Tony-OH

Updated through today's game. - Tyler Wells and Bruce Zimmermann makes two scoreless inning debuts. - Holliday starts at SS and picks up a 2B.

Yep, they could certainly play the control game if they wanted to, especially if Stowers hit enough to be a part-time player. McKenna helped himself out last year by hitting lefties a little bit and we know he's a solid defender wherever he plays out there. They certainly are giving McKenna lot so looks out there.

Now before some of you get up and arms and tell me it's still early and guys still have plenty of time to play other positions. I agree with you. Here are couple of early spring lineups and what they could indicate. 1. The second base job is Holliday's to lose - Not only has he gotten most of the starts there (he's starting at SS today), Westburg has not played 2B at all yet (he's starting at 3B). Westburg has not played 2B the spring, so it seems he just needs to beat out Urias for the every day job. 2. The third base job is Westburg's to lose - Besides a start at SS yesterday, he's been playing 3B mostly with Urias starting at 2B and 3B. This does not bode well for Coby Mayo's chances of making the team. Assuming Urias is not traded, he becomes a 3B/2B/DH against LHP sometimes spelling both Holliday and Westburg. 3. Kjerstad, Cowser and Stowers are battling for one spot (maybe)- Both Kjerstad and Stowers are getting looks in left and right field, and Cowser is getting a lot of time in CF but I think they know he can slide over to the others if needed. Cowser is off to the best start offensively, Kjerstad is the guy they probably want to keep, and Stowers is the guy they would have the least issues getting part-time work to. But is there room if O'Hearn is on the roster? 4. McKenna is getting every opportunity to stick as 5th OF - He's getting a ton of time in the outfield and has gone hitless so far. He's a good handcuff for Mullins in CF, but most of us thought Mateo would be in that role this year. Mateo has only played SS and has not logged an inning in the outfield yet. Grant it, Gunnar has been out so Mateo has been needed, but you would figure he would get more looks out there in games if they were really looking at him as a 5th OF too. Daniel Johnson has been playing well and getting a lot of looks, but he bats left-handed and doesn't hit left-handed pitching so would be poor handcuff for Mullins in CF. McKenna is out of options and may not make it through waivers. 5. O'Hearn is getting a lot of 1B time - Surprised we have not seen Santander get some 1B time this spring, so it appears O'Hearn will be neck deep in the 1B/DH rotation which begs the question "Where do Cowser or Kjerstad fit on the roster and where are they going to get their PAs?" It seems like the roster can only fit Kjerstad/Cowser/Stowers or O'Hearn?

Updated through leap year game. - Mateo keeps getting SS starts but no outfield time. - Basallo takes BP - Yennier Cano has been put on a milk carton - McKenna hitless while battling for a spot - Holliday has first good game at the plate - Burnes struggles - Kimbrel, Coulombe and Webb all scored upon. (Bullpen not looking strong in early going)

What team in the AL East has 6-8 top starters ready to go?

Tell you're not a scout without telling us! lol

Doesn't seem like there is any place online where all these DFA's are public, If anyone knows I'd like to know. Seems teams like to keep this on the down low as much as possible unless they claim someone.

The fact that Daniel Johnson got a lot more playing time than Hilliard suggests either they didn't like how Hilliard showed up to camp, he just didn't look good, or was banged up. More to this story for sure because a left-handed bat who was a good defensive outfielder, he was a good fit to give Hays a break. I think we will still see more moves. Half the fun this spring is watching Elias work the waiver wire.

Updated with Sam Hilliard being DFA'd and claimed by the Rockies.

Interesting that Hilliard never played the outfield this spring, then was DFA'd early and then claimed by the Rockies. Seems to be something more to the story because you would think he had a better chance of making it through waivers later in the spring then now when teams have more chances to look at guys.

You know better than to use the term "Orioles Hangout" as if it's the entire board saying that. I've sees a few people who have questioned these moves. Most of us see it exactly as what it is, cheap depth moves.

It makes sense to me that they move Norby to the outfield at least 80% of the time. I'd be surprised if Wong got an opt out at this stage in his career coming off the year he just had.

Is it possible for you to stop trolling Roy? Nobody forced you to read this thread. Scroll on by if it hurts your feelings.

Definitely shoring up some AAA depth with guys they know they have vs guys these need to get through waivers.

Updated with Wong signing. Looks like AAA depth to me, but he's left-handed and we know Elias likes himself some left-handed hitting 2B.

Let's say Teheran is a bridge until Means or Bradish come back? Last year he was good for his first six starts. I have no idea how much he has left in the tank of anything, but if he looks good, maybe we can keep Wells in the pen where he could be used in more high leverage situations? Either way, they're only risking 100k to take a look. Seems like low risk move, especially with him showing some success with the cutter last year.

Added the Julio Teheran signing

Thanks. I sometimes don't worry too much about every outing unless it was significant. But I have been keeping up with pitchers so I may have just missed that one.

Haha, tough problem indeed. Honestly, they have enough players who can cover down at SS, especially once Gunnar is back. Burns is capable of coming up and providing some decent SS defense from the minor leaguers as well as Robinson.

Well, we do have a "glut of" infielders but not shortstops. Gunnar and Mateo are probably the only two players you'd want to run out to SS on an everyday basis defensively at SS, and we know about Mateo's bat. Holliday is getting the Brian Roberts treatment, partially because Gunnar is better at SS and partially because he has a below average major league SS arm and not a ton of extreme quickness. But, with Urias, Westburg, Holliday, Mayo, Maton and Norby once healthy, they do have a lot of players who can play 3B and 2B who are either major league ready or nearly ready. The trading of Ortiz helped with that "glut" a bit, but after Holliday, and we already know they are eyeing him for 2B, the shortstop prospect well goes dry until you get into the low minors with Leandro Arias and Luis Almeyda being interesting.

Not a lot of shortstops on the roster especially with Gunnar out, so expect to see him late into the spring.

Updated through today's game with Daniel Johnson having the big day at the plate in the 5-2 win.

That was just sitting there on a tee.

Good assessment of the early season lineups. We haven't seen Mateo yet in CF due to not having many SSs with Gunnar out, but other wise the lineup and starts so far back this up. Just four games in though so it will be interesting to follow the games played at positions.

Thanks.