wildcard

We have seen this from Santander before. He is just getting warmed up. He doesn't have to play everyday but he should be in there most of the time. Cedric has a 791 OPS vs righties so far this season. I think Hyde will platoon him vs many lefties.

That is just a side benefit. I gave no thought to how you would think of it when aI wrote it.

You are speculating and I am just questioning what happens next.

Sure. That is one of the reasons that its a developing situation and there is a question mark after the title.

Mountcastle has had trouble hitting righties for his last 600 PAs. You left that out. The question is will that continue going forward this season.

I can see your reading comprehension is challenged. Read the OP again. I made no conclusion. In fact went out of my way to say I made no conclusion.

No if I drew a conclusion from 125 at bats it would be jump to conclusions. Instead its a developing situation that we should be aware of.

I agree. O's need to see if its just 125 at bats into the season or if its 607 PA starting in 2023.

Not killing the baseball vs righties.

In 2023 Mountcastle had a 1.052 OPS vs lefties but a 640 OPS vs righties. So far in 2024 he has a 958 OPS vs lefties and a 711 OPS vs righties. It's so early in the season that if Mounty goes 4 for 4 vs a righty things could look different. But its worth watching. If the O's need to platoon O'Hearn and Mountcastle at 1B that opens at bats at DH for Kjerstad or Mayo. Too soon to know where this is headed but not too soon to consider.

Not what Elias is looking for at all IMO. He will want a proven, successful closer with playoff experience. And if the Burnes trade is an indicator he will not trade the O's starting RF in 2025 to get that closer.

Unless Elias wants Mayo with the O's strictly for his bat it seems he has a ways to go to win a 3B/1B job in the majors. He has 8 errors. 5 at 3B and 3 at 1B. Urias has 1 error and Westburg has none. Though errors don't tell everything about a player's defense it is an indicator. And we know Elias/Hyde value defense. I could see Mayo spending all or most of the season in AAA. How much he improves defensively will tell how ready he is for the majors IMO. He is too valuable to trade. They just need to determine where he fits best defensively.

For me Burnes, GRod, Bradish, Means and Kremer are starters. Wells, Irvin and Suarez are spot starters/relievers that can give the O's 3 to 4 innings when needed. I think Kimbrel needs a couple of days off between closer appearances. The other two games Irvin, Suarez and at some point Wells can pitch the 7th through the 9th. Cano, Coulombe and Perez filling in relief innings.

Mayo is likely to have an adjustment period just like Adley, Gunnar and Westburg.

Seems like you forgot Holliday at 2nd with Westburg at 3B.