I agree with the OP in general. BP will be a strength (top 10) as a floor and a chance for difference making (top 3) with a Bautista bounceback and a plus FA.
1B is the one major weakness offensively where the O's should look to upgrade. Mountcastle simply isn't bringing enough production there, and you can't really count on O'Hearn over there either, though it would be smart to bring him back.
You need one legit upgrade to this pen. You can’t return the same pen and just replace Kimbrel with Bautista.
We need another high leverage guy. We also shouldn’t assume Bautista will come back and be perfectly healthy and as good as he was.
I don't think you can go into 2025 with Urias as a starter. He's gone backwards defensively at 3B and while he'll hold his own offensively, the Orioles need better.
Now, is that better Holliday at 2B with Westburg moving to 3B where he's better defensively? Probably.
Urias will be 31-years old next year and has a slow player's game. I'd much rather have Westburg at 3B. Is Urias a nice back up policy, sure, I'm ok with that, but I don't think he should be manning 3B on a contending team.
I might be more tempted to put a substantial investment on a top setup guy than a RHH platoon partner for an outfielder.
Tanner Scott and Jeff Hoffman probably far beyond that. Scott struck Ohtani out all 5 times, and wow will his agent pump that up.
Blake Treinen, Paul Sewald, Daniel Hudson or Yimi Garcia? Assuming it doesn't play out that guys like Treinen and Hudson are a private talent list only accessible to the Dodgers.
One of the differences between Astroball and Raysian baseball for me is Houston has done more to get 8 deep with relievers good enough you actually want to keep them around all year. The shuttle to Norfolk might quiet down a little next year if the A list stays healthy.
The story no matter who the smaller players are will be how well Felix can return. The legend might be gone.
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