O's 2024 Infield

[wildcard]

14 minutes ago, ScGO's said:

Was just about to post the same idea.  I was wondering if they don't try to trade Mountcastle, Hays, Santander, Urias, Mateo, O'Hearn, and/or Mullins this offseason to make room for Mayo, Kerjstad, Cowser, Holliday, Ortiz, and/or Norby

The O's look like they have a 100 win team.  I don't expect them to trade core players like Mountcastle, Hays, Santander, Urias, O'Hearn and Mullins. 

Frazier, Hicks and Mateo  probably go.

Ortiz, Westburg and Cowser take their spots.

Elias keeps a strong AAA available for injuries with Mayo, Kjerstad, Norby.   There is probably a plan to bring up Holliday mid season.   Elias had Westburg play 158 games at AAA before he got the call. That could happen to other prospects.

Edited September 5, 2023 by wildcard

[oriolediehard]

1 hour ago, larrytt said:

What's the most likely infield next year? My tentative list is below, but there's also Adam Frazier and Jordan Westburg. I'm also not sure about whether Holliday would be playing second or shortstop. With Jorge Mateo as the backup, that makes Frazier and/or Westburg (also maybe Hicks/McKenna) available to trade for a top starting pitcher or two. (I'm assuming the outfield will most likely be Santander, Mullins, and Hayes, with O'Hearn the DH against righty pitchers and a backup at first and outfield.) However, I haven't been following things closely enough to know if I'm way off on this.

1st Ryan Mountcastle
2nd Jackson Holliday
SS Gunnar Henderson
3rd Ramon Urias

-Larrytt

I predict

Mountcastle 1B.                 Westburg 2B.                       Holiday SS.                         Gunnar 3B

 

 

 

 

[baltfan]

20 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

In addition to a decision about Westburg or Ortiz, I also feel something needs to give with one of Mountcastle, Santander or Hays.

This!  At least one of them has to go to make some room.  There just aren’t enough spots otherwise.  Santander is the one I would keep because he is the most impactful plus switch hits. 

[DirtyBird]

4 minutes ago, baltfan said:

This!  At least one of them has to go to make some room.  There just aren’t enough spots otherwise.  Santander is the one I would keep because he is the most impactful plus switch hits. 

Not really. You lose Urias and Mateo to make room for Ortiz and Holliday.

[Ginger]

1 hour ago, AlbNYfan said:

Be sure not to enjoy this year. Let's speculate on next year...

What’s wrong wit you?

[baltfan]

12 minutes ago, DirtyBird said:

Not really. You lose Urias and Mateo to make room for Ortiz and Holliday.

Where are Cowser and Kjerstad going to play?

[DirtyBird]

2 minutes ago, baltfan said:

Where are Cowser and Kjerstad going to play?

Not in the infield.

[oriole]

Holliday will be part of the equation by the end of 2024 I’m sure, but I highly doubt Elias is gonna go into the offseason assuming Hollidays on the roster on opening day. I think Westburg at 2nd, Henderson at SS, Urias at 3B to start and see where it goes. Ortiz could be in the mix there too, possibly moving Henderson to 3B. If Ortiz can play high level defense and hit around a .700 OPS then he is poor mans Urias considering Urias hits arbitration this year. 
 

I really like the combo of O’Hearn and Mountcastle. I hope that stays.

 

[Sports Guy]

Urias should be on the team next year but not sure any thought should be on handing him a starting spot.

I like the roles that Hays and Urias can and should play on next year’s team. They fit well with the likely roster construction.

[Birdland in NC]

I agree with the OP.  Urias the man at 3rd. Gold glove, makes it look easy. Look who Hyde has been playing down the stretch, and you can tell who he wants to play. Gotta make room for Holiday, but Gunner owns SS, he’s the Alpha out there, he just is.   

[ShoelesJoe]

Mountcastle / O’Hearn — 1B

Holliday — 2B

Henderson — SS

Mayo — 3B

Westburg — utility IF

Ortiz and Urias traded

Mateo DFA’d

No, Mayo at 3B won’t be as good defensively as Urias or Henderson, but he’ll be good enough. 

[Flash- bd]

Can't really see us being as aggressive with Jackson as people are expecting. I expect we'll see him in summer if he tears up AAA to start the season. 

Ortiz is a fantastic glove and I'm not so sure we're going to be trading him. I think more likely he takes Frazier and later Urías' spot. 

Mayo I think will be in the 1B/3B mix, but again, expecting more on the Jackson timeline, perhaps a bit earlier than Jackson. 

The way Elias talks about Westburg I get the feeling he's very much part of our long term plans. But perhaps I'm just reading too much into GM talk. 

[Billy F-Face3]

3 hours ago, oriolediehard said:

I predict

Mountcastle 1B.                 Westburg 2B.                       Holiday SS.                         Gunnar 3B

 

 

 

 

If Holiday maximizes his time in AAA and improves his glove there, this could be a very nice lineup.

I think this topic is difficult to predict because the Orioles still have Mayo and Ortiz hanging around waiting for their main opportunity too. And that's just 2 of a bunch of players. (Norby etc.)

[OriolesMagic83]

5 hours ago, wildcard said:

The O's look like they have a 100 win team.  I don't expect them to trade core players like Mountcastle, Hays, Santander, Urias, O'Hearn and Mullins. 

Frazier, Hicks and Mateo  probably go.

Ortiz, Westburg and Cowser take their spots.

Elias keeps a strong AAA available for injuries with Mayo, Kjerstad, Norby.   There is probably a plan to bring up Holliday mid season.   Elias had Westburg play 158 games at AAA before he got the call. That could happen to other prospects.

Somebody has to go, why not trade prospects at their peak and keep someone like Urias for league average offense if the prospects fail.  A big failure of the DD era was not to trade people and keep adding fresh prospects/new pieces.  I sure the O's can get thru 2024 while letting prospects stagnate, but I believe the goal is to keep trading older players and keep players who are young and cheap.  Part of this is necessary because the O's have the cheapest owner in the majors.   I believe the main reason that Elias preaches positional flexibility is covering open positions when players are traded, covering for injured players is a nice side effect.  I would think any player other than of course Adley, Gunnar and Mullins will be available for trade this offseason.  I don't expect a bunch of trades, but would be surprised if one or even 2 veterans isn't  traded.

[tntoriole]

12 hours ago, Can_of_corn said:

I think the draft pick is going to entice him.

And that he is the best bat in our farm system