaherty. He’s a very good defensive player, who has some occasional pop. But I like him as a utility infielder, not as my starting second baseman. Duquette did say the door is “not necessarily” closed for Brian Roberts re-signing with the team. But we’ve seen this before. They will wait and wait, and another team will snatch him up.
Are you hoping for Jonathan Schoop to be your 2nd basemen? DD said that Schoop would probably need more time in the minors.
The Orioles still want a left-hand hitter, and need a DH and left-fielder. Duquette said they have interest in Raul Ibanez and Andre Ethier.
Most Orioles fans want the team to sign at least one front-line starter, and maybe two. According to Duquette, it won’t be happening. He said they have made offers to relievers and starters on the free agent market, but they are not expected to commit a large sum of money to a free agent pitcher. Duquette said it’s “more realistic to look for good pitchers to come up through the farm system.” To me, we’ve seen that the Orioles haven’t had much success in doing that. That probably means Ubaldo Jimenez is not coming to Charm City.
Duquette went on to say “I think we have more starting pitching depth going into this year than we’ve had the last couple years.” Um, what?! Right now our starting rotation is weaker than either of the last two years. Maybe they have more options, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have more depth.
The Orioles still need a closer, and after signing reliever Ryan Webb, Duquette says they have interest in John Axford and Chris Perez.
The Winter Meeting is usually an exciting time for fans as it really gets the Hot Stove season going. But after hearing from Dan Duquette Sunday night, I’m pretty discouraged as an Orioles fan. I do not see how this team upgrades at any position from last season. If that’s the case, you can’t really expect this team to make the playoffs without upgrades. Let’s hope DD was just trying to lower fan expectations, while secretly hoping for some big moves.
