There’s been a lot of talk recently of pitcher Jarrod Washburn being pursued by the Orioles.
Well, the Oriole Post, plus several other team related blogs were asked to take part in a forum as part of the Hot Stove website and the question-of-the-week posed centered around Washburn perhaps joining the team. The piece should be up on their website sometime Thursday evening.
I can’t imagine the Orioles would go after Jarrod Washburn at this point unless he was available for so cheap that it would counter-productive to say no. Right now, I think the the organization will more than likely go with Kevin Millwood, Jeremy Guthrie, Brad Bergesen and Brian Matusz as part of the starting rotation. I’m going to assume that Chris Tillman will be slotted as the fifth starter unless he just blows it in Spring Training.
Back to Washburn: He’s had a decent career with some ups and downs. However, based on his numbers in Seattle versus what Jarrod did in Detroit last season, what would a team be getting from him?
I would have to think that Washburn would want at this point to pitch anywhere but the American League East.
I don’t think his pitching style — he’s a flyball pitcher — would face well against some of the lineups he would have to face if he decided to pitch in Baltimore. Frankly, he’s a better fit in a larger home park than let’s say, Camden Yards. According to the various media reports I’ve read, Washburn hopes to re-establish his value by signing a one-year deal, and the Orioles are probably not the team to accomplish that with.
Furthermore, does he want to join an organization in the midst of a rebuilding project, or pitch for a contender.
I do think the Orioles might need another veteran arm to shore up their rotation, but Washburn is probably not the man.
