Baltimore Orioles: Grading the November Hot Stove moves

The Hot Stove season is in full effect and the Baltimore Orioles are one team that has actually made a few moves.

Now that November is at a close, let’s look at the Hot Stove deals that the Baltimore Orioles made and whether or not they will actually benefit the team. Or will they cause more harm than good?

Mostly minor league moves

The majority of the moves made by Jim Duquette were minor league signings. Just the other day, 14 players were assigned to minor league contracts at various levels. But, several of the men who were added or re-signed actually had some Major League experience.

There were also some minor league players who were not lumped in with the 14 signings. Most of these were players who were released by MLB teams or were sent down in the 2017 season. The O’s also added a few minor league players to their 40-man roster as protection from the Rule 5 Draft.

At the beginning of the month, the O’s did decline options on a pair of players: J.J. Hardy and Wade Miley.

What the grades mean:

A = Great move, helped the team.
B = Appears to be a positive move, but a little more info is needed
C = Not looking good from the get-go, but there is a speck of hope.
D = Why, or why did we sign this guy? He does not have a track record.
No F’s will be given.

Minor League Signing Grades

RH Pitcher Jhan Marinez – A

LH Pitcher Joely Rodriguez – C

Infielder Ruben Tejada – B

Infielder Luis Sardinas – C

LH Pitcher Josh Edgin – D

LH Pitcher Ryan O’Rourke – B

RH Pitcher Jeff Ferrell – C

RH Pitcher Ralston Cash – A (Has already been in the O’s minor league system)

Catcher Armando Araiza – A (Has already been in the O’s minor league system)

Catcher Yojhan Quevedo – A (Has already been in the O’s minor league system)

Infielder Angelo Mora – A (Has already been in the O’s minor league system)

Infielder Garabez Rosa – A (Has already been in the O’s minor league system)

Infielder Ryan Ripken – A (Has already been in the O’s minor league system)

Infielder Erick Salcedo – A (Has already been in the O’s minor league system)

RH Pitcher Konner Wade – B

Outfielder Jaycob Brugman – B

Rule 5 Protective Moves

RH Pitcher Hunter Harvey – B

RH David Hess – B

Catcher Austin Wynns – B

Declined options

J.J. Hardy – B (Hardy was injured most of 2017, so letting him go was easy. Beckham will provide plenty of offense, but his defense needs improvement).

Wade Miley – A (He needed to go. His pitching was not helping the team.)

Next: Should Jonathan Schoop be extended, already?

Even though the moves haven’t been mind-blowing, or even interesting, most have not been horrible. December will be much busier with the General Manager Winter Meeting beginning in less than two weeks.

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