Almost nobody predicted the Orioles would enjoy the kind of season they had, even considering how it ended.
Even general manager Mike Elias was probably surprised with the 101-win team, according to Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Bordick. This season marked the franchise’s first 100-win season since 1980 and first AL East title since 2014.
“I hope, and I’m sure he does, have a master plan,” Bordick said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 11, referring to Elias. “I think this year probably surprised him more than anybody. The success that the Orioles had, I don’t think, in his mind of minds, that he built this team to hoist the trophy this year. I think it was probably set up for next year or the year after that.”
The team tried to upgrade its pitching ahead of the trade deadline by adding reliever Shintaro Fujinami from the Athletics and starter Jack Flaherty from the Cardinals, but the moves didn’t work. Flaherty threw two innings in the playoffs, Fujinami did not make the postseason roster and the club was short on pitching in October.
Bordick thinks the team will be looking to add a pitcher who fits in with the team this offseason.
“You’ve got to believe they’re going to go after arms,” Bordick said. “They’re going to be looking at the right fit, somebody they have control over, somebody that will fit in with this clubhouse.”
Another issue the Orioles will have next season is finding someone to replace closer Félix Bautista, who is set to miss the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery.
Bordick believes DL Hall and Tyler Wells could replace Bautista but says they need to figure out what Wells’ role on the team is first. Wells made 20 starts for the Orioles prior to being sent down for a reset in late July, then returned as a reliever in September.
“What’s Wells going to be? The first half of the season he was our best starter, arguably,” Bordick said. “He had the best WHIP in all of baseball the first half of a major league season.”
With the inevitable addition of baseball’s top prospect Jackson Holliday to the roster at some point next season, Bordick said the team has to decide how it wants to configure its infield. Holliday hit .323/.442/.499 with 51 extra-base hits across four minor league levels this season, mostly playing shortstop.
However, Gunnar Henderson handled shortstop most of the time for the major league team in 2023, so it’s unclear who will play the position once Holliday arrives.
“I guess in my mind, I think Holliday would play short and [Henderson] would slide over to third base because he can be … one of those elite third basemen,” Bordick said. “That’s the kind of capabilities he has. He’s just such an elite defender.”
When asked if the team should look to add one more big bat this offseason, Bordick acknowledged that offense was a problem at the end of the season and in the playoffs but also said that the answer to that problem could already be in the team’s deep farm system.
“Fatigue I think caught up with some guys. Cedric Mullins was really, unfortunately, nonexistent in the last month of the season,” Bordick said.
While Elias has some roster decisions to make before next season starts, Bordick said the trade deadline next season will be important for the team’s success.
“Now that we’re in the winning mode, what you do at the trade deadline really matters,” Bordick said. “The fact [is] that there were two pieces we picked up that didn’t do anything for us and as a matter of fact, may have set us back. Fortunately, we were able to hang on and win the American League East, but it didn’t set up well for the postseason with those two extra arms.”
For more from Bordick, listen to the full interview here:
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