Baltimore Orioles Winter Meetings Hot Stove shopping list

Starting pitching is the biggest need for the Baltimore Orioles in 2018.

There are only two returning starters with any type of experience: Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy. Both are young and both have proven they can throw – but neither fit the bill for a number-one starter.

Duquette should have a few free-agent pitchers on his radar. Andrew Cashner, Jaime Garcia, and Alex Cobb could be names that he discusses. Lance Lynn could also be on Duquette’s radar, although he will be expensive. Their agents will be there, ready to talk.

First attempt was foiled

Duquette already tried to get an affordable pitcher, but Mike Fiers reportedly declined a two-year offer. Instead, Fiers chose to go to the Detroit Tigers to pitch on a team that finished last in the entire league. He took a one-year deal for $6 million from Detroit instead of a two-year deal for $11 from Baltimore.

It is clear that Duquette is going to have an uphill battle signing three free-agent pitchers, especially for affordable prices. Many teams need one or two pitchers, but no one is in quite the dilemma that the Orioles are in. Unfortunately for Duquette, the rest of the league is fully aware of his predicament and they will most likely try to take full advantage of it. He may need to turn to trades, instead.

It is highly unlikely that all three pitchers will be signed during the span of the Winter Meetings. But, hopefully, by December 14 when the event closes, there will be at least one GOOD pitcher wearing the orange and black.

Along with pitchers, the Orioles need an everyday right fielder.

Left field seems to belong to Trey Mancini and center field is Adam Jones‘s for the next season. But, right field does not belong to anyone. There are a few men who can run around out there occasionally, but if the Orioles want to contend, they need a real right fielder. Anthony Santander, Joey Rickard, and Austin Hays are all capable, but not on a daily basis. Their bats just aren’t good enough.

Could Duquette make a big impact?

Dan Duquette could make a massive impact with a smart right field signing. The team does have some money and if can avoid going overboard on pitchers, he could make a legendary move to fill in the missing outfield hole.

While it is his highly unlikely he will go after someone like J.D. Martinez, he is a player who could get the Orioles into playoff contention. And, now that Stanton is in the AL East, the Orioles need someone who can compete. The Red Sox have been the rumored destination for Martinez, but as everyone found out with the Ohtani and Stanton signings, rumors are just rumors.

There is also the idea of Carlos Gonzalez as an item on Duquette’s shopping list. Gonzalez will be much less expensive to sign that Martinez. Both will want lengthy contracts and if the O’s are going to contend with the Bombers in NY, the checkbook might have to open up.

There are other outfielders who could be on Duquette’s list: Jay Bruce, Melky Cabrera, Jon Jay, and Austin Jackson are also available and have good numbers, too.

Dan Duquette will also have to field questions from other GMs’ shopping lists.

Most of those questions will involve Zach Britton and Manny Machado. There might even be some interest in other players like Mychal Givens, Adam Jones, and Jonathan Schoop.

Has Stanton affected the O’s goals?

In the few hours since Stanton was signed, experts and pundits have discussed the ripple effect that could move through the American League. Just a few days ago, Duquette commented on how the O’s were not in a rebuild and how they were going to count on their core. Jon Meoli with The Baltimore Sun summarized Duquette’s words: “[I]t’s the top priority this offseason as the Orioles enter a make-or-break 2018 season in which they’ll try to build one last playoff team, not tear things down in favor of a rebuild for the future.”

It is crazy to consider that one man could change the way that a team tackles the off-season for 2018. But there is a real chance that the O’s front office spent time discussing the Stanton trade and what it means to the off-season plan. Hopefully, Duquette will stick to the plan and go for it for one more year. But, if he trades a big piece, like Machado, then it will be crystal clear that the goal has shifted.

Next: Gausman makes a classy move to honor Halladay

Stay tuned to Birds Watcher for Winter Meetings coverage.