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Orioles still looking for pitching
0 minutes ago by KenRosenthal
The Orioles have lost six of their last seven games and 17 of their last 24.
Their ace, right-hander Jason Hammel, is out 3 to 4 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
Two of their second basemen, Brian Roberts and Robert Andino, also are on the disabled list.
Some in the organization believe that the team should pull back from the trade market, major-league sources say. General manager Dan Duquette disagrees.
Duquette, speaking emphatically, told FOXSports.com on Wednesday that the team is still a buyer.
“Our future is now,” Duquette said of the Orioles, who are 10 games back in the AL East but only a ½-game behind in the wild-card race.
Duquette said his No. 1 priority is stabilizing the team’s starting rotation, which ranks 12th in the AL with a 4.79 ERA.
“We’re going to try to do everything we can to get into the playoffs this year,” Duquette said. “I just think it’s important to the fans that they know we’re trying to put a good team on the field and have a good season.”
The Orioles have been linked to a number of starting pitchers, from Brewers right-hander Zack Greinke to Mariners lefty Jason Vargas to Phillies righty Joe Blanton. Duquette, however, said the market is “pretty tight” because of the number of teams in contention.
“The top pitchers are fairly well-defined,” Duquette said, referring to Greinke and Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. “The teams that have the top pitchers, if they had their druthers, they’d rather sign them for their ballclubs.”
The Phillies are planning to make an offer to Hamels. The Brewers’ strategy with Greinke is less clear.
-Ken Rosenthal
Can we drug test Duquette?
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