The Orioles determine to have one thing of a logjam within the outfield subsequent 12 months, as established starters Anthony Santander, Cedric Mullins, and Austin Hays can be joined by prime prospects Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad on the grass within the majors sooner or later subsequent 12 months. As famous by Roch Kubatko of MASN, that might come as quickly as the beginning of the 2024 season, as GM Mike Elias has indicated that each Cowser and Kjerstad could possibly be within the combine for the Opening Day roster subsequent season. That leaves the Orioles with 5 beginning caliber outfielders headed into the 2024 marketing campaign, and that ignores depth choices like Kyle Stowers and Ryan McKenna.
For sure, given the membership’s logjam, the membership figures to subject curiosity on their outfielders this offseason, with Kubatko noting that “business hypothesis” suggests the Orioles might look to maneuver certainly one of their 5 major outfield choices as a way to liberate enjoying time. Amongst them, Kubatko signifies that Santander and Hays have drawn essentially the most curiosity, whereas the Orioles are prone to take into account Cowser specifically to be untouchable in commerce talks. Subtracting both Santander or Hays from the membership’s 2024 outfield combine would depart them with a really lefty-heavy outfield, as every of Mullins, Cowser, Kjerstad, and Stowers bat left-handed. Provided that, Santander is likely to be essentially the most wise participant for the membership to maneuver as a switch-hitter with only one 12 months of management remaining, in comparison with Hays’s two years of workforce management and righty bat.
Extra from the American League…
Dusty Baker has introduced his retirement from managing, prompting the Astros to start a managerial search. That search, in fact, continues to be in its early levels with Houston having simply been eradicated from postseason competition lower than per week in the past. Houston bench coach Joe Espada and former Angels and Tigers supervisor Brad Ausmus are each reportedly into account for the place, however questions stay as to who precisely will conduct the membership’s managerial search. Chandler Rome of The Athletic mentioned that uncertainty earlier this week, noting that proprietor Jim Crane and adviser Jeff Bagwell each wield appreciable affect within the entrance workplace, even with GM Dana Brown on the helm of the baseball operations division. Rome notes that Bagwell was significantly influential within the membership’s 2022-23 offseason following the departure of former GM James Click on final November, whereas Crane was a key engineer of the Justin Verlander commerce on the deadline this 12 months. Rome signifies that the duo’s affect over baseball operations will proceed with the upcoming managerial search, with every having “immense say” over the following supervisor alongside Brown.
The Chaim Bloom period of Crimson Sox baseball is now formally within the rearview mirror because the membership employed former main league pitcher and Cubs govt Craig Breslow because the membership’s new chief baseball officer earlier this week. MassLive’s Sean McAdam mentioned the significance of Breslow and supervisor Alex Cora constructing a powerful relationship collectively within the early levels of their partnership, and in doing so famous that the connection between Bloom and Cora frayed through the “final 12 months or so” of Bloom’s tenure on the helm. Whereas Cora was pissed off with Bloom’s lack of urgency in returning to competition, McAdam notes that the pair’s relationship was difficult by Cora briefly departing the membership through the 2019-20 offseason, mere months after Bloom was employed to switch Dave Dombrowski. Fortuitously for the Crimson Sox, Breslow and Cora shouldn’t have any such roadblock as they appear to construct a powerful working relationship going ahead.
