SARASOTA, Fla. — We kind of knew the rebuild was in the rearview mirror during the second half of 2022, but not from GM Mike Elias’ pronouncement that “liftoff” was here. We knew by the way the club looked on the field, going 48-37 in their last 85 games that season.
Following that campaign up with a 101-61 season in 2023 shot to smithereens the notion the Orioles were rebuilding any longer. And at the end of a rebuild orchestrated by Elias, tougher decisions have become the rule, not the exception.
The decisions aren’t as easy as the ones four or five years ago to make room for less-than-stellar talent with the likes of Rio Ruiz, Pedro Severino and Thomas Eshelman.
But after arriving in Sarasota on March 5, I saw an article on MLB Trade Rumors that was an eye-opener as it pertained to the Orioles, about which players are out of minor league options.
Here are the players the club must make hard calls on:
Pitchers: Mike Baumann, Cole Irvin, Cionel Pérez and Jacob Webb
Position Players: Nick Maton, Ryan McKenna, Jorge Mateo, Tyler Nevin and Ramón Urías
The pitching decisions seem easier and for the most part fairly obvious. Injuries can change those on a dime, but it’s really hard to not envision Cionel Pérez and Cole Irvin on this team. Both seem talented enough and important enough in their roles to sleep comfortably. I also have to think that Brandon Hyde and staff were very pleased with about 80 percent of the season Mike Baumann had last year.
For the season, Baumann tossed 64.2 innings to the tune of a 3.76 ERA. He struck out 61, walked 33, allowed seven homers and posted a 1.31 WHIP. But in his final 10.1 innings, Baumann had a 6.10 ERA as opposing batters hit .289/.360/.600 against him. He gave up three of his seven homers in that small window. Clearly, he was fatigued getting through his first full season as a reliever. But like I said, he did enough to stay.
Jacob Webb impressed at times, and the club liked a lot of what they saw from him, but that’s why these decisions are tough.
The position players make for a couple easy decisions for me, as I cannot really see Nick Maton or Tyler Nevin making the big league club. Ryan McKenna is on the bubble with the way Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers have played in the early going, so for me right now, one of Hyde’s favorite players doesn’t start the season with the club.
Even more difficult for me is the impending hard decision on Ramón Urías. I am sure Elias will be shopping hard to obtain something for the former Gold Glove third baseman if the numbers game seems to leave him off the Orioles’ 26-man roster.
Jorge Mateo is liked and respected by Hyde because of his valuable skill set — dynamic speed, power and the ability to play a very solid shortstop.
All of this assumes Jackson Holliday makes the squad. If he struggles this month, all of this could change, but that’s for another sun-drenched missive from lovely Sarasota.
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