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Baltimore Orioles: Reacting to Jonathon Schoop’s talk of extension

By Kristen Bentley

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 17: Jonathan Schoop #6 of the Baltimore Orioles looks before playing against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 17: Jonathan Schoop #6 of the Baltimore Orioles looks before playing against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Orioles have one of the most dangerous double-play combinations in baseball.

But, Baltimore Orioles fans will not have much time to watch this duo do its thing.

Since the Orioles failed to lock down Manny Machado for a long-term deal when he was affordable, this new double-play combo will only be enjoyed for a season. If that long.

But, the Orioles should make an attempt to keep the other half of the combo, Jonathan Schoop.

Look what he said

And, it appears that Schoop is open to extension talks. According to a Tweet from MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli, Schoop also has regret about not attending FanFest.

Was Schoop honest in his comment to the press? We, the fans, will never know unless the Orioles actually do something about it. The only way to know is to actually have extension talks with the All-Star second baseman.

The break-out season

Schoop had his break-out year in 2017, hitting an impressive slash of .293/.338/.503. He also hit a career-high 32 home runs and 105 RBIs. He consistently hit behind Manny in the three-hole and he seemed to enjoy his power-hitting spot in the lineup. Machado and Schoop consistently battled for the top spot in the home run list, but Machado ended up beating out Schoop with 33. However, Schoop did take top honors in the RBI rankings with Machado in second with 95.

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While a post-All-Star-year extension may not be as club-friendly as one signed when a player is not quite proven, the O’s should work with the Schoop camp for a reasonable extension. With Machado, Adam Jones, and Zach Britton entering free agency at the end of the 2018 season, the O’s will be without a franchise player. Schoop would be a good option to fill that role.

Valuable durability

In his last two years with the Orioles, Schoop has been incredibly durable. He played in all 162 games in 2016 and he only missed two games in 2017. This durability is important in today’s baseball players, as many fall to repeated injuries season after season. This durability would go in Schoop’s favor, but a durable player is good for a team, too.

Next: Reacting to the Cashner signing

Schoop has yet to post a negative WAR in his five seasons with the O’s. He is a real asset and seems to enjoy his time with his Birdland colleagues. The O’s should step outside of their comfort zone and give this man a contract extension as soon as possible.

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