The only real unique thing from non-competitive behavior is the opportunity to pick at the top of the draft. Many try to add things to this list, but it's really only one thing. Even though draft pool can make a difference, it's still fairly easy to get your down-draft over-slots (certainly true for what the Orioles have done) if you want.
...but for the purposes of this, let's not debate those other things here.
The Orioles draft 17th in 2023. Had a micro shot at Top 6 in the new rules. "Getting stuck in the middle" of the draft is supposedly (that's the narrative) the WORST place to be. The Orioles (and Brewers in the NL) were the first teams out of the playoffs.
1) This isn't really the point, but is anyone lamenting having only the 17th pick in the draft after an improbable run towards the Playoffs last year? Did anyone say..."yeah we might make the playoffs...but our draft position...ugh." I don't recall. This is a little rhetorical because I think the answer is no-one.
2) and more importantly, what are we really giving up by drafting 17 versus top 5?
We know the Orioles selected Kjerstad (2020), Cowser (2021) and Holliday (2022) as a function of their intentional non-competitive behavior.
If you just take the 17th guy in the draft the last 3 years you get Nick Yorke (2020), Matt McLain (2021), Justin Crawford (2022).
Would you trade [intentionally losing] for [81+ wins] in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for the difference between Yorke/McLain/Crawford and Kjerstad/Cowser/Holliday?
I didn't actually like the Yorke pick, so if you look at the opportunity of the 17th pick, you could have made better picks. In 2020 you had a top10 guy like Garrett Mitchell fall to 1-20 and a guy I liked Jordan Walker go to the Cardinals at 1-21. If I was picking 17th in 2020, I'd have probably taken Walker.
I am a fan of McLain (someone I even thought the Orioles might pop at 1-5) so if he was there at 1-17, I'd clearly have taken him.
In 2022, Crawford had some helium for top10 and he'd have been a consideration for me, but it's crazy that Cam Collier fell to 1-18 people were talking about him as an underslot in the Top 5....so If I'm drafting at #17 last year and Cam Collier gets to me...I take him.
Now do the bolded comparison from above....
...would you trade losing bad for 3 years for .500+ non-Playoff seasons 19-21 for the difference between Jordan Walker, Matt McLain and Cam Collier? Heck, I might prefer that group straight up.
In the next draft, there will be quality Talent that will fall to the Orioles at #17. Orioles have done well in the draft and everything else you can do in the draft is basically the same.