Quiet at Meetings, O's aim to build 'year-round'

Baltimore poised to take patient approach, but still looks to add OF, catching help

December 8th, 2016

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The Red Sox got and . The Yankees got and . But Baltimore, despite a quiet week, isn't feeling any kind of pressure to run out and make moves following the Winter Meetings.
"We're the Orioles," executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said, "and we have a certain way of building our team and doing things, and we have to be very resourceful to compete against the behemoths in the [American League] East. And we've effectively done that for a couple of years.
"We're going to compete, and we're going to try to do it again next year."
Hot Stove Tracker
The Orioles left National Harbor still looking to add outfield and catching help, their two primary goals. They continue to discuss potential trades with other clubs and remain interested in re-signing free agent . While nothing is imminent, the O's are looking poised to once again take a more patient approach to the offseason.

Deals done
None.
Goals accomplished
Outfield depth. The O's added a pair of young players in the Rule 5 Draft: from the Red Sox's organization, followed by from the Indians.

Unfinished business
The Rule 5 Draft picks don't change Baltimore's shopping list much.
"We're still looking to add to our outfield, obviously," Duquette said. "These are young players that should add to the overall depth of the organization. Tavarez has very good speed, which is additive, and excellent on-base capability. They both have good on-base capabilities. But we're going to continue to look for outfield and also catching."
Rule 5 Draft
In addition to the two Major League selections, the Orioles picked right-handed pitcher Jefri Hernandez from the Reds and lefty from the Braves in the Minor League portion.
Duquette's bottom line
"We work at building our team year-round," Duquette said. "We're trying to build our team so that we're good in October, but we have to work at it on a year-round basis.
"I'm happy that we added two good young players today, and we're going to continue to add to our club. The good news is we have a veteran club. We have a lot of good players back from last year from a team that made the playoffs, so we have all the core players back. We need to add to the outfield, obviously, and address the catching, but the pitching staff, the lineup, the infield defense, that's all intact. That's strong. And the bullpen is still a strength."