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Smart teams have already figured this out and chalk it up to the cost of doing business. Also, this might be a low key way to keep the price of pitching down. Pitching is slowly becoming the running back position of MLB

How dare they treat Cash Considerations this way....... Unseemly

Business is still business. Elias is playing a long game. Cowser and Kjerstad could both go to Norfolk so they don't hit FA at the same time as Holliday.

Im prepped for neither to open the year in Baltimore if Holliday makes the open day roster. Smart play would be service time games to push out cowser's and kjerstad's super 2 and free agency out past Holliday.

Im with you. Baumann's lack of command will eventually get him DFA'd this year. He's too good to make it through waivers but not good enough to stick all year

Lawyer is too good a word.... did he even pass the bar?

This makes so much sense when it comes to roster construction. Mateo playing a good centerfield would be big.

I don't think there is much to see here at all. He is a depth piece (player 40) at best. He just seems like a guy that the coaches and other players love. His role is probably to make Cowser's start of the year at Norfolk not suck as much. He's here for the vibes, not the bat and glove.

I wouldn't like it but I can get on board with HK and Westburg for Cease. It would suck as a fan but that's probably what makes it fair. How much better is Westburg than Ortiz? Personally I don't see big enough of a difference to draw the line at Westburg.

I'm starting to believe that the plan is to go with a "three headed monster" of Wells, Hall, and Irvin in that 5th spot and use the remaining options of Wells and Hall when they need a fresh arm. If anything Elias makes some more Jonathan Heasley moves for depth. I wouldn't get to comfortable if I was Baumann or Jacob Webb. Having 0 options left isn't ideal.

Interwebs says 5'10 so probably 5'8"

And it wouldn't surprise me to see Norby get some run in the RH part of the platoon. The Sigbot has to have a budget allotted to first base production. I'd love to know what it is.

Cowser needs reps in a MLB ball park. It's not an easy adjustment due to the third deck. His jumps will get much better in time. I see him playing a lot of LF this year.

I'm going with CF. I love Ceddy but his production isn't exactly tracking upward. You can hide the bat if he plays exceptional defense but what happens when that slips? EBJ might have to be ready sooner than we hoped.

One of the things that I never worry about with Elias is that he doesn't have a plan. I'd wager he has planned for multiple scenarios that involve getting or not getting Cease. Will I like the plan? Maybe. Maybe not. But I feel strongly that he has a plan for every prospect in the org.

Just a great article. The 80 grade hit tool is real. I think the talk of him starting on opening day is real

I think there is still some meat on the bone with developing HK. He missed so much time with some serious health issues. I'll be watching him intently this spring. Personally I think he hits another gear.

Friend of mine spent a year in Norfolk during the Duquette years after bouncing around a few other orgs. He said they didn't even try to develop you. He likened it to a gym teacher just rolling out basketballs and calling it a day.

I cant see where Elias is happy with the production at 1st base..... First baseman (over 350 PA) who had WRC+ more than Mountcastle and O'Hearn include guys like Brandon Belt, Wilmer Flores, Luke Raley, Triston Casas, Ryan Noda, Lamonte Wade Jr, and Christian Walker. O'Hearn and Mountcastle only saving grace is that they are still cheap.

Personally, I think O'Hearn is the odd man out in favor of Kjerstad. The extra draft pick for winning the rookie of the year has to be cooked into the process. Granted, it's a much smaller chance than Gunner had but I cant see Elias not taking a shot at it.

This is dead on. However, this situation is like having a team change its manager when it's out of the rebuild phase. Having an owner than truly doesn't need to support the family on the Orioles cash flow should be enough to get us to a level where we can have a chance to keep some of our own players for the long term. Owning an MLB team is a big boy proposition. The Angelos family just isn't in that league anymore.

I voted yes. My theory is this offseason is the last one to get a return on Santander prior to him hitting FA. To me, a trade for MLB prospects doesn't make sense. So it's a group of 18 or 19 year old lottery scratch offs or someone already on a MLB roster. Bieber is a FA after 24 as well. You can use the QO on him if he pitches well. I see no reasonable scenario where you use the QO on Santander. Overall, I can see why this would make sense. I'd neither love it or hate it.

The O's rotation stayed really healthy last year. You can add 2 arms and still find plenty of innings for Kremer if the health trend doesn't hold.

I couldn't agree more. I appreciate Santander as much as anyone here but I can't see Elias giving a qualifying offer to a 2.5 WAR player who plays a non-premium defensive position. I believe Tony would pull a Joc Pederson and sign the qualifying offer the day it was official.

I thought this take was interesting regarding the change-up... https://twitter.com/LanceBroz/status/1644014134713786370?s=20