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Baltimore Orioles: Three Rebound Candidates For The 2020 Season

By Nick Stevens

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Rio Ruiz #14 of the Baltimore Orioles points up while running home after hitting a homer off of Wilmer Font #62 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field on April 17, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Rio Ruiz #14 of the Baltimore Orioles points up while running home after hitting a homer off of Wilmer Font #62 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field on April 17, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Orioles
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MAY 01: Mychal Givens #60 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after getting the final out against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning in game one of a doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 01, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Orioles won 5-4. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

If Mychal Givens returns, he can be productive out of the bullpen for the Baltimore Orioles.

The Baltimore Orioles started fielding phone calls on Mychal Givens early on in 2019 and continue to listen to offers on the 29-year-old reliever. The New York Yankees “tried hard” to acquire Givens and figure to be strong contenders to land him this offseason, if the Orioles decide to move him.

Until a trade happens, Givens is an Oriole and in need of a rebound season in 2020. Across 58 games, the righty worked a career-high 4.57 ERA, 3.71 BB/9 IP rate, and 1.86 HR/9 IP rate. In the ninth inning alone, Givens owned a 6.69 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and allowed nine home runs in 35 innings.

Overall, it was an ugly year for Givens, one that certainly didn’t help any trade value he had, despite his multiple years of control and low price tag. A starting rotation that failed to produce much forced an overworked bullpen early on in the season and prevented Brandon Hyde from utilizing his bullpen’s strengths, instead just hoping and praying that anyone could get three outs and move on to the next inning.

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There were bright spots in 2019 for Givens. His 12.29 K/9 IP was a career-high and his xFIP (3.62) was nearly a full run lower than his ERA (4.57). When he was used in the eighth inning, Givens owned a 1.69 ERA and 0.77 WHIP. Non-closer Mychal Givens was fairly solid, which is fine. He doesn’t have to be a closer to be effective

If post-All-Star break Givens shows up in 2020, he will be on the path to returning to his 1+ WAR self out of the pen. Opponents slashed .198/.274/.377 with a .275 wOBA, compared to a .226/.315/.466 line before the break.

Whether it’s to help stabilize a young bullpen or bring back a worthwhile return in a trade, a Mychal Givens rebound will go a long way in Baltimore next season.

Next. Three Bounce-Back Free Agent Pitching Targets. dark

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