Updated 05:18 PM EDT, Fri, Apr 19, 2024

MLB Rumors 2014: Baltimore Orioles Still Interested in Ervin Santana After Striking Deals With Ubaldo Jimenez, Nelson Cruz

  • +
  • -
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE

The Baltimore Orioles are not yet done making roster moves yet. Reports indicate that the team is still very interested in signing free agent pitcher Ervin Santana.

The Orioles have signed big-name free agents Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz over the past two weeks, but their recent signings won't stop Baltimore from pursuing Jimenez, Fox Sports' MLB insider Ken Rosenthal revealed.

According to Rosenthal, the Orioles are still determined to sign Santana even if they already have a crowded rotation, which includes Jimenez, Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzales, Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris.

The draft pick compensation attached to Santana, who previously turned down Kansas City Royals' $14.1 million qualifying offer in November, will not be a factor as well since the pick that they would lose if they successfully sign the 31-year-old pitcher is their 91st overall pick.

Baltimore already surrendered their 17th-overall pick in the first round to the Cleveland Indians when they signed Jimenez. They also lost their second-round pick, 55th overall, to the Texas Rangers after signing Cruz.

CBS Sports also reported during the weekend that the Orioles are still in contact with the former Kansas City pitcher in hopes of forming a potent Jimenez-Santana pitching combination next season.

"Baltimore, according to sources, has maintained dialogue with top free-agent starter Ervin Santana, who could potentially bolster the Orioles' rotation further. A Jimenez-Santana double play would be quite a coup for the Orioles, who have one of the best lineups in baseball but needed to enhance their rotation in the strong AL East," CBS Sports noted.

However, it is still unclear at this point whether or not Santana is also willing to lower his asking price, similar to the four-year, $50-million deal Jimenez signed with the Orioles.

According to Rosenthal, Santana, who went 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA with the Royals last season, is leaning toward sitting out until after the MLB Draft in June.

After the June draft, teams can sign Santana without losing a draft pick as compensation, which could convince several teams to make a run at the nine-year veteran pitcher.

© 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE
Close

Curiosidades

Real Time Analytics