The Orioles will presumably have the occasion on the upcoming homestand to introduce top pick Jackson Holliday to the crowd at Camden Yards before sending him off to Sarasota to begin his professional career. They’ll also, in a much less expected development, host a pair of series against division rivals that mean something to them as opposed to just the visitors.
The W/L record over the next few weeks will tell us all a lot about where they’re going this year.
Jon, do you think the front office has already chosen a firm direction and will execute the plan regardless of their record, or will the team’s play over these few weeks leave give them options to consider?
To me, it seems like if they falter a bit and maybe have a 2-8 kind of stretch over the next ten games they’ll be more likely to trade a player like Trey. Or if they’re playing well, perhaps they keep him?
I expect that no matter what happens, Santander is likely traded. They’re going to want to give Stowers those at-bats if I had to guess.
But perhaps if the team plays well, they’ll keep Trey and Lopez.
I’d love to see them grab a middle-of-the-rotation starter with some controllable years. They don’t need to be in win now mode, but teams will be selling off some interesting pieces that could help the O’s over the next few years, not just the last two months of this season.
I personally feel like they're going to do what they planned on doing, and that a team hovering around .500 isn't going to change that. The whole point of sustaining a tear-down and not investing in making the team a bit better these last few years is there's no real value to being a mid-tier franchise who isn't going to win when the alternative is to get a high draft pick. I think back to 2020 when they weren't officially eliminated from the playoffs until the last week of the season and still picked fifth. It can be slim margins but unless you think you can win it all, it's hard to justify acting as if you can.
That said, it's two-fold. Not trading anyone and also bringing up players to improve their weak spots would change that equation, but they've been so deliberate with prospects it's hard to see that. I think it will work in their favor that they ask a lot in trades this time around. If their price is met, make that move. But they can also rest easy knowing they can hold onto the longer-term pieces if they want to and have it be worth it. I just don't know that even a good week will materially change their standing in the playoff race to the point where their thinking would change. Appreciate you reading and asking!
The W/L record over the next few weeks will tell us all a lot about where they’re going this year.
Jon, do you think the front office has already chosen a firm direction and will execute the plan regardless of their record, or will the team’s play over these few weeks leave give them options to consider?
To me, it seems like if they falter a bit and maybe have a 2-8 kind of stretch over the next ten games they’ll be more likely to trade a player like Trey. Or if they’re playing well, perhaps they keep him?
I expect that no matter what happens, Santander is likely traded. They’re going to want to give Stowers those at-bats if I had to guess.
But perhaps if the team plays well, they’ll keep Trey and Lopez.
I’d love to see them grab a middle-of-the-rotation starter with some controllable years. They don’t need to be in win now mode, but teams will be selling off some interesting pieces that could help the O’s over the next few years, not just the last two months of this season.
I personally feel like they're going to do what they planned on doing, and that a team hovering around .500 isn't going to change that. The whole point of sustaining a tear-down and not investing in making the team a bit better these last few years is there's no real value to being a mid-tier franchise who isn't going to win when the alternative is to get a high draft pick. I think back to 2020 when they weren't officially eliminated from the playoffs until the last week of the season and still picked fifth. It can be slim margins but unless you think you can win it all, it's hard to justify acting as if you can.
That said, it's two-fold. Not trading anyone and also bringing up players to improve their weak spots would change that equation, but they've been so deliberate with prospects it's hard to see that. I think it will work in their favor that they ask a lot in trades this time around. If their price is met, make that move. But they can also rest easy knowing they can hold onto the longer-term pieces if they want to and have it be worth it. I just don't know that even a good week will materially change their standing in the playoff race to the point where their thinking would change. Appreciate you reading and asking!