Baltimore Orioles: Does Dan Duquette Have a Trade in the Works?

With a lack of major moves so far this offseason, could the Baltimore Orioles have a trade in the works to acquire some outfield help?

I have heard nothing and I am not even passing on a rumor.  I am merely speculating.  The Baltimore Orioles relatively quiet offseason and their seeming lack of interest in finalizing a deal with Mark Trumbo leads me to believe that Dan Duquette is working on a trade.  We’ve heard it all winter – teams have a great desire to acquire bullpen arms, following the model set by the Kansas City Royals two years ago.  The game is shortening as managers turn games over to the bullpen to start the 6th or 7th innings.

One of the Orioles greatest strengths is their bullpen.  Teams covet players like Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Mychal Givens.  The Orioles could get a nice hull for one of their bullpen stars – especially ones like Britton, Brach and Givens who are relatively cheap.  Dan Duquette knows this and may very well be working the phones to find an outfielder.

Earlier this season, we heard rumors about the Orioles interest in Curtis Granderson who would be a nice fit in the Orioles outfield.  The Mets appeared to be interested in Brad Brach.  The hang up?   Granderson is due $15M next season and the Orioles don’t want to trade Brach and also pay the entire $15M salary to Granderson.  Situations are fluid and I’m sure Dan Duquette remains in contact with Sandy Alderson.

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The Washngton Nationals are another team that could use bullpen help.  Could the Orioles swing a deal for young outfield stud Trea Turner?  It’s possible the Nationals would go “all in” to complete the remaining pieces of their roster puzzle.  While I don’t think dealing Brad Brach to the Nats would yield Trea Turner, the Nats have already made some very questionable moves this offseason.  Anything is possible.

There are numerous other teams who could use a solid bullpen arm and Dan Duquette should not limit himself in his creative thinking.  While Mychal Givens had a very good rookie season and is under team control for at least 5 more seasons, the Orioles should move him and sign a guy like Boone Logan if it yields a very solid outfilder in return.  At this point, I don’t feel anything is off limits.

Orioles Add Another Arm?

Reports out of Korea suggest that the Baltimore Orioles have signed right hand pitcher Zach Stewart from the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO).  The deal has not been confirmed by the Orioles.  Stewart was a 3rd round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2008.  His major league stats have been abysmal; his minor league stats have not been great; and, his KBO stats have been so-so.  Last season with the NC Dinos, Stewart went 11-7 with a 4.66 ERA over 25 starts.  In 2015, he went  8-2 with a 2.68 ERA over 19 starts.  If Stewart signs a major league deal, he will compete with guys like Logan Ondrusek, Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson as a possible call-up candidate should the Orioles need a starting pitcher or long reliever.

I would be somewhat surprised if the Orioles signed him to a major league deal; however, with options remaining, he could be a good filler at Norfolk.

Next: It's 2017 and the Baltimore Orioles Have the Same Needs

The Baltimore Orioles and Dan Duquette have more work ahead of them.  Perhaps that work includes dealing for an outfielder.