Baltimore Orioles: Still in the market for a free-agent outfielder?

We’re now less than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Are the Baltimore Orioles still searching for another outfielder?

The Baltimore Orioles have seemingly been in the market for a free-agent outfielder throughout the off-season. They let Adam Jones walk after the 2018 season ended, both due to his assumed value on the market and his declining defensive value.

As much as some fans would like to see the Orioles bring Jones back to Baltimore, it’s tough to see that happening. Mike Elias doesn’t have ties to Jones, and the city already said goodbye to it’s beloved star.

As it stands, the Orioles have six outfielders on the 40-man roster: Austin Hays, Trey Mancini, Cedric Mullins, Joey Rickard, Anthony Santander, and DJ Stewart.

Mancini is slated to start the year as the Orioles left-fielder. Until the Orioles move Mark Trumbo, Mancini is going to get his at-bats as an outfielder, despite his struggles there.

But the day where Mancini plays his final innings in the outfield can’t come soon enough. Assuming that day comes during the 2019 season, the Orioles need a contingency plan for the outfield.

Mullins will be the Baltimore Orioles everyday center-fielder, at least until he proves otherwise. At the moment, the team doesn’t have anyone else on the roster capable of providing adequate defense in center.

Mullins will have a long leash, at least initially. But if he continues to post a sub-.500 OPS against left-handed pitchers, it might not be long before they get him in a platoon.

Right-field is a toss-up. I’ve suggested several times that DJ Stewart can play 80% of the time out there, and I still think that’s the case, even though he’s very green.

With a full season’s worth of playing time, Stewart has the potential to provide solid defense and at least an average bat. He’s also got surprising quickness and could steal 15-20 bases.

Stewart’s free-swinging approach showed in his 19.6% career minor league strikeout rate, and in the 25.5% mark he posted in Baltimore last year. However, if he can come close to the 12.5% walk rate he posted in the minors, he’ll be better off because of it.

Austin Hays is a bit of an uncertainty. He’s stated on Twitter that he’s feeling great, and should be ready to go by the start of spring training. However, his 2018 season was disrupted by constant injuries.

If he’s ready to go, there’s a chance that Hays makes the 25-man roster out of spring training. He spent time in Baltimore in 2017, and likely would’ve done the same last year, had he not missed so much time.

The other two aren’t impact guys.

We’ve seen what Joey Rickard is, and there’s very limited upside. He’s a quad-A outfielder who can provide depth and give you a few starts if you’re in a fix, but he’s not someone you want out there every day.

Anthony Santander needs to spend time in the minors and continue his development. A former Rule 5 pick, the Baltimore Orioles have done a fine job stunting his career path by keeping him on the roster, despite him not being ready for the majors.

If I’m guessing, the Hays, Mullins, Stewart combo is probably Birdland’s preferred outfield lineup once Trey Mancini moves back to the infield full-time. Mancini can serve as an emergency outfielder, but he shouldn’t be relied on to play meaningful innings out there.

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Yusniel Diaz is an option sitting in Bowie, but we’re not sure he’s ready for MLB at-bats, and he’d need to be added to the 40-man roster. The Orioles will wait as long as possible before starting Diaz’s service time clock, and I’d prefer they take their time and develop him, rather than rush him to Baltimore.

There are two guys in Norfolk who could theoretically help out, in Jaycob Brugman and Mike Yastrzemski, though neither is on the 40-man and neither has any experience in the majors. Either could see time in the majors next year, though relying on one of them feels optimistic.

So yes, the Baltimore Orioles could still be in the market for a free-agent outfielder. However, the veteran free-agent options are slim, at least in the Orioles’ price range, and include the likes of Denard Span, Brandon Guyer, and Chris Young. Don’t hold your breath for AJ Pollock, that’s not happening.

Span might be the ideal kind of signing for the Orioles: someone with experience who can come in and help the young guys develop, while giving the guys at all three spots the occasional off day. Brandon Guyer, Gerardo Parra, Eric Young Jr; those are guys you don’t want to spend money on.

Next. 5 Orioles prospects facing key seasons. dark

There’s probably a better chance that the Orioles look to sign someone on a minor league deal, or wait to pick someone off waivers. The Orioles do need outfield help in 2019, but it doesn’t look like there’s much on the market. They’ll have to get creative to fill that fourth-outfielder role next year.

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