Since the cream of the Orioles’ prospects were at Frederick this year it appears that we fans should be looking at 2014 as a realistic playoff target. That means that 2012 and 2013 should be viewed as “rebuilding” years; however, that doesn’t mean the team has to extend the 14 year streak of losing seasons.
I would like to see the team focus on pitching and defense while we wait for the Cavalry (The Sequel) to arrive. This team is thin on ML quality starting pitching and there isn’t any help coming from the upper minors. That leaves a trade or a “free” agent signing. The better pitchers won’t sign here unless we throw money at them and that doesn’t make sense for a rebuilding ball club. That leaves the trade market.
Of the four Orioles that teams would give real quality for (Wieters, Hardy, Britton, and Jones) only Adam Jones is expendable. So, who would I trade him for?
My first choice would be Madison Bumgarner from the Giants. This is a win – win trade. The Orioles need young proven starting pitching and the Giants need proven controllable offense. Jones would give the Giants a premium bat and glove at a premium position. They were willing to give up Zach Wheeler for two months of Carlos Beltran, so Bumgarner for Jones makes sense.
Jones would be a big loss but Bumgarner would give us a pitcher that should be on the 2014 roster and we would have two years to replace Jones.
Who would you trade Adam Jones for?
