Cowser-Norby platoon in left in 2024?

[orioles22]

Thinking of possible ways to get some of these Norfolk guys in the mix next year. I hope they sign Adley, Gunnar and some others long term, but my guess is the best we can hope for in the outfield is extending one of them - perhaps Mullins in center for the next 3-4 years.

[ChosenOne21]

29 minutes ago, orioles22 said:

Thinking of possible ways to get some of these Norfolk guys in the mix next year. I hope they sign Adley, Gunnar and some others long term, but my guess is the best we can hope for in the outfield is extending one of them - perhaps Mullins in center for the next 3-4 years.

Do you really want to pay Cedric Mullins FA rates for his age 31+ seasons? I don't, and that's not a knock on him or what he's done. Just the simple reality that it's hard to play good CF defense in your thirties and Cedric probably lacks the bat to be especially valuable in left field.

Hopefully Bradfield Jr. or Fabian is knocking on the door in two years.

[Aristotelian]

Seems like they should be ready. They might be the best argument against bringing Hicks back.

[oriole]

Norby should be trade bait. There is no room for him anywhere on this club. Maybe a Cowser/Hays platoon in LF. 

[spleen1015]

What are you doing with Hays in this scenario? He's the starting LF until he proves he's not.

[orioles22]

7 minutes ago, spleen1015 said:

What are you doing with Hays in this scenario? He's the starting LF until he proves he's not.

Trade, of course. You don't think we're going to trade any of our starters?

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Just now, orioles22 said:

Trade, of course. You don't think we're going to trade any of our starters?

I think we’re going to see a couple trades this offseason. Otherwise Elias is going to be wasting MLB ready talent by keeping them languished in the minors. 

[orioles22]

Exactly. If we plan on paying everyone, then maybe we keep Santander, Hayes and Mullins, but I don't think that's the plan. I just hope we sign our stars.

[MurphDogg]

Santander or Hays has got to go to be traded to make room for Kjerstad first. Not sure they will trade them both.

[Aristotelian]

We really need to see who is traded before figuring how the prospects fit. The immediate need would be to replace Frazier. Cowser could replace his spot in the lineup but we'd need to move people around to make it work defensively. 

How is Norby's OF defense? He could replace some of Hicks' AB's maybe. 

[AnythingO's]

I'm not sure O'Hearn is here next year so Santander could move to 1B/DH with Mounty. OF could be Hays, Mullins, Kjerstead, and Cowser, no 5th OF. Santander could fill in. They need someone able to play credible CF other than McKenna (no options) or Hicks (np wheels, FA), I don't think there is a ready backup in AAA so probably some offseason pickup or maybe they were serious about Mateo being an option there. We just need someone to spell Mullins a bit.

[Malike]

They aren't trading the entire OF/IF of existing players to give prospects the spots. I think it's more likely they trade prospects for pitching and the ones that remain will get a chance to break camp with the team if they force the issue.

[spleen1015]

49 minutes ago, orioles22 said:

Trade, of course. You don't think we're going to trade any of our starters?

Anything is possible, but not until someone proves they're better.

[MurphDogg]

20 minutes ago, AnythingO's said:

I'm not sure O'Hearn is here next year so Santander could move to 1B/DH with Mounty. OF could be Hays, Mullins, Kjerstead, and Cowser, no 5th OF. Santander could fill in. They need someone able to play credible CF other than McKenna (no options) or Hicks (np wheels, FA), I don't think there is a ready backup in AAA so probably some offseason pickup or maybe they were serious about Mateo being an option there. We just need someone to spell Mullins a bit.

McKenna doesn't need to be optionable to be the backup CF. There are some scouts that think Cowser could play a credible CF, but I haven't seen it.

If O'Hearn is traded, I would prefer Kjerstad backing up first rather than Santander.

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, spleen1015 said:

Anything is possible, but not until someone proves they're better.

How do they prove it?