Core group to shape Orioles’ success in 2017

BALTIMORE — What to make of baseball next year in Baltimore?

The Orioles will return the core of their rotation, All-Star closer Zach Britton and third baseman Manny Machado, who is coming off a career year. The club has a ridiculously good bullpen, but big question marks in the outfield and a lineup heavy on power and strikeouts.

The O’s haven’t been particularly active so far this offseason, but that is executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette’s MO. Baltimore already has serious money committed — including more than $95 million for eight players — and arbitration will ensure that the O’s exceed last year’s Opening Day payroll, for a new franchise record.

2016 Year in Review Final 2016 MLB stats Final 2016 MLB standings Hot Stove Tracker Select a team ¬–AL East ¬BaltimoreBostonNew YorkTampa BayToronto–AL Central ¬ChicagoClevelandDetroitKansas CityMinnesota–AL West ¬HoustonLos AngelesOaklandSeattleTexas–NL East ¬AtlantaMiamiNew YorkPhiladelphiaWashington–NL Central ¬ChicagoCincinnatiMilwaukeePittsburghSt. Louis–NL West ¬ArizonaColoradoLos AngelesSan DiegoSan FranciscoFull coverage ¬–PostseasonAll-Star GameDraftStatcastOpening DayHall of Fame inductionsJackie Robinson DayRoberto Clemente DayFort Bragg GameTrade DeadlineWinter MeetingsAwardsFeats, tributes ¬–Ichiro reaches 3,000 hitsArrieta’s second career no-hitterScherzer strikes out 20Scully retires after legendary careerBig Papi calls it a careerJose Fernandez: 1992-2016Monte Irvin: 1919-2016Ralph Branca: 1926-2016 2017 Outlook 2017 season schedule Important Dates 2017 World Baseball Classic Buy 2017 tickets Select a team ¬–AL East ¬BaltimoreBostonNew YorkTampa BayToronto–AL Central …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com