Hall, Wells, SP, RP?

[now]

With the Kimbrel signing, it brings into focus (or further confusion?) the roles of DH Hall and Tyler Wells. 

Hall maintains he still wants to start; Wells was our most effective starter in the first half of 2023.

Both Hall and Wells have shown they can be effective in relief, whether long, short, setup or even closing. 

Now that Kimbrel is the presumptive closer, Wells' other roles become more likely. Hall's fate is yet unknown.

The Orioles still need starters at least for insurance, if not to contend for the front five. Could Hall or Wells step in or is the need greater in the bullpen?

With all the variables still in play, multiple staff choices present themselves. And who knows what Elias/Hyde will do?

Therefore, to keep it simple, vote for your ideal roles for these two pitchers in 2024.

Edited December 6, 2023 by now

[RZNJ]

The writing is on the wall.  We have Bradish, GRod, Means, and Kremer and Elias has publicly stated he wants another starter he can slot towards the top of the rotation.  The current plan for Wells and Hall seem pretty clear to me.

[Frobby]

Well if they are starters but “not necessarily top 5” that makes them relievers, doesn’t it?

Honestly I’d love Wells in the rotation if I thought he could stay healthy and effective all year.  He’s quite pitch-efficient and enjoyable to watch in that role.   Hall has potential as a starter but unless he has a sudden sea change in command, at best he’d be a 5-and-dive guy.  

So in my ideal world, the O’s would acquire another quality starter and both Wells and Hall would operate out of the pen, but be options to start if a starter got hurt, with Wells getting first crack.  
 

[Spy Fox]

The best realistic outcome involves acquiring another SP, the starting 5 stays pretty healthy, and Wells/Hall are lockdown members of a strong pen. 

Wells should be high on the list of options to start if there are health issues with other guys. Though if there is one unexpected SP spot to fill I wouldn’t be shocked if they went to Irvin first and kept Wells in a relief role if possible. 

Edited December 6, 2023 by Spy Fox

[RZNJ]

I only hope Wells can last all year as a reliever.  He wasn’t able to in 2021.

[Billy F-Face3]

There's so many options is difficult for me to choose. Wells is good as a starter for half a year. But I think he could be good for the entire year coming out of the bullpen in a role similar to what Mike Baumann was doing in 2023. This would ideally keep his innings down and his arm fresh.

With DL Hall, I want to give him a legitimate opportunity to develop as a starting pitcher like Grayson Rodriguez. This has always been the goal with him. And we need another left handed pitcher in the rotation to go with John Means (who we don't know can complete the entire season coming off of TJ Surgery).  The fall back plan if starting doesn't work out is to simply put DL back in the bullpen as a quality set up man or secondary closer. We know he can handle that role, but we shouldn't limit his potential to just the bullpen. Now that he's gotten more experience against Major League batters, let's stretch him out and see what he can do as a starter.

I do agree with Frobby that 5 innings a start is probably the goal for DL Hall in his first full season as a starter.

How about this idea... DL Hall 5 good innings then Tyler Wells enters the game for 2 more? Seems like it could work.

But other than that, I do think Wells could be effectively good for half a season as a starter. I just don't think he will make it through the All Star break as a starter. So if you choose Wells to be in the rotation, then you have to expect another pitcher to take his place. Someone like Cole Irvin, Chayce McDermott, Setch Johnson, or Cade Povish maybe.

So as you can see by my opinion, it's difficult for me to pick just one of those options. I just know that I want to give DL Hall an opportunity in the rotation as a starter, the way the organization had always planned for and hoped for. We saw Grayson struggle in the beginning as a starter, then he got with Coach Ramsey and fixed some things, and he was exceptional when he returned to the rotation. I want to give DL Hall that type of opportunity, because he has the talent.

[Aristotelian]

I am inclined to have them both in the bullpen. If we bring in another starter as we hope that would almost certainly be the plan. If we are rolling with what we have, I could see the case for either to start.

[SilverRocket]

With the Kimbrel signing, I think it's unlikely there'll be a major SP acquisition unless it's through trading prospects. I'd guess Wells and Hall both compete for a SP spot in spring training and end up in the bullpen if they're not in the top 5, but ready to stretch out and at least become 4-5 IP openers if needed.

[Jim'sKid26]

Could they both pitch about 100-125 IP and turn into one TOR starter. Imagine if they were paired together as the Fifth SP option. Wells starts and goes 1-2x through the lineup. Then Hall comes in and goes 1-2x through the lineup. If they both average 4 IP per start and they both start 32 times in 2024 they would both pitch 128 innings. Because they throw with different hands the opposing manager can't stack the lineup against either of them. It could work. 254 IP is more than anyone went in a very long time.

[dystopia]

The last option seems like a no brainer.

[MCO'sFan]

My hope is that the another SP is slotted in the top 3 which pushes them to the pen. One may be part of a trade That SP so I can see that happening too. 

[RVAOsFan]

I want to acquire a SP who slots into our top 3-4.

Bradish, GRod, Means, FA/ Trade.

The 5th spot in the rotation is a spring training open competition between Kremer, Wells and Hall.

I am tired of hearing concerns about who will last all season as a starter. It is a long season, guys get tired, guys get hurt. I want our best options in the rotation from day one giving us the best chance to win. If Wells pitches well for a few months as a starter and flames out in August again, oh well, next man up.

Point is, it doesn’t matter how well someone is pitching in August and September if the team is in the basement. 

 

[24fps]

4 hours ago, SilverRocket said:

With the Kimbrel signing, I think it's unlikely there'll be a major SP acquisition unless it's through trading prospects. I'd guess Wells and Hall both compete for a SP spot in spring training and end up in the bullpen if they're not in the top 5, but ready to stretch out and at least become 4-5 IP openers if needed.

I don't believe Elias has been running around Nashville over the last couple of days taking up other team's time about starting pitching only to suddenly decide to throw the entire budget at a guy who's going to pitch 70 innings at most.  $20 million AAV over multiple years could well be off the table at this point, but something like a Cease trade could very much still be possible IMO.

[now]

6 hours ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

There's so many options is difficult for me to choose. Wells is good as a starter for half a year. But I think he could be good for the entire year coming out of the bullpen in a role similar to what Mike Baumann was doing in 2023. This would ideally keep his innings down and his arm fresh.

With DL Hall, I want to give him a legitimate opportunity to develop as a starting pitcher like Grayson Rodriguez. This has always been the goal with him. And we need another left handed pitcher in the rotation to go with John Means (who we don't know can complete the entire season coming off of TJ Surgery).  The fall back plan if starting doesn't work out is to simply put DL back in the bullpen as a quality set up man or secondary closer. We know he can handle that role, but we shouldn't limit his potential to just the bullpen. Now that he's gotten more experience against Major League batters, let's stretch him out and see what he can do as a starter.

I do agree with Frobby that 5 innings a start is probably the goal for DL Hall in his first full season as a starter.

How about this idea... DL Hall 5 good innings then Tyler Wells enters the game for 2 more? Seems like it could work.

But other than that, I do think Wells could be effectively good for half a season as a starter. I just don't think he will make it through the All Star break as a starter. So if you choose Wells to be in the rotation, then you have to expect another pitcher to take his place. Someone like Cole Irvin, Chayce McDermott, Setch Johnson, or Cade Povish maybe.

So as you can see by my opinion, it's difficult for me to pick just one of those options. I just know that I want to give DL Hall an opportunity in the rotation as a starter, the way the organization had always planned for and hoped for. We saw Grayson struggle in the beginning as a starter, then he got with Coach Ramsey and fixed some things, and he was exceptional when he returned to the rotation. I want to give DL Hall that type of opportunity, because he has the talent.

I tried to make it simple but I like this complex answer. Besides, it's on point to the OP question, which is not what you predict will happen, but what you'd like to see happen. 

[Flash- bd]

14 hours ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

There's so many options is difficult for me to choose. Wells is good as a starter for half a year. But I think he could be good for the entire year coming out of the bullpen in a role similar to what Mike Baumann was doing in 2023. This would ideally keep his innings down and his arm fresh.

With DL Hall, I want to give him a legitimate opportunity to develop as a starting pitcher like Grayson Rodriguez. This has always been the goal with him. And we need another left handed pitcher in the rotation to go with John Means (who we don't know can complete the entire season coming off of TJ Surgery).  The fall back plan if starting doesn't work out is to simply put DL back in the bullpen as a quality set up man or secondary closer. We know he can handle that role, but we shouldn't limit his potential to just the bullpen. Now that he's gotten more experience against Major League batters, let's stretch him out and see what he can do as a starter.

I do agree with Frobby that 5 innings a start is probably the goal for DL Hall in his first full season as a starter.

How about this idea... DL Hall 5 good innings then Tyler Wells enters the game for 2 more? Seems like it could work.

But other than that, I do think Wells could be effectively good for half a season as a starter. I just don't think he will make it through the All Star break as a starter. So if you choose Wells to be in the rotation, then you have to expect another pitcher to take his place. Someone like Cole Irvin, Chayce McDermott, Setch Johnson, or Cade Povish maybe.

So as you can see by my opinion, it's difficult for me to pick just one of those options. I just know that I want to give DL Hall an opportunity in the rotation as a starter, the way the organization had always planned for and hoped for. We saw Grayson struggle in the beginning as a starter, then he got with Coach Ramsey and fixed some things, and he was exceptional when he returned to the rotation. I want to give DL Hall that type of opportunity, because he has the talent.

Love it. Couldn't agree more.