MLB: Baltimore Orioles at a crossroads: Into the future with the next generation

The Baltimore Orioles had a weak start to the new season, after there was already speculation about an upheaval in the off-season. It comes in winter at the latest. With new leadership and new direction, the step into the future should now succeed.

“No other team in the majors is as restless at the moment as the Baltimore Orioles,” reporter Ken Rosenthal recently wrote about the O’s for The Athletic. And he’s probably not so wrong about that.

At the latest in the coming offseason, the Orioles are facing a considerable upheaval. Superstar Manny Machado, Center Fielder Adam Jones and top relief pitcher Zach Britton and Brad Brach all become free agents and could then be gone. Most of the team would still have a framework from which their hearts were torn out.

The Orioles are quite willing to take money in their hands. But the sums already associated with the name Machado – 300 to 400 million dollars as a basis for negotiations – are certainly far from what Baltimore would be prepared to pay.

In view of the sub-optimal start (5-12), it is not odd that a fire sale could start no later than the trade deadline. Then not only the four mentioned would be dispensable, but also some other big names, whose contracts, however, are for the most part not tradeable.

So it makes sense to trade expiring contracts and get something for it. With the new compensation system for players who have received a qualifying offer, a trade sounds more lucrative because you know what talent you get in return.

But even here the ghosts are divided in Maryland, because even before the start of the season the general opinion was that the O’s did not want a rebuild. Allegedly owner Peter Angelos would have spoken out clearly against it. Instead, they went back to the free agent market and just pitched with Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner. However, the two look like drops on the hot stone, especially with a view to the next winter.

According to Rosenthal, however, there is supposed to have been a change of power in the organization anyway. Angelos, who turns 89 on Independence Day, has noticeably withdrawn from the public and gradually handed over the team control to his sons Peter and Lou.

However, it is doubted in industry circles that the two are suitable for managing an MLB franchise. But both seem eager to lead the franchise into the future. She wrote something about the “Kids Cheer Free” program that would certainly not have existed under Peter’s leadership – you could have lost revenue with it…

Peter Angelos belongs to the old guard of owners who don’t let themselves be deceived and in a way see themselves as rulers of their empire. After the Ravens won their second Super Bowl in 2013, Angelos prevented the Season Kickoff Game on a Thursday evening in Baltimore, as his Orioles had a home game at the same time.

To give a primetime game was out of the question for a successful lawyer of Greek descent. And when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington/DC, he bleeding the league for the assignment of territorial rights in the capital.

A big topic of conversation in the offseason was Angelos’ strict refusal to trade Machado to the Yankees – even if they made the best offer. That he might end up there after all, but with less compensation, seemed to be worth no consideration.

The rebuild from winter is unavoidable, but the question remains: Who are you talking to? Manager Buck Showalter and General Manager Dan Duquette’s contracts are expiring. Especially at Showalter, 61, the opinions differ as to what he wants to do. Depending on the source, speculation is that he wants to continue or move to the front office. He would thus remain with the organisation in any case.

The situation is different with Duquette. The tablecloth between him and Showalter seems to have been cut for some time now. Why is less clear. However, it should no longer fit between the two fathers of the recent successes of the O’s.

And these undoubtedly existed. Before Duquette took office in 2011, the O’s were fifth in the American League East series four times. And in the ten years before, nine fourths and only one third. However, they have not had a positive seasonal balance since 1997. From 2012 on, however, they entered the playoffs three times, in 2014 they even won the division and finished four out of five years with a positive result. It wasn’t until 2017 that I returned to 5th place – due to catastrophic pitching.

As a nice side note, the farm system is ranked 17th in Baseball America this year – in the three previous years they were listed at 27 or worse. And this despite Duquette’s general focus on the free agency rather than talent.

The latter may even be the main reason why his days in Baltimore are numbered. The new strong men of the organization prefer the more modern way with the main focus on draft, international amateur players and their own farm system.

Another positive side effect of the new management is likely to be shorter distances for important decisions. When Peter Angelos had still held the sceptre in his hand, nothing actually went without his consent. The officials of the team were able to work independently, but when the big decisions were due, Angelos’ feedback had to be obtained. And this often took longer.

John and Lou, on the other hand, are intended to give the acting persons more leeway. This also enables faster decisions to be taken, which could be particularly advantageous for trade transactions.

A quick rebuild, however, could remain a dream, especially if the leaders insist on keeping the squad together for the rest of the year. The farm system may look better, but if you look closely, you only see three top 100 talents according to Baseball America. And only Catcher Chance Sisco, who already plays in the MLB, as well as shortstop Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Austin Hays really seem to be able to help in the near future.

However, to be competitive in its own division, it will probably not be enough to replace the possibly leaving cornerstones with talents. Especially the pitching sector needs further, sustainable upgrades and the best way to get to affordable pitching is to develop it yourself. That, in turn, takes time.

Time that would probably not be negotiable under Peter Angelos. But the next generation could be more liberal about it – in order to be prepared for the future.

This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.