A split in Gold Glove outcomes for Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías is a reason to look into who has a better long-term case to remain with the Orioles
Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo seem like they're in a years-long competition for the same Orioles bench spot. Depending on taste, each made a fine case in 2022.
It’s fitting in a way that the news Jorge Mateo didn’t earn a Gold Glove nomination for his stellar work at shortstop came alongside the less-expected inclusion of Ramón Urías among the third basemen.
The two have been living in the same bucket since Mateo joined the Orioles last summer as a waiver claim: not exactly young anymore, but each a talented infielder with theoretical development ahead of him that could make the next step possible.
It’s getting to the point that each kind of is what he is now – Urías a capable defender at two and maybe three positions who might not make it through a whole season but is better-than-average as a hitter overall, and Mateo a speed-and-defense sure thing at a premium position, albeit one where elite teams have elite hitters. His two months this summer at that level faded quickly, and his wRC+ was 82.
The Orioles aren’t there yet, but there will come a time soon when having two arbitration-eligible backup infielders won’t really be super attractive as they start to add the likes of Jordan Westburg, Joey Ortiz, and Connor Norby to the mix with Gunnar Henderson in the big leagues.
So on this occasion of their Gold Glove nominations/snubs, it’s worth considering what each brings that might make him the one the Orioles keep around when the time comes.
Given that occasion, starting with the defensive side makes sense. Mateo was one of the best shortstops in baseball this year, and not being nominated for a Gold Glove doesn’t change that. There is an offensive bar for the position that he only cleared for part of this season, and no amount of defensive ability can make up for that. Every qualifying shortstop on a playoff team was at least above-average in terms of wRC+ except the Yankees’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was benched last night. Contenders need dudes at shortstop.
But the thing that makes Mateo a long-term shortstop might ultimately make his home second base in 2023 and beyond, considering the ban of the shift will mean having that kind of range at second base will be extremely valuable from a run-saving perspective. Second base has a pretty high offensive bar, too, but some players may be too limited by the shift ban to handle the new rigors of it defensively.
Urías, on the other hand, probably has seen the end of his shortstop days for defensive purposes in any long-term way but was well-above average defensively at third base and second base when he played there this year. He won’t be as useful at second base as someone with Mateo’s range will be going forward, but being nominated for a Gold Glove at third base was deserved and shows his capabilities.
Mateo’s ability to play shortstop is probably the separator defensively, and his ability to play there for a month and maybe get hot offensively will be valuable going forward.
How large the uncertainty in that maybe looms is pretty jarring, though. Mateo was playing and hitting like one of the best players in baseball in mid-August, with an .880 OPS from July 1 to Aug. 24. He had 20 hits in 36 games the rest of the way, good for a .483 OPS. It seemed when he was hot that he’d legitimately closed a hole in his swing and could have turned a corner, then the league adjusted back and he struggled the rest of the way.
There’s an opportunity cost to that kind of offensive performance at a position like shortstop, and really that goes for anywhere on the infield these days. Elite defenders and base stealers have a place, but it’s hard to say those contributions outweigh offensive deficiencies when the playoffs are littered with middle-of-the-lineup bats that also play a strong shortstop.
Urías’ offense is a bit more polished, though he regressed in 2022 when it came to his walk rate and power production. Like so many of his teammates did, Urías had a monster stretch in the middle of the season that seemed like it carried the team, but that July with a .955 OPS was his only month of the season above .800 in that category. He’s probably capable of better, but is also 28. He, too, might be who he is.
Distinguishing between the two comes down to taste, really. Most tastes would probably prefer that the Orioles have a homegrown infield before long and the backup doesn’t really matter. Until then, or at least until it’s fully realized, the merits of each are clear. Urías will likely continue to be a player you’d prefer to have around because he can keep the infield relatively steady for a starter’s injured list stint while also hitting a bit, while those who are trying to squeeze every bit of value out of a roster on a given night would want Mateo on the bench for speed and defense purposes.
It might not be long before it’s hard for both to continue to be on the Orioles’ bench. And it’s a good thing one being nominated for a Gold Glove and one not won’t have anything to do with who sticks around.