Baltimore Orioles Offseason Tracker: Hottest Free Agency News, Trade Rumors
Despite winning the franchise's first AL East crown since 1997—and doing so in convincing fashion, a dozen games ahead of the second-place New York Yankees—the 2014 season was ultimately a disappointment in Baltimore, as the Orioles were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.
While the bulk of the team's core remains under team control, two key contributors, designated hitter Nelson Cruz—the steal of the 2013 offseason on a one-year, $8 million deal—and right fielder Nick Markakis, are among the Orioles who could be headed elsewhere this winter.
Will the team be able to keep the flock together? Or will it need to explore the free-agent market in an attempt to replace lost production?
Keep it here for the most up-to-the-minute rumblings about the Orioles, along with analysis and everything else that comes with it. While the post date will always show as October 31, simply click to the next slide to see the latest from the rumor mill as the O's put together their roster for 2015.
Baltimore's Free Agents and Arbitration-Eligible Players
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All the juicy rumors and analysis follow, but consider this your one-stop shop for all the comings and goings in Baltimore this winter, including the status of the team's free agents.
Done Deals
Nov. 26: Acquired LHP Scott Barnes from the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations; Dec. 3: Claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers
Dec. 3: Signed RHP Eddie Gamboa to a major league deal
Dec. 16: Signed LHP Wesley Wright to a one-year deal
Dec. 23: Claimed C Ryan Lavarnway off waivers from the Chicago Cubs
Dec. 24: Re-signed OF Delmon Young to a one-year, $2.25 million deal
Baltimore's Free Agents
OF Quentin Berry (Dec. 23: Released)
IF Alexi Casilla
SP Wei-Yin Chen (Oct. 30: Orioles picked up $4.75 million option)
OF/DH Nelson Cruz (Dec. 1: Signed a four-year, $58 million deal with Seattle)
C Nick Hundley (Oct. 30: Declined $5 million option)
UTIL Kelly Johnson
OF Nick Markakis (Oct. 30: Declined $17.5 million option, will pay $2 million buyout; Dec. 3: Signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Atlanta Braves)
RP Andrew Miller (Dec. 6: Signed a four-year, $36 million deal with New York (AL))
RP Darren O'Day (Oct. 30: Orioles picked up $4.25 million option)
SP Johan Santana
OF Delmon Young (Dec. 24: Re-signed to a one-year deal)
Rule 5 Draft
Dec. 11: Selected RHP Logan Verrett from the New York Mets
Ichiro to Stay in the AL East?
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Monday, Dec. 29 at 10:49 a.m. ET
Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Orioles have interest in veteran outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, though it's not clear exactly how strong the club's level of interest actually is.
While the 41-year-old is a shell of the player that he once was, Ichiro remains a solid defender in a corner outfield spot and didn't have horrible numbers last year with the Yankees, hitting .284/.324/.340 over 385 plate appearances.
He's still a threat to take off running when he gets on base as well, successfully swiping 15 bases in 18 attempts.
Given his age, signing him won't be an overly expensive process—a one-year deal in the $5-to-$7 million range sounds about right.
Orioles Under Pressure to Sign Rasmus?
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Update: Monday, Dec. 29 at 10:45 a.m. ET
Baltimore is still talking to Rasmus about possibly joining the club, tweets Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi. However, there is no indication as to how far along those talks have progressed.
--End of Update--
Update: Sunday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Peter Gammons tweets that the Orioles are "being pushed" to sign Rasmus to a one-year deal.
With the Chicago Cubs showing interest in the 28-year-old and fewer potentially impact bats available, Baltimore is in danger of having no options with which to replace the production it lost when Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis departed as free agents.
--End of Update--
Monday, Dec. 8 at 4:52 p.m. ET
The Orioles have shown some interest in outfielder Colby Rasmus, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
We mentioned Rasmus as a potential target for the Orioles at the end of the season, and what I wrote about him then remains true now:
"Rasmus, 28, has never lived up to expectations and is primarily a center fielder. But he's shown the ability to hit for power (63 HR since 2012) and could be an inexpensive platoon option in left field.
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He's not going to command a significant contract, which would give the Orioles some much needed flexibility moving forward if a more expensive, permanent solution were to become available.
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Seth Smith Is on Baltimore's Radar
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Update: Wednesday, Dec. 24
The Orioles are still talking to San Diego about the Padres' plethora of outfielders, with Smith and Will Venable the two names Baltimore seems to have the most interest in, according to Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun.
--End of Update--
Monday, Dec. 15 at 3:10 p.m. ET
While San Diego isn't looking to trade Seth Smith, one of the few players in their lineup that produces consistently in cavernous Petco Park, that hasn't stopped teams, including the Orioles, from calling about him, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Smith, 32, hit .266 with 12 home runs, 48 RBI and a .807 OPS over 136 games in 2014 and is under team control through the 2016 season at a combined $13 million. There's also a $7 million team option on his deal for 2017 with a $250,000 buyout.
Assuming the Orioles are looking at him for left field, he'd be a good fit, considering that he's a below average defender in right field. Additionally, his left-handed bat would help to bring some balance to the Orioles predominantly right-handed lineup.
With the club's options to replace Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis via free agency dwindling, the trade market may be their best option. It's unclear what the Padres might be asking for in return.
Could a Reunion with Nate McLouth Be in the Works?
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Friday, Dec. 12 at 10:40 a.m. ET
Sources tell MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko that Washington may be willing to eat some of the $5.75 million due outfielder Nate McLouth—a $5 million salary in 2015 and $750,000 buyout of his $6.5 million salary in 2016—and the Orioles would be interested if that's the case.
That said, this seems to be all speculation at this point as no discussions about the veteran are believed to have taken place between the two clubs.
McLouth, 33, injured his shoulder this season and batted .173/.280/.237 in 79 games. He hit .261/.333/.409 over two seasons with the Orioles.
Baltimore Has Checked in with Nori Aoki
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Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 4:50 p.m. ET
Baltimore is still talking to Aoki, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports. It's unclear whether the two sides have exchanged numbers on a potential deal or if an agreement is close.
--End of Update--
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:51 p.m. ET
While characterizing the team's level of interest as "limited," MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko reports that the club has spoken to the free agent outfielder's agent and begun kicking the tires on the possibility of Aoki coming to Baltimore.
The 32-year-old hit .285 with 29 extra-base hits (one home run), 17 stolen bases and a .710 OPS over 132 games for Kansas City in 2014. Aoki put the club on his back in September, hitting .379 with a .926 OPS and was a major reason the Royals clinched a wild-card berth.
Wei-Yin Chen Is Drawing Lots of Interest
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Saturday, Dec. 6 at 1:35 p.m. ET
Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles believe they could trade southpaw Wei-Yin Chen to strengthen other areas of the club given the amount of interest that teams have expressed in the 29-year-old.
Chen is coming off the best season of his three-year career, having gone 16-6 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 31 starts. One talent evaluator told Connolly that the Orioles would "get a healthy return of either prospects or immediate major league help" if they seriously considered moving him.
Connolly says that the Orioles and Angels were discussing a Chen-for-Howie Kendrick deal earlier in the offseason, but that Baltimore decided against it and the Angels have since decided not to move Kendrick.
Baltimore Isn't Looking to Cut Ties with Chris Davis
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Update: Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 11:32 a.m. ET
While Baltimore's stance on Chris Davis hasn't changed, that hasn't stopped teams from calling about his availability.
The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson and Clark Spencer have confirmed that Miami is interested in Davis and that the club has spoken to the Orioles about a potential deal.
There are no indications as to whether talks have progressed passed the "Hey, I'm interested in Chris Davis" stage, but they note that one of Miami's top young pitching prospects—Andrew Heaney, perhaps—would likely have to be included in any package.
--End of Update--
Monday, Nov. 3 at 3:05 p.m. ET
Despite his bloated salary (he made $10.35 million in 2014), awful numbers (a .196/.300/.404 slash line) and late-season suspension, the Orioles aren't inclined to cut ties with Chris Davis at this point, reports MASN Sports' Steve Melewski.
Davis, 28, flashed a markedly improved glove at first base last season, tied for second among qualified first basemen in DRS (eight) and ranking eighth in UZR/150 (3.6).
He's always been a well-liked guy inside the clubhouse, and while some of his teammates may view him differently after the way the 2014 season ended, it's hard to imagine that his reputation has taken a serious hit among his teammates, considering his ban wasn't PED-related.
Look for the two sides to try and reach an agreement on a one-year deal before reaching arbitration, otherwise the Orioles will take their chances in the process.
Are the Orioles Shopping Bud Norris?
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Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 11:51 a.m. ET
In a bit of a surprising move, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Orioles may consider moving Bud Norris this winter.
Norris, due a raise that figures to land him in the $8 million salary range through arbitration, is coming off a career-year in Baltimore. Over 28 starts, the 29-year-old went 15-8 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. While he struggled with his control a bit, hitting a MLB-high 15 batters, Norris was arguably the team's second-best starter behind Chris Tillman.
Ubaldo Jimenez Is on the Block
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Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 10:41 a.m. ET
One year of the four-year, $50 million deal that Baltimore signed Ubaldo Jimenez to last winter was enough for the Orioles, who have been discussing potential deals involving the 30-year-old starter with teams at the GM Meetings in Phoenix this week, writes MLB.com's Tracy Ringolsby.
It's unclear what teams believe they can fix what ails Jimenez, who went 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA and 1.52 WHIP en route to losing his spot in Baltimore's rotation last season, but CBS Sports' Jon Heyman speculates that one club could be Jimenez's former employers in Cleveland.
Jimenez's contract, which has three years and nearly $39 million remaining, shouldn't be a major obstacle to completing a deal. Jimenez's ability, on the other hand, could be.
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