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Good Morning, Birdland,
Much of the baseball world appears to be on hold while Juan Soto mulls over the multiple $600+ million offers he has been handed already this offseason. Teams that do not land Soto are expected to pivot to the more moderately priced free agents, including the Orioles’ top target, Corbin Burnes, as well as other priorities.
Soto is not going to be an Oriole, but where he lands will clearly have an impact on this team. If he picks one of the three AL East teams said to be in the mix, that would be a headache for years to come. But if he ends up elsewhere, that could just mean those rivals have more cash to spend elsewhere this winter.
The fact that Soto is an outfielder is also relevant to the Orioles. The team is said to be in the market for a right-handed outfielder. There are a few options out there, like Teoscar Hernández or a reunion with the switch-hitting Anthony Santander. But those two aren’t going to sign before Soto. The organizations that the $600 million man spurns will naturally turn to the next tier of sluggers, which could then drive their price up.
Big trades may have to wait as well. What sort of prospects a club is willing to deal could shift depending on if they land Soto. That can cut both ways. Maybe it makes a young, advanced outfielder in your system easier to move, or maybe it leads you to hold a cheap, flexible talent so that your roster is not bloated financially.
So, when will Soto make a decision? It sounds like that could come this week. MLB’s Winter Meetings begin on Monday, an annual opportunity for agents, players, and teams to make a big, public splash. So an official announcement may be pushed until that point. That will be a welcome move for all of baseball, and it should lead to a flurry of noteworthy transactions ahead of Christmas.
Links
Rummaging through another Orioles mailbag | Roch Kubatko
The most interesting nugget is Roch’s perspective on the Orioles being viewed as “pushing for noteworthy additions” this offseason. It does feel like the team is serious about its three priorities: frontline starter, right-handed outfielder, backup catcher. Now, how they actually go about checking those boxes is another thing altogether.
Defining value in the pitching market | The Baltimore Banner
In addition to the pitching discussion, Jon Meoli puts forth a scenario in which Alex Bregman becomes the Orioles everyday third baseman. Jordan Westburg would assume second base duty, and Jackson Holliday would move to the outfield. It’s honestly a neat thought, but also feels like a LOT of moving parts in one offseason. So, for that reason, the Orioles are probably out.
6 teams with prospects to trade at the Winter Meetings | MLB.com
The Orioles are positioned as the team with the highest “Tradeability Grade” among their minor league group. It makes sense. The organization is ready to make a deep run, and some of their better prospects are duplicative of what’s already in the majors. Something’s gotta give, and if they don’t re-sign Burnes then a trade involving some of these young talents feels like a requirement.
Corbin Burnes is an example that strikeouts are trending down in MLB | Steve Melewski
It feels like hitters are rediscovering unique roles rather than all trying to hit for power. And they are finding success while doing it! That is a positive for the game. It’s far more interesting than the three true outcomes style for most players.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Jackson Holliday turns 21 today. That’s a big birthday for baseball’s former top prospect! His rookie season in 2024 was…not good. But that has been a theme for many of Baltimore’s recent youngsters. He is expected to play a big role on this team in 2025 regardless.
- Stan Jefferson is 62 years old. The outfielder bounced around the league for six years, including a 45-game stint with the O’s between 1989 and ‘90.
- Lee Smith is 67 years old today. His Hall of Fame career included one season in Baltimore. In 1994, he saved 33 games for the Orioles and had a 3.29 ERA while making the AL All-Star team and finishing fifth in Cy Young voting.
This day in O’s history
1963 – The Orioles trade outfielder Al Smith and $25,000 to Cleveland for outfielder Willie Kirkland.
1968 – A big trade goes down between Houston and Baltimore. Outfielders Curt Blefary and John Mason go to the Astros in exchange for pitcher Mike Cuellar and infielders Elijah Johnson and Enzo Hernandez.
1973 – Ross Grimsley is traded from the Reds to the Orioles in a swap for outfielder Merv Rettenmund and infielder Junior Kennedy.
1974 – The Orioles acquire outfielder Ken Singleton and pitcher Mike Torrez from the Expos while sending pitcher Dave McNally, outfielder Rich Coggins, and prospect Bill Kirkpatrick to Montréal.
1988 – Eddie Murray goes from the Orioles to the Dodgers in a deal that lands pitchers Ken Howell and Brian Holton, plus prospect Juan Bell, in Baltimore.