Most fans had the feeling that a move was going to happen with the Orioles right before camp opened up in a few weeks. This morning, pitcher Jeremy Guthrie was traded to the Colorado Rockies for pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom, according to the Baltimore Sun.
He’s been rumored in deals for several years, and it finally happened. I figured that Guthrie needed to move on from the Orioles for the sake of his career. He was headed to arbitration with the team, and that appointment has been postponed.
Dan Duquette traded one of his available chips on the table for a deal and added more depth to the pitching corps.
Guthrie’s talent didn’t necessarily match his win-loss record over the years, but maybe it will translate better away from the American League East. He’ll be going to the National League and will be getting the proverbial ‘fresh start’.
From the Baltimore Sun: The Orioles have traded the club’s most accomplished starter, right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, to the Colorado Rockies.
Guthrie tweeted Monday morning: ” ‘Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Baltimore anymore.’ Just found out I was traded to @Rockies,” confirming The Baltimore Sun’s report that a deal was near.
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“Jeremy is excited to join the Rockies, and I see this as a positive result for all parties,” Guthrie’s agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, said in a statement. “Negotiations with the Orioles were steady yet slow, and an arbitration hearing seemed possible and even likely. Once informed of the trade, Jeremy decided to make a showing of good faith and agreed to a deal within the Rockies’ payroll structure, since he felt it important that his relationship with his new team get off on the right foot. Jeremy is excited about a fresh start with a new organization and a contending team close to home.”
In turn, the Orioles get two major league arms to help bolster the pitching staff.
In Hammel and Lindstrom, the Orioles would get two right-handers for roughly the same salary as Guthrie, and both can be under team control for two seasons.
Hammel, 29, was 7-13 with a 4.76 ERA in 32 games (27 starts) for the Rockies in 2010. Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 10th round in 2002, he was traded to Colorado in 2009 for minor league pitcher Aneury Rodriguez. Hammel has spent six seasons in the majors, compiling a 34-45 record and a 4.99 ERA in 169 games (115 starts). He is slated to make $4.75 million in 2012 and is arbitration eligible in 2013.Lindstrom, who will turn 32 on Saturday, has been in the majors for five seasons, pitching in 312 games as a reliever. He is 12-15 with a 3.81 ERA and 45 saves in 59 opportunities, including a career-best 23 saves with the Houston Astros in 2010. Last year, he was 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves in 63 games. He will make $3.6 million in 2012, and the club has a $4 million option on him for 2013 that includes a $200,000 buyout.
Guthrie will be missed by fans here; however, like I said, he needed to move on. That being said, I would think the Orioles will make another move in the next few weeks.
It could be a bat, or another pitcher from free agency or via trade; nevertheless, I think more changes are in store in Baltimore.
This trade feels like a move that was done for the sake of making a move. I would have preferred that Guthrie got traded for a young bat than two decent, but servicable arms who may or may not be part of the Orioles’ future.
I’ll indeed miss Guthrie’s candor, interaction with the fans and insight; however, baseball is a business and the Orioles needed to do what was best for them. I’ll say, the Rockies will be getting a grade-A individual in Guthrie and it would not surprise if he has a winning season out there.
