O's players that have nothing more to prove at AAA.

[wildcard]

This is not to say that these players will not get send down or start the season in the minors for one reason or another but rather that they have done enough in AAA to warrant being in the majors.

Adley Rutschman -  He is ready for the majors.   League rules are the only reason he spends more time in the minors.

Ryan McKenna -  He hit well at AAA in 2021.  He really needs to play in the majors and improve.  Moving the left field wall back adds to the reasons he should be in the majors.    His speed and range are valuable to the 2022 team.

Bryan  Baker -  In 2021 he was 6-1, with a 1.31 ERA  and a 0.847 WHIP in 39 games, 41.1 IP with 48 strikeouts at AAA Buffalo.   He just turned 27.  Its time to see if this guy can help the pen.

Cionel Perez -  in 2021 he had a 3.26 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 31 games an 30.1 IP with 41 strikeouts at AAA Louisville.   He has 50.2 innings in the majors with a  6.04 ERA, so the jump to the majors may be more than he can do.   But he doesn't have much to prove in AAA anymore.

Real Close

Felix Bautista - This 26 year old moved up the minor league system very fast last year.    His 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 17 games and 18.1 IP with 25 strikeout at Norfolk is intriguing.   He is on the border line for me in terms of  showing enough that he doesn't need  more time in AAA.

Mike Baumann -  He has a real good month in AAA in August.   It didn't carry over to the majors in September.   Personally I would like to see him start the season at AAA but I think Spring Training may determine where he begin the year.

Kyle Bradish -  Started 19 games at AAA and end the season well.   I would like to see a little more success starting at AAA but again ST may determine where he begins the  season.   

With Adley arriving in the majors I think the speed of promotions for prospects will increase.  No more players staying at AAA for a long time like Mountcastle did.   Elias will want his good players in the majors sooner than before Adley arrived IMO.    Its all part of the O's moving into the competitive window.  We have already seen prospects promoted in a month from one level to another.     I  think talented players will move fast.

 

 

[Frobby]

I’d forgotten about Baker (claimed off Blue Jays on Nov. 7) and Perez (claimed off Reds Nov. 24).   I’d certainly agree neither needs to prove themselves in the minors.   Whether they’ll pitch well enough to make the OD roster is anyone’s guess.   And, either could fall off the roster as we sign or claim other players once transaction activity resumes.

[OriolesMagic83]

Bryan Baker looks promising.  I can't believe the O's got him for nothing.  Looking forward to seeing him.

[Sports Guy]

The idea that you are still riding that “Baumann was good for a month” train despite the info that has been given to you is astonishing.

He wasn’t good that month.  He just didn’t give up a lot of runs.  

[Frobby]

8 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

The idea that you are still riding that “Baumann was good for a month” train despite the info that has been given to you is astonishing.

He wasn’t good that month.  He just didn’t give up a lot of runs.  

Regardless of how you look at his month, I agree with wildcard that how he performs in ST will determine whether he starts the season in the majors vs. AAA.

[Pickles]

I don't like the concept of "nothing left to prove in AAA/minors" because it is often buttressed with the support of very small sample sizes, and it also ignores the fact that players can perform well in AAA/minors, and that performance is not transferable to the MLs.

I agree however with the general takes on the players above- including that Baumann is probably the most controversial of those listed- and with the idea that the days of slow-rolling promotions are over.

[MijiT88]

I am really hoping the new CBA will make it so AR will be up for opening day rather than holding him back for a month

[Pickles]

2 hours ago, MijiT88 said:

I am really hoping the new CBA will make it so AR will be up for opening day rather than holding him back for a month

I don't as that would almost certainly mean he would be under Orioles control for a shorter time.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, Pickles said:

I don't as that would almost certainly mean he would be under Orioles control for a shorter time.

Hey, maybe you will get lucky and they will bring back the reserve clause. 

 

[Pickles]

12 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Hey, maybe you will get lucky and they will bring back the reserve clause. 

 

You're not Cesar Chavez.

[MijiT88]

17 minutes ago, Pickles said:

I don't as that would almost certainly mean he would be under Orioles control for a shorter time.

We have no clue what this CBA will mean as far as that but I am all for anything that helps players that deserve to be in the bigs get there faster. I personally think its a waste of talent and time when teams play the service time game. You can't disagree that AR on the OD roster is the most exciting this we could have going into this season

[Pickles]

5 minutes ago, MijiT88 said:

We have no clue what this CBA will mean as far as that but I am all for anything that helps players that deserve to be in the bigs get there faster. I personally think its a waste of talent and time when teams play the service time game. You can't disagree that AR on the OD roster is the most exciting this we could have going into this season

Nobody wants to see guys get jammed up in AAA just because of service time constraints.

However, the frequency of such events is wildly exaggerated on this board- usually to support a small cadre of posters who assert they could have returned the O's to competitiveness earlier- the basis of which is usually they would have brought AR up earlier.

[Jagwar]

I'd have a more optimistic outlook towards McKenna if he had a .750 OPS (even .700). I'm just not sure his defense can make up for a sub-600 OPS

[MijiT88]

8 minutes ago, Pickles said:

Nobody wants to see guys get jammed up in AAA just because of service time constraints.

However, the frequency of such events is wildly exaggerated on this board- usually to support a small cadre of posters who assert they could have returned the O's to competitiveness earlier- the basis of which is usually they would have brought AR up earlier.

I am not saying anything about us doing it or not. I just think the fact that teams will hold someone in AAA for the first month or so of the season to get more service time is not good for the sport, IMO. I am not saying or accusing any abuse but I just think it is a change that would generate a lot of excitement, especially in Baltimore.

[Pickles]

4 minutes ago, MijiT88 said:

I am not saying anything about us doing it or not. I just think the fact that teams will hold someone in AAA for the first month or so of the season to get more service time is not good for the sport, IMO. I am not saying or accusing any abuse but I just think it is a change that would generate a lot of excitement, especially in Baltimore.

Do you think if he's up 4/17, instead of 4/1, there won't be any accompanying excitement?