Tony-OH

Let's look at the comparisons using some key stats and metrics between Nunez and Stewart. Both players will play most of next season at 27 but Nunez is actually five months younger than Stewart. Stewart bats left-handed and Nunez bats right-handed. Stewart is a below average defensive corner outfielder, Nunez is a below average defensive corner infielder. Both probably should spend most of their time at DH. Name WOBA XWOBA Barrel% Hard hit% EV K% B% wRC+ Stewart .347 .326 19.2 46.2 91.4 33.9 17.9 123 Nunez .347 .301 12.1 36.4 86.3 29.6 7.9 119 MLB AVG .317 .321 6.4 34.9 88.3 21.8 8.3 100 Now it's worth noting that Nunez has a better track record of success at the major league level and had almost twice as many PAs than Stewart and Stewart hit all of his home runs over a nine game stretch where he slashed .394/.444./1.061/1.505 over 36 PAs. Stewart 2020 streaks: First 10 games over 28 PAs: .000/.386/.000/.385 Next 9 games over 36 PAs: .394/.444./1.061/1.505 (all 7 home runs) Last 12 games over 48 PAs: .103/.271/.128/.399 So at the end of the day, Stewart outperformed Nunez in most metrics, but almost all of that damage came over 36 PAs. Given the track record and the fact that it's doubtful Nunez would make over 2 Million next year, I think he was worth keeping on the roster, especially considering the injury history of several players that would take PAs away from him.

I will say it seems strange that Nunez doesn't have some trade value vs a DFA. His avg exit velocity really fell off last year but his WOBA has increased every year he's been with the Orioles to his career best .341 (MLB avg of .317) though his xWOBA fell to .301 (.321 MLB average) suggesting he was a little lucky last year. His defensive value really fell off to the point that he's a DH, which of course puts a lot of pressure on his bat. With Mancini returning, and Stewart needing everyday at bats and an outfield that is getting crowded in a good way (Mountcastle, Stewart, Hays, Santander and Mullins and Diaz at some point perhaps), he's in a bit of a roster crunch. I'd like to think a guy who was on pace to hit 30+ home runs at 26 years old with a good solid barrel percentage (80 MLB percentile) would have more value, but with offensive numbers continuing to rise, my guess is if you bring no defensive value your bat needs to be special, and Nunez is a streaky hitter who can be special at times, but eventually ends up slightly better than average offensively. Do I think money is involved in this decision? Yeah, I think it would be naïve to say that his arbitration number wasn't a factor. Was it the only factor, no because as I pointed out, there's going to be a crunch for PAs next year between 1B, DH and corner outfield. As for Davis, it's quite clear that with COVID still lingering, the question on whether a full season will happen next year looms big on whether to finally cut bait on him. It's clear that Davis has no intention of doing the right thing and retiring, so he will continue to embarrass himself and any remaining legacy so he can cash some big checks in the future that he hasn't earned. It's certainly his right to do so. Also, with the CBA coming up, maybe the Orioles think they will save money from his albatross contract if the players strike? It's clear he's only still on the roster because the Orioles are exploring all ways to try and get out of paying him. Nunez was a decent stick, but his defensive woes really cut onto his value and at the end of the day, it seems Elias has decided he rather give those DH at bats to others.

I'm fairly certain I never called him a bust, but there was not doubt I rightfully gave up on him as a real prospect. Saying that, Steve was right in this case, players shouldn't worry about where they are ranked and should focus on getting better each and every day. Whether I rank a guy #1 or not ranked has no bearing on whether they make it or not, it's just my evaluation of them. Now, have my evaluations been wrong much, no, but it's not a perfect science and sometimes I don't have all the info or have not seen a guy enough to be make a good enough evaluation until they get higher in the system. It's funny though that after all these years he would remember that as a slight and for Steve to highlight that. Personally, I'm happy for him that he found a way to carve out 211 major league PAs, but yes, you expect more for the 13th overall selection of the draft. Considering Jacoby Ellsbury was selected 10 picks later and Cliff Pennington, Matt Garza and Colby Rasmus were all selected after him in the 1st round as well, I'd say Joe Jordan would like that pick back. Probably not as much as his Matt Hobgood pick, but back all the same.

Mine was based off alternate camp reports. I heard he threw the ball well down in the instructs, but of course, he was facing much less experienced hitters there.

The good thing about those three is that they are athletic guys that don't have known defensive limitations yet. In the past we've had Mancini or a Mountcastle coming up the system with special bats but no real defensive value. They are the first three top prospects in some time that have come through with likely outcome of having value with the bat and in the field. If they turn into impact bats, then they turn into true star players. Saying that, I agree, we don't have professional stats to back that up and Westburg was not exactly a numbers monster in college despite his tools. Either way, it's good to have these kinds of talents in the system.

Again, the fact that the Orioles got anything more than a box of baseballs and three jock straps for Velazquez is a good thing.

I knew an Orioles scout who told me when Sisco was in AA that he was basically Clevenger. I was like, "Really? you don't think he will hit better?" He thought the bat was slow and he would never hit for power. I do think he was wrong a bit on the power, but Sisco seems to have sold out any average for his new found power.

Most importantly, I'm just glad it seems he's in remission and able to focus on baseball activities. I have little doubt if he's healthy next spring, he will be the hitter he always was.

Just depends on your definition of mediocre I guess.

Yikes, I was wrong about that one. I really wanted Chatwood, but that was before Baseball Savant.

I think that's where the Orioles probably are with Cobb. Even though he was mediocre in 2020, i doubt he has much trade value, especially with his current contract and economic uncertainty around baseball. Probably makes sense to keep him around and see if he gets off to a hot start next year and gains some value for a team that is perhaps desperate for some starting pitching and may give up some #8-#12 level type of prospect for him. Of course, if the Orioles get any trade offer they may dump him like this did with Villar because of the contract.

Signed or Resigned the following minor league free agents: RHP Marcos Diplan, RHP Mickey Jannis, C Taylor Davis, C Alex de la Cruz, C Alfredo Gonzalez, C Pedro Perez,1B Ryan Ripken, 2B Steve Wilkerson Tony's Take: Not much to see here. Diplan has some upside, Jannis is a 32-year old Knuckleballer, and Davis is AAA catching/first base depth. Wilkerson is AAA utility depth. Perez and de La Cruz must be signed as some kind of coaches/players or something because of their age and experience, because their signings don't make much sense otherwise. Ripken apparently will be signed until he sets some kind of record for most plate appearances for a First Basemen with a career OPS under .650.

LHP Brian Gonzalez was signed by the Rockies. Former 3rd round pick reportedly threw the ball well at the alternate camp as his velocity has improved since being drafted. He's getting a major league invite to spring training with the Rockies.

I really can't think of others moves that I hated really besides resigning Davis which had nothing to do with him. Probably the other was forfeiting a draft pick to sign Yovani Gallardo but only because it was clear Gallardo was not healthy and there was a reason he was still sitting there.

Not to get off topic, but apparently i will again , the Davies for Parra trade was the first time I significantly hated, and I don't use that word often with baseball, a move that DD made. It still to this day feel that DD had lost so much influence the previous off season, that this was his hail mary play to try and get a .500 Orioles team into the payoffs. I also know the organization failed to evaluate what they had in Davies as I was always higher than everyone I spoke to about him within the organizations. Most felt he was a swingman, middle reliever and I always disagreed and rated him higher. After the 2014 season, I had him rated #4 overall in the system and said this: 4. Zach Davies - RHP - Full Profile (Plus Members): He's never going to get a lot of publicity due to his size and lack of premium velocity, but if he's going to pitch in the major leagues in some role. We would not bet against him pitching as a 4th starter for years to come. MLB Pipeline had Davies ranked 8th overall behind such luminaries as Mike Wright (#16 on my list), Tim Berry (#13), and Josh Hart (Not on my list). Not to toot my own horn, but I also had Christian Walker (#7) and Mike Yastrzemski (#9) in my top 10 that year. I struck out with Dariel Alvarez (#5) and Jomar Reyes (#6) though. Either way, it's always interesting to look back. I was always a big fan of Davies and overlooked his small build because of the stuff he was able to carry into the 7th inning and his ability to use four pitches in all quadrants of the zone.

I was playing OOTP game where I took over the 1988 Orioles and rebuilt them when I acquired Matt Stairs in a trade. It was then I started to think that if you squint real hard, Greg Cullen has some similarities with longtime bat first Stairs. They are built similarly, hit from the same side, and had some similiar type numbers in the minors though Cullens first two years though Stairs was placed aggressively by the Expos back in the day and was about a level ahead of Cullen. So I'm by no means saying Cullen in the next Matt Stairs, but I am suggesting Stairs could be his absolute ceiling as a player.

As of right now, I think he's a favorite to start at 3B once again, but not because I think he's a long term answer, but for now, there is no one better to take his spot currently on the 40-man.

I'm not sure I would call him an above average defender. He's average at best but I don't think he brings additional value defensively. statcast had him -5 OOA last year and 0 this year. BR had him -0.3 in 2019 and 0.3 this year. At the end of the day, he doesn't hurt you over there but his defense doesn't make up for his weak bat at the corner. if Ruiz was the athlete that Flaherty was he would make a decent utility guy but he really doesn't move very well in is probably stuck 3B-1b, and maybe some corner outfield.

Here's the problem with that. Let's say we add all of: Yusniel Diaz - OF Michael Baumann - SP Zac Lowther - SP Alex Wells - SP Zach Pop - RP Brenan Hanifee - SP Isaac Mattson - RP Rylan Bannon - INF Then you need some room later of for acquisitions so now you have to risk them on a waiver claim (much more likely to happen than a Rule 5 selection). Obviously Diaz, Baumann and Lowther are obvious adds, but unless Elias think the rest will not only get selected, but actually stick all year with another team, it makes more sense to gain an extra year of protection without clogging up a 40-man spot.

Congrats on one of the shortest stays on OH.

Let's not get too far off topic here. Thanks.

You need to check your attitude here. this is not how we talk to each other here at the Hangout. You can have any opinion you want and can share that opinion, but you need to tone things down. You sound close to the situation. I suggest you relax and realize people are going to have differing opinions and now that he is a professional, taking the heat is part of the situation.

I don't know how Elias feels about Mattson overall, but the reports I got about him at the alternate camp did not indicate he's a guy you protect. I also do not think he was a key part of the Bundy deal. In fact, I think he was probably the 4th part of the deal. Bradish was probably the key guy and the other two are wild cards because they had never pitched professionally yet. As for Pop, as I've discussed in several other threads, the only way Elias protects him is if he thinks he will get selected. I still think it's doubtful a team will go after a guy coming off Tommy John surgery who has very limited minor league experience. Oh, and I would not say that Pop has control problems, rather some command issues.

I'm sorry, but that just cracked me up after reading the other poster's rant about his education that will "last for a lifetime".

I know we are rehashing old stuff, but the Miller trade is exactly the kind of trade real World Series contenders make, and the Orioles were a real World Series contender in 2014.