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This week’s mailbag will get into Orioles beginning pitcher targets, whether or not the Tigers have championship core items past Tarik Skubal, many hypothetical commerce situations, and far more.
Tim asks:
I recognize all of the work you place into the Prime 50 Free Agent listing, in addition to the Prime 40 Commerce Candidates listing. My query is: do you actually anticipate the Orioles to pursue any prime of the rotation pitchers? I’ve a tough time believing Mike Elias will pursue such pitchers through Free Company, as evidenced by his risk-averse historical past. Please calm my fears that we’ll have a repeat of final offseason’s lackluster strikes.
Ben asks:
After their tepid foray into the beginning pitching market final 12 months (Sugano, Morton, Gibson) yielded lower than stellar outcomes, do you see Baltimore adjusting their strategy on the beginning pitching market by concentrating on extra high-end arms? If that’s the case, do you assume a commerce or free agent signing is extra doubtless?
These questions work effectively collectively, as a result of we’re attempting to guess whether or not Elias will repeat his over-cautious strategy to the rotation, or be taught from it.
The Orioles had been in on all the massive names final offseason, however apparently did not like the costs on any of them. By January third, the Orioles had dedicated to Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton. The one good beginning pitcher remaining available on the market at that time was Nick Pivetta.
A part of Elias’ folly was reliance on Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin. Accidents have just about been fixed all through Rodriguez’s large league profession. Eflin had a run of excellent well being from 2023-24, however he was additionally coping with power knee and again ache. Whereas he’d pitched very well for the Orioles in 9 common season begins in ’24, his success was largely about strike-throwing.
I’ve written earlier than on this house that holding on to a well-regarded prospect who finally doesn’t pan out is simply as unhealthy as buying and selling one who does. Elias is just not precisely going to get fired for holding on to Heston Kjerstad or Coby Mayo final winter, however you need to ponder whether Garrett Crochet or Jesus Luzardo may’ve change into Orioles. The Orioles gave up Joey Ortiz and DL Corridor to get Corbin Burnes, however did not take an analogous likelihood final winter.
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