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The Baltimore Orioles have a potential mess on their hands. The team reportedly agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with free agent closer Grant Balfour. However, the Orioles nullified the deal after Balfour's physical. The result is a public relations mess on the part of the Orioles as doctors are now rushing to Balfour's defense about his health.
According to USA Today, Balfour has verification from doctors that he is indeed healthy and ready to pitch:
Balfour's agents released a statement noting that two noted orthopedists – Koco Eaton and Tim Kremcheck – examined Balfour on Friday and both found him healthy.
Eaton is the Tampa Bay Rays' team physician – Balfour played for the club from 2007-2010 – and Kremcheck performed elbow and shoulder surgeries on Balfour in 2005.
Balfour told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was puzzled the Orioles backed away from the deal. "I'm the All-Star pitcher I was last season," he said. "My shoulder is fine, everything is fine. I'm ready to come out there in the ninth inning, do what I do.
This turn of events could help the Phillies in their pursuit to deal their closer.
The Phillies are reportedly angry at closer Jonathan Papelbon for his refusual to smooth things over with fans after the "I didn't come here for this" comments he made last summer. The club decided to make Papelbon available for trade this offseason, and some have said that the team was pushing hard to get rid of Papelbon. The recent developments with Baltimore may give the Phillies a chance.
As former general manager of the Mets and Orioles Jim Duquette notes, many teams are in need of a closer, including the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Seattle Mariners. There's your demand. How about the supply? Remaining free agent closers include Balfour, Fernando Rodney, and if his dog does not order anymore marijuana, maybe Chris Perez. That makes three closers on the market and four teams in need of a closer besides the Orioles.
Now, if you were a free agent closer looking for a job and were familiar with the situation surrounding Balfour, would you want to sign with the Orioles? Balfour may turn to the union to file a grievance that the Orioles' handling of the situation has cost him money and damaged his reputation. That is not a risk any of these free agent relievers wish to take. Thus, the Orioles will be stuck without a closer. Orioles General Manager Dan Duquette said that the Orioles may trade for a closer. Enter the Phillies.
The Orioles are going to need to save face with their fanbase. After this debacle, Duquette cannot go into the 2014 season telling fans that they traded their 50-save closer Jim Johnson for a mediocre second baseman and then "filled the position internally" with someone such as late-inning reliever Darren O'Day. That would weaken the Orioles' bullpen in the eighth inning, too. The Orioles have to acquire somebody to close out their season.
Phillies fans may be less enamored with Papelbon than in the past, but he did a decent job as a closer in 2013. Some have pointed out a drop in Papelbon's velocity, but others have called him an "adrenaline" closer who thrives on meaningful games . Take the meaning out of the games, the less ready Papelbon is for the mound. He still may be worth something to the Orioles.
The Phillies may indeed have to throw in some money; Papelbon is due $26 million over the next two seasons and the Orioles were going to spend $7 million per year in 2014 and 2015 and defer another $1 million. The two teams could get creative and involve other players, such as by taking starter Wei-Yin Chen back, along with his $4.5 million salary, leaving the Orioles with a rotation of Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Chris Tillmann, Bud Norris, a recovered Dylan Bundy, and someone from Brian Matusz, Zach Britton, Steve Johnson, T.J. McFarland and Kevin Gausman.
As for the Phillies, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez could close, like many think he is better suited to do. The Phillies could become players for someone such as Fernando Rodney, or let someone such as Jake Diekman or Antonio Bastardo close. It may not be ideal, but the Phillies would be able to fill the hole easily enough. Or – as commenter bob loblaw says – they could simply sign Balfour themselves.
Orioles General Manager Dan Duquette said that he "didn't speak" to the Phillies at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, but who says he won't? A Papelbon trade would indeed be likely, but it is possible, depending how desperate the Orioles are after this Grant Balfour mess.
