The Baltimore Orioles have an obvious need in left field and trade rumors suggest they are exploring a number of options on the market before the deadline. It appears as if general manager Dan Duquette is looking to add another middle-of-the-order bat.
FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reported over the weekend that the Orioles were scouting Cincinnati Reds' outfielder Jay Bruce as well as San Diego Padres' outfielder Justin Upton. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal added on Monday that they've also expressed interest in Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Carlos Gomez, who was officially made available in recent days.
The Orioles might have a need in the outfield after the season as well because Chris Davis, who has been getting time in right field this year, will be a free agent in the offseason and it's unclear if he'll re-sign with Baltimore. The O's are in a tight division and wild-card race, so any upgrade prior to the deadline will put them in a good position to continue their push for contention.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of acquiring each of these outfielders they're rumored to be interested in.
Jay Bruce
The Reds are reportedly conducting their fire sale (per John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer) after their failed first half of the 2015 season and Bruce has been made available "for a while" now. The veteran is signed on for $12 million this year, $12.5 million in 2016 and has a $13 million team option (or $1 million buyout) for 2017.
It's unknown what the Reds are asking for, but Bruce's salary over the next season might cancel out the value his extra season (and potentially two) of club control might carry. The Orioles can likely afford to take on his deal because they only have $41.8 million (according to Baseball-Reference) committed to the 2016 season. It also couldn't hurt if manager Buck Showalter had another left-handed power hitter in that lineup.
Bruce has rebounded after a poor 2014 campaign, but his numbers still aren't comparable to those he produced from 2011-2013. He's batting .252/.338/.468 with 37 runs scored, 14 home runs and 46 RBIs in 87 games this season.
Justin Upton
If made available (and rumors suggest he will be), Upton will be the best hitter on the market. There's no doubt he'd propel the O's offense and increase their chances of catching the New York Yankees, but does Duquette really want to trade a prospect again for a two-month rental?
Last year he gave the Red Sox a top prospect in Eduardo Rodriguez in return for Andrew Miller. Rodriguez is now excelling in Boston's rotation and Miller skipped town to sign with the Yankees. The Orioles don't have the type of money to re-sign Upton, and it's likely his price tag before the deadline will be fairly high due to the demand for a player of his caliber. Padres' GM A.J. Preller is also probably looking to restock the organization's farm system after depleting it on the offseason, and the O's don't have much to offer.
"General manager Dan Duquette is serious about wanting to add an outfield bat, according to major-league sources," Rosenthal adds. "The question is how the heck will he pull it off?
"Both of the Orioles' top minor-league pitchers, Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey, have been shut down due to arm trouble. And even with those two at the top of the O's prospect list, the team ranked only 29th in Baseball America's talent rankings entering the season."
Upton is not a likely acquisition for Baltimore.
Carlos Gomez
This would probably be the best move Duquette could make, but again, it doesn't appear as if he possesses the resources to execute it. The Milwaukee Brewers are likely conducting a fire sale and it's been said Gomez is on the block. The O's already have Adam Jones in center field, but Gomez is versatile enough to play elsewhere in the outfield.
His contract also fits the Orioles' budget: he makes $8 million this year and $9 million next year. However, the Brewers are looking to sell high on the outfielder right now because he's effective on both sides of the ball and that extra year of control will increase his value. There are a number of other teams with a greater need for Gomez and more resources to land him.
It looks as if Bruce will be the Orioles' most attainable target before July 31 in terms of an outfielder. The O's have also been scouting some top starters in recent weeks, so that's where they might look to make the biggest acquisition.
