Trade Bait 2024

[ScGO's]

I've done threads like this in the past when the O's were rebuilding. This year, the theme changes bc we have a new problem: older vets being pushed out or a surplus of blocked prospects at the AAA level

Being Pushed Out: Not all of these guys may have trade value and may need to be DFA'd if a prospect pushes through and takes a job.

Austin Hays - Off to a slow start, but was an All Star last year. Cowser and the OFs at AAA needs to make it tough for Elias. Personally I think Hays would be great in the role Ryan McKenna used to have. Get some starts against LHP, defensive replacement for Santander,etc, and could spell Mullins in CF if he needs a rest. If he's traded, the return might be minimal, or he could be part of a bigger package.

Ramon Urias - Him and Tony Kemp may have to be DFA'd bc there is not much trade value. Maybe someone would give a lottery ticket DSL prospect.

Jorge Mateo - If he remains the PR and Super Utility guy, I like the idea of keeping him, but you dangle him out there and if someone overbids, Elias may need to consider it as he is expendable for the right cost.

Ryan O'Hearn - The 1B/DH is not an OF. I like the LH Bat in the lineup against RHP and as a PH option late. I feel he fits on our roster, you hope he gets hot and you dangle him out there and see if you get a decent return as he could be replaced by some of the AAA guys coming up.

Ryan Mountcastle - I like the guy and he's playing well. A more hitter friendly stadium would serve him well. I'm in no rush to trade him, but thinking ahead, he could have higher arbitration salaries than you'd like to pay for a 1B w/ his underlying offensive numbers. Mayo and Basallo could possibly replace his production sooner than later. He's a guy that you hope a team overbids on him a little, or he has to be part of a bigger package.

James McCann - Not pushing this at all if I'm Elias, just answering any phone calls from a Catcher-desperate team. Basallo, Handley, or somebody else would need to replace his role as the very dependable backup catcher, which is a tough set of shoes to fill.

Ryan McKenna - Already DFAd and cleared waivers. But maybe there's a team out there that wants his rights now that he isn't on the 40 man and could potentially offer him a quicker return to an MLB roster.

A Surplus Reliever? - Our bullpen is a wildcard as there is a lot of depth all the way down into AAA, but its not very deep at the top tier. If Elias ends up bringing in a reliever via trade, or things get complicated with certain players' options, he might make a small trade; if not, he will probably DFA a reliever or two

Prospect Surplus: I am not advocating for any particular prospect to be traded, and there are many prospects at hte lower levels that could be traded, but this is the AAA Depth that is getting crowded. Room needs to be made at the MLB level for these guys or they need to be traded for the pieces we need while they still have prospect status

Connor Norby - Killing it out the gate and obviously bitter. I'd take him at 2B over Kemp right now, but Norby's at his peak value, so a trade needs to be done by the All Star Break for this man.

Kyle Stowers - Again, much like Norby, he may be at his peak value after the ST he had and the hot start to AAA. Him and Norby alone should bring in a better reliever than what we have in the pen right now

Terrin Vavra - Not much value, and much like McKenna, he's not on the 40 man, so maybe another team wants his rights and could offer a clearer route to MLB playing time.

Hudson Haskin - Supremely blocked, and if he puts up any sort of numbers, he should be part of a package or swapped for something.

Heston Kjerstad - I think he can take Ohearn's role quickly, however, depending on how Elias sees it and what type of talent he could seek in a trade, Kjerstad could be seen as a surplus. Would need to bring back a Dawg

Colby Mayo - I do not want to see him traded; I want to see him play 1B/3B/RF/DH for the Orioles. However; what sort of value could he retrieve in a trade. A lot of this probably depends on the role Elias sees in Mountcastle. With Santander most likely leaving through FA this offseason, I think it's wise to keep Mayo; but a buddy of mine swears the Orioles are going to trade for Mike Trout this year and guys like Mayo would probably have to be included. I don't think Elias does something like that, but if he did, Mayo would be in that trade.

Samuel Basallo - See above. Only additional note is the he would SO valuable as the 1B/DH/Adley's Backup C starting next year if he's ready

[Rbiggs2525]

43 minutes ago, ScGO's said:

I've done threads like this in the past when the O's were rebuilding. This year, the theme changes bc we have a new problem: older vets being pushed out or a surplus of blocked prospects at the AAA level

Being Pushed Out: Not all of these guys may have trade value and may need to be DFA'd if a prospect pushes through and takes a job.

Austin Hays - Off to a slow start, but was an All Star last year. Cowser and the OFs at AAA needs to make it tough for Elias. Personally I think Hays would be great in the role Ryan McKenna used to have. Get some starts against LHP, defensive replacement for Santander,etc, and could spell Mullins in CF if he needs a rest. If he's traded, the return might be minimal, or he could be part of a bigger package.

Ramon Urias - Him and Tony Kemp may have to be DFA'd bc there is not much trade value. Maybe someone would give a lottery ticket DSL prospect.

Jorge Mateo - If he remains the PR and Super Utility guy, I like the idea of keeping him, but you dangle him out there and if someone overbids, Elias may need to consider it as he is expendable for the right cost.

Ryan O'Hearn - The 1B/DH is not an OF. I like the LH Bat in the lineup against RHP and as a PH option late. I feel he fits on our roster, you hope he gets hot and you dangle him out there and see if you get a decent return as he could be replaced by some of the AAA guys coming up.

Ryan Mountcastle - I like the guy and he's playing well. A more hitter friendly stadium would serve him well. I'm in no rush to trade him, but thinking ahead, he could have higher arbitration salaries than you'd like to pay for a 1B w/ his underlying offensive numbers. Mayo and Basallo could possibly replace his production sooner than later. He's a guy that you hope a team overbids on him a little, or he has to be part of a bigger package.

James McCann - Not pushing this at all if I'm Elias, just answering any phone calls from a Catcher-desperate team. Basallo, Handley, or somebody else would need to replace his role as the very dependable backup catcher, which is a tough set of shoes to fill.

Ryan McKenna - Already DFAd and cleared waivers. But maybe there's a team out there that wants his rights now that he isn't on the 40 man and could potentially offer him a quicker return to an MLB roster.

A Surplus Reliever? - Our bullpen is a wildcard as there is a lot of depth all the way down into AAA, but its not very deep at the top tier. If Elias ends up bringing in a reliever via trade, or things get complicated with certain players' options, he might make a small trade; if not, he will probably DFA a reliever or two

Prospect Surplus: I am not advocating for any particular prospect to be traded, and there are many prospects at hte lower levels that could be traded, but this is the AAA Depth that is getting crowded. Room needs to be made at the MLB level for these guys or they need to be traded for the pieces we need while they still have prospect status

Connor Norby - Killing it out the gate and obviously bitter. I'd take him at 2B over Kemp right now, but Norby's at his peak value, so a trade needs to be done by the All Star Break for this man.

Kyle Stowers - Again, much like Norby, he may be at his peak value after the ST he had and the hot start to AAA. Him and Norby alone should bring in a better reliever than what we have in the pen right now

Terrin Vavra - Not much value, and much like McKenna, he's not on the 40 man, so maybe another team wants his rights and could offer a clearer route to MLB playing time.

Hudson Haskin - Supremely blocked, and if he puts up any sort of numbers, he should be part of a package or swapped for something.

Heston Kjerstad - I think he can take Ohearn's role quickly, however, depending on how Elias sees it and what type of talent he could seek in a trade, Kjerstad could be seen as a surplus. Would need to bring back a Dawg

Colby Mayo - I do not want to see him traded; I want to see him play 1B/3B/RF/DH for the Orioles. However; what sort of value could he retrieve in a trade. A lot of this probably depends on the role Elias sees in Mountcastle. With Santander most likely leaving through FA this offseason, I think it's wise to keep Mayo; but a buddy of mine swears the Orioles are going to trade for Mike Trout this year and guys like Mayo would probably have to be included. I don't think Elias does something like that, but if he did, Mayo would be in that trade.

Samuel Basallo - See above. Only additional note is the he would SO valuable as the 1B/DH/Adley's Backup C starting next year if he's ready

Good list. I probably wouldn’t include Mayo or Basallo and add Mullins. We need a reliable arm in the bullpen. 

[Brooks The Great]

Keep Cowser and Kjerstad, they're both going to be so good for us for several years. Basallo is untouchable.

Urias could possibly net a middling reliever or low minors pitching prospect. Move him for whatever you can, he's completely expendable with Holliday/Mayo coming and Norby major league ready (even though Norby might wind up playing more DH and RF for the O's than 2B).

O'Hearn and Mateo are worthless. McKenna and Vavra even more worthless - no one even bothered to claim McKenna on waivers. The time to move O'Hearn and Mateo would have been during the offseason or spring training as spare parts in a bigger trade. 

Hays I'd move at the trade deadline for really anything of value. Time to move on and get more playing time for Cowser and Kjerstad.

Norby has clear trade value. Move him for value any time you can, but in the meantime, he should be helping the Orioles RIGHT NOW at DH, RF, and 2B. The Kemp signing was a pathetic joke.

Hopefully Mountcastle takes another step forward this season and maintains his plate discipline gains from last season. So far, so good. He'd have significant trade value in the offseason if so, and I'd move him for MLB-ready pitching or a prospect package.

Edited April 3 by Brooks The Great

[Aristotelian]

There has been a lot of debate about Santander. If you think he could get a QO and either brought back for another year or turned into a draft pick, then we probably keep him. If not, then we probably should trade him as soon as we are confident in handing the reins to Cowser/Kjerstad. 

Most of the guys on the list are the most expendable, but that also means they have the least value and/or we have less leverage to demand good return.

Wagner and Horvath seem like legit prospects with some value who look like they could become the next Norbies.

[oriole]

A trade of a productive vet seems like a counter productive move. I think you’ll either see an unproductive vet or a blocked prospect moved. Norby, an outfielder, maybe even Mayo…or someone like a struggling Urias or Hays. 

[ScGO's]

1 hour ago, Rbiggs2525 said:

Good list. I probably wouldn’t include Mayo or Basallo and add Mullins. We need a reliable arm in the bullpen. 

Thought about adding Mullins, but I don't think we have a true CF replacement yet, and he's also a guy that I think can peak his value for a trade this offseason if he stays healthy and performs well this season

I do not want to see Mayo or Basallo go, but if there's a trade deadline deal that Elias feels he needs to get done and these guys aren't up yet, he might pull the trigger, but it would have to be a DUDE. Crossing my fingers Mayo is up by the end of May and Basallo forces himself onto the roster by Sept

[ScGO's]

30 minutes ago, Aristotelian said:

There has been a lot of debate about Santander. If you think he could get a QO and either brought back for another year or turned into a draft pick, then we probably keep him. If not, then we probably should trade him as soon as we are confident in handing the reins to Cowser/Kjerstad. 

Most of the guys on the list are the most expendable, but that also means they have the least value and/or we have less leverage to demand good return.

Wagner and Horvath seem like legit prospects with some value who look like they could become the next Norbies.

I think the O's are all in on keeping Santander, offering the QO or working out a deal, and taking the draft pick if he leaves. Him and Burnes will bring back 2 draft picks at the very least. Means doesn't bring one back right?

[Aristotelian]

1 minute ago, ScGO's said:

I think the O's are all in on keeping Santander, offering the QO or working out a deal, and taking the draft pick if he leaves. Him and Burnes will bring back 2 draft picks at the very least. Means doesn't bring one back right?

Means would be an interesting case if he puts together a good comeback season. That doesn't appear likely but you never know. But also doubtful he would have any trade value if he doesn't.

[sportsfan8703]

Trade Bait or Spare Parts?

Urias, Kemp, and O'Hearn, are the only position players on the 26 man roster that I could see go, but that would be because we're replacing them with prospects.  Kemp for Holliday.  Urias for Mayo.  O'Hearn for Stowers/Kjerstad.  

The prospects are in play at the deadline for a SP/reliever.  Stowers, Norby, Beavers, Fabian and Haskin as hitters.  Povich, Mcdermott, and Johnson, on the pitching side.  

[DirtyBird]

9 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Povich, Mcdermott, and Johnson, on the pitching side.  

We are not trading pitching prospects who are close to major league ready and creating a pitching hole for next year and beyond that they could have filled.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

With O’Hearn if he does hit well it’s going to make the Orioles less inclined to move him as a left handed bat is a valuable commodity in the postseason.

As it stands O’Hearn isn’t going to have much trade value with only a single productive season. It’s the prospects that are going to garner the most attention in any potential trade. Unless the team makes a bolder move like trading Mountcastle or Hays. 

[Fiver6565]

Sorry, what has happened that I missed that makes you so certain to Norby is ‘obviously bitter’?  The dude is 23 years old, there is plenty of time for him to make this team. 
 

 

[ScGO's]

2 hours ago, Fiver6565 said:

Sorry, what has happened that I missed that makes you so certain to Norby is ‘obviously bitter’?  The dude is 23 years old, there is plenty of time for him to make this team. 
 

 

He tweeted a passive aggressive quote commenting on how he's excited about his 3rd year with the Norfolk Tide

[ScGO's]

2 hours ago, Fiver6565 said:

Sorry, what has happened that I missed that makes you so certain to Norby is ‘obviously bitter’?  The dude is 23 years old, there is plenty of time for him to make this team. 
 

 

https://x.com/norby_connor/status

/1771926993346429413?s=20

[Philip]

I question how much value these guys really have. Also, any team is well aware of our glut of quality, and the resulting eagerness to divest ourselves of older and more expensive guys. No one will give us even value, much less overpay for anybody.

The annoying thing for me is seeing guys like O’Hearn pulling a Nelson Cruz out in right field. That stupid triple looked just like David Freese’s triple in the 2011 World Series. A good fast outfielder would’ve caught it.

We really need to put our best 9 on the field, and in the best places.