201 replies to this topic

[Mackus]

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

If he does well enough to opt out, certainly.

[Mackus]

This is a solid replacement for Santander. Preferred Hernandez but he's probably headed back to LA and more expensive. Think them signing O'Neill tells us the offers for Tony are big and he won't be likely to have to accept a 3-4 year deal.

[jamesdean]

Good power from the right side and strikes out a ton. He'll be lucky to hit .250. Sounds like he'll fit in nicely with the Orioles hitting approach.

[BaltBird 24]

I couldn't care less if his BA is under .250 if he can give us an .850 OPS and an OPS+ 132.

[jamesdean]

I couldn't care less if his BA is under .250 if he can give us an .850 OPS and an OPS+ 132.

I wish they'd bring some hitters on board that can get on base more consistently.  I know there's not too many of them out there today but that's what I'd be targeting.  They have more than enough homerun hitters. 

[BaltBird 24]

O'Neill's OBP would've been 3rd among starters last season, his .332 OBP would've been right behind the other O' on the team for 2nd place at .334.

His .112 BB/PA would've led the team. Only Gunnar at .108 would've even been close.

[BSLRoseKatz]

I wish they'd bring some hitters on board that can get on base more consistently.  I know there's not too many of them out there today but that's what I'd be targeting.  They have more than enough homerun hitters. 

 

There's a career .421 OBP hitter out there but he'd require about 700 million dollars to acquire haha

[jamesdean]

There's a career .421 OBP hitter out there but he'd require about 700 million dollars to acquire haha

I know. (LOL) The Orioles are more than set in the power department. They need some hitters who can get on base more often. Otherwise, you'll be looking at the same issues that plagued this team last year.

[Mackus]

Guess this deal closes the book on the One Year Only era Orioles. Excited to see what else they do.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Guess this deal closes the book on the One Year Only era Orioles. Excited to see what else they do.

 

Unless they're banking on him to do well enough to exercise the opt-out, but with his injury history I wouldn't count on that $16.5M being available for '26 and '27 at all.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I do like that they were proactive. Hernandez and Santander were prefered but both are gonna wait til after Soto signs and likely have big money thrown at them. Oneill isnt that far behind both when hes healthy.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

The one thing Id like to see with ONeill is his defense. How far has it really fell off? Hard to find defensive video anywhere

[BaltBird 24]

Hard to believe he's gone from a plus defender with back to back gold gloves to a below average guy in a year or two. He's still only 29. Sprint speed has really gone down, however, so maybe the injuries took a toll. I wouldn't worry as much if he's playing RF.

He's definitely a more volatile option than Hernandez or Santander, but the upside is probably greater.

[tennOsfan]

All we can hope for is O'Neill busts his rear this year and rakes so he can exercise that option.

[dude]

All we can hope for is O'Neill busts his rear this year and rakes so he can exercise that option.

 

This is the Conforto, Hoskins, Bellinger contracts that last couple years with the bonus of more down-side risk.  

[mweb08]

It's great to add a lefty masher given the makeup of the roster, but I'm not loving the idea of him playing everyday against righties unless he improves in that regard. I know his contract suggests otherwise, but I'd be happy to see a lefty cut into his playing time vs righties. 

 

I'll be really sad to see Anthony go, and while this seems like a downgrade to me, I don't really fault the O's for not keeping him if the contract ends up being substantial.

 

But hey, maybe I'll be wrong about Santander like I was about Nelson Cruz who I view in a similar regard even though the former is a few years younger than Cruz was at the time he departed. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Who knows with Tony. I think it was smart to lock up ONeill before the bidding got crazy for Santander and Hernandez. Wont be surprised to hear we offered Tony a fair contract but he ends up getting Tor or Bos to way overpay

[mdrunning]

Who knows with Tony. I think it was smart to lock up ONeill before the bidding got crazy for Santander and Hernandez. Wont be surprised to hear we offered Tony a fair contract but he ends up getting Tor or Bos to way overpay

Or the Yankees. With what they were offering Soto, they could easily sign both Tony and Burnes.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Or the Yankees. With what they were offering Soto, they could easily sign both Tony and Burnes.

I do think Tony stays in the AL East. All 3 of those teams were in and missed out on Soto.

[NewMarketSean]

Santander to the NYY is happening. No doubt in my mind.