Orioles 2024 Position Players Assuming No Free Agents

[interloper]

56 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

You’re going to keep Mayo in AAA all year if the team is contending or give him sporadic AB’s on the bench.   He’s our #2 or #3 prospect who put up an 1.165 OPS in September at AAA.   If you’re nervous about Mayo ………

I didn't say I'm doing either of those things. I think Mayo will get a lot of ML run this year. I'm just not handing him a starting job before we even get to spring training. Same with Cowser, same with Kjerstad, same with Westburg and Ortiz and Holliday. Trading someone like Urias or Mateo to free up a little room for Ortiz et al is a little different than doing the same with Mountcastle, IMO. 

But check with me again at the trade deadline. 

[wildcard]

There is how the season starts and how it changes by September.

April

Mullins CF, Adley C/DH, Henderson SS/3B, Santander RF, Mountcastle 1B, O'Hearn DH, Hays LF, Westburg 2B/3B, Ortiz 3B/SS/2B

McCann C, Mateo PR/SS, Cowser  OF, Kjerstad DH/RF

Bradish, GRod, Means, Kremer, Wells

Cano, Hall, Perez, Coulombe, Baumann, Tate, Webb, Irvin

September

Mullins CF, Adley C/DH, Henderson SS/3B, Santander 1B/RF, Mayo DH/1B, Kjerstad RF/DH/1B, Holliday 2B/SS,  Cowser LF,  Ortiz 3B

McCann C, Westburg UIF/UOF, Hays OF, Mateo PR/SS

Hays has a poor 2nd Half.  O'Hearn  and. Mountcastle optioned.  Kjerstad, Mayo and Holliday outhit Mountcastle, O'Hearn and Westburg.

GRod, Bradish, Means, Kremer, McDermott

Hall, Wells, Cano, Perez Coulombe, Baumann, Tate, Irvin

Webb DFA'd, Wells moves from starter to reliever during the season.

Of course if I could add a FA starter and a FA back end reliever it looks better.

Traded for pitching before the season: Urias, Norby and Stowers.  Major or minor league pitching depending on what Elias can get.

 

 

Edited November 15, 2023 by wildcard

[OriolesMagic83]

C  Adley

1B/DH  Mountcastle

DH/1B  Mayo

2B  Westburg

SS  Ortiz

3B  Gunnar

LF  Hays

CF  Mullins

RF Kjerstad

Bench  McCann, Urias, Hicks, McKenna

Santander was traded for a pitcher, probably Bieber, although I would prefer Cease, but I don't see White Sox wanting Santander.  Mateo was DFA'ed or traded for spare parts.  Cowser was part of a trade for pitching.  Mayo would see some time at 3B.  I still think 1B is where he ends up.  Holliday is kept at AAA until about June.  I'm surprised almost no one has Mayo making the opening day roster when he dominated AAA at the end of the year.  When Holliday is deemed ready, Holliday is installed at 2B, Urias traded and Westburg made utility player. 

[Frobby]

4 hours ago, RZNJ said:

What I would do.  Hold Mayo and Holliday in Norfolk until May for the extra year.  So, by May1

So, you’d hold the Mayo?

(This will never get old. )

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

So, you’d hold the Mayo?

(This will never get old. )

Yes, I’d like to spread the Mayo service time over 7 years instead of 6.

[Can_of_corn]

18 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Yes, I’d like to spread the Mayo service time over 7 years instead of 6.

Pretty sure that's past the best used by date.

[RZNJ]

1 hour ago, wildcard said:

There is how the season starts and how it changes by September.

April

Mullins CF, Adley C/DH, Henderson SS/3B, Santander RF, Mountcastle 1B, O'Hearn DH, Hays LF, Westburg 2B/3B, Ortiz 3B/SS/2B

McCann C, Mateo PR/SS, Cowser  OF, Kjerstad DH/RF

Bradish, GRod, Means, Kremer, Wells

Cano, Hall, Perez, Coulombe, Baumann, Tate, Webb, Irvin

September

Mullins CF, Adley C/DH, Henderson SS/3B, Santander 1B/RF, Mayo DH/1B, Kjerstad RF/DH/1B, Holliday 2B/SS,  Cowser LF,  Ortiz 3B

McCann C, Westburg UIF/UOF, Hays OF, Mateo PR/SS

Hays has a poor 2nd Half.  O'Hearn  and. Mountcastle optioned.  Kjerstad, Mayo and Holliday outhit Mountcastle, O'Hearn and Westburg.

GRod, Bradish, Means, Kremer, McDermott

Hall, Wells, Cano, Perez Coulombe, Baumann, Tate, Irvin

Webb DFA'd, Wells moves from starter to reliever during the season.

Of course if I could add a FA starter and a FA back end reliever it looks better.

Traded for pitching before the season: Urias, Norby and Stowers.  Major or minor league pitching depending on what Elias can get.

 

 

Not bad.  Tate?  Let’s see if he even gets a tender.

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Not bad.  Tate?  Let’s see if he even gets a tender.

Stress reaction in the elbow for Tate right?

 

[RZNJ]

51 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Stress reaction in the elbow for Tate right?

 

I thought it was reported as a right forearm strain but have seen it also as a forearm/elbow issue.

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I thought it was reported as a right forearm strain but have seen it also as a forearm/elbow issue.

From what I recall it was the strain in 2022 and he had a setback in 2023 with the elbow.

 

[oriole]

C Rutschman/McCann

1B Mountcastle/O’Hearn

2B Holliday

SS Henderson

3B Westburg

RF Santander

CF Mullins

LF Hays

DH Kjerstad

IF Urias

OF McKenna

BP Hall, Cano, Wells, Kremer, Irvin, Webb, Tate, Perez (a lot of this is interchangeable with other current BP pieces not listed)

SP Rodriguez, Bradish, Means + 2 additions

[Matt Bennett]

One week (7 games) rough playing matrix:

1. Adley: 5 starts at catcher, 1 at DH

2. McCann: 2 starts at catcher

3. Mountcastle: 4 starts at 1B, 1 start at DH (.742 career OPS against RHP, .849 against LHP. Splits more exaggerated in 2023.)

4. Westburg: 6 starts split between 2B and 3B

5. Henderson: 7 starts split between 3B and SS

6. Ortiz: 5 starts split between SS and 2B

7. Urias: 3 starts split between 3B and 2B

8. Hays: 6 starts in LF

9. Mullins: 6 starts in CF

10. Santander: 7 starts split between RF, DH, and 1B

11. Kjerstad: 5 starts between RF, DH, and 1B

12. Cowser: 5 starts split between OF

13. Someone who's roster spot would be better utilized if they were a bullpen pitcher. Vavra, Mateo, McKenna, Hilliard, Haskin types. Rarely sees playing time. 

• Frazier and Hicks walk.
• O'Hearn traded. Maybe for a reliever also on an expiring contract. 
• Plenty of time for Holliday and Mayo to show they can no longer be denied a roster spot and force a move.

I can certainly be convinced a Ramon Urias is more valuable in a trade if his expected playing time is only roughly half the games. But it is nice and beneficial to have actual major league ballplayers on your bench. Perhaps that could open up a slot for Norby but a 109 wRC+ at AAA is not really knocking the door down. 

 

[RZNJ]

17 hours ago, wildcard said:

There is how the season starts and how it changes by September.

April

Mullins CF, Adley C/DH, Henderson SS/3B, Santander RF, Mountcastle 1B, O'Hearn DH, Hays LF, Westburg 2B/3B, Ortiz 3B/SS/2B

McCann C, Mateo PR/SS, Cowser  OF, Kjerstad DH/RF

Bradish, GRod, Means, Kremer, Wells

Cano, Hall, Perez, Coulombe, Baumann, Tate, Webb, Irvin

September

Mullins CF, Adley C/DH, Henderson SS/3B, Santander 1B/RF, Mayo DH/1B, Kjerstad RF/DH/1B, Holliday 2B/SS,  Cowser LF,  Ortiz 3B

McCann C, Westburg UIF/UOF, Hays OF, Mateo PR/SS

Hays has a poor 2nd Half.  O'Hearn  and. Mountcastle optioned.  Kjerstad, Mayo and Holliday outhit Mountcastle, O'Hearn and Westburg.

GRod, Bradish, Means, Kremer, McDermott

Hall, Wells, Cano, Perez Coulombe, Baumann, Tate, Irvin

Webb DFA'd, Wells moves from starter to reliever during the season.

Of course if I could add a FA starter and a FA back end reliever it looks better.

Traded for pitching before the season: Urias, Norby and Stowers.  Major or minor league pitching depending on what Elias can get.

 

 

So, you got this all figured out but it’s too difficult to guess at Westburg’s offensive numbers?   

[wildcard]

7 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

So, you got this all figured out but it’s too difficult to guess at Westburg’s offensive numbers?   

I don't see where he gets his playing time and how much he will get.   I think he gets pushed off of 2nd by Holliday.  All that effects his numbers.

[RZNJ]

5 minutes ago, wildcard said:

I don't see where he gets his playing time and how much he will get.   I think he gets pushed off of 2nd by Holliday.  All that effects his numbers.

What do you think his numbers would be over 140 games, assuming Holliday plays SS, Gunnar moves to 3B, and Westburg plays all year at 2B?   Are you capable of doing that?