plus, 40man rosters, schedules, camp information.
Who’ll fill out starting rotation?
It’s no secret the starting rotation was the 2018 weak link, finishing worst in every major statistical category that mattered. Don’t expect drastic improvement.
The Orioles haven’t lured any top free agents this offseason. And the farm system hasn’t developed a top pitching talent since Mike Mussina in the 1990s.
After right-handed pitchers Dylan Bundy, Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner — who combined to go 17-46 with a 5.23 ERA in 2018 — who’s next?
David Hess, a homegrown talent, was serviceable in 2018. Nate Karns was a free agent pickup. The Orioles did get promising prospects LH Josh Rogers and RH Luis Ortiz in trades, but none who will make an impact in 2019.
Will they be better in 2019?
No. The Orioles are going to lose, and lose often. This is a season about player development.
After finishing with a franchise-record 115 losses and 61 games behind the first-place Red Sox, the Orioles aren’t rebuilding, they are starting from scratch.
New leadership. New faces. New expectations. But it will have similar results in Year 1.
There are glaring holes on the roster: at third base, shortstop, catcher and the back end of the rotation.
The offense is a long way from improving. Expect another long season. —Scott Boeck