This is a version of the Baseline roster thread, but intended more - at this point - for discussion.
If we don't know something we don't know yet...like someone is missing the season or hurt in a way that changes this, ok, but for everything we know right now, the opening day roster will be a function of MLB Rules and MLB contracts. If the Orioles are using some of these contracts to get a guy through waivers to AAA for depth, ok, but AAA is pretty full too.
Lineup
CF Mullins
C Rutschman
3B Henderson
1B Mountcastle
RF Santander
LF Hays
DH O'Hearn
2B Westburg
SS Mateo
Bench
C McCann
IF Urias
OF Hilliard
OF McKenna
Starters
1. Burnes
2. Means
3. GRod
4. Bradish
5. Kremer
Bullpen
RH Kimbrel
RH Cano
RH Baumann
RH Tate
RH TWells
LH Irvin
LH Coulombe
LH Perez
Bullpen here doesn't include Akin, Zimmerrmann, Davidson, Webb, Baker, Heasley. Not clear on the option status of all of them, varies depending on the source. You can probably pass a guy like Zimmermann through waivers, but not some of them.
A guy like Hilliard would have a pretty limited role in terms of expected ABs. He's a LHed bat off the bench could obviously see some corner OF, 1B, DH, but it's not some full-platoon role of something like that. Replacing him with Cowser or Kjerstad wouldn't seem to change that. I can't see a Hays/Cowser platoon or something like that. That would seem to push all of the younger options to AAA.
People talk about a "RHed bat"....instead of who? Mckenna? We already are pretty heavy in terms of RHed bats, including the guys that hope to break into the lineup (Mayo, Norby). Mateo and Urias don't have options (not that it would even be a thing to do it). Guys like Mountcastle and O'Hearn do have options....would they really send them down for OD?
Barring injury, the rotation seems pretty set. The bullpen is too. "add another RP" kicks someone out but I don't know who gives you better cost/performance risk over a guy like Baumann.
That pushes all of the prospects to AAA.
1B/3B Mayo
2B Norby
SS Holliday
CF Cowser
RF Kjerstad
LF Stowers
Not to turn this into another Holliday thread (but it certainly applies) but the other 5 guys there all have more and better AAA performance than Jackson heading into the season.
All of them should be getting everyday ABs at AAA versus some limited bench role (Hilliard) in Baltimore.
Personally, I'm ok going into the season like that. My preference is we open up opportunity for guys like Kjerstad (vs Santander) and Mayo (versus Mountcastle) to compete for RoY this year.
Everyone doesn't fit.