“Ortiz is going to have a long future as a starting shortstop, and here is the most likely place”

[RZNJ]

Would Austin Hays accept a reduced role where he is basically the 4th outfielder who plays 3-5 times a week rotating between all 3 spots but Cowser/Mullins/Santander start with Kjerstad in the wings?    
 

Talking about 2024.

[Aristotelian]

2 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Santander is closer to FA and will cost more.   In this case, I don’t think it will be the deciding factor.    Wildcard feels differently.

We have a payroll under $50M, money should not be an issue. Keep Santander year to year, give him QO, take draft pick. I'd rather get rid of Hays and Mountcastle to make room for Kjerstad.

[25 Nuggets]

13 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

I hope that Mateo is DFA after this season. He’s not the kind of player who should have a place on a championship caliber team.

I disagree; Mateo is made for a role on a championship team, but not as a starter.  Rather a defensive replacement, pinch runner, and pinch hitter vs LHP (currently a 784 OPS) where we will see a lot of lefty/righty chess moves in the post season.

[dystopia]

I'd love to see Santander stay if the intention is to win. He's a very good hitter and has value.

[wildcard]

1 hour ago, waroriole said:

If Santander weren’t on our team, OH would want to acquire a bat like his at the deadline. If you’re competing for a WS next year, why would you get rid of him?

Because Santander will be in this walk year next year.   The O's have to decide whether to sign for 5/100 or trade him.   They can't let him walk for nothing.    

[dystopia]

1 minute ago, wildcard said:

Because Santander will be in this walk year next year.   The O's have to decide whether to sign for 5/100 or trade him.   They can't let him walk for nothing.    

If we had an owner who wasn't terrible and actually wanted to win it would be a no brainer to re-sign him, especially with how little money we're spending right now. 

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, wildcard said:

Because Santander will be in this walk year next year.   The O's have to decide whether to sign for 5/100 or trade him.   They can't let him walk for nothing.    

Of course they can let him walk away for nothing.  That is a choice.

[wildcard]

40 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Santander can rotate between RF/1B/DH next year.  We may still have the O’Hearn/Mountcastle platoon at 1B.   Hayes goes and Cowser takes over LF.   Kjerstad slowly gets worked into the RF mix.   O’s probably look for a veteran OF who can play CF (preferably a SH or RH).   Or maybe they even keep Hays and try to make it all work.   Of the two, Santander is more important to Hays.

You are ignoring the money.    Santander has to sign a long term contract or be traded.   The O's have Kjerstad and Cowser to replace Santander and not pay the big bucks.    Hays and Mullins are only in their 4 year next year.  They both stay and provide stability to the roster.

[Frobby]

I thought this thread was about Ortiz.  

Now that the deadline has passed and we didn’t trade Mateo, I’d DFA him and bring up Ortiz.  But I sense that the Orioles are unlikely to do that anytime soon.  So, I think Ortiz just plays in AAA unless someone gets hurt.  
 

[Fiver6565]

I’m def in the keep Santa camp. There are not a lot of switch hitters in baseball really, and his kind of power from both sides has a ton of value in our lineup. Plus he seems like a really great clubhouse guy and person. He’s the kind of player you enjoy rooting for and I think has more overall value than we would recoup in a trade, even as his arb prices rise up. I’d even look to extend him to a reasonable deal. 

[wildcard]

14 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Of course they can let him walk away for nothing.  That is a choice.

One that Elias will not do.  And you are too sensible to not realize that.

Edited August 2, 2023 by wildcard

[25 Nuggets]

5 minutes ago, wildcard said:

Because Santander will be in this walk year next year.   The O's have to decide whether to sign for 5/100 or trade him.   They can't let him walk for nothing.    

Aye, that's the rub.

The Orioles do happen to be paying him $7.4 mil in arbitration this season.  If they're willing to pay his arbitration number next season, it's not a terribly big jump to $20 mil per.  It'll be interesting to follow.

Good thing is, next season isn't this season and we get a chance to see the Orioles try to win a championship regardless.

[Sports Guy]

I still lean towards trading Santander but there is a lot to be worked out first.

When he’s hot, he can carry the offense but when he’s cold, he doesn’t bring a ton to the team overall.

There are plenty of scenarios where I can see keeping him but the most likely best option is to trade him.

[25 Nuggets]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I thought this thread was about Ortiz.  

Now that the deadline has passed and we didn’t trade Mateo, I’d DFA him and bring up Ortiz.  But I sense that the Orioles are unlikely to do that anytime soon.  So, I think Ortiz just plays in AAA unless someone gets hurt.  
 

No September call up?

[Sports Guy]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I thought this thread was about Ortiz.  

Now that the deadline has passed and we didn’t trade Mateo, I’d DFA him and bring up Ortiz.  But I sense that the Orioles are unlikely to do that anytime soon.  So, I think Ortiz just plays in AAA unless someone gets hurt.  
 

Yep, I agree but I really think the mindset of the team is on the postseason roster and I think they want Mateo’s speed for that.