Miguel Castro has a fourth option available for 2018

[sportsfan8703]

20 hours ago, clapdiddy said:

If they are serious about converting him to a starter, this could be a good way to let him build up some innings in Norfolk.

I don’t know about that. Castro is like our 5th best arm on the team. Behind Bundy, Gausman, Brach, and Givens. If we have any chance this year we need to have our best arms up here. 

Options are always good to have. Givens might be the only other guy in the pen that has them. Always good to have in a pinch and you can roster manipulate. Especially if someone is expected to go on the DL. 

[wildcard]

I think the importacet of the option for Castro is that he can be sent to AAA if he does not have the stamina to be effective through a whole season.   He should be able to be effective as a reliever or even a swing man for a while.  The O's will give him the opportunity to see what he can do as a starter in ST.   The results are unknown.

I am still hoping the O's sign Cashne, Vargas and Tillman.   If they do Castro is in the pen.  If they don't their will be a competition for at least one rotation spot in ST.  Even if they sign the veteran pitcher a 6th starter will be need this season.  Castro could be that 6th starter.

[George Zuverink]

7 hours ago, Il BuonO said:

It’s all relative when you’re an Oriole fan, but yeah, that’s depressing.

7 hours ago, phillyOs119 said:

I’m not Yardball, but I’m guessing that Yardball thinks 2018 is a lost season so it really doesn’t matter.  And by throwing Ynoa, Cortes, Wright, Mesa, etc out there, you have the chance of creating a valuable asset. One of those guys showing they are a legit starter would be huge for the future of the org. 5 more years at extremely cost controlled salaries.

You throw MiGo or Tillman out there on a one year deal, there is no upside. Even if they are great, they are either gone or expensive. Even Lynn or Cobb, they’d have to be really amazing to be significantly better than what it’d take to sign them. The Orioles need assets, you can’t create assets without opportunity.

Aaron Judge wasn’t a top prospect, Jordan Montgomery wasn’t a top prospect. #10 and #15 respectively on just the Yankees prior to this past season (per minorleagueball/John Sickels) is, neither were anywhere close to being top 100 prospects, but they got an opportunity and now they’re huge assets. Not saying any of those O’s pitchers have anything close to Judge upside, but Montgomery, that’s well within the realm of possibility.

Edit: And before anyone says, well if those FA guys you mentioned are good the O’s can just trade them at the deadline for prospects, think to yourself when the last time the O’s traded a significant major leaguer at the deadline for prospects.

My snark wasn’t aimed at Yardball, but at the sucky situation we find ourself in. Your reasoning is typically insightful and, and, for me, hope springs eternal that there might be lemonade in some of those lemons.

[Luke-OH]

I'm nothing if not optimistic, unexpected players developing into assets is what opens windows of competitiveness.

[Yardball85]

9 hours ago, George Zuverink said:

What about that rotation “sounds good”to you?

Castro was a starter coming up with the Jays, maybe this will finally be his chance to shine.  Cortes was in the Yankees system... Hello, Yankees!

Sorry, my sarcasm isn't going over well.  The rotation would be beyond horrible, but I wouldn't put it past the O's.

[Il BuonO]

11 hours ago, phillyOs119 said:

I’m not Yardball, but I’m guessing that Yardball thinks 2018 is a lost season so it really doesn’t matter.  And by throwing Ynoa, Cortes, Wright, Mesa, etc out there, you have the chance of creating a valuable asset. One of those guys showing they are a legit starter would be huge for the future of the org. 5 more years at extremely cost controlled salaries.

You throw MiGo or Tillman out there on a one year deal, there is no upside. Even if they are great, they are either gone or expensive. Even Lynn or Cobb, they’d have to be really amazing to be significantly better than what it’d take to sign them. The Orioles need assets, you can’t create assets without opportunity.

Aaron Judge wasn’t a top prospect, Jordan Montgomery wasn’t a top prospect. #10 and #15 respectively on just the Yankees prior to this past season (per minorleagueball/John Sickels) is, neither were anywhere close to being top 100 prospects, but they got an opportunity and now they’re huge assets. Not saying any of those O’s pitchers have anything close to Judge upside, but Montgomery, that’s well within the realm of possibility.

Edit: And before anyone says, well if those FA guys you mentioned are good the O’s can just trade them at the deadline for prospects, think to yourself when the last time the O’s traded a significant major leaguer at the deadline for prospects.

So, you don’t think Hays,  Harvey, or Sisco are assets?  I don’t disagree that you want young, cost-controlled talent on the farm, but the idea that these guys are going to become assets if given the opportunity is overly optimistic. The Orioles have assets in their system we have yet to play at the major-league level. They could trade some of their current assets right now to upgrade the major-league roster.

Cortes maybe the closest thing they have to a legit starter, but to me he has a limited ceiling. Mesa has the higher ceiling.

I think it’s far more practical to hope that any of them are serviceable at best. But here’s to hoping they all turn into assets.

 

 

 

 

[Luke-OH]

Just now, Il BuonO said:

So, you don’t think Hays,  Harvey, or Sisco are assets?  I don’t disagree that you want young, cost-controlled talent on the farm, but the idea that these guys are going to become assets if given the opportunity is overly optimistic. The Orioles have assets in their system we have yet to play at the major-league level. They could trade some of their current assets right now to upgrade the major-league roster.

Cortes maybe the closest thing they have to a legit starter, but to me he has a limited ceiling. Mesa has the higher ceiling.

I think it’s far more practical to hope that any of them are serviceable at best. But here’s to hoping they all turn into assets.

I don't know what I said that would make you think that.  Harvey isn't ready in innings or repertoire, but if you look at my post history I'm all for giving Hays, Sisco, Stewart, and Santander opportunities to become major league assets. All the Orioles prospects are trade assets of at least some value, but with the teams current situation I don't think they should be trading them for veterans.

[Il BuonO]

2 minutes ago, phillyOs119 said:

I don't know what I said that would make you think that.  Harvey isn't ready in innings or repertoire, but if you look at my post history I'm all for giving Hays, Sisco, Stewart, and Santander opportunities to become major league assets. All the Orioles prospects are trade assets of at least some value, but with the teams current situation I don't think they should be trading them for veterans.

Well, in your previous post you commented that these guys who may get an opportunity at the rotation can be turned into assets. It sounded like you only thought that assets can become so with the opportunity of ML experience.

And I’m curious as to whether or not you agree with the assessment of Cortes and Mesa.

[Luke-OH]

8 minutes ago, Il BuonO said:

Well, in your previous post you commented that these guys who may get an opportunity at the rotation can be turned into assets. It sounded like you only thought that assets can become so with the opportunity of ML experience.

And I’m curious as to whether or not you agree with the assessment of Cortes and Mesa.

I meant guys who don't have a lot of prospect status or are rule 5 picks need to have some MLB success to become valuable.

Cortes I think is MLB ready.  Whether or not he'll be MLB successful remains to be seen.  His profile makes him hard to project from a scouting perspective since there really aren't any true comps for the way he pitches.  

Mesa Jr. isn't MLB ready (most rule 5 picks aren't, the only ones who were picked by any team who are MLB IMO and healthy were Bard, Cortes, and Smith) but I really like him.  I'd be as aggressive as to put #5 starter as a likely outcome (maybe not in 2018, but eventually).  He needs to improve fastball command and consistency of his breaking pitches, but he has the weapons to be a good starter.

Edit: I wrote a bunch of words about both. 

http://www.orioleshangout.com/2017/12/15/rule-five-jose-mesa-jr/

http://www.orioleshangout.com/2017/11/30/rule-5-target-nestor-cortes-lhp/

[Il BuonO]

So, you do agree....

“Great pick, I love it, good work by the Orioles. I think you have to keep him, more upside than Cortes or Araujo, if he’s not ready to start, throw him in the bullpen and he should survive with his fastball/changeup combo.”

[Redskins Rick]

5 minutes ago, phillyOs119 said:

I meant guys who don't have a lot of prospect status or are rule 5 picks need to have some MLB success to become valuable.

Cortes I think is MLB ready.  Whether or not he'll be MLB successful remains to be seen.  His profile makes him hard to project from a scouting perspective since there really aren't any true comps for the way he pitches.  

Mesa Jr. isn't MLB ready (most rule 5 picks aren't, the only ones who were picked by any team who are MLB IMO and healthy were Bard, Cortes, and Smith) but I really like him.  I'd be as aggressive as to put #5 starter as a likely outcome (maybe not in 2018, but eventually).  He needs to improve fastball command and consistency of his breaking pitches, but he has the weapons to be a good starter.

Edit: I wrote a bunch of words about both. 

http://www.orioleshangout.com/2017/12/15/rule-five-jose-mesa-jr/

http://www.orioleshangout.com/2017/11/30/rule-5-target-nestor-cortes-lhp/

DD said at the time he picked up Cortes:

Quote

"He's advanced, and he pitched well at Double-A and he pitched well at Triple-A," executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said. "And we think he may be able to compete for a spot as a starter with the big league club. He has good pitches and experience, and he has had success at every level.

"I think he can compete to be a starting pitcher. This is a guy that has very good pitching instincts. He knows how to locate his pitches. He knows how to field his position and combat the running game. He has a lot of skills, some very unique skills. Look at his record of success at every step of the way. The critics will say he doesn't throw hard, and that's true. He is not a hard thrower. But he can do a lot of other things that count in getting a hitter out."

of course, how he does in ST, will determine where he land

[foxfield]

1 minute ago, Redskins Rick said:

DD said at the time he picked up Cortes:

of course, how he does in ST, will determine where he land

Specifically, how he does relative to competition in ST, will determine where he lands.

[Luke-OH]

3 minutes ago, Redskins Rick said:

DD said at the time he picked up Cortes:

of course, how he does in ST, will determine where he land

"And we think he may be able to compete for a spot as a starter with the big league club."

I said something similar before he was picked 

[Redskins Rick]

9 minutes ago, phillyOs119 said:

"And we think he may be able to compete for a spot as a starter with the big league club."

I said something similar before he was picked 

Good for you!!!!!!!

You need to get DD to add you to his paid staff.