201 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Then they're going to use Kjerstad as a piece in a trade if you think O'Neill is here to get the primary # of ABs in RF, which actually creates another problem because you need some redundancy in RF cuz O'Neill will invariably go down with an injury that sidelines him for a month or so mid-season. 

Yep, that's what I said above. 

 

And again agree about the injury concern...  last 3 years for Santander... 152 games, 153 games, 155 games.... that ability to post-up is incredibly significant. 

Hopefully O'Neill can stay in the lineup more than he has previously, but obviously that doesn't typically improve with age.

[BSLRoseKatz]

Yeah I guess we'll see what Santander gets but it feels like they gave a pretty legit contract to someone who has been less healthy than him and does worse against the pitching handedness you'll see about 66% of the time 

[CantonJester]

Yep, that's what I said above. 

 

And again agree about the injury concern...  last 3 years for Santander... 152 games, 153 games, 155 games.... that ability to post-up is incredibly significant. 

Hopefully O'Neill can stay in the lineup more than he has previously, but obviously that doesn't typically improve with age.

 

Santander is about to start putting up sub .300 OBP seasons. I agree with the decision to move on. 

 

I just think that making him the LH side of a platoon w/ Kj makes as much sense as anything ($16.5m a season to do that is too much? It's 2024, not 1994). Of course, the math changes if Kj can be a piece in a major trade. 

 

Expecting 500+ ABs out of O'Neill is unrealistic. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

I just think that making him the LH side of a platoon w/ Kj makes as much sense as anything ($16.5m a season to do that is too much? It's 2024, not 1994). Of course, the math changes if Kj can be a piece in a major trade. 

There is enough National shared revenue in the game right now, that it's very reasonable (at a minimum) to expect every team to be spending at a certain level.  (Or more succinctly, they have the ability if they want to.)

I was of the opinion that if John Angelos had retained control, that the salaries would have eventually risen to the 2012-16 levels (+ inflation)... so yeah, I think that will be the case (and then some) under Rubenstein. 

I think being be the operative words. 

We will see. 

 

Even if the spending jumps up considerably, I'm a bit skeptical of the O's spending at that level for the lesser part of a platoon.

 

 

 

I think if we were able to jump around the multiverse and see O'Neill get 500 ab's (if he were able to stay in the lineup for that many) and Kjerstad get those same ab's; their production would be similar. 

 

I think the O's decided that even if they agree with that, it was safer to get another bat with some track record, and have Kjerstad available to dangle in a trade. 

 

[CantonJester]

Even if the spending jumps up considerably, I'm a bit skeptical of the O's spending at that level for the lesser part of a platoon.

 

See, I see it as the O's committing $17.3 million to RF next season. The fact O'Neill makes $16.5m of that shouldn't dictate he get the most ABs. Especially when you're concerned with maximizing player value/contribution. 

[BaltBird 24]

The amount of money is the least of my concern. It's essentially a 1-year deal worth about $16.5 million. If he has another year similar to 2024, maybe he opts out. If he has a year similar to 2022-2023, he'll definitely opt in. Either way, he's not breaking the bank.

The offense is basically set aside from figuring out who the back up C is going to be.

[BobPhelan]

O’Neill and Kjerstad can co-exist. Try to keep him healthy by DH’ing him vs RHP and RF vs LHP. Use O’Hearn to acquire a reliever.

[BobPhelan]

The amount of money is the least of my concern. It's essentially a 1-year deal worth about $16.5 million. If he has another year similar to 2024, maybe he opts out. If he has a year similar to 2022-2023, he'll definitely opt in. Either way, he's not breaking the bank.

The offense is basically set aside from figuring out who the back up C is going to be.

I want to trade for Josh Naylor. But most likely yeah.

[BaltBird 24]

I want to trade for Josh Naylor. But most likely yeah.

Not sure Naylor is a huge upgrade over what we'd get from Mountcastle/O'Hearn. Think I'd rather roll with those two, plus Mayo and Kjerstad.

I also like Mountcastle more than most, and I think we'll see his raw numbers spike back up with the wall moving back in some.

[russsnyder]

Good signing for O'Neill and the Orioles.

Hopefully, he avoids the injury bug and mashes all year.

[dude]

I guess we have to wait and see what other moves may be impacted by this so I'll reserve the right to change my mind...

 

...but I don't like anything about it.  The player, the fit, the contract, the cost.  

 

Orioles turn to sign a Boras client to a stupid contract ahead of the next CBA?  Blah.

[mikezpen]

Too much money, but that's the ridiculous world of MLB payroll. Looks like Santander moves on.

[Slidemaster]

It doesn't get me excited per se, but I don't hate it. I mostly like that they're willing to spend some money. Have to think this means Santander is not returning, and Kjerstad could be used as a trade piece.

[BobPhelan]

Too much money, but that's the ridiculous world of MLB payroll. Looks like Santander moves on.

Pretty close to what he was projected to get. If he performs well he can opt out and we can extend the qualifying offer to either get him back for one year or receive a draft pick when he signs elsewhere.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Fine with this. Would hope we add one more proven bat. Make OHearn a bench guy. Trade Mounty. Would love for it to be Santander or Hernandez but more realistically a Joc Pederson or Conforto.

[mdrunning]

Pretty close to what he was projected to get. If he performs well he can opt out and we can extend the qualifying offer to either get him back for one year or receive a draft pick when he signs elsewhere.

Would he even land a contract big enough to trigger a Round A compensation pick? 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

If he can stay on the field I think this is a very good signing.

[CantonJester]

If he can stay on the field I think this is a very good signing.

 

Sure, but it's not if you use this signing to move Kj without signing someone else, cuz this guy's chances of staying healthy are remote. 

[BobPhelan]

Would he even land a contract big enough to trigger a Round A compensation pick?

If he performed well enough to opt out of 2/33 at age 30, I would imagine so.

[NewMarketSean]

I don't see this moving the needle much.

 

He's essentially Santander but with a bigger injury risk.