I feel like this group is linked, like the other 2 groups. You have some alignment decisions inside of it.
Catcher is easy. Adley is awesome. McCann did a great job as the more-than-just-a-backup catcher. Zero reasons not to run the same rotation in 2024.
The only question about catching is extensions. Discussed in Luke's article. Won't rehash my structure, but haven't changed my mind for either Adley or McCann.
1B/DH. It seems like some want to make a platoon out of Mountcastle and O'Hearn.
I think the platoon (again) is McCann and O'Hearn.
At this point, O'Hearn (great 2023 season) is your bridge to Basallo. I'd have been willing to trade SB in the past, but his 2023 season has me making him part of the future. The only question is timing and I'm not in a hurry. Contract considerations for O'Hearn should reflect your development approach to SB.
Mountcastle is interesting. He absolutely crushed for a while after returning and right now, he's probably hitting #4 swapping between 1B and DH depending on McCann/O'Hearn. I think his future is tied to your approach with Mayo. Bob wants him at 3B, but I'm more Henderson-Holliday-Westburg (which I think is your best defensive alignment) which means Mayo is 1B (trade Mounty) or traded (Mounty=1B).
Mayo has over 600 PAs at AA/AAA with a .900+ OPS so if you're comfortable with his defense at 1B (only 30 games), then go ahead and make the transition. You could certainly ride Mountcastle into the 2024 season and look at transition later in the year (Mayo develop more at 1B in AAA).
Under the Not-Going-to-Happen category. If you wanted to buy a little more time in the minors with Mayo, but you wanted a bigger profile that Mountcastle for a year, there's a number of ways to work with the Mets. Pete Alonso just changed agents and given the 2023 struggles, the Mets may be looking at more than just the Talent on the team. There could be a condition (from the Mets side) where they go ahead and move on from the Polar Bear and create a different group.
I have zero expectations (not rounding, just zero) the Orioles would spend that money on him, but it does give the Orioles a bigger ##4 RHed bat profile for a year and you take the Draft pick after 2024 and move onto Mayo for 2025.
