When the Orioles signed free agent third baseman Maikel Franco back on March 16 — in the middle of spring training — there was hope that he would be an upgrade over the incumbent at the hot corner, Rio Ruiz. Franco was supposed to bring a veteran presence and add stability to the lineup, along with some pop. That has not been the case.
It’s the kind of move that Oriole fans have come to expect, settling for a player with middling promise who was only available at the time because no one else would give him a shot.