The Orioles have the worst record in the major leagues, and they’re on pace for a 116-loss season.
Before the season began, the players union alleged in a grievance that four teams — the Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates — were not using revenue-sharing money in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement. In other words they were blamed for not spending enough money on payroll, contributing to the offseason free-agent freeze.
They are among several teams that have been accused of “tanking,” or purposely trying to lose this season by trading off their top — and highest-priced — players and seeking to rebuild through the high draft picks that serve as the only reward for bad seasons, similar to the way the long-suffering Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs have built sustainable contenders.