I would not pick up O'Hearn 8m option

[ThomasTomasz]

4 minutes ago, DirtyBird said:

The problem isn’t the $7.5 million for O’Hearn. The problem is a manager that feels the need for O’Hearn to be in the lineup every single game where we face a RHP, regardless of how he is performing.

Even in a summer where we had, checks notes, Westburg, Urias, Mateo and Mountcastle all on Injured Reserve (an entire starting infield, mind you, I think a lot of teams would be happy to have all four of those guys starting for them), O’Hearn only received 44 total PAs against left-handers, compared to 29 in 2023. 

They absolutely try to limit him against LHP, but with those four injured during most of August/September, in the worlds of Hulk Hogan, what’cha gonna do?  

[wildcard]

48 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

I want to immediately say, what does it say about Rubenstein that Santa won’t be our RF?

But…

I’m not sure giving Santa 150m is a good move. That Soto guy would be nice. Haha

Maybe you should be a Yankee fan.   They could have Soto and Santander next year.

[wildcard]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

Move Adley and his ailing back to first base. Get rid of Mounty, get rid of O’Hearn.  Our 26 year old leader is already in the back half of his career from a physical perspective.

I don’t care what happens to Mayo. Sorry, Roy. Tired of trying to fit in guys who haven’t earned anything. 

Or they could just let Adley get healthy again.

[wildcard]

40 minutes ago, DirtyBird said:

The problem isn’t the $7.5 million for O’Hearn. The problem is a manager that feels the need for O’Hearn to be in the lineup every single game where we face a RHP, regardless of how he is performing.

It's an 8m option because of a 500K bonus for games played.   And he played more because Mountcastle was hurt.   

[LGOrioles]

I think the team will benefit from potentially no Mountcastle and Santander, two hitters with extreme chase tendencies. O’Hearn’s chase and whiff rates are both some of the best on the team, which they need more of not less. He wasn’t as good in the 2nd half, but is still a valuable piece against RHP’s (123 wRC+ with a low .278 BABIP) that can play 1B or the OF as a last resort. He only had 3 PA’s in the playoffs and they were all good. 

The only problem I see with O’Hearn is that he is LH and the fact that they are going to be so LH heavy next year (Gunnar, Cowser, Mullins, Holliday, Kjerstad). Then Rutschman is obviously a switch hitter. O’Hearn’s skill set is needed (especially considering they are likely integrating 3 batters in Holliday, Kjerstad, and Mayo who collectively had atrocious whiff rates) but they also need good RH bats or they are going to be toast against LHP’s. Maybe they keep Mountcastle instead of O’Hearn, but he is who he is at this point and is worse than O’Hearn. 

[wildcard]

55 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

It’s a borderline call.

Mayo is the first baseman next year imo.  But you should have another one on the roster, at least until Basallo is up.

Are you going to get someone who is as good and cheaper than OHearn?  OTOH, how good is he actually? 
 

 

Mayo has not played 1B everyday in the minors.   He needs that to be a better 1B.   I would start him in AAA next year as the starting 1B.

[casadeozo]

55 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

I want to immediately say, what does it say about Rubenstein that Santa won’t be our RF?

But…

I’m not sure giving Santa 150m is a good move. That Soto guy would be nice. Haha

Not to be dismissed with letting Tony walk in free agency, this Santa nickname no one asked for goes with him. That’s gotta be reason enough to let him walk.

[Sports Guy]

1 minute ago, wildcard said:

Mayo has not played 1B everyday in the minors.   He needs that to be a better 1B.   I would start him in AAA next year as the starting 1B.

Thats what the offseason is for. He has nothing left to prove in AAA. Put in the work in the offseason.

[wildcard]

9 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

Thats what the offseason is for. He has nothing left to prove in AAA. Put in the work in the offseason.

Mayo has nothing to prove at AAA has a hitter.   But he has a lot to prove as a defensive 1B.  He needs to do that in games.   ST will be a test for Mayo at 1B.    But the O's have to have other players in place in case Mayo is not ready defensively.

[Sports Guy]

Just now, wildcard said:

Mayo has nothing to prove at AAA has a hitter.   But he has a lot to prove as a defensive 1B.  He needs to do that in games.   ST will be a test for Mayo at 1B.    But the O's have to have other players in place in case Mayo is not ready defensively.

No he doesn’t need to do it in games. Thats an absurd take heading into the offseason. He needs to spend all of his time on 3 things:

1) first base defense

2) RF defense 

3) getting some of the uppercut out of his swing and leveling it out more.

He has 4.5 months to do those things heading into ST.  That should be his focus. 
 

 

[wildcard]

17 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

No he doesn’t need to do it in games. Thats an absurd take heading into the offseason. He needs to spend all of his time on 3 things:

1) first base defense

2) RF defense 

3) getting some of the uppercut out of his swing and leveling it out more.

He has 4.5 months to do those things heading into ST.  That should be his focus. 
 

 

I am pretty sure that Elias is not going to start Kjerstad in RF, Holliday at 2B and Mayo at 1B at the start of the season.     Kjerstad in RF is likely if Santander is gone.   I think Holliday and Mayo wait their turn.  To many struggling prospects at the same time is not good for wins.

[Sports Guy]

30 minutes ago, wildcard said:

I am pretty sure that Elias is not going to start Kjerstad in RF, Holliday at 2B and Mayo at 1B at the start of the season.     Kjerstad in RF is likely if Santander is gone.   I think Holliday and Mayo wait their turn.  To many struggling prospects at the same time is not good for wins.

I think you have done a poor job of paying attention if you think these things are true but really, I don’t have the energy to go back and forth with you and your ridiculous conspiracy theories and your “well I think” narratives.

If you think they are going to block the elite prospects they have been angling to play for a while, fine.  You can keep thinking that.

[wildcard]

22 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

I think you have done a poor job of paying attention if you think these things are true but really, I don’t have the energy to go back and forth with you and your ridiculous conspiracy theories and your “well I think” narratives.

If you think they are going to block the elite prospects they have been angling to play for a while, fine.  You can keep thinking that.

Maybe it's you that are not paying attention.  Elias has been holding prospects back so there are not too many of them breaking in at the same time for the last two seasons.

[Roy Firestone]

3 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

Move Adley and his ailing back to first base. Get rid of Mounty, get rid of O’Hearn.  Our 26 year old leader is already in the back half of his career from a physical perspective.

I don’t care what happens to Mayo. Sorry, Roy. Tired of trying to fit in guys who haven’t earned anything. 

I have never said and would never say he should be handed the job. But 41 major league at bats(he had just 4 hits) should not be the determining factor in letting him have a shot. The kid can hit. And will. And he could be a lethal bat for the Orioles.