Holiday week won't weaken efforts to find pitching

Baseball can experience an unofficial shutdown during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. However, there are some notable exceptions.

The Cubs traded starter Yu Darvish to the Padres on Dec. 28, 2020 for a package that included former Orioles minor league pitcher Zach Davies. A day earlier, the Rays traded starter Blake Snell to the Padres, the National League's Cy Young Award winner this year.

Going back to Dec. 28, 1994, the Astros and Padres consummated a 12-player trade involving Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley and Derek Bell.

Rickey Henderson signed a two-year, $4 million deal with the Padres on Dec. 29, 1995.

Keep an eye on San Diego. They don't give a fig about the calendar.

Starter Kenny Rogers signed a four-year, $20 million contract with the Yankees on Dec. 30, 1995. The Tigers traded future five-time All-Star outfielder Luis Gonzalez to the Diamondbacks on Dec. 28, 1998 in exchange for outfielder Karim Garcia, who later had two forgettable stints with the Orioles.

The Giants signed left-hander Barry Zito to a seven-year, $126 million contract on Dec. 28, 2006, which at the time was the largest deal given to a pitcher.

Closer to home, just down I-295, the Nationals signed second baseman Daniel Murphy for $37.5 million over three years on Dec. 24, 2015. I’m also counting Christmas Eve, when many reporters think it’s safe to put away their phones and focus on their families.

The last Orioles transaction during the holiday week was the Dec. 29, 2019 signing of free agent pitcher Kohl Stewart. Reliever Marcos Diplán was designated for assignment as the corresponding move.

Stewart opted out of the 2020 COVID season due to health concerns related to his type 1 diabetes, and received his salary and service time because he was in a heightened risk category. The Cubs signed him in January 2021.

The Orioles signed catcher Lians Beato to a minor league contract on Christmas Day 2018 and I don’t recall interrupting my dinner for it. I don’t even recall Lians Beato.

He was released from the Dominican Summer League roster in 2022.

The Orioles signed free agent Miguel Tejada on Dec. 28, 2017. The right-handed pitcher. To a minor league contract.

A much bigger deal was struck on Dec. 26, 1995, with the Reds trading starter David Wells to the Orioles for outfielder Curtis Goodwin and minor league outfielder Trovin Valdez. Pitcher Keith Shepherd signed a free agent contract the following day.

Infielder Jeff Huson signed as a free agent on New Year’s Eve 1994.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias won’t refuse calls. He was in charge during the Stewart agreement and signing. His appetite for a starting pitcher won’t wane as he fills a plate with leftovers.

Two offseason reports won’t lead to any signings.

The Orioles didn’t make a multi-year offer to Japanese right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa. They didn’t make any offer. They aren’t interested.

They also aren’t a finalist for or in on former Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán.

Germán is a free agent after going on the restricted list in August to receive treatment for alcohol abuse. They Yankees released him three months later.

He was suspended for 81 games, missing the truncated 2020 season, for violating the league and Players Association's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, after an incident involving his girlfriend at a gala hosted by former teammate CC Sabathia.

The Orioles conduct thorough background checks on players and make their own decisions based on the information. They signed Matt Harvey twice as a free agent after he testified in February 2022 during the federal trial regarding the death of former pitcher Tyler Skaggs that he provided Skaggs with oxycodone pills and also used cocaine with the Mets and Angels, which led to a 60-game suspension.

Germán threw a perfect game in Oakland on June 28, 2023, faced the Orioles in his next start and allowed two earned runs (three total) and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. He could pitch in 2024, but it won’t be with them.

Elias is aiming for a rotation upgrade that slots higher, and there’s definite interest in guys like Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease via trades, but he also could take an arm that’s middle-to-lower if other efforts fail to produce.

And it could happen when other professions go on break.