Baltimore Orioles: What to Do with Scott and Reimold?

Best answer: get pitching.

Going into Spring Training in 2011, the Baltimore Orioles face a lot of questions concerning the future of their team.

One big question mark is the outfield situation. Adam Jones and Nick Markakis are locked down at the center-field and right-field positions, but that left-field position is a little sketchy.

On last year's team, Luke Scott would hit in the DH spot, while Nolan Reimold would play left-field. However, with the addition of veteran slugger Vladimir Guerrero to serve as the DH, frankly, this town ain't big enough for the two of 'em.

Nolan Reimold has proven he is an MLB ready prospect, but on the other hand, Luke Scott is an established 25-30+ HR hitter.

The Orioles need some pitching badly as well. 

So the question is: Should the Orioles trade Scott or Reimold, and if so, what starting pitching could they get for them?

That's a good place to start, but that raises another question: Who's out there to get?

The Baltimore Orioles are in desperate need of pitching (and have been for quite some time). Some of these players may seem a little far-fetched, but if they we're to put together the right deal including either Scott or Reimold, along with some prospects (namely Josh Bell or Zach Britton), the Orioles could potentially pull off a great deal.

Consider these five pitchers as ideas...

• Brett Anderson (Oakland Athletics): Oakland is all about young talent, and getting rid of that young talent when the time is right. In the eyes of GM Billy Beane, the time is right to start looking for potential homes for Brett Anderson. Once a top prospect, Anderson has shown a lot of promise, including his 2009 rookie season in which he finished 6th in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He went 11-11 with a 4.06 ERA and 150 strikeouts. He continued to improve in 2010, until elbow injuries shortened his season to just 19 starts. He still managed a 7-6 record, with a 2.80 ERA and 75 strikeouts. If he can stay healthy, he'd do wonders for the Orioles weak pitching staff. I see them giving up either Scott or Reimold, and maybe one or two prospects from AA or lower.

• Jake Westbrook or Fausto Carmona (St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians): Both of these pitchers are good, quality guys the O's wouldn't mind having. Westbrook is a .500 or .600 winning percentage guy who will give you 200+ innings on a good year, no problem. Carmona however, is still a very young, talented pitcher with a 95 MPH fastball and a wicked slider. He dipped off a little from his 2007 Cy Young Award deserving performance, but managed to bounce back to be a 2010 All-Star for the Indians, earning a 13-14 record with a 3.77 ERA and 127 strikeouts. The only issue is that the Orioles would have to give up a lot for either Westbrook or Carmona. Perhaps Scott or Reimold, maybe AAA pitching prospect Zach Britton, and a prospect from AA or lower.

• Daniel Hudson (Arizona Diamondbacks): He was the center piece for the Edwin Jackson trade that sent him from the Chicago White Sox to the Diamondbacks, Daniel Hudson is definitely worth considering as an option. He was stellar in his first full season in the big leagues, pitching 14 games in 2010. Hudson earned an 8-2 record with a 2.45 ERA and 84 strikeouts. He greatly impacted the Diamondbacks team with a WAR of 3.1. The Orioles would have to give up a fair amount, considering how bright Daniel Hudson's future is, most likely Scott or Reimold, a young pitcher, Chris Tillman or Zach Britton perhaps, and one AA or lower prospect.

• John Danks (Chicago White Sox): The Baltimore Orioles acquiring John Danks would be an absolute miracle. Danks is one of the most under-appreciated starting pitchers in the MLB in my opinion. He'll give you around a .600 winning percentage, 200+ innings and 150+ strikeouts on a consistent basis. In 2010, he posted a 15-11 record, with a 3.72 ERA with 162 strikeouts, along with an impressive WAR of 4.9. He has a 90-95 MPH fastball and a sharp slider that fools hitters. Danks is a very key part to the White Sox rotation, so in order the get him, the Orioles would have to give up quite a bit. I can see a deal including Scott or Reimold, stud third-baseman prospect Josh Bell and Chris Tillman, and two good AA or lower prospects.

• Chad Billingsley (Los Angeles Dodgers): First off, no, I am not nuts. If the Orioles put together the right package, they could have a small chance of pulling this off. Chad Billingsley is an All-Star caliber pitcher, no doubt. His ERA might not always be the best, but racks up strikeouts like no one's business and he'll give you an above .500 record. Last season, he finished with a 12-11 record, with an EAR of 3.57 and 171 strikeouts on a lack-luster 2010 Dodgers team. If he were to go to a place like Baltimore, with lots of potential run-support, Billingsley would prosper. Here's the problem: The Orioles would have to put together a seemingly lop-sided deal. Realistically, the Birds would have to give up Scott or Reimold, both Josh Bell and Zach Britton or Chris Tillman, and three very good AA or lower prospects. It's a lot to ask for, I know, but when he's on, Chad Billingsley is an elite level starting pitcher.

Time for some wishful thinking...

• Felix Hernandez (Seattle Mariners): Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner on a losing team, led the majors with a 2.27 ERA and 249.2 Innings, and runner-up for the MLB lead in strikeouts with 232. It's totally implausible, but a fan can only dream, right?