In search for pitching, Manny Machado could be big price to pay

Well, I return from a few days off to find that the Orioles have not yet added any key starting pitchers and/or subtracted Manny Machado.

One of the best talents in team history is still an Oriole, but will it stay that way? There are two main reasons that I feel Machado should be traded. First, paying him $300 million or more is probably not a good move for a team with a decent payroll, but not one of the largest in baseball. Second, the Orioles may not be able to win right now, even with Machado.

Machado's best contribution to the club moving forward may be in what he can bring in present and future talent. While the Orioles have not heard an offer for Machado yet that led them to pull the trigger on a trade, it doesn't mean it won't happen soon. Or at some point in the future.

The quickest way for the Orioles to compete with Boston and New York - not to mention the Jays and Rays - is by building a top rotation. Notice I said build one, not buy one. The Orioles clearly are not candidates for the top rotation pitchers in this free agent market. They are even apprehensive to bid on second-tier pitchers. It is just out of their comfort level. We can debate whether it should or should not be.

A rotation to compete in 2019 or later might include Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Hunter Harvey and a pitcher to be added via a Machado trade. Get a young, talented, top 100 prospect and you have a core four of pitchers to build around.

Then the hope is that other young pitchers push to make the majors as well - anyone from Cody Sedlock, Keegan Akin, DL Hall, Alex Wells, David Hess, Michael Baumann, Zac Lowther, Brenan Hanifee and a dozen or more that are currently on the farm.

The Orioles proved in 2014 that they could win a division title with a solid rotation. One that ranked fifth-best in the league in ERA and led the club to an overall team ERA that ranked third-best in the American League. Sure, they had a good offense that season, one that ranked above league average in runs scored. But pitching led the way to an AL East crown and led the team to within one step of the World Series.

Good pitching overcomes other shortcomings. And the Orioles won that year without an ace. No one on their staff ranked in the top 14 of the AL in individual ERA. But they had a dependable and solid rotation and the O's staff led the AL in team ERA in the second half at 2.88. Yep, pretty darn good. That year, the four pitchers making the most starts were Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris and Miguel González. Not a Cy Young contender in the group.

The Orioles need to add some pitchers that can help them win in the future. They may have a few in the organization now. They need more. If they are not willing to spend to get one, how else can they make that happen? One way is through a trade and about the only player they have to deal that could bring them a future rotation piece is Machado.