Baltimore Orioles: Orioles could learn how to construct roster from Yankees

There’s a strong case for the Baltimore Orioles to trade Manny Machado and Zach Britton to acquire prospects in return. But the Orioles can add prospects without hurting their contending roster.

How?

Just follow the New York Yankees plan.

Let’s face it; Zach Britton and Manny Machado are going to become expensive as the years go by. Not to mention the Baltimore Orioles don’t have the best farm system.

So, the logical thing to do would be to trade Machado and Britton, and acquire prospects for the farm system, right?

Well, not exactly.

Machado and Britton would bring in a hefty haul if the Orioles wanted to trade them this winter. But the fact of the matter is, the team is still in win-now mode. And they have every right to be. The Orioles have been in the postseason picture three times in the last five season and have the most wins in the American League since 2012.

The Orioles unlike most teams hope to reload their roster instead of going through the rebuilding process. Also, they aren’t sold on the idea of trading away their star players for prospects because they are just that. They’re prospects. Which means you don’t know what you’re going to get from them at the Major League level.

Yet, the Orioles haven’t had major success with their prospects being star players at the Major League level.

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The Orioles are a contending team and they’re a few pieces away from being a legitimate postseason team. However, the Orioles know they’re only a few seasons away from losing most of their star players. Until then, they might want to think about fixing the farm. And while it seems impossible, the Orioles can improve the farm without deconstructing their current roster.

How?

Well, they could always follow the game plan of their American League East rivals the New York Yankees.

The Yankees are a team that went through the same thing. They didn’t have the best farm system and their most successful ‘homegrowns’ were All-Stars Brett Gardner (drafted in 2005) and Dellin Betances (drafted in 2006). But they found a way to replenish the farm system without deconstructing their roster.

The Yankees gained four prospects headlined by Clint Frazier in a trade that sent closer Andrew Miller to the Cleveland Indians. They also parted ways with Aroldis Chapman and acquired Gleyber Torres, who ended up being the No. 1 Yankees prospect according to Baseball America. Despite the Yankees “selling” at the trade deadline, they were still able to compete in the Wild Card race until the final week of the regular season.

Need more convincing?

Okay.

Last offseason, the Yankees wanted Starlin Castro, and when the Cubs wanted Gardner, the Bronx Bombers said no. Instead, they traded away Adam Warren and Brendan Ryan for Castro. When the Yankees traded away Chapman a half-season later, the guy that headlined the return for the Yankees was Adam Warren. In the end, the Yankees got their All-Star second baseman, but they only gave up Brendan Ryan.

Now that is some highway robbery.

The Orioles and the Yankees are bitter American League East rivals. But the Orioles could learn something from their opponents. They can improve their team, and it wouldn’t have to take them giving up Machado or Britton to do it. While it would be tempting to do so once Machado and Britton are unaffordable, the Orioles don’t have to do it right now. And in the meantime, they can rebuild their farm system without losing their key players.

Next: Orioles announce Top 10 prospects

After all, they still have a few potential postseason runs in them.