Option decisions …

[Roll Tide]

On 10/23/2024 at 10:29 AM, Aristotelian said:

What if we could replace him with Kirby Yates on a 1 year deal for the same money? 

Yates was very good in 2023 after returning from injury. In 2024 he was nearly as dominant as he was in 2019. He injured his arm in 2020 and missed all of 2021. I doubt he’s signing a 1 year deal. He’s a much better pitcher than either Soto or Dominquez. So the simple answer to your question is …..You can’t 

[Sports Guy]

8 hours ago, interloper said:

Perez seems like an easy re-up to me. You need arms, they're not all going to be perfect. He's got some strengths.

They all look like easy re-ups but if you do that than you do not have any spots available for an upgrade and the pen needs at least one upgrade.

[Tony-OH]

6 hours ago, e16bball said:

The splits for the second half definitely do kinda look like that on the surface, but it was more an issue of one awful slump, rather than an overall second half swoon, especially in 2023.

In 2023, he really just had a terrible week or so, which unfortunately happened to be the last week of the season. He went 0 for his last 23, dropping his OPS from .855 to .801 in the process. Prior to that dreadful week, he’d posted an .846 OPS in the second half.

This past season, of course, it was almost a whole terrible month — starting right around the day Mountcastle went out. From 8/18 to 9/15, he put up a .411 OPS over the span of 80 PAs. Absolutely awful. But sandwiched around that malaise were two good second half stints, with a combined .926 OPS in 130 second half PAs before and after that tailspin. 
 

Anyhow, I don’t think there’s any way they decline that option. The guy is a quality hitter, so even if they do want to move on — which I don’t think they will — he’d have value to somebody at that relatively low price. Especially if they were willing to eat a few bucks to sweeten the return.

If they somehow get a bona fide starting RF from outside the organization, then I think maybe they move him. You don’t want him blocking Kjerstad again, but at present, I think it’s reasonable to imagine that they could both find 400-500 PAs. 

I just think they need to upgrade from his ABs. He's a solid hitter, but just not a real MOO, which is what this team needs. If the Orioles need one more quality at bat and what we know is the Mountcastle, O'Hearn "platoon" is just not good enough. 

Yes, Mayo is coming but he's got more to prove.

As for O'Hearn, he just doesn't bring much defensive value  to offset his pedestrian .163 ISO. I'm not saying they won't bring him back, but I think they should be looking for an upgrade here.