now

bingo!

I think this oversimplifies it. Of course the OP is asking yes/no, but clearly the analytics are complex. To me the odds of top dollar for aging players along with increased injury risk tips the balance to a "no," if you're looking for a blanket answer. But who knows, some players (as in the history of extensions) will be the exception. The magic trick is, how to predict with confidence?

And compare a recent MLB.com article ranking our rotation as (tied for) 10th best.

I'm gonna take a flyer on Santander to have an even bigger year than usual. Westburg last year was so-so and is due to show more of his potential power. Ready for Dillon Tate to be resurrected as a force in the late innings. Wild Card: Gonna give Mateo a shot here too. That April/May dropoff of 1.062 to .316 OPS has to be historic. But he did recover with a .653 in September (and don't forget the playoffs, when he led the team with 4-for-5 and two doubles).

Um... still working on that one. So that's why the ongoing fixation on playing Nevin!

Good one! So, how much you wanna bet?

Haven't teams done that from time to time? In this case, the Orioles probably wouldn't dare.

MLB.com today reports Orioles among the suitors for Montgomery, given the injuries to the rotation. I wonder how credible this speculation is. With NY and Bos listed first, I would be pretty stoked if we could land him instead. Let the post-Angelos era begin for real!

which is a good thing, IMO. Less of a distraction for players to have to deal with.

Yes it's a risk, but going by last season, you have to look at Gunnar Henderson too. Gunnar got straightened out earlier than Grayson, but Grayson was every bit the legit #2 in the second half as Gunnar was a legit ROY. And no one is doubting Gunnar's star status for this year.

I agree "disingenuous" fits to a tee. But why, for what benefit to overhype his chances? That part makes no sense... unless he actually was underwhelmed by the matchups and defense. But then that doesn't jibe with the comments about "way, way, ahead." It just seems like bad PR for fans and player, and actually kind of baffling for that reason.

This is all valid but obviously not on Elias's list of concerns (fan sentiment). The more grievous disappointment is to lead Holliday on as if he could make the team when it was never the plan.

Fine. But you (ME) knew all that from the get-go. So why dangle the likelihood of making the OD roster all winter/spring until now?

Mansolino's "plus defenders all around the field" finally explains their D-first valuation in favor of Urias and Mateo. It also doesn't bode well for "average" defenders like Kjerstad, Stowers and Norby.

Once again, in this calculus Stowers is the Invisible Man.

Just my own reading of tea leaves, but here is the order of new adds I predict: Cowser, Holliday Stowers, Kjerstad Mayo, Norby

Thanks! I'll take those comps as a good baseline (excluding the smaller sample size of the Padres).

I confess I was more excited about yesterday's lineup of prospects... Holliday, Rutschman, Westburg, Cowser, Nevin, Stowers, Mayo, Kjerstad, Norby than today's lineup of 2023 starters... Mullins, Rutschman, Henderson, Santander, Mountcastle, O'Hearn, Urias, Mateo, McKenna As it happened, both squads scored 13 runs against pennant contenders (Tor, Phl). But it's kind of amazing that the vets have lost luster in my eyes simply because I've become enamored with the new shiny things. It was a good eye-opener to see Santander, O'Hearn and Mateo all rake like the "grown men" (i.e., big leaguers) that they are. These are not slouches, having won 101 games last year, yet I still tend to perceive them as replaceable, still not quite believing. Maybe its just the hype of the next wave that is so infectious. Almost worried the vets will resent all the focus on the younger players; or maybe motivate them more? It's refreshing to hear Ben McDonald kind of treat it all as good healthy competition, everyone pulling together. BTW, the team is now 20-5 in Grapefruit action. That must be best ever for Oriole spring training records, no? Or maybe any team?

Currently hitting .343, .996 OPS. Right on target to repeat last April's scorching performance?

On that note, just read this notable quote last night in a book recently recommended via a discussion here, The Only Rule Is It Has to Work:

If the hitting comes around, I'll buy in!

I was going to dispute this, thinking Reimold was a very different kind of hitter, more of an OBP guy. While that's true, actually their stat lines are pretty close: Reimold: 323/422/745/99 Hays: 314/437/751/107

True it's been a complete 180 on philosophy, thank goodness. Not sure the transition has been "quick" though, since we're talking what, 10-15 years and 2-3 regimes ago when the previous mantra was floating around? (Can't remember whether it was coined by Flanagan/Beattie or MacPhail).

As some have said, durability is a big issue. In this case, though, Skenes appears to be a true Clemens-type horse, more of a rarity than the 5-tool shortstop. Especially, as @NCRaven points out, given the Orioles' greater need in the pitching dept. Yes this is like "drafting for need," but the BPA approach might also favor Skenes, in a coin toss.

... especially Hall. And, as a lefty, insurance for C. Perez's cold spells.