As the 2022 season ended, Orioles govt vice chairman and common supervisor Mike Elias declared that the group was “officially in the fight in the American League East.” Elias reiterated that sentiment Friday on 105.7 The Fan, including that “the goal is to make the playoffs this year.”
The query, although, is that if the roster he’s constructed is ready to stack up towards the opposite AL East golf equipment throughout a 162-game season. There gained’t be a definitive reply for at the least a number of months, however a take a look at the Orioles’ present 40-man roster reveals that versatility will probably be a cornerstone of the group.
The roster — with a number of pitchers who’ve expertise as each starters and relievers, infielders who can play a number of spots and catchers who may very well be requested to play first base — provides the group loads of maneuverability. But that very same pliability may additionally create some difficult selections for the membership in late March when the foremost league roster have to be set.
Of course, the offseason isn’t over but. With spring coaching about three weeks away, Elias nonetheless has time to make adjustments to the 40-man roster — and probably enhance the group’s projected payroll, which ranks twenty ninth based on Cot’s Baseball Contracts. He mentioned Friday that he’s nonetheless on the lookout for methods so as to add to the roster by means of free company and trades.
However, important alterations to the 40-man roster at this stage within the offseason are unlikely, until Elias is ready to strike a deal on the commerce market. The free agent market has principally been pillaged, as every of the highest 32 gamers on MLB Trade Rumors’ offseason rankings have discovered a house.
As it stands now, the 40-man roster is one with a number of present or former high prospects, a number of seasoned veterans and loads of flexibility.
Starting pitchers
Mike Baumann, Kyle Bradish, Kyle Gibson, DL Hall, Seth Johnson, Dean Kremer, John Means, Grayson Rodriguez, Drew Rom, Austin Voth, Spenser Watkins, Tyler Wells, Bruce Zimmermann
This group may give the membership the flexibility all through the season to each handle workloads and supply depth within the bullpen. Elias mentioned the innings limits on Rodriguez, Hall and Means — the latter of whom is recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgical procedure and is anticipated again round midseason — won’t be “hard and fast.” Nevertheless, Rodriguez and Hall have by no means thrown greater than 103 innings in a season, whereas Means threw simply eight innings final 12 months earlier than being shut down.
Gibson, a 10-year veteran, is probably the most senior member of the rotation and the highest-paid participant on the group. The $10 million deal for Gibson, who posted a 5.05 ERA with the Philadelphia Phillies final season however had higher underlying metrics, is the most important assure Elias has handed out throughout his 5 offseasons as common supervisor.
Hall, Voth, Watkins and Baumann all have various ranges of expertise popping out of the bullpen, and a few them may very well be lengthy reduction choices.
Relief pitchers
Keegan Akin, Bryan Baker, Félix Bautista, Yennier Canó, Noah Denoyer, Logan Gillaspie, Mychal Givens, Darwinzon Hernandez, Joey Krehbiel, Cionel Pérez, Andrew Politi, Dillon Tate, Nick Vespi
With a number of spots basically etched in stone (Bautista, Tate, Givens and Pérez amongst them), the ultimate couple seats within the bullpen will probably be one of many largest questions all through spring coaching. Add in a pair beginning pitchers — notably Hall and Voth — who may very well be moved to reduction, and the pool will get much more crowded.
In addition to signing Givens to a $5 million contract, the Orioles additionally acquired Hernandez, a left-hander, in a commerce with the Boston Red Sox and chosen Politi, a right-hander, within the Rule 5 draft. Hernandez struggled in his seven reduction appearances final season (21.60 ERA), whereas Politi struck out 83 batters in 69 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. If the Orioles wish to hold Politi, he have to be on the foremost league roster all 12 months.
Catchers
James McCann, Adley Rutschman
Unlike the pitchers they’ll be catching, the Orioles’ backstops are set in stone. Rutschman, the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2022, provides the group one of many few star catchers within the majors, whereas McCann is a veteran who will again up the 24-year-old former No. 1 prospect. After his call-up in May, the Orioles had been 50-34 final season with Rutschman — whose 5.3 wins above alternative ranked second amongst MLB catchers, based on FanGraphs — behind the plate.
McCann, who the Orioles acquired in a commerce with the New York Mets, and Rutschman may additionally see time at first base on Ryan Mountcastle’s days off. McCann has performed 9 video games at first base in his nine-year profession; Rutschman began 30 of his 180 minor league video games at first.
Infielders
Adam Frazier, Gunnar Henderson, Jorge Mateo, Ryan Mountcastle, Joey Ortiz, Ramón Urías, Terrin Vavra
The method supervisor Brandon Hyde shuffles his infielders will probably be one thing to trace all season, as Henderson, Mateo, Ortiz and Urías all have the ability or expertise to play a number of infield positions. Frazier, who Baltimore signed to an $8 million contract this offseason, and Vavra even have outfield expertise.
While McCann and Rutschman may very well be tasked with backing up Mountcastle at first base, the group has collected left-handed hitting first basemen Ryan O’Hearn, Franchy Cordero and Lewin Díaz as potential choices. None of the three are presently on the 40-man roster, with Díaz clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk final week to lastly finish his carousel that noticed him designated for task 5 instances in two months.
Outfielders
Austin Hays, Ryan McKenna, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, Kyle Stowers
Unlike the infield group, there isn’t as a lot to ponder with the Orioles’ outfielders. Mullins, coming off a Gold Glove finalist marketing campaign, is locked in heart area with Hays seemingly in left and Santander in proper.
Santander is coming off a bounce-back season with 33 house runs, and Hays had an up-and-down 2022 with first half and a nasty second half. Stowers figures to be the fourth outfielder and a delegated hitter candidate, whereas McKenna would nonetheless function the group’s pinch-runner and defensive specialist.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com