The Baltimore Orioles are looking to compete in 2016 after finishing third in the AL East last season at 81-81. They still have Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Manny Machado all under contract. But for as much fear as those names instill in opposing pitchers, opposing hitters love to face Baltimore. Orioles pitchers struggled last year. A lot.
Ubaldo Jimenez showed promise early, but couldn’t turn the clock back to his days in Colorado. He pitched to a 4.11 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 184 innings. The Orioles also failed to get production from Bud Norris, who posted a 7.06 ERA and a 1.6 WHIP, while giving up eighty-four hits, in 66.1 innings with Baltimore, who then released him. Miguel Gonzalez, who showed promise early in his career, faltered last year, pitching to a 4.91 ERA in 144 innings.
Wei-Yin Chen pitched well and was a workhorse for Baltimore during his four seasons with the team, logging at least 185 innings in three of those four and 19o or more twice. However, he signed a deal with the Marlins in the offseason, pitching behind Jose Fernandez.
To alleviate these issues, the Orioles brought in 29 year old All Star Yovani Gallardo on a three year, $35 million deal to act as the ace of a rotation that often looked defeated.
Gallardo is consistent. Since 2009, he’s started thirty or more games in every season, has never thrown less than 184 innings, and last year with the Rangers posted a career-low ERA. For his career, he’s logged four consecutive 200+ strikeout seasons, and two seasons with over 204 innings pitched. His 8.2 K/9 will be greatly appreciated in Baltimore.
However, there’s a caveat. Gallardo has a propensity for issuing hits and free passes. He’s issued 190 or more hits in three of the last five seasons, and has given up eighty or more walks twice.
Gallardo spent the first eight years of his career in Milwaukee and made the adjustment last year to pitching in the much more hitter-friendly American League. In the small sample size with Texas, Gallardo seemed to fare well in the AL.
He’s still relatively young at 29, but will now be pitching in the much tougher environment of the AL East, with teams like Boston and Toronto. Baltimore wants to compete, but signing just one pitcher and hoping for Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy to perform well isn’t necessarily a competitive strategy.
Main Photo:
