Based on the expectations coming into this offseason, this certainly has been disappointing for the Baltimore Orioles.
Maybe it was too much to expect that the organization would all of a sudden become aggressive on the open market or in trade situations to get more talent on the roster.
After all, the Orioles got to 101 wins by being patient and developing their prospects into Major League contributors, not being rash and throwing money at different position groups for a quick fix.
However, with this group clearly in contender status, their need for an elite starting pitcher was clear throughout the winter and they have not been able to acquire one.
There is still time left before Opening Day to make some upgrades and it seems like that could be coming for Baltimore.
“But the offseason is still going, there’s a lot left on the board and a lot of discussions still happening” general manager Mike Elias said according to Roch Kubatko of MASN.
It’s unlikely he’s going to be ultra-aggressive, though.
Elias mentioned he’s confident in this group who won 101 games last year and returns a large percentage of players from that team.
As far as the search for a starting pitcher goes?
“… there’s room for more if we can find it. But we’ve got to find the right deal, the right fit, the right trade, the right signing, the right investment. It isn’t something that we want to address in a vacuum, and that’s an operating model that has gotten us to this point, and we’ll continue to apply it and look for moves that we like,” he said.
That’s been the standard line from the Orioles this offseason as trade rumors continued to circulate surrounding their interest in Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease.
As it stands right now, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to land the right-hander.
