The Baltimore Orioles held off until after spring training began before re-shaping their roster, but it was worth the wait.
The additions of Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz address the Orioles’ two biggest needs — starting pitching and designated hitter — at a cost that’s decidedly reasonable when compared to the expected demands of the free agents.
Jimenez, who signed for $50 million over four years, provides manager Buck Showalter with a potential frontline starter. Even if the right-hander doesn’t maintain the 3.30 ERA he posted for the Cleveland Indians in 2013, he brings much-needed innings and upside to the Baltimore rotation.
The addition of Jimenez also means that the Orioles don’t have to rush Kevin Gausman or Dylan Bundy to the big leagues. Instead, the top prospects can continue developing while Jimenez, Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris start in Baltimore.
The Cruz deal was made possible by the addition of Jimenez. Once Baltimore executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette surrendered his 2014 first round pick to sign Jimenez, adding Cruz only required a second round selection. Those choices have value, but as Duquette recently acknowledged, giving up the second pick becomes easier once the top pick is gone.
Cruz’s one-year, $8 million agreement (which has yet to be announced officially) means the Orioles won’t have to rely on Henry Urrutia and Delmon Young at designated hitter. That strengthens a Baltimore lineup that ranked fourth in the American League in runs scored last year.
Not only is the $8 million deal a mere fraction of what Cruz was expected to obtain, the Orioles could use a qualifying offer as a de facto $14 million team option a year from now. They’ll have flexibility without being locked into any commitments.
Let’s not pretend that Cruz is a perfect player. He’s viewed as a below-average defender, he served a suspension for violating MLB’s performance enhancing policy and he has not posted an on-base percentage above .330 in any of the last three seasons.
But he adds value on offence despite his modest OBP thanks to a powerful right-handed swing that has produced an average of 27 home runs per season for the last five years. He’ll produce as a DH.
Adding Jimenez and Cruz for a total of $58 million represents a bargain for Baltimore. Yet Duquette also surrendered the organization’s top two draft picks to add the free agents, who had both declined qualifying offers. A first round pick has value — estimates from industry sources sit anywhere from $3-15 million — so no team likes to surrender top selections.
The cost for the Orioles was substantial but it was reasonable. Spending on Jimenez and Cruz allowed them to deepen their rotation and acquire an above-average bat who represents a significant upgrade. As a result, they look much stronger now than they did a week ago this time.
