TommyPickles

2021 Mullins was so awesome. (Fantastic post, btw) I think you make a great point about how it took each of them a few years to establish themselves in the majors. People here can be a bit prospect-obsessed. Sometimes guys seem shocked or outraged at the idea that players like Hays or Urias could be getting regular ABs in 2024. But that's not crazy at all. You need a mix of experience and young talent. Not everyone is going to take off like a rocket once they reach the bigs.

I think Mayo and Holiday will both start in AAA. I think we'll see a lot of rotating lineups and matchups early on. The best defensive second baseman last year was Ramon Urias. Fielding Bible said he was worth 4 DRS in 133 innings at 2B. Westburg was worth 3 DRS in 324 innings at 2B. Frazier was worth -4 DRS in 948 innings at 2B. Urias has a .758 OPS against righties, but only a .686 OPS against lefties. Westburg has a .786 OPS against lefties, but only a .676 OPS against righties. I don't think it'll be a pure platoon, but this is why I see Urias fitting into this infield in 2024.

I've been banging this drum for a while now, but here goes again: The Rays will finish in fourth place in 2024 and miss the postseason. I think it's going to be a dogfight all year between New York and Baltimore. I think Toronto will hang around for most of the season and then settle into third place and possibly the last wild-card spot. I think Boston will finish last. I think most Boston fans would agree, too.

I disliked the Royals ever since the 2014 season, but they're having a fun offseason. I'm cheering for em' to win the Central now.

Psst. Urias has a higher WAR over the last two years than either of them. But in all seriousness, I think Hays is much better than Mateo. Just a much better hitter.

Great post. Glad to have this. Personally, I do think they'll "play games" with the service time. At least a bit. I don't see Mayo or Holiday making it on the opening day roster. I could also see them having Kjerstad crack the opening day mix, but trying to hold off on Cowser if all is going well up in Charm City.

I think in a vacuum, the price is fair and reasonable for one year. (option 2) I think in context of where the O's are and the glut of infielders in their system, this was a great move. Exactly the kind of thing we needed to do. Love it. (Option 1)

Bradish doesn't get enough respect around here. Do you know the last time an Orioles' starter finished 4th or better in the Cy Young vote? Mike Mussina in 1999. He is the best pitcher on this team.

It feels like the NL teams are signing way more of the top free agents than the AL teams. The NL West especially has been loading up.

Tanner Scott was a top 10 relief pitcher in baseball in 2023. A legitimate star. He won NL Reliever of the Month in September. He was worth more rWAR than Bautista or Cano. He ranked 1st out of all pitchers in the NL for Win Probability Added. Blake Snell ranked 2nd and won the NL Cy Young. After the first month or so of the season, Jorge Mateo was the worst qualified hitter in major league baseball.

Could be a saavy pickup for a low budget team like the Marlins.

"Adam Jones headlines the 2048 Hall of Fame class. Once a prominent center fielder, he went on to manage the Baltimore Orioles from 2030-2042. They won the World Series three times during his managerial tenure and he was twice named AL Manager of the Year. He is beloved by the city of Baltimore for his work on and off the field."

Mancini to the Marlins. He'll compete for a bench spot.

You get offered a million dollars if you get this question right: Who plays in more games for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024… Tyler Nevin or Dylan Cease?

All my friends love Means. I'd say he's one of the more popular Orioles, at least Oriole pitchers.

I'd love to add a lefty starting pitcher, so I think I'd target Luzardo or Garrett.

I still see Henderson, Urias, Ortiz, and Westburg shuffling between 2B, 3B, and SS each day. Gunnar plays every day. Urias hits righties better. Ortiz and Westburg hit lefties better. It's a nice-looking group until Holiday and Mayo arrive. Facing the Angels on Opening Day we'll probably start with a lefty: Ried Detmers So probably: 2B: Westburg SS: Henderson 3B: Ortiz (But I voted before I thought about who we'd be facing)

Man, tough call and good question. I like what I've read about Mayo and I'd love to see him take over at 1B for us longterm. But I voted for the Luzardo deal. Three years of a young, talented lefty like that seems like just what we need. Make that deal and I'd be willing to bet the O's win the AL in one of the next three seasons.

152 IP, 3.91 ERA, beloved by our fans and young pitchers alike. Has at least one start where he takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning.

I always liked Watkins. I hope he see's some time in the majors with the Nats this year.

Last year was the first time I made a futures bet on the O's because 78 wins seemed preposterous and I went with the over. That worked out great. I'm going with the over again this year. Also, its interesting how the casinos see the AL East shaking out: 1. NYY 2. BAL 3. TOR 4. TB 5. BOS At the moment, this is how I see the division finishing as well. But a lot of the baseball publications seem higher on the Rays. I don't see it working out for TB this year.

Ryu and Paxton seem similar. Old lefty’s with decent track records and health concerns. I just think Ryu will be a bit better. In both his career and last year, Ryu has allowed fewer BB/9 and fewer HR/9. He’s projected to have a lower ERA than Paxton in 2024. He’s been worth more WAR in his career and over the last five years. He’s been a similar (and slightly better) pitcher to John Means throughout his career, in terms of how many strikeouts and walks he records. But he is older than Paxton…

1. Bradish 2. Grayson 3. Means 4. Kremer 5. Hall I think we need a second lefty in the rotation, especially considering the current dimensions of OPACY. Preserve Wells' health by making him a full-time bullpen guy. Use Irvin as your longman and spot starter if Hall can't hack it or Means gets injured early.

Yea, I guess I mean less guaranteed money. Stroman has only exceeded 140 innings in two of the past six MLB seasons. He'll be 34 in 2025.