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It’s been a rough few seasons in Baltimore, which makes the Orioles offseason outlook for 2021-22 an interesting one.
It’s hard to get much worse than going 52-110, and despite what that record suggests, the Orioles had a few players emerge this past season as bonafide building blocks for the future.
Nevertheless, the list of Orioles’ roster needs is not a short one. With four above-average teams in the AL East, it’ll take a lot for Baltimore to suddenly become competitive. But as they get ready to start their ascent after a long rebuilding process, this should be a busy offseason for the club. That includes players who could be considered Orioles’ free agent targets.
Orioles offseason outlook 2021-22
However, nobody should be expecting Baltimore’s offseason to be one big spending spree. That’s not going to solve the team’s problems. However, here are a few things that you can expect the Orioles to do this winter.
Extend Trey Mancini
Trey Mancini has surely proven himself to be a building block for the future that the Orioles can build around. The only problem is that he’ll be a free agent next winter.
Rather than waiting around, Baltimore would be wise to give him a long-term extension this offseason. Mancini just came back from a cancer diagnosis that caused him to miss the 2020 season and won Comeback Player of the Year honors.
He’s exactly the type of player and person that the Orioles want to build around, as he’s a fan favorite who provides a power threat in the middle of the order. It’s time for the Orioles to start spending a little money, and their first move should be securing a homegrown star for the future.
Trade John Means
In theory, John Means could be another pitcher who the Orioles try to sign long-term. But he might be more valuable to them as a trade chip. While there are some big names on the free agent market this winter, some of them will be out of the price range for a lot of teams.
But for teams with a lot of player capital to spend via trades this winter will be interested in Means if the Orioles start shopping him.
He should be entering his prime years right now, but the Orioles are still two or three years away from being serious contenders, so his prime years could be wasted in Baltimore. Therefore, it could be best for both Means and the Orioles if he’s traded this winter.
Check out our MLB free agency tracker and grades
Sign veteran starters
If Means is traded, the Orioles should fill out their rotation with mid-level free agents who are affordable and can get the job done.
A year ago, Baltimore went the cheap route by signing Matt Harvey, who was just hoping to make the roster and resurrect his career. The Orioles shouldn’t stoop that low this winter and focus instead on signing more established veterans who will accept a two or three-year contract at an affordable price.
Pitchers like Danny Duffy, Tyler Anderson, and Michael Pineda, among others, would all fit this description. These types of pitchers aren’t all-stars, but they can stabilize Baltimore’s rotation for the next couple of years, helping the Orioles remain respectable while waiting for their younger pitchers to emerge.
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