Malike

He's right, it is a good investment. I don't think any baseball team has ever lost money in a sale, even if it happened to be a terrible org.

He had 91 ABs. That information matters.

Irvin and Flaherty added to the payroll, I would bet my house that that needed approval from Angelos.

Thanks, that makes much more sense. I was on my phone so was just seeing those numbers.

No, I really don't. Thank you for the suggestion, though. If a 19-year-old moving through 4 levels hits .323/.442/.499 with a .941 OPS, nobody can convince me he's a 45-hitter.

Why do I need to talk to Tony? There is enough data from BP/BA/TA/MLB and it's all much higher than 45 hit tool and 45 defense. Now, if you want to pick the lowest possible scouting report you can find to say that Holliday isn't ready and needs more time in AAA or wherever that's okay. Just know that the rest of the world sees him as a much better player.

Were those rankings before Holliday played a game for the O's MiL team? He's listed as an overall 70 FV player. Hit tool at 45? Defense at 45? That certainly seems lower than any scouting report on Earth by a large margin. BA's report was from 2023 and Pipeline is 2024. BA - Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 55. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 60. Pipeline - Scouting grades: Hit: 70 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 70

I'm pretty sure he doesn't. I'm pretty sure that if he didn't include his team, there would be issues, they are there for a reason. I'm pretty sure the GM needs ownership approval for any deal, so no, I don't think the GM has the ability to make any deal he wishes. I also don't believe for a minute that this is why we settled on Flaherty at the deadline, that's a really long stretch. I'm sure they settled on him because St. Louis took the prospects we offered.

Baseball America seems to think he's okay as a defender. I'd probably trust them over our own eyes in a handful of games, but I'm no scout. I know Gunnar was graded by them with a 70 arm rating, but a 60 for Holliday is no noodle. "Defensively, he's a true shortstop with all the skills and instincts to play the position at a plus level, with a plus arm and plus speed as well." Pipeline seems to think he's not as bad as you do also. A plus runner who can steal a base, Holliday has more than enough range, good enough hands and actions and plus instincts to play shortstop for a very long time. The only thing that might be in question is his arm, which he’s worked to improve since entering pro ball. There’s a chance he’ll need to slide over to second, though that’s as much because of other Orioles personnel as it is any questions about his arm strength. Keith Law doesn't seem worried, either. Law raves about Holliday’s “incredible feel for the game” and his stellar work on both sides of the ball, noting that his “exceptional hand-eye coordination” makes him a possible .300 hitter and 25+ homer guy at the plate, along with defense at shortstop that Law feels is even better than Gunnar Henderson’s.

There aren't a lot of advanced stats in MiL but Kjerstad had a .958 FP in RF last year in AAA. He was put in the outfield for 21 innings last year, I'm sure he'll get some looks in the spring, hopefully he'll be capable out there, he has the arm. Saying he's the better RF right now isn't a hill I'd stand on. Santander is not a sexy defender, but he knows how to play that corner, which has its quirks.

I'm pretty sure this is SOP for most teams. You make it sound like most deals are done with a phone call in a day. This isn't how it works. They have teams of people involved and get input from everyone, it's not a one man show for the O's and probably 99% of the other teams.

Who are the better RF defenders on the team? Kjerstad? O'Hearn? They aren't better RF than Santander right now.

I'm not certain, I can grip my gun as well as ever while shooting, etc. I don't feel any loss of strength either. I don't have the numbness in the elbow, though. I had the surgery because I also had tingling in the hand and even bending my elbow would make it feel like I smashed my funny bone.

If Jeter played even mediocre defense he'd have been worth a lot more than just 70 WAR.

I had ulnar nerve transposition surgery in 2015 or so. I was out of work for 2 weeks then back MDT (light duty) for 8 more weeks before I was back on full duty. I obviously don't throw a baseball 100 MPH but there are plenty of times when the job is quite physical.

He's not a guy you give up a ton for. He's had 1 good year and is definitely not a lock to be that guy this year. I'd wait until the deadline and see what he's doing, it's the same scenario of giving up the farm for Cease because he had one incredible season.

I don't see Mateo getting more than super utility duty and I think he'll be fine in that role. I believe if Henderson got hurt, Holliday would play SS, Westburg to 2nd and Mayo would get a shot at 3B.

Westburg has 156 games at SS in the minors. It's not like putting Urias at 1B. He can play the position, he didn't in Norfolk that much because Ortiz was the better defender. The depth can be on the 26-man for SS, why is that an issue? If you can pull 1B/2B/3B depth from the minors we have plenty of SS to cover an injury.

I'm trying to reconcile how the SS depth in the system is weak. Henderson, Westburg, and Holliday can all play SS at a high level. Is the argument that IF prospect depth is weak? I'd have a hard time reconciling that as well.

When you are potentially graduating several IF/OF prospects, filling out he AAA team should never be considered a "head scratcher". Someone has to play in Norfolk.

I think nearly everyone knows this is a nothing trade and he will be MiL filler.

0.00 ERA and 27 K/9 in 2021. I'm down.

I dig how he admitted he wasn't himself to start the season last year and has been working hard this offseason to get in tip-top shape. Walkyears tend to do that to people.

I'd like to see Gunnar get an extension but I keep reminding myself that Boras has never had a client sign an extension with less than 2 years of service time. Not once.

Gunnar this year.