Notes on Schoop, arbitation projections, Turner and Wieters

More recognition has come to Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop. He can't avoid it. A breakthrough season tends to attract the attention.

Schoop learned yesterday that he's the Orioles' nominee for the 2017 Hank Aaron Award, presented to the top offensive performer in each league.

The award was established in 1999. The Red Sox's David Ortiz and Cubs' Kris Bryant won it last year.

Schoop appeared in 160 games this season and batted .293/.338/.503 with 35 doubles, 32 home runs and 105 RBIs. He posted a 5.1 WAR and 4.9 oWAR that easily exceeded his previous totals.

Schoop was selected to his first All-Star team as the club's lone representative. He also was named Most Valuable Oriole by members of the media who cover the team on a regular basis.

Aaron chose a panel of Hall of Famers to assist in determining the winners, which will be announced during the World Series. They include Eddie Murray, Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr. and Robin Yount.

Fans can vote for their American and National League selections online at MLB.com and the 30 club sites through Oct. 13.

Here are the nominees:

American League
Orioles: Jonathan Schoop
Red Sox: Mookie Betts
White Sox: José Abreu
Indians: José Ramírez
Tigers: Nicholas Castellanos
Astros: Jose Altuve
Royals: Eric Hosmer
Angels: Mike Trout
Twins: Brian Dozier
Yankees: Aaron Judge
Athletics: Khris Davis
Mariners: Nelson Cruz
Rays: Logan Morrison
Rangers: Elvis Andrus
Blue Jays: Josh Donaldson

National League
Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt
Braves: Freddie Freeman
Cubs: Anthony Rizzo
Reds: Joey Votto
Rockies: Charlie Blackmon
Dodgers: Cody Bellinger
Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton
Brewers: Travis Shaw
Mets: Michael Conforto
Phillies: Odúbel Herrera
Pirates: Andrew McCutchen
Padres: Jose Pirela
Giants: Buster Posey
Cardinals: Tommy Pham
Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman

* MLBTradeRumors.com's Matt Swartz posted his annual salary arbitration projections for every team. It isn't an exact science, but he's good with the ballpark figures, so to speak.

Swartz has Zach Britton making a modest climb from $11.4 million this season to $12.2 million in 2018. Two trips to the disabled list and a drop from 47 saves to 15 is holding down his salary.

Not that Britton will need to borrow money. It's just a figure that falls short of expectations going into the season.

The Orioles won't non-tender Britton despite their aversion to spending big on a closer, and they seem intent on resisting trade overtures. Executive vice president Dan Duquette stated before the final game that he "hoped" Britton and third baseman Manny Machado would be on the opening day roster.

"We like those guys," Duquette said. "They've had good careers with the Orioles and we're planning on having them on the club. We're building a club with them on it. And we'll see where it takes us."

Swartz projects that Machado will receive a raise from $11.5 million to $17.3 million before eligible for free agency. The Orioles also will be shelling out $17 million to Chris Davis and $12.5 million to Mark Trumbo.

Schoop's salary is projected to increase from $3.475 million to $9.1 million. He figured to get a big boost after putting up the best numbers of his career.

Kevin Gausman's salary is projected to rise from $3.45 million to $6.8 million, Brad Brach's salary from $3.05 million to $5.2 million, Tim Beckham's salary from $885,000 to $3.1 million and Caleb Joseph's salary from $700,000 to $1.4 million.

Beckham possesses three more years of arbitration eligibility after qualifying last winter as a Super Two.

Brach beat the Orioles in arbitration in February after they countered at $2.525 million - only their second loss in 13 hearings. Joseph sought $1 million and lost.

* The playoffs provide another reminder that Justin Turner used to be in the Orioles organization before they designated him for assignment in May 2010 and lost him to the Mets on a waiver claim.

How many fans remember which player forced Turner off the roster? I'll give you a few seconds. Resist reading the next paragraph.

Infielder Scott Moore had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk and Turner was designated. Moore hit .220/.266/.355 in parts of three seasons with the Orioles and hasn't played in the majors since 2012 with the Astros. Turner didn't become a star until the Dodgers signed him in 2014, so the Mets probably have their own stories.

The Orioles recalled Turner in April 2010 while putting Brian Roberts on the disabled list with a strained abdominal muscle. Turner went 11-for-32 (.344) with a home run and seven RBIs in 16 spring training games, but was noticed more for his versatility, hustle and red hair (no beard).

Turner got a few brief looks from the Orioles, going 3-for-18 in 2009 and 0-for-9 in 2010. He backed up at third base, second base and shortstop. Manager Dave Trembley liked him, but no one regarded him as a top prospect.

Since I'm dragging you down memory lane, does anyone remember how the Orioles acquired Moore on Aug. 31, 2007?

The Cubs traded Moore and reliever Rocky Cherry to the Orioles for starter Steve Trachsel, who worked so slowly that Turner could have grown his beard over the course of a nine-inning game.

* The Cubs took a 2-1 series lead over the Nationals last night, and the game ended with Adam Lind standing on deck to bat for Matt Wieters.

It got me to wondering how often manager Buck Showalter pinch-hit for Wieters.

Wieters was 0-for-3 with a strikeout last night and is 0-for-8 in the series after batting .225/.288/.344 with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs in 123 regular season games.

Wade Davis retired the side in order in the ninth inning to record the save in a 2-1 victory. Wieters is 10-for-27 (.370) with three doubles lifetime against him. Lind is 6-for-22 (.273) with a home run.