now

Right, I knew there were more comps... let's hope it's more Berroa than Aguilar!

Jesus Aguilar 2.0

Pretty interesting how both players have stepped up their play a couple of notches since that article.

Ah, Joey, we hardly knew ye...

Meanwhile the infielder shining lately (besides his own opening yip) is... Connor Norby! Go figure. Baseball is a funny game.

Just to broaden the view a bit further (from our 4-6 record last 10 games), the recent play of some other contenders is also uninspiring: NYY 4-6 BOS 4-6 CLE 5-5 SEA 2-8 PHL 3-7 ATL 3-7 MIL 5-5 Win a few, lose a few: It happens. It's baseball. (That said, let's go get us a real closer, and add Mayo's bat to the mix!)

I would think the price for a closer--now our number one priority--would be less than for a SP. Now that Eflin's in the bag, I hope to see our next quality trade package nail down that closer role.

Might as well put all the T. Rowe Price branding to good use.

Interesting to see the draft pick pecking order in evidence yet again. Eflin Round 1 in 2012, for Orioles 2023 draft picks #2, #3, #12.

The other good thing about this trade, and refreshing at that, is getting the two biggest needs at least addressed at the beginning, instead of the end, of the market. Whatever may happen after this is gravy, if not the real main course (and hopefully not turkey).

This is awesome. A solid mid-rotation starter without giving up any prime prospects. In Elias we trust!

Funny, I thought you were being sarcastic about how hard/easy it is to trade for pitching. All depends on how one views Hays and Dominguez, I guess. I value them the opposite as you so then conclude, it's not so hard to acquire pitching!

Love to see this creative way to shed Hays, add reliever value (with positive postseason experience), and open up more OF opportunities for Norby (RH) and the others. Pache I think is a throw-in project, or defensive CF sub (espec. if Mullins goes).

And then we'd have a 123-page thread about where to position both Witt and Henderson--not to mention the spinoff decisions about Westburg, Mayo, Holliday, et al. It would be like an endless replay of the "Who's on first" comedy routine. Plus, we could have another endless debate about who to play at catcher! But sure, sign me up for that scenario.

And, just for the sake of balance... They are one starting pitcher (trade) away from losing one or a handful of their best* long-term prospects, for a short-term, high-risk gamble. * notably incl. some ranked among best in MLB

For context, Erik Bedard: Seattle, 2.5 seasons: IP: 81, 83, 91; WAR 1.1, 2.0, 1.0 3.5 more seasons (4 teams): WAR 0.2, -0.4, 1.0, -0.4

Just some observations and reflections on this year's draft and the strategy in general... In one thread I defended the emphasis on position players in high rounds, disparaging pitchers as "cannon fodder." Seeing all the pitchers taken in the lower rounds amplifies this take. To expand the analogy to a military "draft," to me this year's draft class especially looks like staffing the officers corps from the best recruits, the higher rounds. Then fill out the ranks of cannon fodder (perishable pitchers) in quantity from the lower rounds. A post by Frobby in a thread on closers amplifies this point. How many top closers are effective for more than a few years? Same with top starting pitchers. Contrast the longer careers at the top of their game for position players. At the other end of the scale, look how many bullpens are revolving doors of low draft picks, waiver claims, reclamation projects. Sorry for not substantiating all this with researched stats: it's an impression, over many years. Zoom in to what it's like to throw an unproven reliever out there. He might be lights out, for a few innings, a few outings or a season or two. Great! Rinse and repeat. Hello, Albert Suarez. Goodbye, Fuji. A hitter (and fielder) needs many more repetitions to get a good read on their ability (see: Jim Traber, Jackson Holliday). So to me this year's draft is an optimum strategy overall (even tho they claim every pick is BPA). Take your few surer things first, the position guys to rely on. Then have lots of "maybe" arms in reserve, because you'll need them, to burn quantity and see what wants to stick when the time comes.

Yep, kind of on par with the other recent "analysis" that called Basallo an outfielder.

It's not pitchers that are scarce and valuable, it's healthy pitchers. Unfortunately that's not a commodity that is known in advance in the draft pool. If you're drafting pitchers you're not drafting "healthy pitchers," you're drafting cannon fodder. Better to wait till other teams' fodder is pruned to the more proven subset that you need (i.e., healthy).

Interesting! Defense up the middle: the (old) Oriole Way!

Not to worry... we can just trade our excess speed/defense guys for another team's 17th round pitchers (2 for 1 deals, just for arm insurance!) and then plan on "fixing" them!

But he looks like an Oriole clone!

Over the last few games I recall numerous balls nailed by Oriole hitters right at Yankee (and Cubs?) fielders. I guess we were due for some luck reversal there.

Is this a thread about the Yankees "defense"?

Is that... Colton Cowser?