The Orioles’ 40-man roster received deeper Tuesday night when Baltimore added a handful of its high prospects to guard them from being chosen in subsequent month’s Rule 5 draft.
But even with the likes of beginning pitcher Grayson Rodriguez and shortstop Joey Ortiz within the fold, the Orioles might clearly nonetheless improve at each of these positions because the offseason continues. The free company market options each premier aces and top-tier shortstops, and with Orioles government vice chairman and normal supervisor Mike Elias saying he expects the membership to extend payroll and search enhancements all through the winter, these stay goal areas.
With left-hander John Means anticipated to overlook the beginning of the season persevering with his restoration from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgical procedure, solely one of many 9 season-opening rotation candidates on Baltimore’s 40-man roster has pitched greater than 150 innings in an expert season, with Austin Voth final eclipsing that mark in 2016 whereas in Triple-A. Excluding Rodriguez, baseball’s high pitching prospect who in June suffered a lat muscle pressure that prevented a doable debut, every of the opposite eight set a profession excessive for main league innings in 2022, led by Dean Kremer’s 125 1/3.
Each pitcher had stretches of success of various lengths, however the group stays inexperienced general. Even including a expertise of Rodriguez’s stage leaves questions of depth and innings protection, and though among the high starters — notably Jacob deGrom and Carlos Rodón — may include sturdiness questions, they greater than make up for them with expertise. Those gamers will include steep worth factors, and it’d show extra within the Orioles’ pursuits to amass an arbitration-eligible starter from one other group via a commerce.
Regardless of the tactic, additions to the rotation can be useful to Baltimore’s needs to contend. It’s unclear how far the Orioles will push Rodriguez and left-hander DL Hall, their No. 2 pitching prospect, in 2023 after neither reached 100 innings final season. The membership is constant to interact with veteran right-hander Jordan Lyles a few doable return after it rejected his $11 million contract choice, and teammates praised his clubhouse management. A veteran presence, Lyles or in any other case, would profit the Orioles on and off the mound.
The identical may very well be stated of Baltimore’s infield. Four of the sport’s high shortstops are free brokers in Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson. Correa, who Elias performed a big function within the Houston Astros drafting first general in 2012, was additionally a part of an equally spectacular shortstop class final offseason, although Baltimore was not lively in that market.
That allowed Jorge Mateo to take the job and run with it. A waiver declare who as soon as ranked because the New York Yankees’ high prospect, Mateo received his first season of prolonged main league taking part in time and confirmed his defensive capabilities, profitable the Fielding Bible Award as the game’s greatest defensive shortstop. He additionally led the American League in stolen bases.
But his bat left a lot to be desired. Mateo raised his OPS almost 150 factors with a powerful 50-game stretch from late June to late August, however exterior of it, he hit .190 with strikeouts in additional than 30% of his plate appearances. His velocity and glove present worth, however his offensive manufacturing exhibits shortstop is a spot the Orioles can improve.
On Tuesday, Ortiz formally joined the solid of inside alternate options. Gunnar Henderson is the game’s high prospect and confirmed his acumen on the left aspect of the infield throughout a powerful main league stint. After spending his rookie season up the center, Ramón Urías joined Brooks Robinson and Manny Machado as the one Orioles to win a Gold Glove at third base. A standout defender who took off offensively midseason, Ortiz carried out effectively in a month at Triple-A to shut 2022. Jordan Westburg, not but on the 40-man roster, was the group’s Minor League Player of the Year and also needs to push for the majors in 2023.
Mateo and Urías are comparatively early of their careers, and Henderson, Westburg and Ortiz all possess sturdy potential. But it’s exhausting to argue placing Henderson at third base with one of many free-agent quartet at shortstop wouldn’t be the Orioles’ best left aspect to enter 2023, with Urías, Mateo and Terrin Vavra taking part in second base amid utility roles whereas Westburg and Ortiz take their closing steps at Triple-A Norfolk. It’s additionally doable both of the prospects is a part of a commerce bundle, given Baltimore’s general depth up the center all through the farm system.
Given that it’d require a prolonged provide to signal any of the free brokers, the incoming participant won’t spend the whole lot of the settlement at shortstop. But the group preaches versatility, and the potential for transferring Correa to 3rd, Turner to second or Bogaerts to designated hitter may be dealt with when it must be.
The additions of Rodriguez, Ortiz and three different prospects present Baltimore’s shiny future is quick approaching. They additionally shouldn’t cease the Orioles from making strikes that carry it even nearer.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com