A look ahead to the 2025 payroll

[Rbiggs2525]

Let Santander and Burnes walk for draft picks. Trade the draft picks for legitimate back end relief help ala Mason Miller. Sign Soto to 10-12 years 500-600 million dollar contract. Trade Mayo or Basallo for legitimate number 2 starter. Sign a veteran starting pitcher. 

[Can_of_corn]

37 minutes ago, Rbiggs2525 said:

Let Santander and Burnes walk for draft picks. Trade the draft picks for legitimate back end relief help ala Mason Miller. Sign Soto to 10-12 years 500-600 million dollar contract. Trade Mayo or Basallo for legitimate number 2 starter. Sign a veteran starting pitcher. 

Can't trade them.

[EddeeEddee]

1 hour ago, LookitsPuck said:

Current ages in parenthesis:

Paul Goldschmidt (37), Pete Alonso (29), Rhys Hoskins (31), Anthony Rizzo (35), Josh Bell (32), Rowdy Tellez (29), Christian Walker (33), Ryan O'Hearn (31), Carlos Santana (38)

Not much quantity.

Not much quantity or quality?  Pete Alonso and Christian Walker are both quite good -- at least on offense.  Walker is a bit older but either would be an upgrade over Mountcastle or O'Hearn.  

[EddeeEddee]

1 hour ago, waroriole said:

Just not a good investment on the list. 

Certainly some upgrades over Mountcastle and O'Hearn.  Unless you think Kjerstad can handle first or Basallo will be ready soon, a shorter term deal and reunion with Christian Walker could be nice.  Pete Alonso would be even better but would be a larger investment I'm guessing.

[waroriole]

1 hour ago, EddeeEddee said:

Certainly some upgrades over Mountcastle and O'Hearn.  Unless you think Kjerstad can handle first or Basallo will be ready soon, a shorter term deal and reunion with Christian Walker could be nice.  Pete Alonso would be even better but would be a larger investment I'm guessing.

I don’t think Alonso would be worth what it would cost. Is Walker really that much better than Mountcastle or what we could expect from Mayo/Kjerstad?

[EddeeEddee]

Walker is definitely an upgrade over Mountcastle.  Walker has cleared an .800 OPS the past three seasons.  Mountcastle has only done it once -- his rookie year.  Plus Mountcastle hasn't even cleared 20 homers since 2022.  Mountcastle is good in a platoon, used against lefties, but otherwise he's fallen off.

Walker is 33, which is a bit of a risk, but which makes me think he could be had on a short term deal.  That said I think the O's will have competition for Walker.  He's one of the most underrated bats in the league.  

If the O's think Kjerstad can play 1B then I think they should maybe go with him and look for a new RF (unless they bring back Santander, which seems more unlikely now).  But I don't know about Kjerstad's glove there.

Mayo's glove at 1B may be even more questionable than Kjerstad's.  Plus Mayo just hasn't shown he's ready with his bat yet.  I'm against assuming guys will figure out how to hit MLB pitching within a presumed timeframe.  Mayo hasn't shown he's there yet.  Let him work his way into the lineup rather than giving him a starting job.  But with him there's also the issue of where his defense plays best, or if it plays anywhere.

[wildcard]

The interesting thing about 1B is Mayo.     Elias keeps pushing Mayo at 3B.   But if Westburg is healthy he is better at 3B.   And they don't seem to play Mayo has much as they could at 1B where he might have a better chance at a regular job.    DH might be his best position.

If Santander leaves, then Kjerstad probably gets an every day spot at RF.   Elias might want to see Kjerstad hit well in RF before he hands over 2B to Holliday.   Too many struggling rookies at the same time is not good for wins.   Mayo is  behind Kjerstad and Holliday IMO in getting a lot of playing time.

However, developing Kjerstad, Holliday and Mayo  are key parts of the O's future no  matter how Elias develops them.