During a information convention final week, Orioles government vp and normal supervisor Mike Elias didn’t element the crew’s offseason objectives. He didn’t decide to a better payroll subsequent season — though that appears all however assured — nor did he specify any particular additions he hopes to make.
“We’re looking to get better,” he stated, “and we also have to look to maintain.”
But after a stellar 2023 marketing campaign, consideration in Baltimore has shifted to 2024, a season during which, for the primary time in years, many followers will enter the season anticipating a playoff look. Here’s an early take a look at how the Orioles’ 2024 roster might shift within the coming months.
Pending free brokers
Five gamers — all of whom the Orioles acquired inside the final yr — will quickly hit free company: right-handed pitchers Kyle Gibson, Jack Flaherty and Shintaro Fujinami, infielder Adam Frazier and outfielder Aaron Hicks.
It’s unlikely, nevertheless, they’ll be again with the Orioles subsequent yr. In some instances, like with Frazier and Hicks, the crew has sufficient younger, main league-ready expertise at crowded positions that signing a veteran appears unlikely. And even when it’d behoove the crew to signal one of many pitchers, like Gibson, the Orioles haven’t constructed the majority of their roster in free company. Only two gamers on this yr’s American League Division Series roster (Gibson and Frazier) have been signed as offseason free brokers.
It’s possible the Orioles will add a minimum of a few free brokers this winter, however odds are it received’t be any of these 5.
“We’ll see what happens. They’re at a certain point in their careers where they’ve earned the right to go and do whatever’s the best situation for their families,” supervisor Brandon Hyde stated.
In addition to these veterans, three Orioles minor leaguers — pitcher Austin Voth and catchers Anthony Bemboom and José Godoy — just lately elected free company.
Arbitration-eligible gamers
The Orioles have 16 arbitration-eligible gamers, tied for the second-most within the main leagues. Those gamers, who’ve between three and 6 years of MLB service time, are all anticipated to earn extra in 2024, which is able to possible consequence within the Orioles spending extra on participant payroll — particularly in the event that they add just a few free brokers. Baltimore completed the 2023 season with the third-lowest payroll in MLB.
Elias didn’t individually talk about the crew’s many arbitration-eligible gamers, however stated that having so many is “kind of an earmark of having a good roster these days.”
“It’s a really good group of players and they had good seasons and they’re going to get raises through the system,” Elias stated.
The Orioles are anticipated to maintain most, however not essentially all, of their eligible gamers and so they’ll have till Nov. 17 to resolve which gamers to nontender, that means decline to supply a contract. Here are the 16 gamers, sorted by how a lot MLB Trade Rumors tasks they’ll make by way of arbitration.
- Anthony Santander ($12.7 million)
- Cedric Mullins ($6.4)
- Austin Hays ($6.1)
- John Means ($5.9)
- Ryan Mountcastle ($4.2)
- Ryan O’Hearn ($3.0)
- Jorge Mateo ($2.9)
- Tyler Wells ($2.3)
- Danny Coulombe ($2.2)
- Ramón Urías ($2.0)
- Cole Irvin ($1.8)
- Dillon Tate ($1.5)
- Cionel Pérez ($1.3)
- Jacob Webb ($1.2)
- Keegan Akin ($800K)
- Ryan McKenna ($740K)
Positions of want
The Orioles will possible return two first basemen. They’re lengthy on infielders, particularly if baseball’s prime prospect, Jackson Holliday, spends the majority of the yr with the massive league membership. They’re loaded within the outfield, too, with a number of succesful gamers — Hays, Mullins, Santander and rookies Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad — filling the three spots. They have two catchers below contract, too.
Thus, the majority of the Orioles’ offseason additions will possible come on the mound. With All-Star nearer Félix Bautista out for 2024 as he recovers from Tommy John surgical procedure, Baltimore might want to discover somebody to fill his massive sneakers. That might come within the type of somebody on the present roster — Yennier Cano and DL Hall are prospects — or from exterior of it.
“Another question that’s been on my mind,” Elias stated of figuring out Bautista’s alternative. “That is a massive hole. I don’t even think we felt it totally just with how the games went after he got hurt. It’s going to be tough to replace him, so we’re going to bring all of our brain power towards answering that question.”
The Orioles will possible search so as to add a minimum of one beginning pitcher, too. They’ll deliver again right-handers Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer, in addition to lefty John Means and will flip to Hall or Wells in a beginning position. However, bolstering the rotation with an offseason addition — by way of free company or commerce — would make sense.
Asked Thursday if Bradish, who had the most effective seasons within the majors this previous yr, was a real ace, Hyde stated that whereas he isn’t but, he might ultimately be.
“It’s hard to be a true No. 1,” Hyde stated. “So, does [Bradish] have the ability to? Absolutely. Does Grayson have the ability to? Absolutely. They’re a ways away, you know what I mean? They’re a ways away.”
Last yr, the Orioles signed Gibson to a one-year, $10 million contract. Baltimore will possible once more pursue a starter; whether or not it would provide a bigger, longer contract for a top-of-the-line pitcher stays to be seen.
Help coming from the farm — once more
As has turn out to be customary for the Orioles, the membership is predicted to once more have the game’s prime prospect make his main league debut in 2024. On the heels of Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, Holliday — who will flip 20 in December and was one of many youngest gamers in Triple-A this yr — will possible play for Baltimore this upcoming season, giving the Orioles one other gifted place participant.
Cowser and Kjerstad, each of whom are nonetheless categorised as rookies, might additionally increase subsequent yr’s roster. Asked if each of them (who would possibly battle for on a regular basis taking part in alternatives in a crowded outfield) might break spring coaching camp with the massive league membership, Elias stated sure.
Some prospects would possibly, nevertheless, enhance the 2024 Orioles in one other method — as commerce items. With loads of younger, gifted place gamers — others embody infielder Joey Ortiz, slugging third baseman Coby Mayo and 19-year-old catcher Samuel Basallo — the Orioles might swap a pair in trade for a beginning pitcher.
Important dates
Early November — Free brokers can formally signal with new groups 5 days after the conclusion of the World Series.
Nov. 17 — By this deadline, the Orioles should decide which arbitration-eligible gamers it would nontender.
Dec. 3-6 — MLB executives will convene on the winter conferences, held in Nashville this yr, to debate league enterprise and potential trades.
Dec. 6 — Rule 5 draft. An typically ignored portion of the offseason, groups can add sure minor leaguers from different golf equipment to their 40-man roster by way of the draft, which is how the Orioles initially acquired Santander and Wells.
Feb. 24, 2024 — The Orioles play their first spring coaching recreation of the 2024 marketing campaign.
March 28, 2024 — Camden Yards hosts the Los Angeles Angels on opening day.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com