Tony-OH

As I said in a few chats during my prospect rankings, I almost jumped Baumann over Hall because of what I heard at the alternate site this year. Saying that, I agree that Baumann is probably the most underrated prospects nationally for me. This is a guy who was throwing 98 MPH in the 9th inning of no-hitter in 2019 ay AA. If his change has really come around as some reports suggested and the slider has really become a K pitch for him, then he's got as much chance as anyone in the organization right now of becoming a solid major league starter. I just can't wait to see these guys back on the field and playing again.

Villar OPS'd .593 last year and we know his defense at SS is below average and inconsistent. Plus, it seems as though the Orioles weren't willing to pay Iglesias $3.5 million so if Villar would cost $4 million, I doubt they'll go that route. Now if you can get Villar on the cheap because of his down year, I'd be ok with bringing him back in some capacity because honestly, he'd make a great utility guy at worse.

Except here.. As for Westburg, I've heard very good things about him and his tools. Looking forward to seeing him against professional pitching.

Done. Merry Christmas!

If the option rules didn't exist as they are, I think we would see way more younger prospects getting chances, but under the current rules, it's pretty tough to put a kid on the 40-man roster before he's absolutely ready in case you need to option him a few times if he proves that he's not.

Nick Ciuffo is the quintessential example of a former first round pick who has been promoted up the system for no other reason than he was a former first round pick. Even with good defense, Ciuffo would have been out of baseball years ago if he were a 20th round pick vs a disappointing first round pick. Saying that, he's not a bad signing to add to the catching depth after the team parted ways with Holaday and Cervenka. He's a pure platoon (he can't hit lefties at all) back up catching candidate who will probably end up splitting time with Wynns in AAA. I honestly expect Elias to sign a Holaday-like veteran, maybe even Holaday himself again to a minor league contract and have him compete as well. I don't think Ciuffo is anything more than upper organizational catching depth that could spend some time as a back up catcher with the Orioles at some point in 2021.

That will take a little getting used to.

Still doesn't mean that's what he decided to do instead of going to Intructs. the orioles listed him as having a non-COVID related "injury" as why he was not there. I seriously doubt the kid missed his first real taste of some kind of pro instruction to finish a degree he'll never need. Either way, it doesn't matter now. It matters what he does on the field when he arrives next spring and more importantly next summer.

Great informative post, thanks!

I'm in the camp that owners, agents and players all hang out in that same camp!

So You think Hays is a piece but Santander is not? Have you looked at their production at the major league level and ages?

Let me ask you, who among the current Orioles are a piece you build around? Just trying to understand the type of player you think will be around?

I don't disagree.

In fairness, I think SG's idea would be to try and flip him for better assets at the trading deadline then the ones we would be giving up. Saying that, I don't see this happening and unless Chicago is willing to eat a lot of that contract, it really doesn't make sense to take on that risk of him not returning to his former self and not getting top level prospects for a stretch drive rental.

True TORs are not easy to find and develop. I personally don't see Hall as a potential TOR because of his control issues. Right now, Elias has been acquiring a stable of decent arms that he hopes will bear some fruit. He has drafted mainly hitters in his first ten rounds, but has been trading mostly for pitchers, including three that have never pitched professionally (like extra draft picks.) Now the good news is we can assume that he has metrics like spin rates and such on these guys and that's why he's been targeting them. It remains to be seen whether that will pay off or not.

It would make sense if the Orioles were willing to pay and not have to give up much in terms of prospects, but only because he could be a better trade chip if he returns to form. I just don't see the Orioles, who are cutting guys over $2 million salaries and saying they made coaching changes due to budget concerns are going to do anything remotely like this. I don't see the Orioles getting into the Free Agent market until they think they can actually contend and even then, as long as the Angelos' own the club, I don't see them being big players due to the financial situation of the team (Loss of MASN dollars, loss of territory due to the Nats, plummeting attendance, a city with image problems, etc). The Orioles are going to have to become like the Rays to have a chance every couple of years when things work. I don't see them ever being players for top line free agents.

That is certainly your right to do that. I would do it differently.

My evaluation on his scouting report included what I saw in the big leagues.

Almost all Triple-A portion Rule 5 guys are org guys that fill an organizational need. They are basically guys that the other organization didn't even felt deserved a spot on the AAA roster, which as you can imagine, is filled with a lot of fluff.

I've only done video scouting of one of Sceroler's starts so far and think he has more of a starter's mix, but I need to watch more starts of his. The curveball was his K pitch in the start I saw, the fastball was ok (89-92), change was ok at times but the slider was pretty bad except for one that was a nice hard late breaker at 82 MPH. He honestly reminds me a little of Dean Kremer with a better change but a worse slider-cutter.

I wouldn't get too worked up over who we selected and who we lost just because of the history of these Rule 5 drafts. I said earlier that Pop would be a guy I would have protected IF I knew he was healthy so it's hard to know right now where he is in his rehab. If he's healthy and back to where he was, I could see him as a guy where a team could use him in a bullpen in some middle relief. But, the chances are with all the layoff it's hard to say right now where he's at. Fenter is a guy who has always been in our end of the top 30 or just off the top 30 lists the last few years. I like his fastball curveball mixture and could see him as a power reliever one day, but he is an awful long way away so I think it will be very hard to stash him for year. If Pop is healthy and pitching well next spring, I think the team will lose him, but I see Fenter getting returned. I've only done video scouting of Sceroler so far and think he has more of a starter's mix, but I need to watch more starts of his. the curveball was his K pitch in the start I saw, the fastball was ok (89-92), change was ok at times but the slider was pretty bad except for one that was a nice hard late breaker at 82 MPH.

I don't see hand-wringing going on, but rather we are discussing more ridiculous statements from Davis about thinking he's an everyday player and how he's going to be here. We all agree he'[s entitled to the money because he and the Orioles signed the contract, just some of us actually would do the right thing and retire. Now some don't believe those of us that said we would, but it's not like he doesn't have more money than he or his children's children will ever be able to spend. At the end of the day, all he's done has destroyed any semblance of a positive legacy in order to cash checks he doesn't "deserve". In my mind, the only reason the team hasn't released him is because they could save some of the money if there is more COVID issues or a player's strike/lockout. Since the team is not competing, and Elias made that very clear of late, then they just keep him around, put him on the Ubaldo stepped in a pothole IL, and move on. He's made his decision and he'll always be known as the worse contract ever handed out by the Orioles and possibly will go down as the least productive player ever over his last 1000 or so PAs in the major leagues. If that's worth his big pay checks to him, it's his absolute right to cash those checks and lay in his bed covered in money while laughing at all of us who have lost any kind of respect for the guy. So let me be clear, Davis absolutely has every right to cash those checks based on a decision by an old man who was taken advantage of by Scott Boros. Anyone ever notice that Peter Angelos was rarely seen or heard from after that contract and the sons basically took control (even before it was announced)? This is part of the problem of today's sports landscape and why I think we're going to see a major change in how contracts are handed out and how rosters are put together especially with people cutting the cord and those big cable pay days may be slimming down.

Ok, that part may be delusional.

Oh I completely agree. The problem runs much deeper than just Baltimore or baseball, just we're focusing on them because it's our city and our team.

I don't believe for a second that he's delusional. I think he wants every last dime he's owed and he only cares about himself. It is is clear to everyone he is no longer a major league baseball player. He knows it, but he has to say those things to try and make it sound like he's going to suddenly get better.