Jud Fabian, 2024

[CaptainRedbeard]

9 hours ago, scarey1999 said:

Which is why my very first statement was literally “hope he keeps it up”, meaning continue to play well, thus increasing his trade value, then move him while his value is up.

You all are right in saying he’s not blocked. Pretty obvious he isn’t. However that’s not a good reason to not trade a guy to help you win now if that’s what they choose to do by bringing in pitching help. 

Sure, he’s by no means somebody that the Orioles should be overly resistant to part with if he’s a necessary piece in a deadline deal. But he’s not superfluous in the system so he’s not somebody I would expect they look to offer up as trade bait.

I think the Orioles will try to deal from their strength in infield, corner OF and C, and avoid trying to deal any pitchers or CF. But if the team they’re trading with is demanding pitching or CF in return, Fabian and others the Orioles would probably prefer to hang onto will be on the table. Like when the Orioles traded Zach Showalter in the Flaherty deal last year, likely because the Cardinals were demanding pitching. 

[scarey1999]

3 hours ago, CaptainRedbeard said:

Sure, he’s by no means somebody that the Orioles should be overly resistant to part with if he’s a necessary piece in a deadline deal. But he’s not superfluous in the system so he’s not somebody I would expect they look to offer up as trade bait.

I think the Orioles will try to deal from their strength in infield, corner OF and C, and avoid trying to deal any pitchers or CF. But if the team they’re trading with is demanding pitching or CF in return, Fabian and others the Orioles would probably prefer to hang onto will be on the table. Like when the Orioles traded Zach Showalter in the Flaherty deal last year, likely because the Cardinals were demanding pitching. 

Seems like we’re just going in circles on this. Showalter is exactly a use case for why I think JF could be moved at some point. There’s only a select 2 or 3 on Elias’ absolute no touch list (presumably - but no one knows for sure obviously).  JF would be moved if the right team asks in the right deal as I doubt he’s not on the into untouchable list. We are both ultimately saying the same thing here…I think.

BTW, interesting what the Cards are doing with Showalter, moved to pen and pitching only once a week. Man he’s been dominant. 18.1 IP, 30K and only 13 H and 6 BB allowed this year. I was in the camp that was very disappointed he was moved (even before Flahery came over and clunked). 

[RZNJ]

22 minutes ago, scarey1999 said:

Seems like we’re just going in circles on this. Showalter is exactly a use case for why I think JF could be moved at some point. There’s only a select 2 or 3 on Elias’ absolute no touch list (presumably - but no one knows for sure obviously).  JF would be moved if the right team asks in the right deal as I doubt he’s not on the into untouchable list. We are both ultimately saying the same thing here…I think.

BTW, interesting what the Cards are doing with Showalter, moved to pen and pitching only once a week. Man he’s been dominant. 18.1 IP, 30K and only 13 H and 6 BB allowed this year. I was in the camp that was very disappointed he was moved (even before Flahery came over and clunked). 

I’m curious to see how Showalter does as he moves up.  From what I can remember he’s got a 92-93 mph fastball with a low release point that he’s adept at putting at the top of the zone to get swings and misses.   It plays in low A.   
 

BTW, Jack Flaherty has one of the best walk:strikeout rates in baseball this season.  8 walks. 72 strikeouts. 54 innings.   Too bad we got a different version.

[Frobby]

3 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I’m curious to see how Showalter does as he moves up.  From what I can remember he’s got a 92-93 mph fastball with a low release point that he’s adept at putting at the top of the zone to get swings and misses.   It plays in low A.   
 

BTW, Jack Flaherty has one of the best walk:strikeout rates in baseball this season.  8 walks. 72 strikeouts. 54 innings.   Too bad we got a different version.

People act like getting Flaherty was an idiotic move, but it was a decent move that just worked out poorly. He’d pitched to a 3.45 ERA in the dozen starts before we acquired him.   And he’s showing now that he’s not done.  We just got the short end of the stick.  It happens.  

[RZNJ]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

People act like getting Flaherty was an idiotic move, but it was a decent move that just worked out poorly. He’d pitched to a 3.45 ERA in the dozen starts before we acquired him.   And he’s showing now that he’s not done.  We just got the short end of the stick.  It happens.  

Meanwhile, MLB has Showalter at #17, Prieto #18, and Rom at #28 for the Cardinals.   I don’t think that trade is going to bite us in the butt.

[emmett16]

1 hour ago, RZNJ said:

Meanwhile, MLB has Showalter at #17, Prieto #18, and Rom at #28 for the Cardinals.   I don’t think that trade is going to bite us in the butt.

If Prieto can continue with the power surge, he could be quite serviceable.  He just turned 25 so he's approaching peak.  I imagine the recent power is an SSS, but if it's here to stay he becomes a pretty interesting player. 

[RZNJ]

1 hour ago, emmett16 said:

If Prieto can continue with the power surge, he could be quite serviceable.  He just turned 25 so he's approaching peak.  I imagine the recent power is an SSS, but if it's here to stay he becomes a pretty interesting player. 

We’ll see.  Back in 2022 at Aberdeen he had 7 hr in his first 18 games.   He does look to be hitting the ball in the air more.

[Tony-OH]

3 hours ago, RZNJ said:

Meanwhile, MLB has Showalter at #17, Prieto #18, and Rom at #28 for the Cardinals.   I don’t think that trade is going to bite us in the butt.

Showalter has to stay healthy too. He always look liked his arm was about to break in two on every throw. 

[Jagwar]

5 hours ago, Tony-OH said:

Showalter has to stay healthy too. He always look liked his arm was about to break in two on every throw. 

@Tony-OH... where would you place someone like Fabian or Beavers relative to someone like Markakis when he was in our system at a similar stage of his minor league career?

[Tony-OH]

22 hours ago, Jagwar said:

@Tony-OH... where would you place someone like Fabian or Beavers relative to someone like Markakis when he was in our system at a similar stage of his minor league career?

They'd be below him for sure. Markakis had a pure hit tool and the hope was he would develop more power. He ended up with more doubles power than HR power, but he was obviously a good pick with a great career. 

Both Fabian and Beavers are holding their hold, but still give 4th outfielder vibes though I like Beavers more because of the better hit tool and plate discipline. I just don't know if he brings enough hit tool or power to be an everyday guy. 

Fabian mashes lefties so he looks like a McKenna type guy who still could turn into more.

[Frobby]

Fabian had a pretty nasty 11 game slump from 5/22 - 6/4, during which he hit .100/.182/.150.   Now he’s got it turned around.  Last five games, .474/.524/.789.  His OPS is back up to .780.   

The good news about the recent slump was it wasn’t a K-fest.  He was only striking out 28.3% of the time despite the .332 OPS.  On the season, he’s at 28.2%.  
 

[sportsfan8703]

Cowser being able to play CF has sort of taken away the since of urgency to rush to the platoon of Fabian/EBJ that was sort of envisioned. 

Fabian is one of the more likely trade chips to go in July. 

[CaptainRedbeard]

24 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Cowser being able to play CF has sort of taken away the since of urgency to rush to the platoon of Fabian/EBJ that was sort of envisioned. 

Fabian is one of the more likely trade chips to go in July. 

Cowser still certainly could use a right handed platoon partner in CF, so I don’t think that affects anything for Fabian. But he still could be traded, of course. 

[emmett16]

2 for 4 tonight with his 11th HR on the season.