The Orioles won't be sellers at today's deadline. Let me get that one out of the way before you have time to brush your teeth or finish your first cup of coffee.
I'm amazed that so many fans suggest that the Orioles trade Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo or anyone else who will fetch prospects. This team is in first place again. A loss yesterday would have put it 1 1/2 games back. Still a contender. Still not shifting its focus to 2017.
The same people who complain about Caleb Joseph being on the roster, obsessed only with his offensive stats, want Wieters traded. Help me out here.
The Indians thought they had Jonathan Lucroy yesterday before he vetoed the trade from the Brewers. The Orioles aren't sending them Wieters. They'd rather make a run at the playoffs, the World Series, their first championship since 1983.
I've been asked who's coming off the 25-man roster to make room for left-hander Wade Miley, acquired last night from the Mariners shortly before my entrée arrived. Still don't know. The Orioles are off today and we'll continue to wait.
A rotation of Miley, Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy would leave four long relievers in the bullpen: Vance Worley, Odrisamer Despaigne, Tyler Wilson and Ubaldo Jimenez. Despaigne and Wilson have options.
I like the trade from the standpoint that the Orioles didn't give up a top prospect and I'm realistic. They weren't getting Jeremy Hellickson, who's going to require a lot more in return. Anyone asking me about Chris Sale also must wonder if the Orioles can lure Sandy Koufax out of retirement and dial him back to 1965.
One non-follower on Twitter who decided to troll me claimed that the Orioles were being cheap. Did he check the remainder of Miley's contract?
The Orioles wanted a left-hander for their rotation if at all possible and they weren't going to empty out their farm system to get one. That isn't being "cheap."
Miley isn't being promoted as the next Clayton Kershaw, though his back is in better shape. The Orioles wanted more depth for their rotation. They wanted an upgrade.
Worley is valuable working out of the bullpen. Would you rather have Miley or Jimenez in the rotation? And keep in mind that the Orioles aren't playing the Padres or Twins the rest of the season.
I'm just impressed that the Mariners continue to trade with the Orioles, though I guess Michael Morse for Xavier Avery was a wash. But Avery's back in the organization, so ...
The Orioles still are working with a three-man bench, so another roster move could be coming before Tuesday night's game against the Rangers even if they don't make another deal.
Don't assume that executive vice president Dan Duquette has made his only trade before the 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline. He'd still like to improve the starting depth in the organization and he'd still be open to adding a left-handed reliever, as I've been writing for weeks.
Signing lefty Tom Gorzelanny to a minor league contract on July 24 didn't end the search. It just provided another option, which makes more sense with Ariel Miranda headed to the Mariners in the Miley deal.
Gorzelanny has made three appearances with Triple-A Norfolk and allowed four unearned runs in two innings, with four walks and one strikeout. I've heard that his fastball was 87-90 mph in his debut.
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