If you’ve been watching baseball for any amount of time, then you know that if a team wants to win in the post season, then they need quality pitching to make that happen.
A powerful offense can help you win games during the regular season but shutdown pitching is what allows you the chance to win games in the playoffs.
The Orioles have one of the best offenses in baseball, and despite an unusual amount of errors for this team, they still have one of the best defensive teams in the majors. But the O’s continue to struggle to find quality pitching especially from their starters.
By now we’ve all heard that the Baltimore Orioles are interested in Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija. Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago has reported the two teams are mutually interested in a deal. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports the Cubs had one of their top talent evaluators at some of the Orioles top pitching prospects’ games.
The Cubs are interested in the quality pitching arms the Orioles have in the minors, including Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Hunter Harvey and Eduardo Rodriquez. Based on what the Cubs asked for this off-season, many believe Chicago would be asking for at least two of those pitchers for Samardzija.
Samardzija currently has the second-lowest ERA in baseball for a starting pitcher at 1.68 after 11 starts He also has a low WHIP of 1.07. He has given up 59 hits while striking out 64 in 75 innings. Sounds like great numbers for a guy who is under contract thru next season.
However, you can’t get too excited about numbers based on a partial season. Let’s not forget, Ubaldo Jimenez had a 1.82 ERA in 13 starts in the second half of last season. The Orioles signed him to a big contract based off those 13 starts… how has that worked out so far? In 10 starts this season, Jimenez has a 4.98 ERA.
I know the Orioles need pitching help to win the pennant this season. But I’ve got to believe the Birds could get a pitcher who has been good longer than just 11 starts. His WHIP has been above average for his career, but not his ERA. Samardzija had a 4.34 ERA in 2013, 2.97 ERA in 2011, 8.38 ERA in 2010, and 7.53 ERA in 2009.
For as good offensively as this team is this year, I’m okay with giving up one of our four top pitching prospects for a pitching to help us win this year because let’s face it, with the prospects of losing Hardy and Cruz this off-season and Wieters and Davis next off-season, the Orioles time to win is now.
However, I’m not okay with giving up two top pitching prospects for a guy who could be Jimenez all over again. Plus, the Orioles seem to have other options.
Johan Santana is just about ready to show if he can pitch in the majors again. He is expected to make his last start of extended spring training Monday. Then he’ll join AAA-Norfolk June 8th and AA-Bowie June 13th. If he agrees to stick with the O’s (he has an opt-out of June 1st), he could pitch for the Orioles June 18th.
Buck Showalter said if the decision is up to him, he sees Johan Santana as a starter only… but it’s not up to just him. So we’ll see where Santana fits, but he’s an option.
I don’t think these guys will help us this post-season, but in addition to the four top pitching prospects the O’s are starting to see a couple other pitchers turning the corner.
Suk-min Yoon pitched 7 strong innings May 26th, giving up just 4 hits while striking out 6. Eddie Gamboa, who the Orioles turned into a knuckleballer this off-season, pitched a gem last night. He was in the midst of 14 scoreless innings but he pitched the longest outing of his seven-year career: 8 innings, 2 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 6 strike outs, and 102 pitches with 62 strikes. In 10 starts, he has a WHIP of 1.34.
I would like the see the Orioles make a move for a front-line starter and I’m okay with giving up one of the teams top arms (specifically Bundy).
But I’m not okay with giving up multiple prospects for a guy who has not proven himself to be a front-line starter for more than half a season.
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