With the recent discussion about the Orioles’ struggling rotation – although Tyler Wilson attempted to quell some of the criticism with a gem Thursday at Fenway Park – there’s been a resurgence of people asking me why the club cut ties with right-hander Miguel Gonzalez in March.
It was pretty well-documented at the time: After the Orioles conducted a spending spree in the winter, they were looking to pare their payroll some, and Gonzalez was due $5.1 million after a season in which he lost 12 games and posted a 4.91 ERA.
By releasing him in late March, they saved roughly $4 million. He ultimately signed a deal in April with the Chicago White Sox, pitched some in the minors and now is in the majors again.
He had been throwing fairly well, notching three quality starts in a four-outing period before getting blasted Tuesday for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers. So as much as some fans have complained, Gonzalez’s numbers are pedestrian: 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in nine games (eight starts). So he’s been about the same as several 2016 Orioles starters (not named Chris Tillman), but he’s not performing well enough for fans to really complain about that decision.
It got me wondering about what the other players from last year’s team that have gone elsewhere are doing right now. And I figured I’d pass on the info.
Steve Pearce appears to be the one that got away, but the Orioles aren’t hurting at first base or in the corner outfield.
No one else really stands out.
The statistics, from baseball-reference.com, are through Wednesday’s games. I included every player who appeared in a game last year for the Orioles and is no longer in the organization (majors or Orioles’ affiliates).
They are listed alphabetically:
Hitters
Everth Cabrera – No pro stats in 2016
Steve Clevenger — .228 batting average/.323 on-base/.333 slugging, one homer in 65 plate appearances for the Seattle Mariners.
Alejandro De Aza — .173/.225/.253, one homer in 81 PAs for the New York Mets.
Junior Lake — .219/.290/.358, six homers in 238 PAs for Triple-A Buffalo (Toronto).
Ryan Lavarnway — .292/.419/.412, one homer in 62 PAs for Double-A New Hampshire (Toronto); also .276/.336/.357 in 107 PAs for Triple-A Gwinnett (Atlanta).
David Lough — .306/.342/.389 in 38 PAs for Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia); also .239/.342/.313 in 79 PAs for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rey Navarro — .229/.253/.314, one homer in 162 PAs for Triple-A Salt Lake (Los Angeles AL).
Jimmy Paredes — .259/.259/.444, one homer in 27 PAs for the Phillies; also .267/.353/.533 in 17 PAs for Toronto.
Chris Parmelee — .500/.500/1.375, two homers in 8 PAs for the New York Yankees; currently on DL (hamstring); also .252/.343/.444, seven homers in 172 PAs for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY).
Gerardo Parra — .263/.274/.424, five homers in 249 PAs for the Colorado Rockies; currently on DL (ankle).
Steve Pearce — .338/.415/.584, nine homers in 176 PAs for Tampa Bay.
Travis Snider — .250/.360/.345, one homer in 200 PAs for Triple-A Omaha (Kansas City).
Delmon Young – No pro stats in 2016
Pitchers
Cesar Cabral — No current pro stats; released by Orioles after going 1-0 with a 9.72 ERA in 7 games, 8 1/3 innings, for Triple-A Norfolk in April.
Wei-Yin Chen – 4-2, 4.68 ERA, 80 hits 17 walks, 64 strikeouts in 77 innings, 13 starts, for the Miami Marlins.
Miguel Gonzalez – 1-2, 4.74 ERA, 48 hits, 19 walks, 37 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings, nine games, eight starts, for the Chicago White Sox; also was 1-0, 2.65 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte (CWS).
Tommy Hunter – 2-1, 3.21 ERA, 11 hits, four walks, seven strikeouts in 14 innings, 14 games, for the Cleveland Indians; also was 1-0, 1.00 ERA at Triple-A Columbus (Cleveland).
Steve Johnson – 1-0, 4.32 ERA, 13 hits, 11 walks, 17 strikeouts, in 16 2/3 innings, 16 games, for the Seattle Mariners; also was 1-0, 2.25 ERA at Triple-A Tacoma (Seattle).
Brian Matusz – Signed minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs this week.
Bud Norris – 2-7, 4.81 ERA, 57 hits, 26 walks, 46 strikeouts in 58 innings, 20 games, eight starts, for the Atlanta Braves.
Jorge Rondon – 3-1, 1.91 ERA, 22 hits, 15 walks, 24 strikeouts, six saves, in 33 innings, 24 games, for Triple-A Indianapolis (Pittsburgh).
Wesley Wright – 0-1, 2.37 ERA, 19 hits, six walks, 11 strikeouts, in 19 innings 19 games, for Triple-A Pawtucket (Boston).
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God Bless Delmon Young. Possibly other than once seeing Boog Powell steal 2nd base at Fenway Park, he provided the most memorable at-the-park Orioles experience of my life.