They need pitchers, they need a righty outfielder, they have needs!
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! There have still been no big moves in Birdland this offseason and I, for one, am getting antsy. I am trying to keep up this optimism about Corbin Burnes because I want the Orioles to re-sign him more than I’ve wanted them to do anything in the offseason for some time.
Part of it is that he’s a really good pitcher, even if he isn’t quite as good as he used to be. I got used to having that guy in the rotation this past year and I’m not ready to lose that kind of pitcher. I also remember that elated feeling I had when it was announced last offseason that the Orioles had traded for him. It was exciting not just because the rotation was greatly improved. It was also exciting because the move itself had big “going for it” energy, something almost unheard of for the Orioles.
Ponying up the cash for Burnes this year would generate similar buzz and again for multiple reasons. Mike Elias proved last year that he was willing to go big on trades. Now he needs to show that he can go big on free agents. It would signal what kind of player he is in the market and also show us that the new ownership really does mean things have changed. Not to mention, it would mean that Burnes was back on the team which would just be awesome.
I think the odds are low that the Orioles will re-sign Burnes. But until he signs somewhere else, I’ll keep hope alive.
Links
Orioles’ best catches of 2024 | 12/02/2024 | Baltimore Orioles
Relive the Orioles’ five-best catches of last year based on catch probability. Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins combined to make all five.
8 free agent righties who could replace Corbin Burnes in the Orioles’ rotation – The Baltimore Banner
Spoiler: None of them are as good as Burnes. And half of them are like, really old.
Sizing up Orioles’ shopping list for next week’s Winter Meetings – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rich Dubroff takes a look at what the Orioles need ahead of the winter meetings. I seriously doubt the Orioles will sign both Corbin Burnes and Nathan Eovaldi, but Dubroff says it wouldn’t be absurd to think they could! Ever the optimist.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies. Righty pitcher Konner Wade turns 33 years old today. He pitched in seven games for the 2021 Orioles, his only major league experience.
Clay Dalrymple is celebrating his 88th birthday today. Dalrymple had a 12-year big league career, nine years with the Phillies and three years with the Orioles from 1969-71. Dalrymple had two pinch-hit appearances in the 1969 World Series and went 2-for-2.
Chico Salmon was also born on this day in history. He was a utility player for the Orioles from 1969 to 1972 and passed away in 2000 at the age of 59.
On this day in 1957, the Orioles traded Ray Moore, Billy Goodman, and Tito Francona to the White Sox for a return of Larry Doby, Jack Harshman, Russ Heman, and Jim Marshall. Larry Doby is, of course, best known as being the first Black player in the American League and second on the majors to Jackie Robinson. The Orioles never played Doby, trading him back to the Indians, where he made his debut, before the next season began Francona went on to have a 15-year career.
In 1974, the Orioles traded for Lee May from the Astros. May went on to play six seasons with the Orioles.
And in 2014, the Braves signed Nick Markakis to a four-year contract, putting to rest any idea that he’d return to the Orioles. Markakis went on to play six years with the Braves before retiring.