Getting the roster from 27 to 38

[interloper]

Assuming the O's want to have at least 2 roster spots available for 2 rule 5 picks, here's a look at how they could build back their extremely bare 40-man:

60-day IL guys:

28. Keegan Akin

29. DJ Stewart

30. Jorge Lopez

31. Jorge Mateo

Rule 5 protection guys:

32. DL Hall

33. Kyle Bradish

34. Terrin Vavra

35. Kevin Smith

36. Robert Neustrom

37. Felix Bautista

Free agency:

38. Free agent catcher signing

 

Then they can make 2 rule 5 picks, and continue to free up roster space for some other signings, maybe an infielder, by DFAing guys like Mattson or Martin. The kick is there are still plenty of DFA-able guys on this roster, which is bascially a 26-man active roster at this point. But the guys we are protecting are absolutely worth protecting. The 40-man is about to look so much better. 

[interloper]

I left off Adam Hall and Nick Vespi because I see those guys sneaking through pretty easily. 

[interloper]

Or, I guess you could extend the Rule 5 protection to damn near every eligible guy by DFAing Mattson, Martin, etc. And save the free agent signing for later in the offseason. 

[HowAboutThat]

I see no reason to keep Stewart, especially with Stowers as close as he is. Even with the injury potential of Santander and Hays, McKenna has proven to be a valuable addition, even if he doesn’t hit any better than I do.

Edited November 6, 2021 by Philip

[Sports Guy]

I guess you protect Smith but I would have rather kept Ellis and Harvey over him.

[Pickles]

2 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

I guess you protect Smith but I would have rather kept Ellis and Harvey over him.

I think we can all agree the Harvey decision was about more than just talent.

[HowAboutThat]

2 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

I guess you protect Smith but I would have rather kept Ellis and Harvey over him.

I can understand getting rid of Harvey, although I don’t understand doing it so soon. He could have been a sweetener in a trade. Because he still does have potential. Ellis seemed to be doing well, And even if he’s on thin ice, I don’t understand why he went before several others.

[sportsfan8703]

10 minutes ago, Philip said:

I see no reason to keep Stewart, especially with Stowers as close as he is. Even with the injury potential of Santander and Hays, McKenna has proven to be a valuable addition, even if he doesn’t hit any better than I do.

Santander is always hurt. That’s why you keep Stewart. Plus, he’s a cheap DH/OF option if/when we trade Santander and Mancini. 
 

Also, the OP’s list keeps Martin, Bannon, and Nevin on the 40 man. Plus, relievers like Kreihbel, Kriske, and Mattson. If Lopez is in Arb, I don’t think he’s a slam dunk to be back either. 
 

I don’t think a catcher needs to be signed to a mlb deal. I could see us inviting 2-3 guys on milb deals and let them fight it out for the starting gig until AR is up. Ciuffo would be included in those 2-3. 
 

Also, it’s hard to handicap the borderline players that will get protected because these are still not Elias’ guys. They are DD guys, except for the players Elias has acquired in trades. 

[Aristotelian]

I'd be OK with getting rid of Lopez. Don't get the fascination at all. 

[HowAboutThat]

7 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

23 minutes ago, Philip said:

 

Santander is always hurt. That’s why you keep Stewart. Plus, he’s a cheap DH/OF option if/when we trade Santander and Mancini. 

Stewart can’t hit. Not only is his defense terrible, his offense is almost as bad.Even if you trade Mountcastle or Mancini, You can use the designated hitter spot to rest guys. You don’t need a fourth outfielder who cannot outfield, and we don’t have the luxury of keeping a DH Unless he’s Edgar Martinez. No, he needs to go.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

17 minutes ago, Philip said:

I can understand getting rid of Harvey, although I don’t understand doing it so soon. He could have been a sweetener in a trade. Because he still does have potential. Ellis seemed to be doing well, And even if he’s on thin ice, I don’t understand why he went before several others.

I'm starting to think the speculation on Harvey getting cut because he wasn't coachable and was causing issues is what led to this. Because assuming Harvey was a good soldier, it makes no sense to release him now when their is a huge lack of pitching talent on the roster. 

At least give Harvey one more chance in spring training before DFA-ing him. 

[interloper]

22 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

I guess you protect Smith but I would have rather kept Ellis and Harvey over him.

The Ellis one I admit is pretty curious. On face value I'm not a fan of that move. Guy basically saved the rotation down the stretch. But there's a reason and a calculus, so to speak, for any move. I just don't know this one other than the iffy peripherals which you can say about most of our pitchers. 

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Just now, interloper said:

The Ellis one I admit is pretty curious. On face value I'm not a fan of that move. Guy basically saved the rotation down the stretch. But there's a reason and a calculus, so to speak, for any move. I just don't know this one other than the iffy peripherals which you can say about most of our pitchers. 

I'm willing to give Ellis a chance even with his iffy peripherals because he did have success in limited playing time. Most of the pitchers on this team have bad peripherals and even worse results. 

Ellis at least proved to be effective at the end of last season. 

[Sports Guy]

36 minutes ago, Pickles said:

I think we can all agree the Harvey decision was about more than just talent.

Yea, there was also stupidity involved.

[Sports Guy]

14 minutes ago, interloper said:

The Ellis one I admit is pretty curious. On face value I'm not a fan of that move. Guy basically saved the rotation down the stretch. But there's a reason and a calculus, so to speak, for any move. I just don't know this one other than the iffy peripherals which you can say about most of our pitchers. 

You don’t cut guys for no reason.  There were other candidates, just like last year with Pop.  This team can’t put together a competent BP and they want to be cheap asses and yet you make these moves?  Doesn’t make sense to me.