If you were GM, what would you do about the AAA depth?

[RZNJ]

I would keep Urias, trade Mateo, and call up Norby.   We lose the PR of Mateo but Urias is a steadier glove at 2B backing up Holiday and Hayes can back up CF or slide to LF when Cowser spells Cedric.  Norby can be an emergency 2B and get some DH and outfield starts and PH.

Without injury I don’t see roles for Kjerstad and Mayo.  It might be unfair but Kjerstad is the RF in wait.   Mayo?   I’d have to explore trades for Mountcastle next off season, hopefully, coming off a career year.

Stowers to the WS, Rockies, whoever just to give him a better opportunity.

[TheWall]

7 minutes ago, interloper said:

Good post and I basically agree with everything. I will quibble with Norby - I think he is a little better OF than people might think. Think Holliday at 2B - room for improvement, but plenty capable. The second Hays goes down with an injury, it's Norby I'm calling up, not Kjerstad, to provide that RH OF bat. 

I haven't watched enough of Norby to know how good he is in the OF. I just know he has limited experience thus far. Glad to hear. 

[btdart20]

Let them continue to get full-time PAs in AAA.

* Wait until Holliday gets his sea legs under him.

* See what happens with Bradish/Means.

* See how Urias/Hays play in that time too.  Same with Cowser.

Then make a decision.

Norby's fate is tied to Hays IMO.  Mayo is tied to Urias.  HK and Stowers are roster expansion options or the other end of a long leash for Santander and O'Hearn.

FWIW, I think Urias is the low man on the roster for now.  But I highly doubt they'll bring up anyone to sit the bench like Urias.

[DirtyBird]

18 minutes ago, interloper said:

The second Hays goes down with an injury, it's Norby I'm calling up, not Kjerstad, to provide that RH OF bat. 

Even if Kjerstad is hitting LHP better?

[interloper]

1 minute ago, DirtyBird said:

Even if Kjerstad is hitting LHP better?

Yes, because I know Hyde still won't play him vs LHP lol. 

[sportsfan8703]

Keep it as “depth”. We’ll need it to add to this team this season and to replace Burnes, Means, Kimbrel, Santa, and possibly O’Hearn/Mullins/Hays. 

I’m not writing Hays off yet. O’Hearn also agreed to give us a $3 million option for next season. Santa will be gone. The big decision will be Mullins.  I see the replacements lining up like this…

Hays -> Stowers, Norby

Santa -> Kjerstad

Urias -> Mayo

Mullins -> Cowser?  EBJ? Mateo?

Kimbrel -> Bautista

Means -> Povich

Burnes -> We’ll have to make another trade again. Basallo will be untouchable. 

[MCO'sFan]

25 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

I keep hearing this "defensive replacement" thing about Urias. And I just don't get it. None of Gunnar, Westburg, or Holliday are guys that you want to replace and take reps away from. They are your mainstays.

Also, unless Mayo's defense is better than Westburg's (this year or next - which is probably not very likely) his role on this team will probably be primary Dh next year (when O'Hearn is gone) with a few starts a week in the field. I can't see a need for a "5th infield starter" role with guys who are going to be every day (140- 150+ games per year players).

I Can see a 5th infielder role. I'm not saying it will or should happen but Westburg could move around infield giving guys a day off or having them DH from time to time. Perhaps he could even play OF against tough LHP. He could get around 400 ABs that way. 

[Matt Bennett]

Urias has little to do with Mayo. He hasn’t gotten a start since Holliday has been up. Mateo has been the useful one off the bench. He keeps hitting LHP well, plays great D up the middle, and can fly. 

IDK where Urias’ at-bats come from. This is not the role you ever want Coby Mayo filling. 

[Bahama O's Fan]

Right now, I would be calling every team that might be willing to trade pitching, starters or relievers. This is the year to go for it. I am offering any of those in AAA or some of our MLB players that are blocking them or are going to be leaving soon anyway (Santander, Hays, Urias, Mateo), depending on what the return is. 

Not related to this, but the other thing that I would do as GM right now it trying my best to get Burnes to sign and extension and then extend our young stars. 

 

[interloper]

Just now, Matt Bennett said:

Urias has little to do with Mayo. He hasn’t gotten a start since Holliday has been up. Mateo has been the useful one off the bench. He keeps hitting LHP well, plays great D up the middle, and can fly. 

IDK where Urias’ at-bats come from. This is not the role you ever want Coby Mayo filling. 

And Westburg is really playing well, too, and producing at the plate. 

So... yeah, I don't know where Mayo is going to get ABs from honestly. And the way we've started off so poor on defense, I don't really see us adding another sub-par defensive player to the starting lineup. It's tough, but as long as he's striking out and making errors as much as he is, Elias is plenty justified in leaving Mayo at Norfolk for now. It's a long season. 

[MCO'sFan]

To answer the OP. I am not in a hurry to do anything. I think that people just are not used to having this much depth. None of these guys have to be promoted. They all have things they can/should improve. Let it play out and maintain the depth. Norby and Mayo aren't even on the 40 man.

[vab]

I don't think you'll see these prospects shoe-horned onto the roster just because they're too good for triple-A. The thing to do is either trade them or trade someone currently on the roster to free up a spot. Of course, you need a partner for a trade and nobody's ready to pack it in three weeks into the season but we'll get there. Seattle, Miami and Cleveland look like potential trade partners for pitching help. 

[Jim'sKid26]

Absolutely nothing. 

The initial assumption of the OP is that there are 4 players ready to be promoted. I disagree. 

1) Judging a player by his offensive stat line alone makes for poor decisions.

2) This completely underestimates the challenges of transitioning from AAA to MLB. (nearly every one of the blue chip players that the O's have promoted in the last 2-3 years have struggled in their initial promotion to the MLB)

3) This completely underestimates to skill, experience and defensive prowess of the current players on the O's MLB roster.

4) Holiday is currently making the transition now, as the #1 prospect in baseball, and has struggled. Having one prospect at a time struggle in transition allows for a competitive team at the MLB level. Having 4 prospects struggle all at once could be a disaster.

[interloper]

11 minutes ago, Jim'sKid26 said:

Absolutely nothing. 

The initial assumption of the OP is that there are 4 players ready to be promoted. I disagree. 

1) Judging a player by his offensive stat line alone makes for poor decisions.

2) This completely underestimates the challenges of transitioning from AAA to MLB. (nearly every one of the blue chip players that the O's have promoted in the last 2-3 years have struggled in their initial promotion to the MLB)

3) This completely underestimates to skill, experience and defensive prowess of the current players on the O's MLB roster.

4) Holiday is currently making the transition now, as the #1 prospect in baseball, and has struggled. Having one prospect at a time struggle in transition allows for a competitive team at the MLB level. Having 4 prospects struggle all at once could be a disaster.

Huh? The OP is not at all advocating for bringing up all 4 guys at once. 

[Jim'sKid26]

2 minutes ago, interloper said:

Huh? The OP is not at all advocating for bringing up all 4 guys at once. 

The direct quote is " We have 4x guys in AAA ready to be promoted... " you can interpret that as you see fit.