The Baltimore Orioles currently have just two pitchers in their starting rotation. One former Colorado Rockies starter reportedly is a topic of interest for the Orioles. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Orioles have shown interest in pitcher Tyler Chatwood.
#Orioles have shown interest in free agent RHP Tyler Chatwood, source says. Chatwood went 8-15 with a 4.69 ERA in 147-2/3 IP this year. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 15, 2017
If Baltimore were to sign Chatwood, he would’ve had the third lowest ERA in the starting rotation behind Dylan Bundy (4.24) and Kevin Gausman. Chatwood brings an interesting skill set to the Orioles; he had a ground ball rate of 58.1% in 2017. By comparison, Gausman and Bundy have ground ball rates 42.7% and 32.8% respectively.
While pitching in park like Camden Yards, it is extremely important to have a pitcher that can keep the ball low. Chatwood can do that with his 95-mph fastball, sinker, slider, curveball and changeup.
Brooks Baseball gives a heavily-detailed scouting report on his ability to generate groundballs from every pitch that he throws:
His fourseam fastball is a real worm killer that generates an extreme number of groundballs compared to other pitchers’ fourseamers, has much less armside movement than typical and has slightly above average velo. His sinker has surprisingly little armside run, generates more whiffs/swing compared to other pitchers’ sinkers, results in many more groundballs compared to other pitchers’ sinkers, has well above average velo and has little sinking action compared to a true sinker. His slider is thrown extremely hard, generates a very high amount of groundballs compared to other pitchers’ sliders, has less than expected depth and has primarily 12-6 movement. His curve is a real worm killer that generates an extreme number of groundballs compared to other pitchers’ curves, generates more whiffs/swing compared to other pitchers’ curves, has a sharp downward bite and has primarily 12-6 movement. His change is a real worm killer that generates an extreme number of groundballs compared to other pitchers’ changeups, has surprising cut action and is much firmer than usual.
The other plus with Chatwood is that he’s young. He will only be 28-years old at the beginning of the 2018 season. He also won’t come at the steep price that other pitchers would. He could make a lot of sense for Baltimore to sign.
(Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/Associated Press)
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