Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.
Question: Did the Orioles have a good draft? Why did they draft so many catchers? From: John Dill
Answer: John, it’s impossible to know if the Orioles had a good draft for several years. It generally takes three-to-five years, sometimes longer for prospects to make it to the major leagues.
You’ll have to check back in 2027, 2028 and 2029 for a true assessment. As for catchers, they are often useful trade chips. While the Orioles have Adley Rutschman, who’s not going anywhere, and an excellent prospect in Samuel Basallo, who also may not be traded, the Orioles’ minor league teams need catchers, and if one develops nicely and there’s no room in the big leagues, well, other teams are always looking for catchers.
Question: The Orioles remind me of the teams from the early ’60s that were good but could never quite get over the hump until they traded for Frank Robinson. They seem to be missing that experienced leader who has been to the World Series to take them to the next level.
O’s need a Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez or Justin Turner to spur them to the World Series. Do you think Elias will pull the trigger like he did in Houston for Verlander? From: Chuck in North Carolina
Answer: Chuck, first of all, Mike Elias wasn’t the general manager in Houston in 2017, so he wasn’t making the trades.
I think Elias isn’t afraid to make bold moves, and I’m intrigued to see what he does in the next 11 days to improve the club. As for needing a leader, I’m not sure that any of those four players you mention are available in a trade.
The Astros are challenging for the AL West, so I don’t think Verlander is on the market. Turner’s team (Red Sox) and Martinez’s Mets are both in the playoff chase and, according to Texas general manager Chris Young, they may be buyers as well, so Scherzer migh not be available, either.
I think the idea of an accomplished veteran pitcher would be a good one. It just has to be the right one.