The Orioles doubtlessly addressed probably the most obvious remaining offensive want on Tuesday, buying left-handed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn in a commerce for money with the Kansas City Royals.
O’Hearn, 29, appeared in 342 video games with Kansas City over the previous fives seasons, taking part in first and each nook outfield spots. But after slugging .597 in 44 video games in 2018, he has largely struggled, posting an OPS+ of 73 or decrease — that means he was at the very least 27% under league common — every of the previous 4 seasons. Last week, the Royals designated him for task to create area for beginning pitcher Jordan Lyles, who signed a two-year take care of Kansas City after the Orioles declined his $11 million choice for 2023.
The Orioles have been in search of a left-handed complement at first base for Ryan Mountcastle, who earlier than the commerce was the one member of Baltimore’s 40-man roster with at the very least 10 video games of main league expertise on the place. A report from the New York Post final week urged the Orioles had curiosity in veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer after the Boston Red Sox launched him.
Last season, Mountcastle was the Orioles’ beginning first baseman in 123 of their 162 video games, with all of the gamers within the lineup for the others now not within the group. In current weeks, Baltimore has designated for task two pure first basemen in Lewin Díaz and Tyler Nevin, buying and selling them for money to Atlanta and Detroit, respectively.
“He’s not going to play 162 games, nor will he play 162 out in the field,” government vp and normal supervisor Mike Elias mentioned of Mountcastle in early December. “We’re kind of looking for some left-handed depth bats, guys that can be able to come into camp and have a shot to come in and compete and break or provide depth during the season, provide us some flexibility if there’s injuries. And generally, as we look at some of these corner, first base left-handed bat options, we’re looking for left-handed hitters because of Ryan.”
Before the Royals minimize him unfastened, O’Hearn signed a $1.4 million deal to keep away from arbitration. Based on arbitration projections, O’Hearn can be one in every of 11 Orioles with a contract value at the very least $1 million ought to he make their opening day roster. Baltimore had not more than seven such gamers to start out the 2019 to 2022 seasons, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
But given O’Hearn’s offensive troubles, it’s removed from assured he breaks camp with Baltimore, even when the group’s different candidates to play behind Mountcastle have largely had their expertise at first are available in pregame drills or the minors somewhat than huge league video games. O’Hearn nonetheless has a minor league choice, that means the group doesn’t have to reveal him to waivers if it desires to ship him to the minors.
Backup catcher James McCann’s 9 main league video games at first base, all for the New York Mets over the earlier two seasons, make him probably the most skilled first baseman on the Orioles’ 40-man roster behind Mountcastle and O’Hearn. McCann mentioned in a video name Tuesday that his preliminary conversations with the membership after final month’s commerce from New York included speak of each he and beginning catcher Adley Rutschman presumably spending time at first.
Rutschman performed the place with some regularity in faculty and the minors to maintain his premier bat within the lineup on days he didn’t catch, however the Orioles prevented utilizing him there as soon as he reached the majors, as a substitute placing him at designated hitter. Elias mentioned early final month that any risk of Rutschman taking part in first in 2023 would depend upon the composition of the remainder of the roster.
Other members Orioles’ 40-man roster who’ve performed first base within the minors are infielder Ramón Urías, outfielder Anthony Santander and prime prospect Gunnar Henderson. The final of Urías’ 11 video games there got here in 2018. All 9 of Santander’s appearances have been in 2016.
Up till two weeks earlier than his Aug. 31 main league debut, Henderson had made all of his 213 skilled begins within the subject at both shortstop or third base. But in an effort to extend his versatility forward of a promotion, 9 of Henderson’s remaining 11 begins with Triple-A Norfolk got here at both first or second. He performed second base thrice in his first six main league video games however caught to the left facet of the infield and designated hitter in his remaining 28 appearances. Last month, supervisor Brandon Hyde described taking part in Henderson at second as “unfair to him,” so it appears possible he’ll completely play shortstop or third in 2023.
Santander, Rutschman and infielder Terrin Vavra participated in pregame infield work at first base all through final season, however none appeared in a sport there with the Orioles. All three are able to hitting left-handed, with Santander and Rutschman each being switch-hitters, whereas McCann is a right-handed hitter.
The Orioles’ offseason acquisitions have additionally included two minor league signees who’re left-handed hitters with expertise at first base. The Red Sox gave Franchy Cordero, a pure outfielder, 55 begins at first base over the previous two seasons, although he didn’t carry out properly there; his minus-7 outs above common in 2022 ranked thirty first of 36 certified first baseman, in accordance with Baseball Savant, with not one of the others performing under their estimated success charges by extra. Josh Lester’s solely main league look within the subject was an inning at third base final yr for the Detroit Tigers, however he’s made at the very least 10 minor league begins at first each season since 2017, together with taking part in 104 video games there for Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate in 2022.
Even with O’Hearn, the Orioles might proceed to discover upgrades. Hosmer stays out there, although he’s been linked extra strongly to the Chicago Cubs of late, presumably quieting any fears of an Orioles fan base that may at all times tie Hosmer to the 2014 Kansas City Royals group that saved Baltimore from reaching the World Series. Other left-handed-hitting first basemen nonetheless out there as free brokers embody Edwin Ríos, Colin Moran, Brandon Belt and Ben Gamel, all of whom have been value extra wins above alternative than O’Hearn in 2022, in accordance with FanGraphs.
To create area for O’Hearn on their 40-man roster, the Orioles designated minor league right-hander Chris Vallimont for task. The 25-year-old right-hander had a 5.19 ERA over 29 appearances, 24 of them begins, between Double-A and Triple-A after being claimed throughout final season from the Minnesota Twins. Baseball America had Vallimont as Baltimore’s No. 27 prospect in August’s midseason rankings.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com