Next year starting pitching depth. WOW!

[accinfo]

Hammel, Chen, Gonzalez, Steve Johnson, Britton, Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta, and possibly Joe Saunders is unbelievable starting pitch depth possibilities
going into next year. I don't consider Tommy Hunter even a candidate as a starter any longer but really like him as a bullpen guy. Throw Bundy in there sometime in late May and I don't remember ever going into spring training with those many good choices. I can't think there is any other MLB team with those many choices. I think they try to trade someone for an upgrade on offense but if they didn't do anything it wouldn't bother me. They would have to get an Adam Jones type of return for any of these guys. I am still enjoying this season but what makes watching this that makes it more fun for me is that this is not fleeting. The Baltimore Orioles are back for a few years as contenders. The weakest spots are LF, first and second base. Brian Roberts is going to get a shot one more time if he heals. I think they may be happy to platoon Andino and Flaherty. Reimold and Mclouth could be a pretty incredible platoon. Reimold has to prove he can stay on the field but we do have Avery and Hoes as some depth in the minors. First and DH you have to give Davis one of the jobs. I am still on the fence on Reynolds but his defensive improvement at first makes me more patient. In other words they don't have to make a ton of off season moves which when you don't have to is when you usually make the best moves. It is all very exciting.

[Loophole]

Bundy and Gausman are both very real possibilities next year. Is there any reason to expect Buck and DD to keep Bundy from the OD roster if he has a great Spring?

Unless they get traded or injured, Chen and Hammel are the only two guys I see as locks on OD. Guessing they try Matusz as a starter again. No idea about the other two spots, though I don't expect Gonzo to still be there. Betting against Johnson. Tilly might look weak once his BABIP catches up with him. Arrieta might be the opposite.

Can't forget Wada, too.

[accinfo]

Bundy and Gausman are both very real possibilities next year. Is there any reason to expect Buck and DD to keep Bundy from the OD roster if he has a great Spring?

I thought the way you did but they have so many quality choices they may let service time effect when they bring him up and give him 6-8 starts against AAA players.

[Ampontan]

No idea about the other two spots, though I don't expect Gonzo to still be there.

The only way Gonzalez is not going to be in the rotation next April is if he is hurt. Even if he has a bad spring. He'll have to pitch himself out of the rotation during the regular season.

[Loophole]

The only way Gonzalez is not going to be in the rotation next April is if he is hurt. Even if he has a bad spring. He'll have to pitch himself out of the rotation during the regular season.

He's been good but the numbers don't look sustainable enough for me to expect him to repeat next year. And he hasn't pitched well at OPACY this year, huge splits there.

[Bahama O's Fan]

Wada

letters

[emmett16]

The only way Gonzalez is not going to be in the rotation next April is if he is hurt. Even if he has a bad spring. He'll have to pitch himself out of the rotation during the regular season.

The only way Gonzo is in the rotation is if we sign him. He is a FA.

[McLovin]

The only way Gonzo is in the rotation is if we sign him. He is a FA.

How is a guy with less than a year of service time a FA? He will be under their control for a long time.

[canonfaz]

The only way Gonzo is in the rotation is if we sign him. He is a FA.

Gonzo is under control for at lest the next 5 years.

[McLovin]

I hope they put Bundy on a similar light-load plan next year so they don't have to shut him down late in the year.

[Brendan25]

I really think Bundy starts next year in AA or AAA. Don't see him making the rotation out of spring training.

Get some more work in at the minor league level, and be one of the first ones looked upon to come up with an injury/struggling pitcher.

[McLovin]

Also, I love that our depth is solid RIGHT NOW. There is no scrambling to find a competitive option that will give them a shot.

[OrangeBlackBird]

Depth is good. It's what allowed DD to make some key trades when he was with Boston. Don't be surprised to see some wheel'in and deal'in this offseason.

[Brendan25]

Depth is good. It's what allowed DD to make some key trades when he was with Boston. Don't be surprised to see some wheel'in and deal'in this offseason.

Like what?

[wildcard]

Right now it seem that Hammel, Chen, Tillman and Gonzo go into next spring as favorites to make the rotation. Britton, Matusz, Arrieta, S Johnson compete for the 5th spot in the rotation. They all have options and can start the year in the minors. Wada will not be a year past TJ surgery until May. He probably starts the year on the DL.

Hammel is a free agent after the 2013 season if he is not signed for multiple years. That is just where Guthrie was last year. The O's and he have to come to terms on at least a one year contract with an option year. I don't see the O's just letting him walk after the season. They will trade him if they can't agree on terms. His injuries this year make it hard to sign him long term (3 years or more) because he has not proven that he can pitch successfully at a high level for a whole season.

One of these starters join J. Johnson, Strop, Ayala, O'Day, Patton, and Hunter in the pen. The others go to AAA until injuries hit. DD and Buck want at least 10 starters on the 40 man roster to get through the season. The O's used 12 during the 2012 regular season.

I don't see them signing Saunders because I don't see them paying $6m+ for a 3-5 slotted starter. Not with these options. But we will have to wait to see what DD and Buck do.

Bundy and Gausman may pitch themselves into the mix later in the year but I don't see them starting the year in the majors.

O's biggest need IMO is a 2B that can hit for a high OBP vs lefties to backup Roberts or Flaherty. Andino did not hit well this year and his salary is rising. I would not be surprised to see him traded if the O's find that 2B upgrade.