252 replies to this topic

[RichardZ]

Mounty is under control through 2026. Not just the end of this year.

True, but he’s still maybe not even un upgrade over Hoskins for this year. I suppose if they were going to slide Hoskins to DH and play Mountcastle at 1B it makes sense. They’re certainly not going to trade for Mountcastle and bench or release Hoskins.

[makoman]

Hoskins is owed $22M after this year too, I would guess it's doubtful he opts out after a relatively poor year.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

True, but he’s still maybe not even un upgrade over Hoskins for this year. I suppose if they were going to slide Hoskins to DH and play Mountcastle at 1B it makes sense. They’re certainly not going to trade for Mountcastle and bench or release Hoskins.

Agreed

[dude]

That Cincy ballpark is tiny, Mounty probably would become a monster in there.

 

Cincy isn't interested in Mountcastle.  They have CES.  He's struggled and mostly hurt this year, but they have him and several other guys at the position for years..  

[dude]

That’s not enough difference, IMO, to pull the plug on your FA 1B and give something up to get a guy who might, might not, be better from now thru the end of the year.

 

If MIL wanted Mountcastle, they could have worked that into the Burnes trade.  They wanted to do the Hoskins thing for whatever reasons and I seriously doubt they're undoing it.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

The problem is, I am afraid, is that we didn't get anything done already (I know big trades usually are the last day orvtwo) but every GM out there knows we suck right now and they are going to really put the screws to us if we really want any difference makers.

[BobPhelan]

Mountcastle is pulling the ball like 15% of the time this month which is incredibly bad. I think he’s been playing banged up but still I’d trade him in a heart beat if someone is interested.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Mountcastle is pulling the ball like 15% of the time this month which is incredibly bad. I think he’s been playing banged up but still I’d trade him in a heart beat if someone is interested.

He’s a throw in. You toss him in to entice the other team to pull the trigger

[Mackus]

The problem is, I am afraid, is that we didn't get anything done already (I know big trades usually are the last day orvtwo) but every GM out there knows we suck right now and they are going to really put the screws to us if we really want any difference makers.

I can't imagine every team being stupid enough to take 90 cents on the dollar instead of 100 from us because they're holding out for 120. One team, sure. But not all the teams with pieces to sell. And we don't need one particular price, lots of combos to get us back on track SP and RP.

[makoman]

The problem is, I am afraid, is that we didn't get anything done already (I know big trades usually are the last day orvtwo) but every GM out there knows we suck right now and they are going to really put the screws to us if we really want any difference makers.

I don't think this happens. It's not like we're the only team shopping for pitching. Probably 12 or 15 teams think they're contenders and everybody wants pitching, there is going to be a market. We'll either offer the best package or we won't, so we'll get the deal or we won't. The sellers aren't going to try and analyze who is desperate and refuse the best deal from us and require more because we need them more. If we have the best deal we have the best deal. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Mountcastle is pulling the ball like 15% of the time this month which is incredibly bad. I think he’s been playing banged up but still I’d trade him in a heart beat if someone is interested.

His approach has been out of whack for quite awhile. Apparent to me the Wall is in his head and he felt the need to stay up the middle to right center. At times its painful watching him try to stay inside the ball for so long. I think once he moves on and gets back to being himself he will def slug better. Teams should be looking to buy low on him

[RichardZ]

The problem is, I am afraid, is that we didn't get anything done already (I know big trades usually are the last day orvtwo) but every GM out there knows we suck right now and they are going to really put the screws to us if we really want any difference makers.

What’s different? The seller is always going to try and get as much as he can. There are multiple teams in on all of these guys. You have to make the best offer regardless. The team selling rentals doesn’t have much choice, especially on relievers. They aren’t going to offer a QA to Carlos Estevez. They have to trade him or they wind up with nothing. For the starters the offer has to be better than a comp pick, assuming they’re even entitled to one. Did you think they’d give these guys away for less if we had won our last 3?

[jamesdean]

Elias really only has 3 options.  One, he does nothing and says that he believes in the roster the way it's currently constructed, that he's confident they'll get hot again, and that Holliday and Mayo will be up with the team soon.  Two, he goes all in for one of the big fish and trades Holliday or Mayo in a sizeable package.  Or three, he decides to compromise, hold on to his prize possessions and trades for a 2nd tier pitcher/pitchers by using Hays, Mountcastle & Urias as bait along with lesser prospects.  I still think the last option is what he ultimately does.  Skubal is not going anywhere, so I think you should let go of that fantasy.  The White Sox obviously will be in play and that's probably the best chance the Orioles have of getting a stud starter.  I doubt it happens.  Look for Elias to protect Holliday and Mayo and get a couple of pitchers who aren't going to set the world on fire but will be an improvement of who's on the roster right now. 

[Mackus]

Look for Elias to protect Holliday and Mayo and get a couple of pitchers who aren't going to set the world on fire but will be an improvement of who's on the roster right now.

This is the best plan forward, IMO.

Also entirely possible guys like Eovaldi or Eflin of Fede out-pitch Skubal in September and October. He's gonna be deep beyond what he's done before by that point. The attractive part of he or Crochet is '25 & '26 moreso than them being clearly better the rest of '24 than the alternative options.

[Mackus]

Offense has to fix itself. I believe it can and the stumbles haven't directly hurt the standings since the Yankees have been bad also. Nice to be able to absorb your worst month of the year and maintain or increase your lead. Hopefully they'll take advantage of that gift the rest of the way and to October.

[NewMarketSean]

I would say the O's should try to play small ball until they fix their offensive problems. Bunt a runner over, aim for sac flies, etc. But they can't even do that with bases loaded and less than 2 outs most of the time so that point is likely moot anyway.

[jamesdean]

I would say the O's should try to play small ball until they fix their offensive problems. Bunt a runner over, aim for sac flies, etc. But they can't even do that with bases loaded and less than 2 outs most of the time so that point is likely moot anyway.

They're just not built for small ball.  It would be a radical departure from how they go about things offensively.  Maybe it's a sad commentary on offense in general with today's game but the Orioles are still the 2nd best offense in baseball.  It's hard to argue with the results unless you just prefer a different style of how to produce runs.  I wish they were more patient at the plate, drew more walks, improved their OBP and hit better with RISP.  They go through periods where they're doing all of that but then can get lost within themselves and struggle for several games.  When things go south, it's tough to watch.  And they seem to do it as a whole line-up instead of it just being a couple of guys.  Adley slumping has really hurt in my opinion and Gunnar has showed signs of heading into one too.  Those are your top two hitters.  I don't know what you can do really but ride it out and hope the slump doesn't last much longer. 

[Nigel Tufnel]

I would say the O's should try to play small ball until they fix their offensive problems. Bunt a runner over, aim for sac flies, etc. But they can't even do that with bases loaded and less than 2 outs most of the time so that point is likely moot anyway.

 

Smalllball isn't a great strategy when you're giving up 6 runs a game, but they kind of tried that on Tuesday, and ended up with two outs on the bases that completely killed rallies.  I think the offense just needs to try easier.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Rosenthal on the O's:

 

MLB trade deadline watch: O’s open to Jack Flaherty reunion, Marlins relievers are popular and more - The Athletic (nytimes.com)

 

Normally when a rental acquisition underperforms for his new club, that club wants no part of a reunion. But in the case of Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty, the Baltimore Orioles would not rule out trading for him again, according to a source briefed on the team’s thinking.

 

While Flaherty, 28, was far from a success after joining the Orioles from the St. Louis Cardinals at last year’s deadline, Baltimore officials recognized he was pitching under extenuating circumstances. He already had thrown 109 2/3 innings after combining for only 154 2/3 the previous three seasons due to injuries. The Orioles knew he might wear down, but their choices in a thin market were limited. So, when Flaherty stumbled to a 6.75 ERA in 34 2/3 innings, it wasn’t exactly a surprise.

 

The problem with Flaherty for the Orioles is that he is again a rental, and Baltimore’s greater need is for a controllable starter. Among their current pitchers, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer are perhaps the only certain members of their Opening Day rotation in 2025. Corbin Burnes is eligible for free agency. Three others — Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells and John Means, who also is a potential free agent — will be recovering from major elbow surgeries.

 

Controllable starters, though, are extremely difficult to acquire. The perception in the industry is that the Tigers are unlikely to trade Tarik Skubal and the Chicago White Sox might not trade Garrett Crochet. Flaherty, who on Wednesday lowered his ERA to 2.95, might be the best starter traded. And considering the intense demand for starting pitching, other teams might outbid the Orioles.

 

In addition to searching for a starting pitcher, the Orioles are checking in on virtually every quality reliever available and entertaining interest in some of their veteran position players, sources said.

 

From the latter group, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle would be perhaps the most likely to go. Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Urías and Anthony Santander all can play first. Moving Mountcastle also would clear a spot for top prospect Coby Mayo, a corner infielder who entered Wednesday batting .297 with 19 homers and a .967 OPS at Triple A.

 

A trade of center fielder Cedric Mullins would appear less likely.

[Mackus]

Elias and Sig do seem like the type that would trust their model and not be offput by the bad personal experience with Flaherty last season.  I'm not such a type, or at least not so much of that type that I can let it go.  I'll be uninspired if Flaherty is acquired, even if he's one of two additions.  He's not on my list at all.