Tony-OH

I would love to see the organization pull an Angles and draft all arms next year. I doubt it would happen but the organization could use an influx of good arms.

I image Kjerstad will start 2023 in Bowie. I could see him ending his season in AAA. I'd be shocked if he made his major league debut next year barring a series of unfortunate injuries.

If Colton Cowser's AVG EV was 97 mph last year, I have him too low on my list. That would be tops in MLB. I wonder if those numbers are accurate, I did here rumors that statcast info will be available for minor leaguers next year! That would be so amazing!

What does destroying vs creating have anything to do with people's conversations here? I haven't seen a single person asking for Elias to be fired or to tear it all down. Most of the people here have been very supportive of how Elias has rebuilt this franchise. Saying all that, now he's at the next phase of being a GM and that's taking the next step to being a true contender and so far this offseason he's failed. Just because I like things he's done in the past doesn't mean I'm going to turn a blind eye to the bad offseason so far. This offseason has brought nothing be reclamation projects or water treading with the possible exception of Givens making the bullpen stronger. Elias himself said he wanted a #1-#3 pitcher and MOO and has gotten neither. The only good news is we have six weeks of potential trading to get there before spring training. It's ok to be critical. It's not personal, and I personally applauded the Givens move and liked the McCann move overall. Gibson is fine as a Lyles replacement. But the needle has not moved this offseason. That's disappointing.

Exactly. I think most people call them as they see them. I liked the Givens deal and had no issue with McCann since he was injured a bunch last year and is a good bounce back candidate. Besides the Frazier move, none of the rest of his moves really matter all that much. Gibson is Lyles, maybe better, but basically the same kind of starter. The entire offseason has been treading water vs what we were told to expect by Elias. He's been shopping in the bargain bin all winter and most of us thought this was the year he would actually go out and add those impact players that would announce the Orioles were legitimate contenders. Unfortunately, we're getting O'Hearn types and while I get the people that say he's just AAA depth with a chance to make the team with injuries, I'm concerned that Elias has every intent on O'Hearn not only making the team, but probably getting 370-425 PAs this year. Elias still can makes some trades that could bring an impact player, but so far his offseason has been an F since he did not get either of the things he needed in a #1-2 starter and a MOO. Hopefully he will still get it done.

Grabbing a guy off waivers with a minimum split salary deal is a depth move for a team like the Orioles. At $1.4 million, O'Hearn is the 6t highest paid Oriole before arbitration deals kick in. Does that sound like a guy going to AAA to be depth? I think he's going to be DH/1B and will take PAs away from Stowers if Santander is still on the team. I'll take Stowers getting those PAs everyday of the week. Remember, this is an organization that already choose a washed up Aguilar to take PAs from Stowers during a playoff push.

Now this we can agree on!

I covered this in my original take on him. He does hit better with no shift, but the shift didn't stop him from hitting one home run last year. His EVs are really good, but his hit chart shows that he sprays the ball around and not really a pull hitter. Maybe he will try to be more like that with no one out in shallow RF? At the end of the day though, he's a 29-year old who has slashed .211/.282/.351/.633 in 901 PAs from 2019-2021. Will he improve a bit from his 2021 numbers based on his EVs and expected stats, sure, but how much? He's a got a long way to go to be a productive major leaguer offensively, and he's a below average outfielder with a below average arm, so he's really a first baseman who hasn't hit like one since his rookie campaign. I will say this though. He probably has a better chance of putting up decent numbers than Frazier, but I still don't like him as anything more than AAA depth, and I wouldn't pay $1.4 for AAA depth.

I've never been much of a believer in these projection systems. Every projection system had the Orioles as dreadful last year.

You keep saying this, but I think you really need to look at this entire situation. Corn stated it well, but I'd also add that we know ownership is in a legal battle within the family and there's smoke this team is being prepped for sale. Whether that means they keep salary down or not is up to interpretation, but at the end of the day, only the biggest optimists can be happy with this offseason. And again, this organization does not sign $1.4 million player to be depth in AAA.

Elias is not acquiring a $1.4 million player to head to AAA to be depth. He paid Odor the minimum and played him all year at 2B despite being sub replacement level. I 100% agree he SHOULD not make the team unless there's an injury, but I think Elias has decided this guy can help his team.

The only thing I can think of is he's counting on all of his young players doing better than last year so if he can tread water with his other roster positions he's hoping to slip into the last playoff spot. At this point, besides Givens and maybe McCann due to the low bar of getting over Chirinos, there is not a lot of improvement in his off season.

Nice reference. I wish he was Jim Dwyer. From 1981-1987 Dwyer slashed .263/.360/.442/.801 for the Orioles.

It appears that is his plan right now. Personally I think he got a pretty low budget from John Angelos and he's trying to piece a roster together with that budget. Now, whether he's picking the right pieces is what we've been debating.

I was always under the assumptions it was the Orioles giving the team money, not the team giving the Orioles money along with the player when it says cash considerations.

Thank you for publicly admitting that. Not everyone will admit their opinion is "non stat" based and more on your hope and his past performance from over three years ago. I only hope this "analysis" is not what Elias/Sig uses for their sophisticated evaluation system.

Sure man, sure. You keep the faith. I'm done talking sense to you guys. You guys are too far now. Enjoy the site.

You want a backup 1B/DH to be the 26th man? Does that roster position no matter? Did I miss where where the Orioles are so set with so much talent that they can just stash a bad left-handed hitting DH/1B on the roster just because? They paid Odor major league minimum and started him everyday. What makes you think this isn't your DH against right-handed pitching?

Baffling is as good a definition of this offseason as any that I can come up with. I've been an Orioles fan for 47 years (assuming I knew what being a fan meant around 5) and I'm not sure I've seen a more baffling offseason. Sometimes you see moves and you think, low cost, no downside, why not give it a look. Then you find out he's actually on a $1.4 million contract which means he's probably got a good chance to make the team. Remember when they signed Odor and we thought they would just kick the tires and then he ended up the starting second baseman almost all season? Yeah, that was for about half of what O'Hearn will make.

You better watch out, the Optimists will come after you if you doubt their baseball King. Think about this for a bit. We left 2022 all exciting, being told we were going on a liftoff from here on out. Since then Elias has added one good reliever in Givens, replaced Lyles with Gibson, and now has added Frazier and O'Hearn for a combined $9.4 million. Can't make this offseason up.

Holy smokes. They are going to pay him $1.4 million? Good Lord... Let's see the Optimists (is that an acceptable term) spin this one. This smells of Odor. He's a guy we think has no role on the team and ends up generally an everyday player while OPSing in the low .600. This offseason just keeps getting worse and worse. Actually, its becoming quite embarrassing once again. But I'm sure the Orioles must have an exquisite one of kind evaluations system that has determined this guy will "bounce back".

There, something we agree on.

Ok, I may be getting you mixed up with another poster, my mistake.

Not going to lie, I feel like that Frazier will bring me more entertainment than the one that will play second base for the Orioles next season.

He and several others have stated that they give Elias the benefit of the doubt on his moves because they believe he has additional information and a sophisticated evaluation system. some, maybe not Frobby, but some believe if you even question the all knowing and benevolent Elias you are some a hater or anti-Elias. I've even had someone decide to call my thoughts silly because I dare question his personal savior. Personally, I think Elias has done a lot of things, but his offseason so far has been pretty darn yech! He treaded water at best so far, but I know that makes me a hater for some of you. Sorry, I'm not follower, I don't fall for propaganda, and I question everything until I can find out the stats/facts. As a fan, I hope Elias/Sig are right in their decisions, but I have last seasons decisions to show they are far from infallible and should be questioned when a move needs to be questioned.