Smoltz on the Orioles, Machado talk and more

It was an interesting comment on the Orioles made by a Hall of Famer and commentator for MLB Network. It came from former big league pitcher John Smoltz.

It was a compliment for the organization, but sounded like he ended it with a warning that trouble could be looming.

In sizing up the Orioles over the last few seasons while also looking ahead to next year, Smoltz said: "It seems they are the Rodney Dangerfield of the (American League) East. They kind of find a way and they have a chip on their shoulder. They don't have a lot of resources to be able to mend some of things that other teams do. They have made the most out of what they have, in my opinion, more than any other organization I can think of. They find ways to piece it together. Well, that piecing it together eventually has an expiration date."

The comments of Smoltz and other panelists led into an interview with Orioles vice president Dan Duquette. He discussed the outlook for the 2018 Orioles and some key players are in the last years of their contract. But he also repeated the organization's desire to make another run for a postseason berth come April.

"I believe we can compete with this group," Duquette said. "We have a big challenge ahead of ourselves to get some solid starting pitching. But the players on the field are good and the bullpen is good and we have a good manager. The American League East is a tough division, but the Orioles have been able to go in there and swing it out with these good clubs year in and year out."

Duquette was asked about the club's ongoing search for additional starting pitchers.

"We are going to have to be resourceful," he said. "At the last count I made, I think there are 28 clubs looking for starting pitching. There is not going to be enough to go around from the free agents. So we're going to try to get some players for depth and some veteran players. And hopefully some of the guys that we gave a chance to last year, somebody will stick their head up and help us.

"The real challenge is going to be finding a left-handed pitcher to go into the rotation. There is not a lot of them available and I don't know that we have one in the minors. You really need a left-hander in this division."

Meanwhile, one starter the Orioles presumbably were looking at went off the board yesterday. The Cubs signed right-hander Tyler Chatwood to a deal reported to be for three years and $38 million.

Chatwood, who will be 28 on opening day, went 8-15 with a 4.69 ERA for Colorado last year. He led the National League in losses and ranked third with 77 walks. But he has a good groundball rate, throws a 95 mph fastball and has pitched much better away from Coors Field.

Chatwood had a 6.01 home ERA last year and an ERA of 3.49 on the road. His road ERA of 2.57 since 2016 ranks as fifth-best in the NL.

More Manny talk: FanRag Sports reported that the Orioles have been getting calls from teams inquring about pending free agent third baseman Manny Machado. The story said there are no known offers on Machado and the team is not shopping him, but is willing to listen to trade offers.

The story adds this: "While this is going on, behind the scenes the Orioles are also discussing whether to try to make a play to keep Machado long-term. He could be expected to receive a contract in the range of Giancarlo Stranton's record $325 million deal as a free agent, and other teams believe that might be too steep for the Orioles, but that doesn't mean they won't try."

The topic of Machado and his future is one that continues to hover over the franchise at this point. Machado, Zach Britton, Adam Jones and Brad Brach have contracts that run through the 2018 season. All four can be free agents after next year. Speculation about the Orioles dealing any or all of the four will likely linger all winter and even into next season leading up to the July 31 trading deadline.