Tony-OH

I'll be honest, I was going more off the name than really looking closer at his stuff. While his stuff is, he got hit really hard last year and 2022 really is a bit of an outlier. I'd still take him for say, Cowser and Povich, but may not be willing to give up much of a 3rd piece. Maybe somebody like John Rhodes or Hunter Haskins or even Urias.

Wait, are you telling me a guy who with a career .278/.331/.392/.723 with 47 homers in 3728 PAs, who suddenly, at the age of 31-39 years old, then slashed .274/.340/.489/.829 with 238 home runs in 5709 PAs, might be tainted? Nah. Outside of the steroid era we have lots of players who suddenly became a much powerful hitter from 31-39 years old then they were from 23-30.

If it would get him for that, I'd make that trade right now.

It was only focused on position players. McDermott though is the only one I'd consider close to ready to help at the big league level from the pitching side. As for Povich, he's got a long ways to go with his command and consistency, but still has promise.

I think though that's why it was easier with the Ravens. Being an NFL owner is like having a license to print money. Bisciotti doesn't have to push the state to get every dime because he's a multi-Billionaire and he can make sure the developers, businessmen and politicians get their cuts so everyone is happy. Not surprisingly though, ticket and concession prices keep skyrocketing so that cost is past on to the fans.

It's all about risk for him and why I don't think he really wants more than one or two rookies at the most breaking in at the same time. This is why I think we may see guys start back in AAA, even if they are ready. Elias also wants deep depth in AAA in case of injury which is why in my opinion Ortiz won't be traded because he's the major league ready shortstop if something happens to Henderson. Now if they tender Mateo to be the utility guy (seems expensive for a guy who can't hit a lick) then Ortiz becomes more expendable. Sure Holliday is coming up, but I think he's a guy that are not going to push for no other reason then he still needs defensive work and still needs to drive the ball more often (hits too many grounders) and Ortiz, Mayo, Kjerstad and maybe Cowser are all guys that are ready for major league jobs. Westburg could very well be a major trade candidate now that he's shown he can play a plus second base. Ortiz and Holliday are backups there if he's moved.

Here's the problem, our government officials no longer feel like they have to answer to journalists if they don't like the questions. Ever watch Fox45 in the morning and see how much corruption they dig up across Baltimore and the State? When they ask questions to the politicians or officials, they just don't respond. Why would they respond? People keep voting in the same old corrupt politicians while all the public does is cry and wine about how terrible things are and they can't understand why nothing changes. Now I'm going to leave it there so we don't get too political, but the amount of corruption at every level of governments from the local to Federal levels has become insane. Unfortunately most people got their faces stuck in their phones watching Tik Tok videos while watching the world burn around them like it's not happening. So even when journalists do actually ask the right questions (and most are just bought off or in cahoots with the politicians), they are ignored.

Oo-oo, Mr. Kottaaa... pick me, I know the answer!!! Because this entire agreement is about how every single politician, business leader involved, and of course Angelos can pad their wallets off the MD taxpayers vs trying to really improve the fan experience for Orioles fans.

My first impression is any agreement that gives the money to Angelos (Orioles) will not be spent on actually improving the ballpark, but will mostly go into the Angelos improvement fund. I don't like the idea of giving public funded money to a private business to spend as they want.

Mayo is nowhere near as slow as Trumbo right now. Now when Mayo is in his early to mid 30s, will he most likely be pretty slow because of his size, most likely, but that's not an issue the Orioles need to be concerned with anytime soon. I do think Mayo is fast enough to play RF in Camden Yards, but he needs experience out there in games before he should be an option there.

Who suggested that there is some giant need to turn over the roster significantly? The OP was just pointing out the players that are ready in 2024 to contribute to a major league team. At no point was I suggesting all of these guys should be on the Orioles this year. This post was to show that Elias has a lot of different options this offseason to shape has 2024 roster not to suggest all of these "ready" players will be on the roster on opening day.

Maybe because he hasn't had any real success above Low-A ball yet? I'd be very surprised if he hits enough next season to be in Baltimore by the end of the year. It would take him really taking huge steps forward with the bat, but also several injuries for that to happen. I'd say there's a better chance of him being in Baltimore in 2025 if he really impresses next season.

I'll have more in their prospect profiles coming out soon, but Cowser impacts the ball better and has more power and the ability to take walks, but he's got some orange flags starting to show up when it comes to hitting upper velocity. I hoping it's a swing adjustment that can be made and not bat speed. Ortiz hits the ball hard but does not backspin the ball very much so there's not going to be a ton of home run power despite some average pop, but he will collect a lot of doubles. He doesn't draw many walks so his OBP will be average dependent. You can pick which one you like better. They are very close to me as prospects.

I don't know whether he will be dealt or not, but with him getting expensive (For Angelos) and with Kjerstad ready to take over, if they can move him in a package for either a solid mid-rotation young controllable starter or an impact reliever they will probably consider it for sure.

It was just a random fact, nothing more.

Dj Stewart ended up slashing .238/.328/.494/.822 with 15 Bb and 56 Ks in 186 PAs with the Mets. Of course his -0.6 defense sunk his overall rWAr to 0.3. Stewart has never gotten a hit for a team who ended up with a winning record at the end of the year in the majors.

Sometimes guys play for the love of the game.

As we get started into our offseason chatter, it's time to take a look at the deep depth that the Orioles have in the infield and outfield when it comes to minor leaguers who are ready for major league jobs. These are the major league ready guys coming into spring training: Heston Kjerstad: (RF/1B/DH): It's all about the stick with him. Could be Santander's replacement if he's moved. Colton Cowser: (CF/LF/RF): Bombed in his debut and questions about him hitting good velocity have now become an issue, but he's probably ready. Joey Ortiz: (SS/2B/3B): Absolutely nothing left to prove in AAA. Can play every infield position well and should hit enough if given regular PAs. Kyle Stowers: (RF/DH/): Easy to forget about him but despite his ML struggles and injuries, he put up a .875 OPS in AAA and will play at 26 y/o next year Terrin Vavra: (2B/LF): Pretty much a lost year with injuries once again and probably will get traded or DFa'd this offseason Connor Norby: (2B/LF): Nothing more to prove in AAA with the bat and now just needs a shot Coby Mayo: (3B/1B): One of the Orioles top prospects, he only has 267 PAs in AAA, but once he made the adjustments he looked too good for AAA. Maybe Ready: Jackson Holliday: (SS/2B): I'm only putting him here because Elias said he has a chance to win a job in spring training, but with only 91 AAA and some defensive development that needs to happen, he may be ticketed back to AAA. Everyone of these guys, but Vavra, has the ability to be an everyday player and even Vavra might be able to hold an everyday 2B job in a second division team. When add that to guys like: Gunnar Henderson: (SS/3B) Jordan Westburg: (2B/3B) That's a lot of 2nd year players or rookies that are ready for major league action. Elias has quite the job ahead of him deciding who gets traded for pitching help or even packaged together for a legitimate MOO bat. Oh, and Beavers and Basallo could be knocking on the door late in the year. Guess it's a good problem to have.

Hilliard could give the Orioles enough CF depth to feel like they don't need to resign Hicks. But if Hicks was willing to come back on another cheap deal to be a 4th outfielder, the Orioles could do worse.

Here's the current 2024 outfield depth as I see it: LF: Hays, Cowser, Hicks (If resigned), Hilliard, McKenna, Norby (Not on 40-man but is ready offensively), Vavra CF: Mullins, Hicks, Cowser, Hilliard, McKenna RF: Santander, Kjerstad, Hicks, Cowser, Stowers, Hilliard Hicks is a prototypical 4th outfielder though he may want to play somewhere where he has a chance to start. If healthy, I don't see where he gets those PAs with the Orioles, especially since Kjerstad is ready and Cowser probably is too. Is that a surplus? Right now, the Orioles have a surplus of major league ready position players and need to package some for some impact relief and maybe MOO or SP help.

I'd keep Mateo over Urias because of Mateo's ability to play SS and his speed late in game. If Holliday makes the team, he's need both Ortiz and Westburg to be traded and I'd don't see both getting traded.

He'll pitch at 30-years old so he's not a spring chicken and we know how bad he pitched against Texas. Saying that, his ERA was 4.76 in September, but he had 2.99 FIP . Overall he pitched ok for the Orioles and his statcast stuff looks good, and before the homers in the playoffs, he never even allowed a homer with the Orioles this season. Lefties are my biggest concern with him as the hit him a little too much with his changeup his only effective weapon against them. So would I be upset if he was DFA'd for someone else that may be better, no, not really. But he's not one of the guys I'd be dumping easily with our current right-handed reliever options. Plus I don't think he will be expensive at all.

I don't see many scenarios where there is room for Urias on this team next year unless there a lot of trades, and I don't see that either.

That does seem like an overpay, but Jimenez does have three good pitches and while he was a bit homer prone last year, he wasn't the two years before. Saying that, Jimenez is a solid 7th inning guy, but I agree with Sports guy, if this is where the market is going to be the Orioles are most likely going to have to trade for those impact relievers they need.

Mayo has never played in the outfield professionally, but I would not be against him giving it a shot at some point. He improved last year defensively at 3B and I think while he'll be a little below average overall there initially, he will be fine at 3B. I'd rather see him open 2024 at 3B than Ortiz. Ortiz's main value is that he can play all three infield positions very well. He moves side to side very well and his quick release overcomes a slightly below average major league SS arm. He'd be a plus-plus, gold glove caliber defender at 2B. At 3B, he probably could be as good or better than Urias but doesn't have a ton of experience there. I do think his bat will be better than Urias overall, but his pull power will be negated a bit in Camden Yards. I think Ortiz is a top trade chip or could end up as a super utility still getting 4 starts a week and coming in late in games for defense at 3B if Mayo is playing there. Lots of interesting ways Elias can go this offseason but what he shouldn't do is bury Ortiz back in AAA again. He needs to be on the opening day roster or traded for impact pitching or even potentially for an impact MOO that they don't currently have.