Orioles say they won’t dangle young arms for trade

DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles apparently won’t give up some of their young arms to get pitching help this season, and that likely means Jon Lester won’t be coming to Baltimore.

Dan Duquette, Baltimore’s vice president of baseball operations, said Wednesday that he has no intention of dealing away young pitching talent before the non-waiver trade deadline ends Thursday afternoon.

“Some of the long-term prospects for our pitching we think are very valuable for the long-term sustainability of the organization,” Duquette said. “That’s a real important component to have a good team year-in and year-out. I think with our young pitchers we would be conservative and we would try and give them a prolonged trial in the big leagues before we would trade them.”

So if the Boston Red Sox want young pitchers such as Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy or Hunter Harvey for Lester, they will have to look elsewhere.

Lester is 10-7 with a 2.52 ERA. His contract ends after this season.

Asked if he would like to add Lester, Duquette replied, “We’d be interested in adding pitchers that could help us at the top of our rotation. Who wouldn’t be?”

But he said he hadn’t heard the rumors of the AL East-leading Orioles chasing Lester, and when told there are reports that the team was close to obtaining the left-hander, Duquette said, “That would be news to me.”

That doesn’t mean Duquette won’t entertain trade discussions right up to the deadline.

“We have not consummated a deal yet, but we are talking to a number of teams,” he said. “We are hopeful we will be able to add some people to our organization.”

Harvey, the Orioles’ top pick in last year’s amateur draft, is being shut down for the year after experiencing elbow soreness, Duquette revealed Wednesday.

“Hunter saw our doctors (Tuesday) and he has an issue with his elbow and so he won’t be pitching any more the rest of the season,” Duquette said. “He’s had a good year and he has distinguished himself as a top young pitcher. And he needs a rest period.”

Asked if surgery would be required, Duquette said, “I don’t think so.”