Coming into the 2018 season, Dan Duquette and the Angelos ownership group thought the Baltimore Orioles could compete for a wildcard spot, and even a division title in the AL East.
That theory was quickly proven wrong as the Orioles got out to an 8-20 start in March and April. The O’s went 9-19 in May and 6-20 in June and by the all-star break, they were forty games back in the division.
At that point, with the Orioles miles away from the playoff race, Duquette finally moved the tradeable assets on the roster and started building for the future.