Day 3 and we head to Baltimore to examine the 2015 Orioles. The Orioles are considered one of three major competitors from this year’s American League East division. Minor off-season moves and little change to the pitching corps still have Baltimore in a very good spot.
Team Overview: 2015 Baltimore Orioles
Three straight winning seasons for Baltimore have fans hungry for more, and the undisputed leadership of Manager Buck Showalter has contributed extremely well to the Orioles young clubhouse. All-Star outfielder Adam Jones and a core of young starting pitchers remain on the O’s roster for the 2015 season, along with healthy, young sparkplugs in Manny Machado and Matt Wieters, who began catch and throw drills for the first time since his Tommy John surgery on Monday, March 2. Their strength comes from production up and down the order from all parts of the line-up, from lead-off to nine hitter, and everyone in between. The re-additions of Machado and Wieters, along with Chris Davis, who has one more game to serve for his drug suspension, will largely impact the way the Orioles win games down the stretch.
Roster Moves
He’s Here: SS Everth Cabrera, OF Nolan Reimold, OF Travis Snider, P Wesley Wright Non-Roster Invitees with chance to make roster: C J.P. Arencibia He’s Gone: DH Nelson Cruz, C Nick Hundley, OF Nick Markakis, P Andrew Miller, P Joe Saunders
Out for the Count
Three blaring names appear in the “He’s Gone” section of roster moves: Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller. Cruz, after being suspended 50 games for being involved in the Biogenesis scandal, had a career year last season with Baltimore, leading the American League in home runs with 40 and was third with 108 runs batted in. At 33 years old, he proved he still had some years left in him to perform at a very high level. Cruz rejected the Orioles qualifying offer of $15.3 million after the season, and he was touted as one of the best bats on the market, along with Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez, and Victor Martinez, all of whom ended up in the American League. Cruz ended up signing a $57 million, four-year deal with the Mariners that will insert him into a line-up on the rise. Cruz’s move to Seattle left Baltimore without a solid designated hitter option.
Nick Markakis has been a great commodity for the Orioles since the moment he came up with them on April 3, 2006: nine seasons of manning the outfield in Camden Yards, albeit not always the healthiest person. Recently, Markakis provided top of the order stability, a consistent lefty hitter, and an option at first base after Davis’ suspension for the Orioles, but the offers Baltimore laid out on the table for Markakis weren’t enough to lure him back, instead signing a $44 million, four-year deal with the Braves. This left Baltimore without a clear right fielder for the upcoming season.
Baltimore’s bullpen was one of the best in the Major Leagues in 2014, anchored by Zach Britton, Brad Brach, Darren O’Day, Tommy Hunter, Ryan Webb and Andrew Miller. All but one of them remain on the roster for this season, and the one that left will leave a large gap in the bullpen: Miller. After struggling with inconsistency as a starter early in his career, Miller’s move to the bullpen revived his career and made him a valued asset to any team. He and David Robertson were the top relievers on this year’s market, and Baltimore didn’t believe they had the appropriate money to lure him back. Miller ended up with a $36 million, four-year deal. It’s quite the pattern here: all top free agents that Baltimore allowed to reach the market signed for four years, taking more money than what Baltimore offered.
Solid Defense
The Orioles possess arguably one of the best defenses in baseball. Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy have each won a Gold Glove at their positions, center field and shortstop, respectively, for the last three years running, Machado won in 2013 in a healthy season, and Wieters won 2011-2012. Shifts, diving, and double plays are all Baltimore strong suits when playing the field. With Alejandro de Aza in left field, that’s added speed to an already quick line-up. Chris Davis has shown flashes of good defense, but when put together as a unit, the Baltimore defense is superior to many of the other American League defenses.
Team Outline
C: Matt Wieters
1B: Chris Davis
2B: Jonathan Schoop
3B: Manny Machado
SS: J.J. Hardy
LF: Alejandro de Aza
CF: Adam Jones
RF: Travis Snider
DH: Steve Pearce
Steve Pearce is penciled in as the starting designated hitter after a very productive 2014 season that was not expected by any means, and he now has a starting spot to call his own to try and have another solid season. New acquisition Travis Snider takes over for Markakis in right field, and the re-addition of Nolan Remold on a minor league contract provides depth in both corner positions. David Lough and Delmon Young were two more options for the Baltimore outfield and designated hitter depth.
1. Chris Tillman
2. Wei-Yin Chen
3. Bud Norris
4. Kevin Gausman
5. Miguel Gonzalez
Miguel Gonzalez is slated to begin the season as the five starter due to the extreme struggles of Ubaldo Jimenez, which continued in his first start of Spring Training on March 3. Gausman looks to have another solid season, and hopefully Tillman can remain the ace of the O’s staff. Chen provides stability and Norris provides experience day in and day out.
Bottom Line
The Orioles combination of defense and bullpen anchor two lesser noticed parts of Major League baseball, and they both play extremely important parts of Baltimore’s game. The return of guys like Davis and Machado boosts the morale and the capability of Baltimore’s line-up, and solid seasons from 2-3 starting pitchers will allow Baltimore more opportunities for victories. Even in the tougher American League East, I see Baltimore somewhere around 84-85 wins, maybe more, and a 3rd place, at best 2nd place finish.
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