It is officially rebuilding time in Baltimore after the trade deadline. The Orioles are now working on their future in the middle of a disaster. While rebuilding was as predictable as it was necessary, they have completely crossed the line. The O’s find themselves in more a comatose kind of state rather than a rebuilding one. Here is why:
Flying The Nest
As we all know, the Orioles went into a fire sale as soon as the month of July came around. We had not seen a garage sale of such proportions since Mr. Jeter took over the Marlins. By the first day of August, there was no one left.
Kevin Gausman and Darren O’Day left for Atlanta. Chris Tillman became a Ranger. Jonathan Schoop flew away to Milwaukee. The front face of the pitching rotation, Zach Britton, now wears pinstripes at New York. Last but definitely not least, Manny Machado left for the Dodgers in the biggest, yet most reasonable trade during July.
Wobbly Legs
The Orioles beheaded their roster and got rid of some very big names on their payroll. Sure, some indeed had to leave. Nonetheless, their organization’s core was also thrown into the trash. Take a look at what is left:
Chris Davis
The first baseman has had rough season so far to say the least. Davis is hitting .157 with 37 RBI and a disgraceful on base percentage of .242.
Caleb Joseph
The Orioles’ starting catcher is not much different from Davis. Joseph has a .220 batting average, a mere 14 RBI, and a .257 OBP. Not much to write home about.
Alex Cobb
The former Ray and the brand new face of the pitching rotation also has some impressive numbers. They are impressive in the worst way possible. Cobb has a 3-14 record and a shocking 5.55 ERA.
The Orioles’ foundation is as solid as melted butter after all the trades and transactions.
Days Are Numbered
A set of decisions like these do not happen by accident, someone had to execute them. That was, of course, General Manager Dan Duquette. Duquette got a bunch of prospects in exchange for his trades, prospects that not even the organization knows when they will be ready to play at the MLB level. Duquette gets points for aggressiveness but his set of moves are just too risky. He, alongside the Oriole front office, crossed the fine line between rebuilding and dismantling. It would not be surprising to see him leave Baltimore by e the end of the season. With one year left on his contract, he might not be around to watch the rising of the Orioles.
Bottom Of The Pit
One does not have to look to the future in order to realize how bad things are at Baltimore. A quick glance at their current season is more than enough. The O’s have a record of 35-80, rotting at the bottom of the AL East division and well on their way to a 100+ loses season.
Times like these do not last long in Major League Baseball. That is, if the front office is competent enough to put the pieces together to make a winning team. The birds are an exception to that rule. Not only did they go over their heads with trading, but the man in charge might not be in office for 2019. Future looks awfully painful for the Baltimore Orioles at the bottom of the pit