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It's ridiculous because one bad game doesn't mean that he didn't help the Astros contend for the World Series.

Pablo Lopez ERA+ by year: 2020 - 126 2021 - 138 2022 - 108 How is that worth trading any of Westburg, Ortiz, etc. for? I wouldn't include any of those guys in a deal for just Lopez.

I just don't think they are a big enough upgrade over what the O's currently have is all. That Verlander comment is ridiculous.

Wacha was good last year but he threw 50 innings less than Bassitt did. From 2019-2021 Wacha was a below average pitcher while Bassitt was an above average pitcher.

When I say contention I mean to win the World Series not to make the playoffs. I don't think guys like Taillon, Lopez, etc. really move the needle like a Rodon, Burnes, etc. would in terms of winning it all.

I think it all depends on how they view him. If they think he's a fine #1/#2 starter on a playoff team it won't matter. If they view him as more of a solid #3 guy you can rely on I would guess they wouldn't sign him.

No, that's too much to give up. They could just sign someone like Bassitt who would only cost money and a 3rd round pick if that's the asking price on Lopez.

How does adding two #3 starters put them into contention though? Seems like a waste of time to me.

Nimmo is a much better overall player. His only issue are the injuries. If he plays 120 games a year he would put up more WAR than Hernandez would in 162. That's a big if though.

No, I don't think I've ever said anything about the O's bidding on him though. I meant it as in the Blue Jays would be making a huge upgrade to their team so it's bad news for the O's.

That is terrible news for the Orioles.

I agree with trading being a much better way to acquire an ace. I was only discussing Rodon in the context of the O's speaking to the free agent starters in that blurb from The Athletic. For me he is the only one out there that would give them a true ace that they have a chance at landing. I like Bassitt a lot but I view him as more of a solid #2 starter.

I think Bassitt would be safer than Rodon but doesn't have nearly the same upside. I'd be thrilled if they signed Bassitt. I don't think Verlander would have any interest in Baltimore.

Waiting a year or two isn't going to help the team compete for a World Series next season. Plus, you never know who will be available.

2 of those guys combined might not be worth as much as Rodon (assuming health of course) on his own would be and would likely not be worth as much as Rodon + Kremer, Voth, etc. whoever the other pitcher not being bumped from the rotation is. I don't see how signing 2 or 3 of the middle tier pitchers moves this team to a true contender status.

That's fair but out of the options I don't see anyone better. Rodon pitched more innings last year than deGrom did over his last two seasons so he seems safer than deGrom. I highly doubt Verlander would have any interest in coming to Baltimore.

The more I look at it the more I am convinced that Rodon's the one to go after in terms of pitching. Fangraphs and MLBTR seem to have him pegged at a contract around 5/140 and while that is pretty expensive they can easily afford it with their low payroll. Since he seems to only be expected to get 5 maybe 6 years he'd fit in perfectly with the current group of prospects who will all start (hopefully) earning serious money at the end of his contract. Having a true #1 starter would take a lot of the pressure off the current group of starters too. I'm just not convinced that adding one or two of Taillon, Walker, etc. really moves the needle from good team to legitimate World Series contender.

That's a fair critique. It would require a lot of faith in the young prospects. If there are funds left over (since we don't know the specific budget) I would look at adding someone like Benintendi or Nimmo to add another good on base guy to the lineup. For me the only real "black hole" in that lineup would be the CF platoon. I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone though.

I would be after pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Everyone would be available for the right pitcher except for Henderson and Rutschman. I would do everything I could to trade for a true top of the rotation pitcher like Burnes or Bieber or whoever is available. I would also do all I could to sign Rodon to a 5 years or less contract. After that I'd try and trade for Pablo Lopez too. I would look at bringing in 1 or 2 middle relief type pitchers like Castro or Givens on a 2 year deal. It's hard to say exactly who teams would want but I'd really try and move Mullins, Hays, Mateo, Urias, and Santander to lesser the blow of prospects given up. My ideal roster would be something like: C - Rutschman, backup 1B - Mountcastle or a free agent signing like Abreu if he's traded 2B - Whoever is left of the prospects 3B - Henderson or whoever is left of the prospects / Urias SS - Ortiz, Henderson, or Mateo. I would want one of them at SS LF - Cowser CF - McKenna / Philips platoon RF - Stowers DH - hard to say, depends who is left and what positions are needed to fill. I would love to get someone like Abreu but it would depend on how much money is allowed in the budget. Rotation - Rodon, traded for pitcher, traded for pitcher, Rodriguez, Bradish Bullpen - Bautista, Perez, Tate, Akin, free agent signing, whoever is left from Wells, Kremer, etc. depending on trades After the roster is set I would do everything I could to lock up Rutschman and Henderson to long term deals and buy out some free agent years.

No way. 30+ million per year is way too much to give a shortstop and then move him to CF. They'd be much better off using that money on pitching.

I did not mean to imply that he is a good bet for 150+ innings. I just meant that nobody on the roster now has done it before so there is likely to be a lot of innings available.

Exactly, which is why I’m not sure what the big deal is. If they think he would be better than what they have I don’t see how it is a signing that would set the franchise back.

Just another pitcher at the back of the rotation to eat some innings is all. None of the current pitchers penciled into the rotation or rotation competition have ever thrown 150+ innings in the majors. They'll need to get innings from somewhere and I don't see how giving someone like Archer *IF* you think you see something you can fix is such a big deal.

I don't think anyone is trying to say that Archer is the key to being a contending team. He has pitched in the AL East and has pitched well in the past. If Elias signs him I would assume it's because either he, Holt, or someone in the organization believes they can get him back to what he once was in Tampa Bay and that he would be better than Watkins, Zimmermann, Baumann or whoever they currently have penciled in at the back of the rotation.

I agree they already have multiple back end starters I guess I just don't understand the harm in adding one more to the mix. The more they have the better chance someone works out. If they can turn Lyles, Voth, Watkins, etc. into serviceable starters is it really that crazy to think they might see something to lead them to believe they can turn him back into the 3.71era guy he was in Tampa Bay? Even in 2021 in his 5 starts in Tampa Bay his era was 3.63 while striking out over a batter per inning.