A Look Back On Orioles Off-Seasons the Last 10 Years
With the first game of Spring Training weeks away, the Baltimore Orioles have yet to make a meaningful acquisition this off-season. As I write this they have just traded for catcher Andrew Susac, and are linked with Melky Cabrera, but that is about it. In Reality it is no surprise as the Orioles always look for bargain last minute deals. Here are the biggest off-season acquisitions by year for the last ten years.
I will preface this by saying that I’m not saying that these are the pickups that turned out the best, but the ones that seemed big regardless of the end result.
2017- Wellington Castillo- Was the only real signing of note for the 2017 off-season.
2016- Yovani Gallardo- Looked like a solid signing at the time. He had a career 3.66 era and playoff experience. Obviously did not work out in the end, and was not worth the draft pick he cost the team.
2015-Travis Snyder- Another off-season with no real additions. Snyder got off to a hot start in 2015 before being released in August.
2014-Ubaldo Jimenez- Yes the Orioles signed Nelson Cruz this year too, but Ubaldo was the most expensive free agent pitcher the Orioles have ever signed. He was going to take the rotation to the next level. We all know how well that worked out though.
2013- Jair Jurrjens- Orioles really did not do anything big this off-season.
2012- Wei-Yin Chen- Signed after putting up a 36-30 record and a 2.59 era across 5 seasons in Japan. He was a solid addition to the rotation, and was a big part of the Orioles making the playoffs in 2012.
2011-J.J. Hardy- Hardy was a big name get for the Orioles at the time, and it was probably one of the most underrated trades Andy MacPhail made.
2010-Mike Gonzalez- Was one of the hottest bullpen options available that off-season. Signed a 2-year/$12 million dollar contract, but ended up only pitching in 78 games and 71 innings, before being traded for Pedro Strop.
2009- Koji Uehara- Came over from Japan with a 3.01 primarily as a Starter. Was slated to be a starter with the Orioles, but when that did not work out he was moved to the back end of the bullpen. Had a solid 3.03 era with the Orioles before being traded to Texas for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter.
2008- The Erik Bedard Trade- One of the most lopsided trades in history. The Orioles traded Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for Adam Jones, Chris Tillman and George Sherrill.
