Suffice to say that the Baltimore Orioles’ season hasn’t gone as planned. They sit last in the American League East, and with the July 31 trade deadline quickly approaching, they are a prime candidate to shuffle the roster.
Baltimore is most likely to trade players set to enter free agency after the season. Zach Eflin, Cedric Mullins, Charlie Morton, Ryan O’Hearn, Gary Sánchez and Gregory Soto are among the players in their last year of club control.
A player who would be more enticing to contending teams might be Dean Kremer, who has two years of club control beyond 2025. The 29-year-old hasn’t been excellent this season, pitching to a 4.53 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 101.2 innings, but he’s been dependable for several years. Kremer is also cheaper than other trade pieces, making only $2.95 million this season.
Former Orioles manager Buck Showalter sees value in the 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hander, who came to Baltimore as part of the club’s 2018 sell-off.
“Of all the guys we acquired, he was a guy that I circled,” Showalter said on Glenn Clark Radio June 25. “I said, ‘OK, this one looks like a real prospect. He looks like a guy who might be able to [make] an impact up here.’ … He ain’t scared, I can tell you that. He’s competitive and you can do a lot worse. He’s the type of guy that someone might come get.”
Aside from a shaky 2021, Kremer has been largely consistent, posting a 4.33 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 113 career appearances and 601.1 innings.
Former Orioles pitcher Steve Johnson is more hesitant to deal Kremer, noting his reliable health. Félix Bautista, Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez, among others, have had extended absences recently, while Kremer has mostly been able to stay on the mound during his time in Baltimore.
“The only thing that I would have to say is you have to have a plan to replace all these guys going into next year,” Johnson said on GCR June 30. “I feel like, although [Kremer] may not be the piece that everyone would hope to have as an elite starter, he’s still a very solid piece for the team, and he’s one of the guys that’s been able to stay healthy.”
“People are probably in between with what they think of him, but there’s no doubt that he’s available,” Johnson continued. “He has his good games. He’s probably a very solid guy if he’s your third to fifth starter.”
Kremer struggles with consistency, but as Johnson mentioned, he can put together stellar outings. He has tossed seven scoreless innings two times this season, against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 29 and the Kansas City Royals on May 2. These are the starts that appeal to contending teams.
MASN analyst and former Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald agrees that the Orioles should not trade Kremer, similarly pointing to his availability.
“The reason why I wouldn’t trade Dean Kremer is he’s under club control for another couple of years. You don’t want to trade guys like that,” McDonald said on GCR July 2. “Here’s what no one’s thinking about, let’s say Kyle Bradish comes back this year and even next year, and he’s healthy. Let’s suppose Grayson Rodriguez is back next year, let’s suppose Tyler Wells is back. Those are guys, because they’re not going to pitch a whole lot this year, you can’t run their pitch count up a lot and their innings count up a lot next year.”
“What I’m getting at is you’re going to need guys that have not been hurt, that can go out there and take the ball for 32 times out of the year next year,” McDonald continued. “And Dean Kremer’s one of those guys that can go out there and do that for you.”
For more from Buck Showalter, listen to the full interview here:
For more from Steve Johnson, listen to the full interview here:
For more from Ben McDonald, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox