Some fans see the future and are very concerned

When I wrote this blog yesterday pondering the Orioles' future, we saw some interesting reactions and comments from fans and readers.

Some see the future and see, well, pretty much a disaster. Here is what one reader wrote:

* The window has already closed. When you do nothing of significance while the teams directly around you get better, the window has closed. It is the height of foolishness to claim repeatedly that our rotation is good.

Our rotation is terrible. We have two, possibly three, possibly not even one worthwhile pitcher. But there is absolutely no doubt that we do not have four worthwhile pitchers (the Brewers and Mariners are grateful for the gifts we gave them, btw). We have done nothing to fill any of our holes, and once again we have waited while players who could help us have gone to other teams. Now, we are refusing to deal from our one position of strength and surplus.

The window is closed, and it is my hope that we are able to maintain the string of .500 or better seasons.

This reader believes the Orioles are not in it to win it:

* Obviously winning the WS is not the top priority for the O's top brass. Fielding a competitive team is. I don't see that point as even debatable. That's okay by me. It's not like we're a BIG MARKET team.

I love baseball. I root for the home team. It would be awesome to win the WS every decade or so...but let's be real, a 1 in 35 chance, as Vegas now lists us, rarely comes through. I'm also not that interested in sneaking into that last playoff spot. If it happens, fine...roll the dice when you can. I have no illusions anymore about the O's front office and their desire to win it all at any cost.

Granted, those are extreme opinions at one end of the discussion. We had a lot of opinions and it was all interesting reading, so check those comments if you didn't have a chance.

The Orioles certainly have some key players with contracts ending the next two years. Under a scenario where the Orioles would lose every player at the end of their current contracts the next two seasons, the team at the very least would have a whole lot of money to re-invest in the roster. That is if every player left the team, which seems rather unlikely.

There are six players whose contracts expire at the end of the 2017, although some feature team options for 2018. The Orioles could re-sign some of the six, but if they don't they will lose these salaries from 2017:

$14 million - J.J. Hardy
$13.5 million - Ubaldo Jimenez
$ 11 million - Yovani Gallardo
$ 10.6 million - Chris Tillman (arbitration projection)
$8.75 million - Wade Miley
$4.2 million - Hyun Soo Kim

That total works out to an extra $62.05 million to spend if they didn't re-sign any of that group. That would grow by $6 million if catcher Welington Castillo leaves after one season as he has a player option for 2018.

At the end of the 2018 season, if the four key free agents leave at that point, the Orioles could save another (estimated) $50 million or so with the deals for Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Zach Britton and Brad Brach.

If the O's go completely "o-fer" and don't retain any of these players, they will at least have $110 million or more combined coming off the books after the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

This amount could of course be re-invested in contract extensions for any of the key players like Machado or Britton, for example.

No doubt the Orioles are entering a key two-year stretch. Will they re-sign Machado? Will they make a run at the World Series? Will they considering trading any top talent during this stretch?

As we saw yesterday, the fans are passionate about their team and its future.