Orioles May Trade Wieters or Hardy

[Giantmetfan07]

 

 

November 15th, 2013

With their eyes on the horizon, the Orioles are open to the possibility of trading catcher Matt Wieters or shortstop J.J. Hardy to create payroll flexibility, reports Steve Melewski of MASN. The O’s have some interesting situations to address in the near future including extending Chris Davis (a free agent after 2015) and buying out Manny Machado‘s upcoming arbitration years (2016-18).
 
Wieters is arbitration-eligible for his second of three years, meaning he’ll be a free agent after the 2015 season. MLB Trade Rumors projects a $7.9 million salary for Wieters which will only climb next year, then will set the benchmark for the average annual value of a contract extension. It makes sense that the Orioles, who opened the 2013 season with a $92 million payroll, would explore a trade. Though Wieters has not lived up to the (perhaps unfair) hype that surrounded him as he made his way up through the Orioles’ farm system, he has been consistently reliable at a premium position.
 
On the other hand, Hardy is 31 years old and a free agent after the 2014 season. While he has been superb for the Orioles, he doesn’t factor in as a long-term piece, so making him available is standard fare. According to Baseball Reference, the only shortstops more valuable than Hardy since 2011 have been Elvis Andrus and Troy Tulowitzki, going by Wins Above Replacement.

 

[bosoxlover12]

I mean, I'd be pretty hyped if we could land one or both. We have the best farm in the league, so we can always dip into it. Ranaudo+Swihart for Wieters?

 

[elcheato]

Other than the fact that they aren't going to trade them within the division.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Other than the fact that they aren't going to trade them within the division.

normally I'd agree, but would you rather trade him out of the division and get less return? Boston can probably put out a better offer than anyone else out there

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I don't think Baltimore is going to trade him looking for prospects though. To be clear, I don't think they'll trade him at all, but if they did, I think they're going to do it for pitching that can help them continue to win and then look to pick up a catcher (McCann/Salty/Pierzynski) in free agency.