A take on Arrieta, updates on draft pick signings and agreements

At this point it, must sound like a broken record when Jake Arrieta hears how he has great stuff. His latest subpar outing came last night in the loss against Detroit. The Orioles can't unlock the key to success for Jake. Arrieta can't do it, either. I've come to think that the constant talk about how good Arrieta can be has become almost a burden for him. There is potential and there are expectations he can't meet. Since his first year in the majors in 2010, his ERA has risen each year from 4.66 to 5.05 to 6.20 to 7.23. It came as no surprise that he was optioned back to Triple-A after the game. Arrieta has no shortage of want-to and no shortage of talent, but he has a big shortage of good major league outings. Maybe the time has come to see if can get his act together pitching out of the bullpen. It worked for Brian Matusz and Tommy Hunter, why not take that shot now in Triple-A with Arrieta? Whether or not that happens, it's back to Norfolk yet again -and once again the Orioles and Jake are trying to find out a way to turn potential into results. Meanwhile, the latest O's draft pick to come to terms with the team was fourth-rounder Jonah Heim. The switch-hitting high school catcher from Amherst, N.Y., agreed to a deal at the slot value of $389,700. Heim is one of three high school catchers the Orioles took among the draft's first six rounds. Heim, who hit .522 this season, attended a pre-draft workout at Camden Yards. The day he drafted him, here is what O's scouting director Gary Rajsich said about Heim: "Tremendous upside. He's a 17-year-old (soon to be 18) switch-hitting catcher with power, little bit of power from the right side. He's got a plus arm and looks real comfortable behind the plate." The Orioles are expected to begin serious negotiations with pitcher Hunter Harvey, their first-round pick, later this week. He could get signed by the end of the week. High school outfielder Josh Hart, taken 37th overall, and seventh-round pick Drew Dosch, a third baseman out of Youngstown State, have yet to come to terms with the team. A major league source said the Orioles do not appear to be close to getting either player right now and talks with the pair could drag out. The deadline to sign draft picks is July 12. Here is the list of players that have come to terms with the team: Round 2: C Chance Sisco Round 3: LHP Stephen Tarpley Round 4: C Jonah Heim Round 5: Travis Seabrooke Round 6: C Alex Murphy * Round 8: 1B Trey Mancini Round 9: LHP Mitch Horacek Round 10: C Austin Wynns Round 11: LHP Steven Brault * Round 13: RHP Jimmy Yacabonis * Round 14: OF Mike Yastrzemski Round 16: 1B Randolph Gassaway Round 17: RHP Caleb Kellogg * Round 20: RHP Nick Cunningham * Round 24: SS Jared Breen * Round 29: OF Connor Bierfeldt * Round 33: SS Jeff Kemp * Round 36: LHP Eric Green * Round 39: LHP Augey Bill * * Denotes a player that the club has announced as officially signed