Jonathon Mayo comments on Os young players

[Bemorewins]

53 minutes ago, Spy Fox said:

Mateo also reached near that level, and hung around Top 100 lists for a few years. 

Check out this placement around some, uh, familiar names in MLB.com's 2016 Top 100 list: 

Yeah I meant to go back and edit my post and include Mateo as I remember that he was a highly thought of prospect. But yes certainly some interesting names on this list for sure.

[LookinUp]

18 hours ago, Oriole1940 said:

This statement sums up what the Orioles situation really is right now.  As I said the other day,  one or more trades are begging to be made.   Hope you agree ME.

If I were a GM with a middling team that doesn't want to tank, I'd be looking to trade with the O's. You have to think that it wouldn't take much to get Elias' attention for Urias or O'Hearn, and I bet we'd definitely listen on Mountcastle at least.

[OrioleMagic79]

I actually think Stowers with 7 spring HRs and his history coming out of college and making the majors might be just enough for someone to say "this guy struggled a bit when he came up, but he's showing that he is still the prospect we thought he was coming out of college" ... meaning to say, he actually might be a "sell high" right now. Usually spring numbers are taken with a grain of salt, but given that the AAAA status is bookended by prospect hype/rise to MLB and this "breakout spring" I think that maybe it is time to sell right now before he has a chance to show that AAAA status again. Not to mention he is 26, so even if he hits well in AAA for a couple of months, he is on the verge of being an older prospect. 27 is supposed to be a player's prime/peak year, so if he is still in the minors this year, I think it hurts more than it helps.

I also think it is time to consider that Urias, O'Hearn, and Mateo are potential trade options right now ... with Mateo being the one I would maybe want to hold onto the most. O'Hearn could be the ultimate "sell high" guy right now, and Urias hitting nearly .300 in camp with a history of GG defense could be just what some borderline contender thinks they need on their bench this year. Mateo's speed and utility in CF and at SS are the hardest for me to part with at this point among these four guys. I think the game is shifting back to aggressive base running/stolen bases/and maybe even some teams playing "small ball" ... so I would want to keep Mateo for those reasons if possible.

I'm no professional GM and don't claim to be, but if someone cared to know what I think, I would suggest seeing what we can do with trading any (or a combination) of Urias, O'Hearn, and Stowers to get either a middle of the to back end of the rotation candidate, bullpen help, or maybe more importantly, a high potential but no guarantee type of pitching prospect or two (maybe in the Seth Johnson mold, where they are coming off of injury or something) ... or just younger, lower level prospects to replenish some of the talent that is moving up through the system. 

The only thing I will add is that if some GM out there would send us a good SP for any/all of these three plus someone like maybe Mountcastle, that might be worth serious consideration. That would free things up quite a bit for the younger guys to come up AND maybe extend Santander to be a veteran presence/leader while this team hits its peak. Kjerstad, Mayo, and Santander could easily fill the 1B/DH/RF role, with Adley, and eventually Basallo, also sharing in the DH/1B role at times. I would feel VERY confident in an OF mix over the coming years of Hays, Mullins, Mateo, Cowser, Kjerstad, Mayo, Bradfield, and possibly Westburg. 

Moving Urias, O'Hearn, Stowers, Mountcastle makes enough room for a roster that could include ALL of these young guys: Mayo, Holliday, Cowser, Kjerstad, Norby, Basallo, Westburg, Bradfield between this year and the next few years ... all without hurting our veteran leadership presence from Hays, Mullins, and Santander ... and could even allow for us to extend one, two, or all three of them through their remaining productive years. I think those guys are more of the heartbeat of this successful run that we are on (really just getting started on) right now, and it would be a boost of morale to the team to see us extend at least a couple of them. I want these young guys to experience both opportunities when they are ready to come up, while seeing the organization keeping guys that are leaders to maintain chemistry and reward their efforts ... that will make (at least some of) the young guys at least consider signing extensions because (at least some of them) will not want to leave this "family" 

Just my two (or maybe more like eleven) cents ... excited about this season, Go O's!!!