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Baltimore Orioles: Talking to free agent right fielders

By Kristen Bentley|
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 31: Joey Rickard #23 of the Baltimore Orioles stands in the right field during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 31: Joey Rickard #23 of the Baltimore Orioles stands in the right field during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles have several needs to fill before the start of the 2018 baseball season.

From adding a veteran catcher, three pitchers, a left-handed batter, and a right fielder, there are plenty of holes in the Baltimore Orioles roster.

And, according to Buck Showalter, he and Dan Duquette have been talking about and with one of the free agent right fielders.

Roch Kubatko on his School of Roch blog shared important moments from a discussion with Buck Showalter on the “Orioles Hot Stove Show” on 105.7 The Fan on January 18. Showalter did not give away too many hints or any names, but he did say about a free agent right fielder:

“Dan’s already been talking to him about offers and physicals. We’re down the road real deep on a lot of guys.”

The big question is who is the right fielder? There are several good ones who would fit nicely in the Orioles lineup. There have already been rumors about J.D. Martinez and a five-year deal for $125 million with the Boston Red Sox, according to the Boston Herald and other sources. I would love to see Martinez in an Orioles uniform, rather than a Red Sox uniform. But, the contract would need to be quite large.

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The other notable outfielders who are still available include Carlos Gonzalez, who not only plays right field but also bats from the left. Historically, Lorenzo Cain has played centerfield, but he has spent some time in right and could be an asset for the Orioles. Even Jayson Werth can play a little right field and he was originally drafted by the Orioles.

Even without knowing who the Orioles are targeting for the position, just knowing that something is happening is reassuring. The Orioles have signed a plethora of minor league players, but it’s the big league guys that will fill the seats.

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Hopefully, this right fielder will be a veteran with solid numbers. If all goes well, we fans could find out quickly who it actually is.

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