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Honestly, I’ve reached the point that if it costs much more in terms of whose headlining a trade, then just count me out of wanting to see it done. I think the staff is precariously thin, but that’s a better option than sending multiple guys that, I think, will have decent major league careers right at the moment that they’re about to start helping the major league team. To be honest, John should stop being cheap and just allow Elias to sign a decent free agent.

Luzardo should cost more than Cease but it’s also worth noting that Cease is not worth what Chicago is asking for him. Cease should cost something like Westburg and Beavers…Luzardo should be an upgrade, something like Cowser and Ortiz.

You just can’t be walking guys like he does and expect to make it as a starter. Of course, he did much better in that regard once he got to Norfolk and Im happy to see it…but he’s far from someone you should make any assumptions about at this point. He is a non factor when deciding how to approach the 2024 staff.

That was my first impression too….Nevin getting the Lewin Diaz treatment. But if the Orioles needed to pay for Nevin then I imagine there’s enough interest around the league that he may not make it through waivers.

It’s probably worth mentioning that Elias has probably been told that he can’t do much spending. John needs his mansions and yachts or whatever greedy rich people do with their money. So the only way the Orioles will be able to compete is with young CHEAP talent. It’s counter productive to move that talent when that’s the ticket to extended success. So with the current batch of guys in the high minors, he has one shot really…whoever he trades had better work out because there will be no help in free agency and guys like Rutschman and Henderson will likely be gone once they get into arbitration. Maybe not both, but if these guys that we hope become bonafide superstar level players, they’re gonna be making a lot of money and there’s no way that current O’s ownership will be digging themselves out of the bottom of the league in payroll.

Hilliard was supposed to be the next Larry Walker, maybe he’s just a late bloomer?

I went with the last one. Even that feels like an overpay considering Cease is not the ace that the White Sox are convinced he is. But I also think WS fans will feel that it wasn’t enough. So that usually means it’s a fair trade.

Almost every prospect has to pan out for this to be a killer lineup. But the optimist in me loves to see it. I think using either Mayo or Basallo as a trade chip for a good SP is a good approach considering their relatively high value. Mayo can move to 1B if you trade Basallo, Westburg will be the 3B if you trade Basallo. There’s also the possibility of moving Mayo to RF, Westburg to 3B, and trading Beavers. Or you could trade Kjerstad or Cowser since they have more value and hope that Beavers can make up the difference between what Cowser/Kjerstad give you and whatever you potentially trade them for.

Literally every position except maybe the long view of CF is taken by a good or great player for a fair amount of time. Mountcastle ends up being fine, I agree. But when looking at spots to upgrade, his is glaring. I’m not saying trade him for nothing and I’m not saying he can’t put together a very good season. But with the information available and his tendency to have big valleys with a couple highs thrown in…I think O’Hearn is good to have around. This isn’t a binary system where I have to hate or love someone. I’m very much in the middle on both of the 1B.

Ever look at his monthly splits? Most months are pretty awful but a couple months per season he’ll hit like an actual 1B is supposed to hit.

You’re confusing me for someone who thinks either player is a true keeper. As currently constructed, I like having someone around that can fill Mountcastles spot. If either one was traded, it’d probably be for the best considering they’re both fairly below average for you’d want out of a 1B. With that being said, and I’m gonna repeat myself so I’m sure you understand, I like that O’Hearn can backup Mountcastle when he is struggling (he will, a lot). O’Hearn isn’t going to step in and hit like an all star, otherwise he’d be the starting 1B. But having an actual 1B on a roster that currently only has a below average 1B (who is streaky and had awful #’s vs RHP last year) seems like some cushion in case of emergency.

Not good. Not sure when I ever said O’Hearn is a regular. I just think it makes sense to platoon and have a backup 1B around for when Mountcastle inevitably hits like one of Mateos bad months.

Yep, I’m putting a lot of weight into his most recent numbers. I think that’s generally a good approach. I don’t want to bank of what someone did a few years ago when what he did last year was pretty abysmal.

He could. There’s enough room on the roster for a platoon at 1B, Kjerstad and Santander are not 1B, and Mountcastle hits worse than a utility infielder most of the time….leads me to being okay with O’Hearn hanging around. I’m not gonna be upset if they move him, but it makes sense to me as to why he’s on the roster.

O’Hearn OPS vs right handers last year was .802 Mountcastles OPS vs left handers last year was 1.052 Mountcastles OPS vs right handers last year was .640 This is why you keep O’Hearn. You either platoon them or you move on from both and find a new 1B.

It comes down to who you’re talking about trading for as well. The more I learn about Cease, the more I think that every one of the guys you’ve listed is more valuable even if traded straight up. It’s also about how they fit on the team. There’s a lot of infielders and outfielders that are pretty locked into their positions going forward. Why do we need Mayo when we’ve got Westburg, Henderson, and Holliday taking up spots for the foreseeable future? Basallo is great and all, but he’s worth much more as a catcher and we’ve already got a pretty good catcher on the roster. Considering that Bradfield is the likely heir apparent for CF, a Cowser/Bradfield/Kjerstad alignment is awfully left handed. Whatever you do, you can’t let any of these guys for a meh starter. Just because the white Sox think that Cease is an ace, doesn’t make him an ace.

So that pays for half of Jordan Montgomery, right? Surely they could afford 6/75 now (using MLBTR prediction of 6/150).

I am set up to be massively disappointed. Paxton is one of the more realistic guys out there and that’s just embarrassing.

I’ve been under the impression that Mayo is not a very good 3B. You’ve even graded him as a 40/45, which I understand is below average. If he can play an average or better 3B, then he becomes a much more useful piece. I’ve sort of just assumed he was going to eventually be a 1B.

I’m just not a big believer in Kremer. I’d like to see two starters acquired and Kremers spot replaced. Not really because he’s bad, he’s not. He is league average with a low ceiling. Considering this is the window of contention we’ve all been waiting for since Elias came on board and there is room and the means for improvement, then I see no reason to sit around and bank on hoping for the best from mediocre pitchers. For the record, I don’t think it’s necessary to replace Kremer, that’s just what I think they should do. I do think it’s necessary to add a proven guy though. As for what really constitutes a 5th starter, I’m unaware if there is an actual definition. But I consider a league average guy the #5 on an above average team. Last year Kremer had an ERA+ of exactly 100.

I think it’s crazy to entertain the thought of not adding another starter. Means is half a starter in the frame of an entire season. Two top guys are young and fairly unproven. Kremer is a good 5th starter without much potential to be more. This rotation has a big spectrum of how good they can be. It can be really good or it could be really bad. Not to mention there is a huge amount of prospects that could be traded and they’ve got an unreasonably low payroll. Absolutely no reason not to add.

I think there needs to be a backup in case Mountcastle pulls a Mountcastle and underwhelms. O’Hearn seems like the best candidate to do that. Not to mention, the platoon option between the two seems to work out well. I’m curious what the Mets would ask for Alonso. Get ourselves an actual slugger for a year

With Bautista out and so many question marks around the bullpen, I think it makes sense to keep Hall in pen for now and consider him as a potential replacement for Means in the rotation come 2025. I don’t think we’re all mentally prepared for how uninspiring the 2024 bullpen is put together. If Hall and Wells can do well and this isn’t the year Kimbrel falls off a cliff we might do okay. Cano is our only other high ceiling guy and he is far from a sure thing. As far as Stroman, there’s a lot worse you can do but there’s also a lot better. I think Elias is more of the type to look for hidden value rather than overpay for wishful thinking. I expect someone like Stroman is not in his plan A or plan B but maybe plan C? Probably more likely plan D.

The only thing that I think that could make a team believe he’s a starting shortstop is the lack of available SS in free agency.

Nice home run, but look who is pitching. Mateo is okay as the last guy on the bench. If another team believes he is a starting SS then you’ve got to take whatever it is they’re willing to give up for him.