The O’s are reported to be interested in veteran outfielder and World Series champ Teoscar Hernández.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
We’re still in the early days of the MLB hot stove season and there hasn’t been much player movement as yet, especially regarding any big-name free agents. It’s probably going to be a while until the top prizes land anywhere.
In the meantime, we’ll have to subsist on whatever rumors and morsels of gossip we can get our hands on. Yesterday, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi whetted our appetite with a report that the Orioles have expressed interest in free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
Expressing interest, of course, doesn’t necessarily mean much. The Orioles are most likely doing their due diligence on all sorts of free agents. They might have simply contacted Hernández’s agent to get a ballpark figure of what kind of contract he’s looking for, responded “OK, thanks,” and decided they’re not going to get involved after all. Remember Mark Brown’s motto about free agent or trade rumors: probably nothing will happen.
Still, it’s understandable why Hernández could be an Orioles target. The 31-year-old is coming off of his best season in years, smashing 33 home runs and OPSing .840 in 154 games with the Dodgers. He was an NL All-Star — and won the Home Run Derby — and capped off the season by earning his first World Series ring. He’d provide the O’s some right-handed thump in the outfield that would help offset the expected loss of Anthony Santander.
The Orioles’ offseason plans, as ever, are shrouded in mystery. Mike Elias rarely tips his hand, and whenever the O’s do acquire someone, it always seems to come out of the blue and involve a player that nobody knew they were talking to. So now that we’ve heard Hernández’s name in connection with the Birds, that’s all the more reason to think they won’t end up with him. But what else do we have to talk about right now?
Links
Taking another swing at possible spring training storylines – School of Roch
Roch Kubatko muses about what 2025 will bring for Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, and Daz Cameron. I’m predicting one of those guys will never spend a day with the Orioles. Can you guess which one?
For the Orioles, the window to win is open and should stay that way – Steve Melewski
For fans who are concerned about the Orioles’ two straight years of playoff failure, Melewski reminds us that they have the talent and roster depth to continue being contenders for years to come. Where they’ll continue to fail in the playoffs, no doubt.
Will Orioles re-sign John Means? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rich Dubroff thinks there’s a “decent chance” the Orioles will re-sign Means. I’m not so sure. If the O’s don’t think he’ll help the team, they’re not going to bring him back just because he’s a fan favorite. Elias has never been big on sentiment.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Former Orioles born on this day include infielder Carlos Casimiro (48) and the late outfielders Dwight Smith Sr. (b. 1963, d. 2022) and Wally Westlake (b. 1920, d. 2019).
On this day in 1966, Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player after his historic debut season with the Orioles, in which he won the Triple Crown and led the O’s to their first championship. Robinson, who’d previously won NL MVP with the Reds in 1961, became the first player to win the award in both leagues.
And on this date in 1991, fellow Hall of Famer and Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. won his second career AL MVP award after the best offensive season of his MLB career, batting .323 with a .940 OPS, 34 homers, and 114 RBIs, plus a league-best 11.5 Wins Above Replacement (though that stat didn’t exist at the time). He also won his first career Gold Glove. Cal was a pretty good player, you guys!