Is the Baltimore Orioles’ Roster Overflowing with Talent?

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Tanner Scott is coming off a standout year with the Miami Marlins, where he established himself as one of the best relievers in the sport and contributed significantly to Miami's success. This year, Scott continues to perform well, although his underlying metrics suggest potential regression.

Scott boasts a 1.64 ERA through 22 innings this season. However, his 3.09 xERA and 4.09 FIP indicate that he might have been somewhat fortunate. Despite this, the 29-year-old is once again proving his effectiveness. With this being the final year of his contract and the Marlins holding the second-worst record in baseball, it's highly likely that he will be traded.

Acquiring Scott shouldn't be prohibitively expensive, though his market demand could drive up the price somewhat.

This post by Harrison Bruns appeared first on Just Baseball.

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Where are the Holes?

The Orioles have a couple of gaps in their lineup. Manager Brandon Hyde and GM Mike Elias have shown they value the veterans and are willing to give them some leeway. The Orioles' veterans have earned this consideration, but the question is: how long is their leash?

Let's examine the Orioles' performance by position. Some numbers might seem alarming at first glance, but I'll provide some context. Starting with the catcher position, Adley Rutschman is having a great season with a 132 wRC+. However, James McCann, who has started 21 games as catcher, has a 39 wRC+, which drags down the team's overall numbers.

Colton Cowser is another player whose impact isn't fully captured in the table. He's started games in multiple positions: five in right field, seven in center, and 28 in left. His 127 wRC+ and 1.6 fWAR are spread across these various positions.

From the data, it's evident that the Orioles are being carried by five positions where they rank in the top 10, while they are in the bottom 20 in the other four positions. This discrepancy highlights areas for improvement. The key question is, how can the Orioles fine-tune their lineup to address these gaps?

Less James McCann

James McCann has been detrimental to the Orioles this season. With a -0.4 fWAR, he ranks 44th among catchers with at least 70 plate appearances. McCann should see as little playing time as possible.

Part of the issue is the Orioles’ desire to keep Rutschman’s bat in the lineup as much as possible. This is understandable but it means Rutschman plays fewer games as a catcher since he's getting fewer days off. More games as a DH for Rutschman result in more catching duties for McCann.

This season, Rutschman has played in 49 of the Orioles’ 52 games, starting 30 of those as catcher. In contrast, William Contreras, the top-performing catcher in baseball this season, has played in all 52 of the Brewers’ games, with 42 starts as catcher.

Given McCann’s poor performance, the Orioles can't continue with this 60/40 split of catching duties. It needs to resemble the Brewers' approach with Contreras, more like an 80/20 split.

Another option for the Orioles would be to designate McCann for assignment, as he is set to become a free agent this offseason, and promote the newly acquired Blake Hunt. Hunt is hitting .300/.374/.563 in Triple-A this season and has extensive minor league experience. It’s hard to imagine Hunt performing worse than McCann currently is.

Call Up Coby Mayo

There was even an argument to be made that when Jackson Holliday was called up, it should have been Coby Mayo who got the call. Mayo has been one of the top hitters in minor league baseball this season, boasting a .291/.359/.605 slash line with a 140 wRC+ and 13 home runs. Unfortunately, this move is unlikely until closer to the All-Star break due to Mayo's rib fracture sustained during a defensive play, which will sideline him for at least a month, possibly longer. Once he's back to full health, the Orioles should not hesitate to call him up.

The corresponding move for promoting Mayo would likely involve attempting to trade Ramon Urias. While his current trade value may be low, he has two years of team control remaining after this season and is historically a great defender and slightly above-average hitter.

Promoting Mayo would set off a chain of beneficial changes for the Orioles. Mayo would take over at third base, a position that doesn't currently require an upgrade for the team. However, this move would push Jordan Westburg to second base, where he is having an outstanding season.

Shifting Westburg to second base would allow Jorge Mateo to move into a super-utility or platoon role, providing depth and flexibility. Mateo could see time in center field and at second base. He has been playing well this year and would thrive in a bench role with regular playing time.

Time to Move On?

Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins have been integral parts of the Orioles' rebuild, enduring some of the team's worst seasons in recent memory. Once bright spots on one of the league's worst teams, they have struggled significantly this season.

Mullins, now three years removed from his magical 30/30 season, looks like a shadow of his former self. His struggles at the plate are evident, with a .193/.241/.333 slash line that is unacceptable for a playoff contender. Additionally, his hard-hit rate has dropped to its lowest since 2021.

Hays, who started the All-Star game last season, is also struggling to make an impact. Although injuries may be a factor, his performance this season has been disappointing. In just 29 games, Hays has posted a -0.7 fWAR, barely slugging .200, and his defense has not been up to the usual standard.

Despite these struggles, I don't believe the answer is to move on from Hays and Mullins just yet.

However, for the time being, they should be relegated to bench or platoon roles. Hays has a respectable 114 wRC+ against lefties, making him a viable option in those matchups. Mullins, with a 93 wRC+ against righties, can still contribute if he plays solid defense in center field. They should not, however, block younger players who are currently performing better.

Moving forward, the Orioles would benefit from giving regular playing time to Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers.

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Rotation Reinforcements

So far this season, the Orioles have boasted one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball. This performance is particularly impressive considering the injuries they've faced. Before the season started, few would have predicted that the team's strength would be its pitching staff, and even fewer would have expected the rotation to be this strong.

At this point last year, the bullpen was arguably the strongest part of the team. However, the bullpen has regressed this season.

The internal moves made by the Orioles should focus on bolstering the bullpen. Winning in October is challenging with a mediocre bullpen, so strengthening this area is crucial for their success.

Promote Cade Povich

Cade Povich has been one of the standout pitchers in Triple-A baseball this season. In 10 starts for Norfolk, he has pitched 53.2 innings, striking out 11.91 batters per nine innings, while only walking 3.19 per nine. His impressive 2.35 ERA underscores his effectiveness. By adding Povich to the rotation, the Orioles can move Albert Suarez to the bullpen.

Due to numerous injuries, spring training standout Albert Suarez has made four starts, posting an impressive 1.86 ERA over 19.1 innings. Despite this, shifting Suarez to the bullpen makes sense. 

Promoting Povich could provide the Orioles with a solid arm at the back of the rotation. If Povich struggles, he can be optioned back to Triple-A. Alternatively, if it doesn't hinder his development, he could move to the bullpen. Wells is likely to join the bullpen upon his return, so he wouldn't displace Povich from the rotation.

In summary, promoting Povich is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Orioles. It strengthens the rotation and enhances the bullpen, positioning the team for greater success.

Trade for Mason Miller

Mason Miller is poised to be the centerpiece of trade deadline discussions. Will the A's trade him? It's uncertain, but given their current organizational status, it's hard to imagine them refusing the right offer.

It's evident that the Orioles need bullpen reinforcement. Why not target the best closer in baseball? Miller is under team control through the 2029 season, making him a valuable long-term asset. Predicting trade packages is challenging, but given Miller's impressive numbers and extended control, it would likely take two top-10 prospects to catch the A's attention. Adding two promising minor league arms could further sweeten the deal and outbid any competition.

If acquired, Miller would likely share closing duties with Craig Kimbrel for the remainder of this season. Looking ahead to next season, pairing Felix Bautista and Mason Miller could create one of the most formidable bullpen duos in baseball history.

Add an Old Friend

Tanner Scott is coming off a standout year with the Miami Marlins, where he established himself as one of the best relievers in the sport and contributed significantly to Miami's success. This year, Scott continues to perform well, although his underlying metrics suggest potential regression.

Scott boasts a 1.64 ERA through 22 innings this season. However, his 3.09 xERA and 4.09 FIP indicate that he might have been somewhat fortunate. Despite this, the 29-year-old is once again proving his effectiveness. With this being the final year of his contract and the Marlins holding the second-worst record in baseball, it's highly likely that he will be traded.

Acquiring Scott shouldn't be prohibitively expensive, though his market demand could drive up the price somewhat.

This post by Harrison Bruns appeared first on Just Baseball.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.