Baltimore Orioles: Signing pitchers before the season starts

It’s been tough to be a Baltimore Orioles fan this off-season. Everyone knows that the team needs pitchers, yet none have been signed.

But, Baltimore Orioles fans, do not lose all hope. Pitchers and catchers may have reported, but there is a chance that the team might add to the rotation with actual free agents.

Two reports are helping to bring a little hope into the hearts of those who have lost all hope.

Could The Freak come to Birdland?

One comes from a Tweet from Roch Kubatko regarding the mysterious Tim Lincecum.

Several other teams will be in attendance to see what the two-time Cy-Young winner and four-time All-Star has to show. Lincecum posted a 9.16 ERA in 38 innings with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. In his nine years with the San Francisco Giants, Lincecum pitched a 3.61 ERA with several complete games and many league-leading numbers. He seemed to have disappeared in 2017 and recently reappeared with renewed vigor, short hair, and some muscles.

Adding Lincecum would certainly be exciting, but there is no guarantee that The Freak would be back to his old form. He is 33 years old and hasn’t pitched a full season since 2014.

Could Mike Wright bring relief?

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The other sign is from Baltimore Baseball.com’s Dan Connelly. Dan seems to have plenty of hope that the team is not finished. In his most recent article, he predicts the O’s will sign a free agent pitcher and that Mike Wright will be the fifth starter.

Wright appeared in 13 games in 2017 after a combined 23 starts through 2016 and 2015. He is 28 years old and has spent most of his time in the Minor Leagues. While he has more MLB innings under his belt that Miguel Castro or Gabriel Ynoa, he brings about the same excitement and confidence. In his three seasons with the Orioles, his ERA is 5.86. It would be nice to find someone who can manage an ERA under 4.00. Wright’s big problem is that he is out of options, so he either becomes a career minor leaguer or he joins the Big League. A decision will have to be made.

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What is more exciting is the certainty that Connelly brings to the idea of the O’s signing a free agent. Opening Day happens on March 29, so there is time, still for Dan Duquette to talk his boss into adding a veteran arm. Most likely it will not be Jake Arrieta or anyone that requires a long-term contract. Andrew Cashner is still out there and so is Jason Vargas. There are plenty of affordable options that would probably be glad to get a paycheck, even for a year or two.