LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. ā The Orioles have received plenty of interest in their late-inning relievers here at the winter meetings, and a fast-spending free-agent market for bullpen pieces that has emerged this week will make pitchers such as closer Zach Britton and setup man Brad Brach ā both pending free agents next year ā more attractive to potential trade suitors.
But Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said the money being spent through free agency on relievers is shocking, and even though the Orioles are well positioned for 2018, he said a market that spiked so suddenly canāt be good for clubs in the long term.
Over a 24-hour span, three non-closer relievers earned lucrative free-agent deals. Former Orioles right-hander Tommy Hunter received a two-year, $18 million contract from the Philadelphia Phillies, right-hander Anthony Swarzak got a two-year, $14 million deal with the New York Mets and right-hander Juan Nicasio agreed to a two-year, $17 million pact with the Seattle Mariners.
āThe marketās been robust for the relief pitchers, and Iām not talking about the closers either,ā Duquette said. āIām talking about relievers and setup relievers. Iāve seen some stunning deals recently, some absolutely stunning deals, a couple of the relief pitcher deals. Usually clubs will go out and sign the starting pitchers first, right, and the money theyāre spending on the middle relievers [now] is just unbelievable.ā
Brach ā who had 18 saves filling in for Britton last year ā is projected to make just $5.2 million next year in his final season of arbitration eligibility. Britton will make an estimated $12.2 million in 2018, which, while a large amount, is less than the average annual value that free-agent closers such as Wade Davis or Greg Holland are commanding. Reliever Mychal Givens has the greatest value because he isnāt arbitration-eligible until 2019 and is under team control for the next four years.
āWe have good relievers and I think theyāre signed to cost-effective contracts,ā Duquette said. āSome of the contracts Iām seeing, I donāt know how theyāre cost-effective. They certainly wouldnāt be cost-effective in Baltimore. I was just floored by the contracts I saw this morning.ā
The surging market would place more trade value on the Oriolesā late-inning arms, but Duquette expressed concern that it could price out clubs in the future if it continues, especially combined with a starting pitching free-agent market that often involves overpaying, which the Orioles donāt often delve into.
āThe short-term commitments for less money are certainly more attractive than the long-term commitments for a lot of money,ā Duquette said. āSo from that sense, itās a plus for the Orioles, but long term, that canāt be a plus when the market jumps that quickly and swiftly in that area of the market. That canāt be a good thing long term.ā
Rule 5 matters: With just 34 players on their roster ā the fewest of any team ā the Orioles have plenty of room to make multiple picks in Thursdayās Rule 5 draft, but carrying such selections on a major league roster will be difficult because the team still has to carry outfielder Anthony Santander, one of last yearās picks, for the first six weeks of the season for him to fulfill his Rule 5 requirements.
āThat would be tough, but weāll have to see,ā Duquette said. āI think weāve got some spots if we decide to go in that direction. It would be tough given we already have one.ā
Because Santander will take up one bench spot ā and manager Buck Showalter suggested earlier this week a desire to carry 13 pitchers ā it would leave just two position spots available for a catcher and utility player.
So if the Orioles make a pick in the Rule 5 draft, they would likely select a left-handed pitcher, preferably a power arm, to stash in their bullpen.
āWe already have Santander on the roster, so I think that reduces our overall flexibility, but thatās something weāve been working on all week and see if thereās a fit for us,ā Duquette said. āWeāve looked at a lot of pitchers for the Rule 5 given that we already have Santander on the roster. Weāre going to see if thereās a fit with the pitchers weāve looked at.ā
Around the horn: Longtime Orioles scout Bruce Kison, who has been in the organization since 1999, will retire at the end of this calendar year. āHeās always [been] a good presence in spring training and thoughtful observer of talent for the club,ā said Duquette, who said two baseball operations department openings will be filled, but not necessarily in scouting. ⦠Duquette said the club was already intent on looking for utility help before infielder Steve Wilkersonās 50-game suspension for illegal amphetamine use was announced Tuesday. āWeāve been looking for major league utility player,ā Duquette said. āHeād certainly be a candidate for us. ⦠He wouldnāt be an option for our ballclub to start the year. But thatās always been on our shopping list.ā ⦠The team has yet to make a final decision on a successor for longtime head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, who has retired.
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