Key Takeaways:
• Baltimore Orioles may consider trading the team’s number four prospect, Heston Kjerstad, to Cleveland Guardians.
• In exchange, the Orioles would receive relievers Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis.
• Despite a solid start to the 2024 season, Orioles’ pitching rotation requires improvement, especially their bullpen.
• Heston Kjerstad has had a slow start, but his prospects remain promising. Craig Kimbrel, Orioles’ 2024 closer, has experienced recent struggles.
• The Baltimore Orioles have MLB’s third-best record albeit their need for fine-tuning.
Possible Trade for Orioles’ Bullpen Improvement
As the 2024 Major League Baseball season continues, the Baltimore Orioles are considered a potential contender with the third-best record to date. However, the team’s pitching rotation, particularly the bullpen, needs some adjustments. This spurs questions about whether the team should explore the trade market.
Senior Major League Baseball writer, Jim Bowden, proposed a potential trade that could benefit both the Baltimore Orioles and the Cleveland Guardians. In a recent column for The Athletic, Bowden suggests the Orioles should consider trading their number four prospect, Heston Kjerstad, to the Guardians. In exchange, the Orioles would receive relievers Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis from the Guardians.
Bowden notes that this could be a win-win for both teams. The Guardians need to upgrade their outfield, while the Orioles require enhancements in their bullpen. Acquiring Kjerstad, the second overall pick in the 2020 draft, would provide an upgrade for the Guardians, while the Orioles could fortify their bullpen with solid, controllable relievers.
Guardians’ relievers Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis have collectively achieved a 2.70 ERA across 16.2 innings this season. Smith with 24 strikeouts surpasses Gaddis who recorded 18.
Kjerstad’s Level of Play in Question
Since his call-up to the Orioles on April 23, Kjerstad has had a relatively slow start, with only 10 at-bats in his second stint in the majors. He has made two hits and five strikeouts, with a batting average of .200. Kjerstad has so far started in only five of the possible thirteen games. The lack of playtime for the fourth-highest prospect has posed some questions.
Orioles’ team manager Brandon Hyde recently acknowledged Kjerstad’s limited playtime, attributed to the team’s current crowded outfield. Despite this, there is optimism about Kjerstad’s power potential, especially considering his outstanding performance as the minor-league home run leader with the Norfolk Tides.
Struggles of the Orioles’ 2024 Closer
Amid trade talks, the Orioles’ closer, Craig Kimbrel, has also shown signs of struggle. In an April 26 game against the Oakland Athletics, the 35-year-old allowed two home runs, reflecting his recent dip in form. Kimbrel’s poor performance continued into the early days of May, leading some to speculate about his future with the Orioles.
Despite some blame on Kimbrel’s performance, Baltimore’s pitching coach, Drew French, believes the issues are more execution-based. According to French, getting Kimbrel back to his top form is a priority for the staff.
The Orioles need to make a decision whether they decide to include Kimbrel as part of their long-term plans, considering his age and current form. If Kimbrel’s issues persist, the Orioles may be more compelled to make additions to the pitching staff, possibly making the suggested trade for Cleveland’s relievers an enticing option.
While the trade remains a suggestion, the current performance levels of both Kjerstad and Kimbrel make it a plausible consideration for the Orioles as they strive to maintain their positive start to the 2024 season.