How All Of The Orioles Pitchers Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner) & Nick Delahanty (MLB Reports Featured Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024 Follow @nick_delahanty
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The Orioles made a swift and blunt move last off season, when they traded their 2012 and 2013 Closer Jim Johnson for Jemile Weeks.
The club took some flak in virtually discarding a 101 save man over the last few years to save some money. Johnson was awarded $10 MIL for the year, and has flamed out in Oakland and Detroit since. Those dollars are about what the team receives collectively as a unit.
The team was also lambasted for the signing/not signing of Grant Balfour, because a sketchy physical. Again, they have looked good in the transaction.
The O’s have done a great job building their Bullpen and Rotation.
Chris Tillman was part of the now extremely lopsided deal, which saw Adam Jones for Erik Bedard several years back.
That coupled with some waiver claims (T.J. McFarland as a Rule 5 Draft Picks) and former team draft picks – converting in to late inning arms (Brian Matusz and Closer Zach Britton), and you have seen a brilliant molding of a Relief Core.
Darren O’Day was claimed off of waivers from Texas, in the same campaign the club also fleeced the Rangers, with the Chris Davis/Tommy Hunter deal for Koji Uehara.
Ryan Webb was actually optioned to the Minors, despite decent numbers, while clearing a path for Andrew Miller, as part of a deal from Boston. Miller is one of the better LHP out of the pen in the last year.
The team has supplanted the rotation, with a few key Free Agents over the years, starting with Wei-Yin Chen, and Miguel Gonzalez.
Kevin Gausman represents the only starter right now that was drafted by the team originally.
Bud Norris was brought into Baltimore for a couple of former draft picks and a 2014 RD A compensation pick.
The other significant 2013 deal for the staff – was dealing a Minor Leaguer for Brad Brach.
The Ubaldo Situation
Looking at the numbers, Buck Showalter has the right idea in taking Jimenez out of the rotation.Regardless of the contract figures, Jimenez has failed to be that ace that the Orioles expected to get when he signed his 4 YR $50 MM dollar contract in the winter.
It’s time to let Jimenez take some time to figure things out, as hopefully skipping a start or two will give him time to work on his mechanics to help get him back on track.
This is also familiar territory for the Orioles, as Showalter and crew have had some good success sending guys to the bullpen.
Remember, Zach Britton and Tommy Hunter, two of the best arms in the Orioles’ bullpen this season, were starters that struggled, but once they were shifted to the bullpen they seemed to have figured it out and have been very reliable throughout the season.
Maybe Jimenez can find a role in the pen that could help the team clinch a playoff spot.
As for replacing Jimenez in the rotation, the team should be just fine.
Miguel Gonzalez will be brought back up from Triple-A, and in his recent starts with the major league team has looked pretty impressive.
In order to continuing competing, the Orioles need guys such as Wei-Yin Chen and Chris Tillman to step up, as those two guys are the ones that need to try to anchor this staff.
Of course, this rotation as it is right now isn’t as star-powered as a team such as Detroit, but they do have the pieces that can get the job done.
Don’t disregard guys like Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman or Bud Norris, because these guys definitely have the ability to compete and keep their team in ballgames.
This is a step in the right direction for the Orioles. If they can somehow find the Ubaldo Jimenez – they expected to see when they signed him, this team could be a very dangerous threat down the stretch.
For those that have never seen one of our Roster Trees, we go over how all of the players were acquired.
It works like 6 degrees of separation. By searching back to the origin of all the way back until a player is signed, drafted or purchased.
It totally gives you an idea on how the franchise has fared.
The Pitchers In 2014 (Date Of Birth/or Age) (Pos) Roster Tree
Ubaldo Jimenez (1/22/84) SP: February 19, 2014: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles. 4 YRs/$50 MIL
Chris Tillman (4/15/88) SP: February 8, 2008: Traded by the Seattle Mariners with Tony Butler (minors), Adam Jones, Kam Mickolio and George Sherrill to the Baltimore Orioles for Erik Bedard. Read the Hitters portion under Adam Jones for this tree. Link in next line.
How All Of The Orioles Hitters Were Acquired: 2014 Roster Tree
Wei-Yin Chen (7/21/85) SP: Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent in 2012. Signed thru 2014, 2015 team option, 3 yrs/$11.09M (12-14) & 15 team option.
Bud Norris (3/2/85) SP: July 31, 2013: Traded by the Houston Astros to the Baltimore Orioles for Josh Hader (minors), L.J. Hoes and 2014 round A competitive balance pick.
Josh Hader (4/7/94) P; Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft.
L.J. Hoes (3/15/90) OF: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 3rd round of the 2008 amateur draft.
Miguel Gonzalez (5/27/84) SP: March 4, 2012: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles. Arbitration Eligible in 2015 – 2017, and a Free Agent in 2018.
Kevin Gausman (1/6/91) SP: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 2012 amateur draft.
Tommy Hunter (7/3/86) RP: July 30, 2011: Traded by the Texas Rangers with Chris Davis to the Baltimore Orioles for Koji Uehara. Visit the Davis Roster Tree in the Hitters Roster Tree Blog. Link In Next line.
How All Of The Orioles Hitters Were Acquired: 2014 Roster Tree
Zach Britton (12/22/87) CL: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 3rd round of the 2006 amateur draft.
Darren O’Day (10/22/82) RP: November 2, 2011: Selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the Texas Rangers.
Ryan Webb (2/5/86) RP: December 10, 2013: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles. 2 YRs/$4.5 MIL.
Brian Matusz (2/11/87) RP: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 2008 amateur draft.
T.J. McFarland (6/8/89) RP: December 6, 2012: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles from the Cleveland Indians in the 2012 rule 5 draft.
Brad Brach (4/12/86) RP: November 25, 2013: Traded by the San Diego Padres to the Baltimore Orioles for Devin Jones (minors).
Devin Jones (7/4/90) RP: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 9th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft.
Andrew Miller (5/21/85) RP: July 31, 2014: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Baltimore Orioles for Eduardo Rodriguez (minors).
Eduardo Rodriguez (4/7/93) RP: Signed by the Orioles as an international free agent on January 22, 2010.
Transaction Dates Provided by the best website in the world, http://www.baseballreference.com
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Tagged: 2014 postseaspn, 2014 RD A compensation pick, @nick_delahanty on twitter, adam jones, AL East, andrew miller, baltimore orioles pitching roster 2014, brad bach, brian matusz, buck showalter, bud norris, Camden Yards, chris tillman, Chuck Booth, darren o'day, detroi tigers, Devin Jones, dylan bundy, Eduardo Rodriguez, erik bedard, george sherill, grant balfour, houston astros, jemille weeks, Jim Duquette, Josh Hader, kam mickolio, kevin gausman, koji uehara, l.j. hoes, miguel gonzalez, nick delahanty, oakland athletics, ryan webb, san diego padres, seattle mariners, t.j. Macfarland, texas rangers, tommy hunter, tony butler, wei-yin chen