152 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

They still are pretty thin depth wise. I think Mayo will get plenty of AB. Either TON will get hurt, or one of the catchers, or someone else that the trickle down will end up with Mayo at DH a ton. The lineup is great...if it stays healthy. But who is going to play CF? And one injury...two injuries...what does the lineup look like? 

 

Cowser is going to play CF, and if he doesn't perform or gets hurt, Bradfield will be up. 
 

Alonso 1st.

 

Rutschman / Basallo DH. 

 

Beavers RF... TON RF / DH. 

 

Injuries and non-performance happen, and in those cases, it would be good to have Mayo around.
And he's got lots of team control left, and should be a useful productive bat during that control.

 

If Wesburg got injured you could have him stand at 3rd.
If Holliday got hurt, you could have Westburg move to 2nd, and have Mayo stand at 3rd.

But he's basically a 1st / DH type, and you have lots of that already.

Makes more sense imo to trade him as a piece towards a starter, than to keep him around in case of fire break glass scenarios.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Taveras is still likely a pretty good defensive CF. Then EBJ isnt far away. He will make his debut this year if healthy. The Os lineup around him hopefully is strong enough that you can carry a defensive first speedy CF.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

There does need to be more emphasis on defense this year. I know Albernaz will work harder on fundamentals but you still need talent too. Can say thats where my concern comes in from a lineup perspective. Unless Cowser gets moved back to LF or RF I dont know that we have an above avg defender on the field.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Taveras is still likely a pretty good defensive CF. Then EBJ isnt far away. He will make his debut this year if healthy. The Os lineup around him hopefully is strong enough that you can carry a defensive first speedy CF.

 

Right, and you can carry Beavers vs. forcing Mayo into RF because you are hoping for that power.

If you want to keep Mayo, it's really RF, or you trade Adley.

[Slidemaster]

I don't know if they care to wait on the prospects any longer. They may trade Mayo for something more proven just in the interest of getting an immediate return.

[Mike B]

I keep checking for the announcement making this deal official.  The pending physical thing makes me nervous.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Seems Red Sox didnt want to go 5 years either. There def is some risk here. The 31 mil AAV is about right but seems other teams didnt want to go beyond 3 years. 4 at most.

[Mackus]

Right, and you can carry Beavers vs. forcing Mayo into RF because you are hoping for that power.

If you want to keep Mayo, it's really RF, or you trade Adley.

Mayo to RF is the one configuration that could work. If he isn't traded, I'd guess he returns to Norfolk as an outfielder to start the year.

[Mackus]

Seems Red Sox didnt want to go 5 years either. There def is some risk here. The 31 mil AAV is about right but seems other teams didnt want to go beyond 3 years. 4 at most.

The team that signs the player usually goes a year longer than everyone else. Often, if not usual.

[CantonJester]

The team that signs the player usually goes a year longer than everyone else. Often, if not usual.

 

The Sox offer was reportedly for less years and *significantly* less money. IOW, they were never serious about obtaining him. 

[Mike B]

Mayo to RF is the one configuration that could work. If he isn't traded, I'd guess he returns to Norfolk as an outfielder to start the year.

I am not sure that would work.

I am concerned about out outfield defense as is.

Cowser will be good enough in center but much better in left.

Ward in left seems like a big ask.

TON in right is just bad.

Beavers will be okay in RF and hopefully okay in left.

 

The defense needs to get better

[weird-O]

I am not sure that would work.

I am concerned about out outfield defense as is.

Cowser will be good enough in center but much better in left.

Ward in left seems like a big ask.

TON in right is just bad.

Beavers will be okay in RF and hopefully okay in left.

 

The defense needs to get better

I agree, that's a suspect OF

[BSLRoseKatz]

For Beavers as a trade chip...the ROY draft pick rule surely doesn't count if he gets traded, right?

[BSLSteveBirrer]

The OF defense is what it is. They aren't upgrading it short of trading Cowser or eating a bunch of TONs contract.

[BaltBird 24]

I think Cowser will be solid in CF. Not too worried about Beavers no matter if it's LF or RF. I expect Ward to be average. Not a superb OF, but not going to kill you, either.

[RichardZ]

Regarding Alonso. He’s signed because we significantly outbid everyone. That’s a good thing. There was no deadline that said he had to sign this week for whatever the best offer was. We could have done what everyone complains about and just be the best offer by a little. Maybe he shops it around. Maybe they wait to see if the Red Sox miss out on Bregman.

We paid a premium, but fair, price and closed the deal. Bingo

Regarding the defense. It’s average in most spots and clearly below average on the right side of the infield. It is what it is. The two easiest ways to upgrade the defense is to replace/move Holliday or hope against hope that he improves. Limiting Alonso’s time at 1B is another option. Whoever is left, Basallo, Mayo, Mountcastle probably all move better. The defense shouldn’t drag the team down if the pitching and hitting come through but I mentioned two ways to improve. Holliday is probably going to need to breakout offensively to justify his defense at 2B.

[Mackus]

For Beavers as a trade chip...the ROY draft pick rule surely doesn't count if he gets traded, right?

I know it doesn't count if you sign a contract before you debut. But not sure what would happen if he was dealt and then wins ROY. My guess would be he still earns the pick for his new team.

[Mackus]

The Sox offer was reportedly for less years and *significantly* less money. IOW, they were never serious about obtaining him.

Tigers reportedly offered 4.

Who knows for how much. If the O's are a year longer and a couple mill more per year, that's within range of a typical winning bid. Maybe there is an Orioles Tax on top of that, but I don't think it's substantial.

[mdrunning]

I know it doesn't count if you sign a contract before you debut. But not sure what would happen if he was dealt and then wins ROY. My guess would be he still earns the pick for his new team.

If the player debuts for his new team, then yes, he still qualifies for PPI. If he's traded after debuting, then he's ineligible.

 

Joey Ortiz is one example. Although he retained his rookie status when he was dealt to Milwaukee as part of the Corbin Burnes deal in February of 2024, he lost his PPI eligibility since he'd already made his major league debut with the Orioles the previous season.

 

Just for the record, I had to look that up to be sure.

[dude]

My comments were pretty benign because I've discussed this before....

 

You still don't really know what you have with Mayo, and I'd take 40 & 120 year in and year out over "unproven". 

 

There's a lot more to discuss here, but we seem to accept certain things and have worked not to accomplish other things.  If you think Alonso is going to be 40/120 every year, I'll take the under.

 

I don't know why people can't just be happy with this move and then move on.  Some of you need to look on the bright side once in a while.

 

Not sure what you want me to be "happy" about.  I get that some people like this for their reasons.  I put zero weight into those things and am much more concerned about other aspects of the deal and how it impacts winning.

 

My opinion is out there before the signing and I'll stay consistent.  Consistency would not be the norm for a lot of the commentary (or lack thereof) about this.

 

I'll stick with my opinion.  Winning is more important my opinion.  We'll see.