56 replies to this topic

[NewMarketSean]

Not expecting a whole lot from him. Finished the season ice cold, including the playoffs. Have to think last year was his career year. See what happens in 2024 but he's not a guy I am letting work through a prolonged slow start. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

Orioles' O'Hearn eager to prove last year wasn't 'a fluke' - BaltimoreBaseball.com

[BSLChrisStoner]

• 'It's an honor': O'Hearn emerging as O's veteran leader

[LukeRollfinke]

Wanted to give O'Hearn a shoutout for his play so far. Felt like he was an obvious regression candidate but throughout the offensive struggles he has remained a consistent bat at the top of the lineup. He has also already tallied four walks which is a great sign considering that he only walked 15 times all of last season. I expect that as soon as he slumps in the slightest people will be calling for his head and saying he's "blocking" Kjerstad but he has shown he has plenty of value and deserves a shot to stay in Baltimore for the foreseeable future.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Did we know we apparently have a 7.5 mil team option on OHearn next year. Dont remember reading that anywhere on the board. Came across that on bball ref a second ago.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Did we know we apparently have a 7.5 mil team option on OHearn next year. Dont remember reading that anywhere on the board. Came across that on bball ref a second ago.

Not only was it discussed here but I specifically commented on it. Im telling you growing old and forgetting things sucks. This option was breaking news to me 5 min ago

[dude]

Can't wait to get rid of some of these guys.  Yes, that's sarcasm.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Savant numbers are off the charts. What a find. One of the legit best hitters in baseball right now. Prob should be giving him a bit more exposure to LHP and see what he does with it

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Today, picking between O'Hearn and Santander, I am keeping O'Hearn all day and its not close.

[NewMarketSean]

Not expecting a whole lot from him. Finished the season ice cold, including the playoffs. Have to think last year was his career year. See what happens in 2024 but he's not a guy I am letting work through a prolonged slow start. 

Happy to be wrong on him.

[dude]

We need to trade him for a relief pitcher and play a younger player that is part of the future.  If you are over 25, let alone 30, you have nothing to do do with this team.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

We need to trade him for a relief pitcher and play a younger player that is part of the future.  If you are over 25, let alone 30, you have nothing to do do with this team.

Well except helping us win.

[dude]

Well except helping us win.

 

No, players over 25 cannot help you win.  It is ONLY youth that matters.  

 

You know that I'm mocking the absurdity of nearly everyone else, right?

[Nigel Tufnel]

Law's free agent rankings.  He says he expects the O's to decline O'Hearn's option, but I'm not convinced.

 

21. Ryan O’Hearn, 1B

 

O’Hearn has always hit the ball hard, but it came with a lot of strikeouts — as many as 158 in one of his minor-league seasons — and as a result he didn’t get semi-regular playing time until Baltimore purchased his contract from the Royals before the 2023 season. Not only did he get the most playing time of his career (494 PA) in Baltimore, he improbably became a contact hitter, going from a 22 percent K-rate in 2023 to 14 percent this most recent year. The Orioles helped him with his mechanics in 2023, including keeping his hips more online during his swing, and this year helped him change his swing decisions. For example, in full counts, he swung 68 percent of the time in 2024, down from 88 percent the year before. He might be a hidden gem in the class, as he’s just a completely different hitter than he was before, and he’s never even gotten 500 PA to prove it.

[Mackus]

I'd be very surprised if they decline the option, haven't even really considered that.  He did limp to the finish line this year, but so did basically everyone else except Mullins.

[BaltBird 24]

I'll be shocked if they don't pick up the option. Still very good advanced metrics despite struggling at the end of the season.

[dude]

Law's free agent rankings.  He says he expects the O's to decline O'Hearn's option, .....

 

Unsurprisingly, that's terrible analysis.  Sure let's leave CONTEXT out of the decision making.

 

The WAY, WAY, WAY most likely scenario is the Orioles pick up the option, use O'Hearn in a similar DH/1B compliment role to a RHed hitting C like they have the last 2 years as a bridge to Basallo entering the picture later in 2025 (and into the future).

 

Even if the Orioles somehow envisioned another player in that role or pushing Basallo or something else, there's still probably a dozen teams that would want O'Hearn.

 

I think if we're rounding to the nearest percent, it's 100% they pick up the option.