Finally ending his protracted free agency by with the Orioles, Yovani Gallardo instantly becomes the most reliable starting pitcher in Baltimore, Atlanta Falcons Accessories and that is well, its something.
Gallardo is a study in yeah, sure, OK. He has been durable, making at least 30 starts every year since 2009, but he has topped 200 innings only twice, and not since 2012. For the past three years, he has averaged 5.8 innings per start, with a 3.70 ERA and a precipitously dropping strikeout rate. Yet, even with only 121 punchouts in 184.1 innings for the Rangers in 2015, Gallardo had his best season from a wins above replacement perspective, at 4.1.
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A pitcher who turns 30 at the end of this month and has been consistently above average while making all of his starts is someone you want on your team. Is it someone you want to give up the No. 14 pick in the draft for, especially when your farm system is among the weakest in the majors? Jose Fernandez and Jason Heyward Drake London Jerseys were No. 14 picks, but so were Ru s Adams, Trevor Crowe and Travis Snider, and its going to take a lot more than one pick to get Baltimores minor league operation back on track.
When the Orioles re-signed Chris Davis, it nece sitated trying to contend, because otherwise the sluggers seven-year, $161 million contract is a colo sal waste of money. In order to contend, Baltimore will rely on a lineup that cranks a bunch of home runs, with a strong bullpen to lock down wins. Its not impo sible to see how it works, but the plan requires things to go right with the starting rotation.
Gallardo does not ensure that everything will go right with the rotation, but you know what youre getting with him, which is a lot more than can be said for the other starters in Baltimore Kevin Avery Williams Jerseys Gausman, Miguel Gonzalez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman. Theres plenty of upside there, but also plenty of risk. Adding Gallardo means that the Orioles need two of the remaining four starters to step forward in a meaningful way, as opposed to needing three. You ask a team to give itself the best chance po sible to win, and adding Gallardo is a step in that direction for the Atlanta Falcons Hoodies Sweatshirts Orioles.
Its not an exciting signing, nor does it change the feeling that the Red Sox are the favorites in the American League East, but adding Gallardo makes the Orioles chase of a second division title in three years a more realistic proposition, not only because there is one fewer question mark in the rotationbut because his steady presence takes some pre sure off his compatriots.
All things considered, the Orioles probably would have been better off letting Davis and Darren ODay walk as free agents this winter, but having made the decision to try to avoid a rebuild, signing Gallardo is a better idea than hanging onto a draft pick who could take years to have any impact at all, if ever.