Do you want Wacha, and if so, what terms can you live with?

[Frobby]

Seems like Michael Wacha is the last real possibility for a FA starter acquisition.  He’s rumored to want 2/$24 mm.   Would you sign him for that?  Would you sign him for less?  Or do you not want Wacha at all?

Facts and figures: Wacha is entering his age 31 season.  He is 74-50 lifetime with a 4.05 ERA (99 ERA+).   He was excellent in 2022, 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA (127 ERA+).  He’s a bit fragile and hasn’t thrown more than 127.1 innings since 2018.   His xERA last year was 4.56, way above his actual ERA.

Personally, I’m ambivalent at this point.   I certainly wouldn’t give him two years, and even on a one year deal have mixed feelings.   The guys we have may be as good or better than Wacha.  Really, it’s about whether we need more depth.  

[brvn52]

23 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Seems like Michael Wacha is the last real possibility for a FA starter acquisition.  He’s rumored to want 2/$24 mm.   Would you sign him for that?  Would you sign him for less?  Or do you not want Wacha at all?

Facts and figures: Wacha is entering his age 31 season.  He is 74-50 lifetime with a 4.05 ERA (99 ERA+).   He was excellent in 2022, 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA (127 ERA+).  He’s a bit fragile and hasn’t thrown more than 127.1 innings since 2018.   His xERA last year was 4.56, way above his actual ERA.

Personally, I’m ambivalent at this point.   I certainly wouldn’t give him two years, and even on a one year deal have mixed feelings.   The guys we have may be as good or better than Wacha.  Really, it’s about whether we need more depth.  

I said 1/10 or less, but even that's I'm not strong on. At this point, I would mostly rather our young guys play and see what we have. We could use some innings, but I'd rather see GrayRod/Hall/Bradish/Kremer/Wells on the mound than him (not to mention we have Gibson and eventually Means). They won't all do better, but if we're not going for top tier guys, let's use 2023 to see what we've got.

[Moose Milligan]

I'm leaning towards no.  As mentioned earlier, we've got G-Rod, Bradish, Kremer, Wells, Gibson and Voth looking at rotation spots and perhaps Hall, too.  

There's no way I'd take him for a 2 year deal so it'd have to be a 1 year deal for me to have any kind of positive reaction to a Wacha signing and even then I'm probably lukewarm about him at best.

[Moose Milligan]

The thing I forgot to say about Wacha is that I like the fact that his walk rate is low.  

[ThisIsBirdland]

Posted this in another thread, but give him a deal similar to Givens. 1 year + a team option if he performs well enough, with a buyout if the O's don't exercise.

So something like a 1/$10m + a $12m team option, with a $2m buyout if it isn't exercised.

I'm assuming since they've been said to be in discussions they're offering something like this already, but he's probably pushing for 1/$12m + a $15m team option with a $3m buyout. Nightengale with USA Today said he's seeking $15m/year on a deal. I can't believe with his health and underlying metrics anyone is going to give him a guaranteed second year.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

I'm pretty ambivalent at this point too. 

This offseason definitely didn't go the way a lot of us expected. 

[clapdiddy]

I voted yes, with some figure below $10M.    I wouldn't mind if it went OVER 10M with some sort of incentives, but that would be it.  

[Sports Guy]

No

[RZNJ]

Don't want him but would be okay with 1/10 or less.

[CharmCityHokie]

I'd take him, even if it meant 2 years (not my money). I'm not sold on Bradish, I think Voth could be a flash in the pan, don't want to see Spenser Watkins in the rotation anymore and who knows about Wells and Hall. The more legitimate pitching the better in my opinion, even if it isn't TOR, it's better than five and dive with 4 runs already on the board. 

[RVAOsFan]

I went with the 1/12 option but I think I would be fine if there was an option year with a buyout kinda like Lyles had last year.

I am surprised with everyone that has been yelling and screaming that we need starting pitching is now not interested in a guy who had a 3.32 era last year and went 11-2.

[vab]

I think Voth had pretty similar numbers last year as Wacha for the time he was in the rotation. Wacha would give them more depth overall I guess but he might be a bit pricey just for that. I'd rather keep my powder dry for a real difference-maker. 

[HakunaSakata]

57 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

The thing I forgot to say about Wacha is that I like the fact that his walk rate is low.  

Which makes his career 1.31 WHIP even more frightening. 

[HakunaSakata]

I voted no. Signing Wacha would just be the Orioles trying to save face because of the backlash they've taken for their terrible offseason. I don't think he actually makes them a better team. 

[Ripken]

No.  There were good FA starter options earlier but John and Mike ignored them.