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The Baltimore Orioles and Ervin Santana: As Pointless as a Dull Pencil
Ervin SantanaOutside Pitch’s own Max Wildstein has been on top of recent news regarding free agent Ervin Santana, and most recently reports that the Baltimore Orioles would be considered the front-runners for Santana if his asking price comes down.
While I’m certainly not denying the validity of Wildstein’s report, I have to ask: Why are the Orioles wasting their time?
Yes, the Orioles would only have to surrender a third-round pick in this June’s draft in order to sign Santana, as they’ve already forfeited their first- and second-round choices by signing free agents Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz. But, even if Santana’s asking price does drop, does Baltimore really need him? Sure, Santana posted a career best 3.24 ERA last year in Kansas City, and, perhaps more appealing to the Orioles, he logged 211.0 innings; it’s the fourth time in the last six seasons that Santana has pitched at least 200 innings.
But Santana is still just a season removed from giving up 39 home runs, and has given up an average of 27.29 home runs per season since 2007. Pitching in the AL East, let alone in Camden Yards, certainly wouldn’t help him cut down on those numbers, and could actually result in those worsening further. Additionally, the argument can be made that Santana really won’t present a significant (if any sort) of upgrade over any of the Orioles current five projected starters. Johan Santana signing aside, Baltimore figures to have an Opening Day rotation of Jimenez, Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman, Bud Norris and Wei-Yin Chen. One potential scenario would have Santana moving into the rotation with Norris becoming the team’s closer, though, despite Norris’ 4.80 ERA after being traded to Baltimore last year, his ability to keep hitters in the ballpark profiles much better than Santana’s fly ball-style.
And if the Orioles have any aspirations of signing Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Nick Markakis, J.J. Hardy and/or Bud Norris to extensions, it’ll certainly take away some funds. Even if Santana is signed to a one-year, $10-million deal in hopes of getting paid in a thin free-agent pitching market next offseason, it would be $10-million in funds that could ultimately be saved and/or put towards extensions for the current contracts the Orioles are hoping to extend. With several players due arbitration raises next off-season, that money may not even help the Orioles maintain their current talent.
So, while it’s certainly exciting for Baltimore fans to finally see their front office wheeling and dealing after what had been a boring offseason until February, now Dan Duquette and company need to understand that it’s time to pump the brakes.
Follow Michael Natelli on Twitter @MichaelNatelli.
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