Toronto Blue Jays: Grading the Offseason for the AL East

Baseball is finally back with Spring Training underway. Teams have made their respective moves in what’s been a calm offseason overall for the AL East and it’s time to hand out some grades.

Baltimore Orioles: C

Notable additions: Alcides Escobar, SS (free agent); Nate Karns, RHP (free agent); Austin Brice, RHP (waiver claim from Angels).

The Orioles’ offseason has been very quiet regarding player signings or trades, but they’ve made two important changes in their managing department. Brandon Hyde was named as their new skipper after Buck Showalter’s tenure in Baltimore came to an end, and Mike Elias was named General Manager to take over their rebuild process of the coming years.

Alcides Escobar was signed to a minor league deal and will probably make the team out of Spring Training to bring some veteran presence to a team that’s just starting the rebuild and doesn’t have much excitement, both at the majors nor at the minors. Their grade isn’t terrible because considering they’re in a position in which it makes no sense to sign big name free agents, there was no reason to expect anything big from them.

Making any big trades to acquire some top prospects was hard because they don’t have any players who could bring them a good return in terms of prospects either. Therefore considering their possibilities to make any trades or signings they haven’t done anything to fail them. The reality is, like the Blue Jays they are coming off a period in franchise history where they were trying to be contenders. Unlike the Jays however, they don’t have the immediate building blocks to start a rebuild in Baltimore.