8 replies to this topic

[TwentyThirtyFive]

This topic will surely make dude happy. Not trying to look too far ahead here. We can discuss things now and bump this as we head into the offseason as well. The big thing I want to note is how the Os have few pending FAs on their current 26 man roster. At least not many of significance. Gibson, Fuji, Flaherty, Frazier and Hicks. Hicks and Frazier are part time players. So all their starting/essential position players are still under team control. Fuji is a middle relief arm. Will seemingly have to cover at least 1 of the 2 SP spot vacated by Gibson and Flaherty. Obviously some talent in AA/AAA on the cusp as well. Id be looking to really sure up this pen and rotation with 2 or 3 FA signings or trades. Dont need to do a lot more than that.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Snooze until two days after the parade.

Totally fair. I am excited about how many of our key players we still have under team control. It was essentially me starting a thread because of that excitement.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Not sure 2 or 3 signings is enough. Close but pitching still short to me.

 

SP - GRod, Bradish, and Kremer   Need 3 more - Means may be one. Same with Wells. So need a minimum of 1 and probably 2 signings.

 

RP - Bautista, Cano, Baumann, Coulombe, and Perez. Need 3 more - Hall, Baker, Voth, Akin, Webb are internal options. None of them excite me but perhaps Hall will turn into something. So probably need 1 or 2 signings.

 

C - Ruts and McCann is fine

 

2, 3, SS - Henderson, Westburg, Urias, Mateo, Ortiz, and Holliday is fine

 

1B - Mountcastle, O Hearn, and Santander is fine

 

OF - Hays, Mullins, McKenna, Cowser, Santander is ok plus you have Kjerstad. But with Hays and Mullins injury risk I think one signing would be prudent.

 

And while its is a bit early still good to assess where we sit today and note we have two more months this season to see if some help from the farm or injury return is real.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Not sure 2 or 3 signings is enough. Close but pitching still short to me.

SP - GRod, Bradish, and Kremer Need 3 more - Means may be one. Same with Wells. So need a minimum of 1 and probably 2 signings.

RP - Bautista, Cano, Baumann, Coulombe, and Perez. Need 3 more - Hall, Baker, Voth, Akin, Webb are internal options. None of them excite me but perhaps Hall will turn into something. So probably need 1 or 2 signings.

C - Ruts and McCann is fine

2, 3, SS - Henderson, Westburg, Urias, Mateo, Ortiz, and Holliday is fine

1B - Mountcastle, O Hearn, and Santander is fine

OF - Hays, Mullins, McKenna, Cowser, Santander is ok plus you have Kjerstad. But with Hays and Mullins injury risk I think one signing would be prudent.

And while its is a bit early still good to assess where we sit today and note we have two more months this season to see if some help from the farm or injury return is real.

The first 2 you listed in SP are locks assuming health. After that with just internal established MLB guys you have Wells, Kremer, Means, and Irvin. Thats 6 established MLB guys. Granted, some kinds of questions about the last 4 listed here but surely 2 of the rotation spots come from this group. Id like to see them sign or trade for 1 more really good guy. Engage on one of Milwaukee or Miami's SPs or Beiber or Cease. If they resigned a Flaherty or went after a Montgomery in FA it would be fine but Id aim for a guy on the trade market with #1 or #2 upside and then call it a day pairing him with Bradish and GRod as the top 3. Fill in the last 2 spots internally. BP Id love to go get 1 high lev arm in FA or again on trade market. The key here is if its an establisbed closer like say Hader how do you work out who picks up the saves. Not fair to Felix to move him to the 8th but its gonna be hard to convince a Hader to come here and not be the closer.


Im not worried about the position players at all. Def some maneuvering we could do here, especially in the OF, but if you ran everything back position player wise with just internal options we should be really good still.

[mweb08]

Agree with the above from 2035. Add one high level SP and one high leverage reliever and they'd be set. 

 

Now there are still questions regarding the position players, mainly that there are too many qualified options for at corner OF and the non 1B infield positions, but that's a great 'problem' to have. They could of course trade from that excess to address the pitching needs mentioned above. 

 

The one thing I'll disagree with 2035 on to no one's surprise is a Flaherty type is not fine. Do better. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

Agreed on Flaherty and also with pretty much everything else but that laid out by 2035. Flaherty's last 3 starts are basically a microcosm of his entire season. Kremer has the better ERA+ this season. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Between the payroll flexability and trade assets we have finding a top end SP and RP should be accomplished. I think we all likely end up disappointed but we shouldnt have to be disappointed.


As far as Flaherty for me he is a glob guy. So many of them in MLB today. Good luck thinking you know for sure which ones will have the better years. Not that glob is a bad thing btw. Its just that they are 3s or 4s vs 1s or 2s but also gonna give you solid enough outings more than not. Not ideal but wouldnt be the end of the world if we end up with another glob guy.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Yep, echo the above... 1 starter that feels like a 3 or better, and 1 high leverage reliever. 

Probably go into the year with Ortiz starting at SS. 

 

1st / DH / RF becomes interesting next year; especially with the amount of games the O's are going to want to DH Adley.

[BobPhelan]

My opening day prediction for 2024

 

C Adley Rutschman

1B Ryan Mountcastle

2B Jordan Westburg

3B Gunnar Henderson

SS Jackson Holliday

LF Colton Cowser

CF Cedric Mullins

RF Anthony Santander

DH Heston Kjerstad

 

C James McCann

INF Joey Ortiz

OF Ryan McKenna

1B Ryan O'Hearn

 

SP Grayson Rodriguez

SP Kyle Bradish

SP John Means

SP Trade target/FA signing

SP Dean Kremer/Tyler Wells

 

RP Felix Bautista

RP Trade target/FA signing

RP Yennier Cano

RP Danny Coloumbe

RP DL Hall

RP Mike Baumann

RP Jacob Webb/Bryan Baker/Current unknown

RP Tyler Wells/Dean Kremer