Why Ryan O’Hearn Must Go (Sorry, Ryan)

[RZNJ]

Why would O’Hearn and his agent sign this?   He isn’t guaranteed anything for 2025 but the Orioles can keep him if they want.   No big deal to me but what is O’Hearns incentive for agreeing to a club option?

[clapdiddy]

4 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Why would O’Hearn and his agent sign this?   He isn’t guaranteed anything for 2025 but the Orioles can keep him if they want.   No big deal to me but what is O’Hearns incentive for agreeing to a club option?

This is a good question.   He's 30 years old now.  If he has a very productive season, he could have set himself up for a nice 3 or 4 year contract from some team.  

[Sports Guy]

2 minutes ago, clapdiddy said:

This is a good question.   He's 30 years old now.  If he has a very productive season, he could have set himself up for a nice 3 or 4 year contract from some team.  

OHearn is still under team control next year. This deal basically just means they don’t go through the arb process next year.

Also, unless he really blows up and plays everyday, that’s a nice salary for a part time player and maybe more than he would get in arbitration.

[Moose Milligan]

TL;DR. 
 

But the only reason anyone really wants to get rid of him Is because they’re afraid that he’s a one year wonder. 

[RZNJ]

4 minutes ago, clapdiddy said:

This is a good question.   He's 30 years old now.  If he has a very productive season, he could have set himself up for a nice 3 or 4 year contract from some team.  

Yeah, my bad.  I thought he was a FA next year.

[ChosenOne21]

9 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Why would O’Hearn and his agent sign this?   He isn’t guaranteed anything for 2025 but the Orioles can keep him if they want.   No big deal to me but what is O’Hearns incentive for agreeing to a club option?

Probably because his career is hanging by a thread and he didn't want to risk 300K by going to arbitration. He's basically a platoon first baseman who's about to be on the wrong side of 30 who has had one good year in the last five or so. There's a good chance this season is his last, and he doesn't want to risk leaving any money on the table.

At least that's my guess.

[NCRaven]

15 minutes ago, Frobby said:

We had offered $3.2 mm before, so it's $300  more, the midway point between asked and offered.   I can't imagine we'd exercise the option, but having it enhances O'Hearn's trade value a bit, in case he has a good year.

Also, with the option year, it's considered a multi year deal and can't be used as a comparison in future arbitration hearings.  It's an exception to the file and trial stand by teams.

[RZNJ]

Just now, ChosenOne21 said:

Probably because his career is hanging by a thread and he didn't want to risk 300K by going to arbitration. He's basically a platoon first baseman who's about to be on the wrong side of 30 who has had one good year in the last five or so. There's a good chance this season is his last, and he doesn't want to risk leaving any money on the table.

At least that's my guess.

I incorrectly thought he was a FA next year.

[interloper]

1 minute ago, ChosenOne21 said:

Probably because his career is hanging by a thread and he didn't want to risk 300K by going to arbitration. He's basically a platoon first baseman who's about to be on the wrong side of 30 who has had one good year in the last five or so. There's a good chance this season is his last, and he doesn't want to risk leaving any money on the table.

At least that's my guess.

Bingo. 

[NCRaven]

On 2/13/2024 at 7:56 AM, Sanity Check said:

I find it interesting that there is a lot of hope (by some) that Mayo could be our answer in right filed.  He has not played the outfield professionally at all, and guys who have only played outfield in the minors  (such as Cowser and Kjerstad) are met with skepticism about just good they really are out there.  If a guy like Cowser - who has played outfield his entire life struggle when they get to the majors, how long would it take someone who hasn't played there at all?

And if someone argues that Mayo is an athlete and can learn it, what are we then saying about an athlete like Cowser who made many on here question how good he really is.

All of that being said, I'd love to see Mayo be a very competent right-fielder if that's where we need him.  I'd take it in a heartbeat if his bat sticks at the major league level. 

Elias has specifically said that Mayo would get time in right field this year.  He may not have played there yet but it is clearly in their plans to get him some reps there this year.  It can't hurt and helps to get Holliday, Henderson, Westburg and Mayo all on the field together.  If Basallo is good at 1B, then all of those four, Basallo and Rutschman are regulars and not time shares.

[clapdiddy]

6 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Yeah, my bad.  I thought he was a FA next year.

Me too! 

[interloper]

On 2/13/2024 at 7:56 AM, Sanity Check said:

 If a guy like Cowser - who has played outfield his entire life struggle when they get to the majors, how long would it take someone who hasn't played there at all?

That's not a great argument IMO because it was expected that Cowser would look good defensively. Guys like Markakis and Hays and Mullins did not struggle defensively as rookie OFers. So it's weird and concerning that Cowser did. 

But you're right - Mayo should not be counted on as a RFer this year. 

[RZNJ]

11 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Yeah, my bad.  I thought he was a FA next year.

According to Fangraphs he has over 5 years of service time heading into this year so he would have been a FA after this season.  If so, signing a club option for 2025 with no guaranteed money makes no sense at all.  To pick up an extra 300K and avoiding arbitration where he might have picked up an extra 600K?   I must be missing something.

[Number5]

3 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

 To pick up an extra 300K and avoiding arbitration where he might have picked up an extra 600K?

Bird in the hand.  Perhaps he and his agent didn't feel overly confident that they would win at arbitration.  Easy for us to talk about risking a sure $300k for a possible $600k, but in reality that is a pretty big gamble.  Locking in that $300k is likely meaningful to a man with his prospects for the future.  Makes total sense to me.

[Frobby]

24 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

OHearn is still under team control next year. This deal basically just means they don’t go through the arb process next year.

No, he was going to be a free agent next year.   I think he was very likely to lose his arbitration, and not that likely to get a FA contract exceeding the price of the option.  So, he took the extra $300 k.