NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Baltimore Orioles are treading water this offseason and it could very well cost them not only a shot at the World Series but a shot at the AL East crown. What exactly are they doing to improve their club?
There are a few rumors that Anthony Santander could be on the move. But why? Why would they let a young talent like him walk when they are right in the middle of something special? Have they given up already? Is it about the money? Well, in today’s game, you have to pay to win. It’s that simple.
Imagine letting Santander walk and he ends up in Boston, New York, or even Toronto. That’s the consequence of playing games with a player who has helped turn the fortunes of that franchise around.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the Baltimore Orioles have pretty good young talent in Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Jackson Holliday, but those three alone are not enough to get through the American League. But who will get the timely hits in which they have relied on Santander?
What’s more staggering is that they haven’t even made a decent signing this offseason to offset the possibility of losing a bat like Santander. The Yankees may have lost Juan Soto but they are making moves hoping to offset the production they lost when he went to the New York Mets. The Toronto Blue Jays are in the market for key players and even the Boston Red Sox have their name in the ring for a few players.
Fans are stunned and they are waiting for some good news. As it stands now, their team is doing nothing that would suggest they want to win. It’s hard to say they are running it back when one of their top players could be changing locations. Look at what happened with the departure of Corbin Burnes. The Orioles let one of the best SPs in MLB walk after one season. There’s still a chance a contract can be worked out with Santander but the Orioles better hurry up and do something quick before the natives become restless.
In the last two seasons, the Baltimore Orioles have won a staggering 192 games but have failed to reach the ALCS. Last season, it was believed that pitching was their biggest concern but bats fell silent in the postseason. Now they are back to square one.
To beat the likes of the Yankees, teams must be willing to go that extra mile. The Orioles have not. Hell, they haven’t even tried to get on the track yet to see how far they are willing to run before calling it quits. At some point, they have to realize that winning takes balls, and not just on the field. The present and future are still bright for this team. They just need to put their best foot forward.
