ORIOLES IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH SUK-MIN YOON
While there has been no confirmation from the Orioles or Suk-min Yoon at this time, the two sides appear to be very close to reaching a deal. One source said Tuesday evening that the Orioles are in negotiations, but that a formal deal still has not been made. At one point close to ten teams were expected to have been interested, and the Toronto Blue Jays reportedly made an offer earlier this week.
The Orioles are likely being very quiet about announcing any deals until after they are official after receiving strong backlash for pulling out of contracts with reliever Grant Balfour and outfielder Tyler Colvin earlier this offseason after being unhappy with the results of their physicals. Yoon however, tweeted a picture of himself with an Orioles hat Tuesday night with a caption that roughly translates to, “Ta-Da.”
Yoon has been versatile throughout his career in South Korea, pitching as both a starter and a reliever. Yoon’s best season was in 2011, when he was the MVP of the league, and won 17 games with an outstanding 2.45 ERA. If signed he could be slotted as the team’s fifth starter, or expected to pitch in the bullpen as despite expectations that Tommy Hunter will close, no closer has been named at this point.
Under vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, the Orioles have been active in pursuing international talent. Taiwanese pitcher Wei-Yin Chen has been a big piece of Baltimore’s success over the last two seasons, and Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia played well down the stretch last season and will contend for the DH job this year.
UPDATE ON FREE AGENT PITCHERS
When AJ Burnett first announced he was going to come back to pitch at least one more season last month, he immediately was expected to be a perfect fit with the Orioles, because he also wanted to pitch near his home in Maryland. Unfortunately, the right-hander signed with the Phillies on Wednesday on a one-year $16 million deal.
Burnett had said at the end of last season his decision was going to be either to return to Pittsburgh or to retire (sounds like the Pirates’ version of Anquan Boldin). The Washington Nationals were also rumored to be in play, but the Philadelphia Phillies had supposedly been out of the running along with the Blue Jays.
After being announced as a finalist for signing pitcher Bronson Arroyo last week only to see him sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Orioles have turned their attention to the remaining free agent pitchers. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reported Tuesday that the team has begun to show more interest in free agent pitcher Ervin Santana.
Santana had an excellent 2013 season with the Kansas City Royals, posting a sterling 3.24 ERA and 1.14 WHIP while throwing well over 200 innings. Santana was reportedly seeking a deal totaling near $100 million when the offseason began, but has lowered his sights to a possible three-year deal earlier this month. While the Santana news is encouraging, the Orioles have reportedly been “interested” in a lot of big names, with nothing to show for it.
ADAM JONES PLANS TO DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP TEAM
Outfielder Adam Jones seemingly wants to change the perception the Orioles have received this offseason after multiple free agent contract offers have been rescinded at the last minute. Jones has said he would be willing to do as much as make house trips to try to lure free agents to Baltimore.
“I’d reach out to anybody, if need be,” Jones said. “I know Burnett lives in Baltimore somewhere close to me. I’d go to his house. I’d take him some steaks, if need be.” Jones later added that he thought the team was getting “better as a core” but that some small additions were still necessary.
Burnett actually lives in Monkton, but the message is still a good one. Having one of the faces of the franchise being so willing to help pursue a free agent, and be willing to do it so easily shows just how badly Jones wants to win. Jones signed a long-term deal in 2012, and said at the press conference that he both wanted and expected to compete every year.
Jones leads the Orioles both on and off the field, and in his first season after signing the extension did not disappoint as he hit a career-high 33 home runs, and drove in a career-high 108 runs. Both numbers ranked in the top 10 in all of baseball, but were slightly overshadowed by first baseman Chris Davis exploding to lead all of baseball in home runs and RBI.
O’S SIGN JUAN MORILLO
On Wednesday the Orioles signed right-handed reliever Juan Morillo, who most recently pitched in Taiwan, to a minor league deal. He is a notoriously hard thrower, and set a record in 2013 when his fastball reached 99.4 miles per hour.
Morillo played in the major leagues from 2006-2009, and spent time with both the Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins. Despite having an average fastball over 97 miles an hour, control was an issue, which led to a disappointing 1.56 K/BB ratio.
Morillo pitched in the minor leagues in 2012 with the Philadelphia Phillies, and made 40 appearances in relief and pitching to a disappointing 5.34 ERA in stints in both Double-A and Triple-A.
Morillo’s troublesome past in the minors has Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun saying he will likely begin the year in the minor leagues. If he can control his pitches he may be able to contribute down the stretch, but if not he seems like an even wilder version of Pedro Strop.
