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Baltimore Orioles: Cold weather defines the Hot Stove season

ByKristen Bentley|
BALTIMORE - MARCH 31: Firstbase umpire Chuck Meriwether watches play through a snow squall as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-5 in 13 innings in an opening day that included a 13 minute snow delay at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2003 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - MARCH 31: Firstbase umpire Chuck Meriwether watches play through a snow squall as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-5 in 13 innings in an opening day that included a 13 minute snow delay at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2003 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The weather is certainly cold, just as cold as the Hot Stove season for the Baltimore Orioles

After a little excitement with the Baltimore Orioles listening to offers for Manny Machado, the Hot Stove season has gone cold.

Fortunately (or unfortunately?), that little holiday fun didn’t pan out for the Orioles or for any other teams. But, the off-season is still going and Machado’s name is most likely on the lips of a few general managers.

Spring training is rapidly approaching with fewer than 45 days until pitchers and catchers report. Hopefully, the Stove can get hot again and the Orioles are a team that could get it started.

So many holes to fill

Since the Orioles had nine players leave the team at the end of the 2017 season, there are several holes that could be filled. Yes, some minor league players have been signed, but most do not have the caliber of play that the O’s need to compete in the AL East. Or the rest of the MLB for that matter.

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The Orioles could field a team with the players they have. The numbers are there. But, even with Jonathan Schoop, Manny Machado, and Chris Davis on offense and defense, the team will not get many wins. Especially against the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.

The Orioles have money available to start signing now. They dropped significant salary when they let their free agents walk away.

Start with an easy signing

Along with their serious need for quality pitchers and a right fielder, the Orioles could use a veteran catcher. This should be an easy and inexpensive position to fill. As the 40-man roster sits, the catchers are Caleb Joseph, Chance Sisco, and Austin Wynns. Sisco had his quick call-up in September, but Wynns has not made any appearances at the Major League level and played at the Double-A level in 2017. All positions are important, but the catcher is the only player who can see the whole playing field at all times. A veteran can make a huge difference behind the dish.

Next: The Red Sox are rumored to want Machado

Of course, the off-season is just as much of a game as the regular season, but the off-season game is run by money and front office staffs. The timing has to be right and the other options need to be discarded before a signing is made. Someone has to rip off the band-aid and the Orioles are the team to get it started.

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