Orioles general manager Mike Elias spoke with reporters (including MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko and The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham) at the GM Meetings about some of Baltimore’s winter plans, as the club looks to build on its surprising 83-win season. While Elias noted that “we’re not going to go from zero miles an hour to 60 miles an hour in one offseason,” he left no doubt that the O’s are moving beyond their multi-year rebuild strategy.
“Our objective this winter is to add to the major league roster for the purpose of getting into the playoffs. We think that this team is ready to, hopefully, incrementally take steps forward. We’re in win-now mode.”
This means adding some established big league talent to a roster that is still pretty young and short on experience. However, between these younger players and other top prospects coming up from a deep minor league pipeline, Elias noted that “we have internal players at almost every spot that we think are interesting, and I think that provides us with some flexibility with which players we go after. We’ve got some positional flexibility with our current group and that makes for a scenario where we don’t have a very specific recipe of which positions the players have to come in.”
MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald explored some of Baltimore’s options in his recent Offseason Outlook piece, such as an infield picture that has Gunnar Henderson (who could play third base, second base, or shortstop) as the only true sure thing heading into 2023. On paper, the Orioles could stand pat with a starting infield of Henderson, Jorge Mateo, Ramon Urias, and Ryan Mountcastle, with the latter three players perhaps somewhat acting as placeholders until the next wave of infield prospects are ready. Or, Baltimore could acquire a new everyday option at one of the infield spots, perhaps by trading from that infield surplus.
The rotation is perhaps an easier fit for a new veteran, especially since Jordan Lyles’ club option was declined. As Elias noted, “we’ve got a lot of interesting starters. But they’re not guys who have a track record of being front-end-of-the-rotation starters. If we’re able to go out this winter and get more veteran certainty, that would be big. We’re going to be out in the market for that, for sure.”
Re-signing Lyles also isn’t out of the question, as Elias reiterated that the Orioles’ decision to decline the right-hander’s $11MM option was more about timing than any dissatisfaction with Lyles’ performance. “This is a big business with big money, and sometimes it just doesn’t line up at the date that we have to make these decisions,” Elias said. “For us, with this contract with this club option, it was the fifth day after the World Series and we just weren’t ready to bring him back in that way in that point in time….I think that he’s going to have a very good free agent experience himself, and we’ll just stay in touch because I know he liked it here and we liked having him.”
I don’t see the point in making that kind of announcement. I’m sure O’s fans are happy to hear it, but it only adds pressure and expectation. It doesn’t change anything operationally or developmentally.
It’s also kind of an oxymoron. How do you go from essentially last to “win-now mode this offseason,”but do it “incrementally?”
That’s a LOT of double speak for “please spend money on us.”
And, per Spotrac, they’re dead LAST for ‘23 payroll at…….drumroll please…… $8,641,666.
All the while costing yourself leverage with free agents.
35-1 to win the 2023 WS as of this moment.
@DonOsbourne I doubt free agents or their agents believe gm bs talk. If they did a gm can say guess what, I am a executive and I exaggerated and lied! Can you believe that? You actually thought because I said I was going to spend lots of money that I would over pay you? Lol That was just for pr and ticket sales lol. Free agents will usually go wherever they make the most money. Baltimore will only pay what they believe a player is worth regardless of what they say.
@DreamGM
Maybe, but if you publicly announce “win now mode” and don’t make any moves that fans view as substantive, there will be some backlash. Agents know it. Players know it. Samuel pointed out that serious fans understand and support the plan. That is true. But if all of your fans were serious fans who get the plan without explanation, there would be no need to make “win now” statements in the first place. Casual fans’ money is just as valuable as serious fans’
@DonOsbourne Samuel is the weakest poster on the entire site. If you ever prove him wrong on anything (and he is wrong often) he will mute you. So in return you mute him back. So few people see his posts he is irrelevant. You are only talking to him because he has so few people to talk to. I can’t see what he said because he is irrelevant.
Elias didn’t say anything that he can’t do. Not like Philly and spend stupid money. If anything he lowered expectations of the fan base. “we’re not going to go from zero miles an hour to 60 miles an hour in one offseason,” “we have internal players at almost every spot” “incrementally take steps forward.”.
Nothing there says to me we are going to spend a lot of money and go after 200 million players. Even if he did say that it doesn’t give free agents any leverage. Baltimore has to pay them the most money no matter what unless their only other option is Pittsburgh, Canada or fly over country.
I don’t believe these PR announcements cost you leverage in negotiations. Only specific offers impact that.
By the way, the Orioles have a real NRA theme with their prospects, with both Gunnar and Heston.
@Clipper, the wording and message does seem jumbled. They’re talking about their “win-now” mode, while also saying “we’re not going to go from zero miles an hour to 60 miles an hour in one offseason.” Are they in the left lane or the right lane?
“We’ll be in the left lane for sure but our vehicle only goes 10 mph under the speed limit.”
Their luxury tax payroll is at 62 million.
Their 26-man is $3MM as it sits right now. That’s… insane. The LT has a bunch of stuff included against it, including injured players, but they get that money back from the insurance companies.
It’s a shell game. Look at Spotrac. Where’s the extra $50MM come in? I believe you, I’m sincerely asking.
Oh, Chris Davis, never mind!
There’s several players that are arb eligible. They aren’t counted in that number yet.
Yes, I agree there are additional arb costs, but that’s literally every team in Major League Baseball. I assure you most teams are nowhere near $3MM for their 26-man payroll.
They had a total payroll in 2022 of $65MM and change. A total payroll of $59MM in 2021, a total payroll of $37MM in 2020, $37MM in 2019, $37MM in 2018…… kind of seems like a pattern, and those are with arb costs, injured players…it’s total payroll. That’s just unfair to the O’s fans.
I think you see the point. Like many teams they get well over $100MM each and every year in CBT/share money. Where’s the rest of that going every year? Look, I just assume if I were a fan of the O’s, I would be pretty miffed at that.
I’ve got to print a retraction; for some reason when I input the year prior to 2020 on Spotrac it still brings me to the 2020 total. I double checked because that total didn’t seem correct and it’s not.
From Cot’s Contracts, 2019 was $82MM, and 2018 was $136MM. That’s a little better anyway. But still some very, very, very lean years.
at the same time, spending money just to spend money is foolish and i think many orioles fans are probably celebrating the bright future and young talent that they are beginning to see, instead of lamenting the lean, dark years that they are now emerging from
Hi Don;
All teams are having these conferences post-Playoffs.
Nothing he said wasn’t already known.
There’s no pressure. The man and his staff have done a remarkable job. They’ll be contending for at least the next 5 years.
Hi Sam,
I understand every front office gives some off season facetime to rally the fans and encourage ticket sales. And you’re correct, his message is consistent with past statements so it is known. And you’re also correct that the Orioles have done a fantastic job and should contend for the long term.
However, using phrasing like “win now” is unnecessary and inflammatory to a degree. If you read the comments on this site, you can see that no matter how many times writers and Elias himself emphasize incremental improvement, fans hear something else.
The O’s had a magical season but a lot of things had to go right for it to happen. They could experience some regression next season and it wouldn’t mean the plan is failing. It would just mean development is a process that doesn’t always follow a linear path. Declaring this a “win now” period could produce a Chicken Little reaction if things don’t go as planned.
Hi Dan;
LOL
To your point……
I may have missed one, but in the 50 top free agents prediction by 4 of the writers here, one writer each (of the 4) predicted the following pitchers going to the O’s:
Jameson Taillon
Sean Manaea
Taijuan Walker
One writer selected the following DH:
J.D. Martinez
I believe those were realistic possibilities for pitchers, but with all the position players the O’s have I’d be surprised if they turn the DH over to one person, let alone pay a veterans salary. I assume they’ll rotate players through the DH spot.
–
I understand your comment – some posting here do think the O’s should go after Verlander or Rodon to “win now”. I don’t think that’s realistic, but I accept that posters here will push that. However, few of any will be O’s fans.
–
Yesterday presented a great lesson…..
The Astros owner pushed out the GM and fired one of his assistants. Outrage occurred in the comment section. It was primarily – if not totally – by posters that don’t follow the Astros closely, understand the sort of team they’ve constructed, and how they’re run. The few posters from Houston that wrote in said that they understood the changes and wrote that most of the fans in Houston did as well.
–
This happens here all the time. Yes, I think that posters that don’t follow the O’s other than look at stats will be writing until ST that the O’s should sign or trade for a big name pitcher. I think posters from Baltimore as well as O’s fans that see a lot of their games will be more realistic, but not as loud.
Already we see people wanting Mateo replaced because they see his BA. Were they to watch the games they’d see how valuable he is to that team….and the FO knows it.
–
The O’s, Astros, Guardians, Rays, and one or two other franchises don’t value players anywhere near the way the national media and fans do. They all have in-house people that see things a certain way – proprietary analytics being a being a big factor in their decisions. So I expect the O’s will make some moves, but most will be head scratchers to many. Once the season starts they’ll make sense.
Agreed Sam. Starts with owner John Angelos. Hands off, doesn’t meddle. And for Elias to say the team is ready to playoff compete with willingness to spend is coming from Angelos through him. John is a far cry from his dad Peter. Peter was over passionate and got too involved with the baseball decision making. John, not so much. Happy for the FO, team and fans. Finally!!!! Win now!? If it happens it happens. Just grateful JA is the managing owner. Closest owner style to Mr Hoffberger since Mr Hoffberger (circa 1964-79)
Os fan here.
Elias is pretty laconic – this is only the 3rd time he’s talked to media this year that I know of. We’ll take whatever we we can get from him.
Leave the guy alone. He knows what he’s doing.
amanateeamongmen;
I did hear him a few times when he sat in on an Orioles TV broadcast (he also went over and did radio the other half-inning).
Laconic is an on-target word. He will use some buzzword phrases, but he doesn’t go on like most FO people do as they carry on trying to do marketing. He will compliment his players about some things they do, but he’s very good about being realistic. Manager Brandon Hyde is the same way. Apparently Mr. Elias sets the tone for the organization. Now he says its time to compete for a playoff spot. Nothing any O’s follower didn’t already figure out.
One possible point: promotional value.
The birds sold 575,138 more seats this year than in 2021. That was a 72.5% increase.
Winning is attractive. Assuring the fans that they mean to improve is the right message as the franchise gears up with their ticket sales campaign.
O’s management owes it to their to go for it
Laughable, but possible, due to the failures of NY, Toronto, & TB
How is it laughable? The Orioles have a talented young core, a top 3 farm system that graduated 2 top overall prospects this year (including the likely runner up for ROY), and complete payroll flexibility.
Things are great in Baltimore atm.
It’s laughable because you have to climb Mount Everest on a tricycle.. If you want to accomplish anything, you’d better have the $ to soup up that tricycle..
I mean, the Orioles were running payrolls in the $160-180 million range less than a decade ago, so…
MLBTR, why is there no edit on my post? All the periods came out as double? Maybe this is a sign that Baltimore will win the division & I’ll eat my words? Where are you Joe DiMaggio?
I remember Steve Barber, Brooks Robinson, Jim Gentile. Baltimore has lost that old influence. Now it seems to be $, $, $. Have you got it?
It’s not easy but certainly possible to win without spending 300 million or even 200 million.
@Curly; what they lost was ownership with an ego in check. Hoffberger was the reason for the success you are referring to when mentioning the players from that era that you mentioned. 43 years have gone by. John Angelos is nothing like his dad and the other couple of owners in between him and Hoffberger. The man’s ego is in check. He does not meddle. O’s fans rejoice!
Mountcastle had pretty good hard hit percentages, etc, but his overall numbers weren’t great. IDK if he’s just a placeholder though.
He’s still young his numbers will improve as the team around him gets better. He’s doing exactly what you want your 1B to do and that’s hit HRs. This Oriole’s team has a bright future and I think it happens sooner rather than later. It all comes down to adding quality arms to their staff.
The defense needs stability, pick a spot for tbe positional player and keep him there.
As for Elias, as long as he doesn’t try to go Zero to Sixty in a 1975 Ford Maverick, he should be okay
Verlander, deGrom, and Judge. EZPZ!
😉
stand pat ,exept for pitching add 2 mid tear starters
You forgot SS, 4 to choose from.
you could add ss and put mateo at 2nd.use urias as utility.i agree there.
It’s definitely tempting to throw money at a top FA SS like Correa or Turner, but SS really isn’t a position of need for the Orioles, IMO.
On top of Mateo being a good option there for his defense and speed, Gunnar mostly put worries that he wouldn’t develop into a solid defensive SS to rest this year at Norfolk, plus Joey Ortiz gets rave reviews for his defense at SS and his offense really took off this year at AA and AAA to put him onto the Top 100 Prospect radar, plus 2022 top overall pick Jackson Holliday got off to a scorching hot start to his minor league career and should move quickly through the system.
If big FA expenditures are to occur, it should really be for starting pitching, IMO.
Don’t forget Westburg
Yep, Westburg’s pretty much ready now and another potential future SS (although I think he eventually ends up at 2B in deference to Gunnar or Holliday). Darell Hernaiz is yet another interesting SS prospect in the Orioles’ system who caught my attention this year- just turned 21 in August, started 2022 at Low A and made it to AA, with a .273 BA, .341 OBP, 12 HRs, and 32 SBs in 105 games along the way.
I would DEFINITELY be blowing up Mike Elias’ phone off I was a GM looking for a near-ready potential SS of the future though. Even if you figure Gunnar and Holliday are off limits, that still leaves Westburg, Ortiz, and Hernaiz as possible targets, plus Urias and Mateo as more established guys with plenty of control remaining.
And people say we need to sign a SS lol.
No need for a FA SS, I’m cool with running the 2022 Fielding Bible winner for AL SS and AL leader in SBs out there again next year.
Only 120 mil extra in payroll. No sweat.
I was only joking, but to be fair, that wouldn’t even match the payroll they were running at the tail end of their last run in the 2010s, even after accounting for arb raises for the in-house guys.
King, haha I know you were. I was too. It’s stunning to think that would be about the cost to add 3 guys like that.
They were solid in 2012
King Floch;
Hope you’re joking…..
Even one of those 3 could scuttle within a few years everything they’ve done to this point.
@Samuel
I was clearly joking about signing 3 different $40 million dollar players in one offseason, but I would actually pursue Verlander in earnest. He’s incredibly unlikely to sign in Baltimore but still, I would at least make him turn down a very competitive offer.
@Trumbo
Yeah, it would make even Steve Cohen blush lol.
I’ll believe it when I see it, but it would be great to see this franchise spend and invest in talent again. Young core could be devastating w Grayson on the way. Would love to see a push for one of the SS and an upper tier SP.
Ma4170;
If they’re going to do a any “investing in talent again” I hope they do it by extending their young players that do well as opposed to bringing in costly so-so players that block the youngsters.
Chris Davis many have been an extreme example that they “invested” in, but the lesson there is that when you put out the big money you have to play the guy.
I agree, one of the top priorities this offseason should be locking up Adley and Gunnar.
Unfortunately, Gunnar is a Boras guy, so that would be easier said than done.
Agree… if they don’t lock in the future stars, no point in supplementing or upgrading elsewhere. As someone who’s not a fan, but always admired the franchise, I feel like they’ve been making no effort to be competitive for a while, so I’d love to see them start to be in the mix again. I think they overachieved a bit last year, but if they keep their core, they can be right there in a couple of years.
They have been steadily increasing payroll over the past 4 seasons. They know where they stand and that their window is starting to open. While I doubt they spend with reckless abandonment, I think they ll sign a few mid tier arms. I expect they ll also b in the mix for one of the SS’s. I’d say likely Correa.
Wonder if they’ll go for a veteran like a taillon or Bassitt to bring a little more experience to the staff
I’d like Bassitt, I think Taillon is a bit overrated. His ceiling sees to b a #3 starter but more often pitches like a 4 in a good rotation.
Go O’s Go. Upset that AL East apple cart.
Word salad!
Can someone get me the splits of Mountcastle vs. The Toronto Blue Jays and vs the rest of the league.
Now comes the hard part. Any team can build a collection of young talent by tanking and picking near the front of the draft. It’s what they do developmentally and how they build around and supplement that core. Can they build something sustainable? In other words, will they be the Astros or will they be the Royals?
Historical payrolls suggest that at the very least, they have a greater margin for error than the Royals. That’s what a large payroll really gets you. It won’t always ensure that you have the most talented team, but it allows you to continue building if something goes wrong.
The O’s have shown they can compete in the AL East and have operated higher payrolls, so I agree. Moving to a balanced schedule will also help. I wonder if one year we’ll end up with something fluky, like five teams in the AL East above .500, with the 5th place team having a better record than the first place team in the Central!
Speaking of competition in the ALE, here’s something to think about for teams trying to copy the Rays approach and hire Rays FO personnel from big markets….
2022: Bos: Payroll $225MM, Record 78-84 (5th)
Bal: Payroll $66MM, Record 83-79(4th)
Yikes…..
Go get Correa
Sign Syndergaard and Clevinger. Go for it with Correa. Call it an off-season.
I don’t want those 2 has beens
I just had a post rejected because it contained a famous persons name. It was completely harmless. Who sets the parameters for the moderation? Chooses the “keywords” to flag etc?
I’m the wrong person to ask, I’ve been censored more than Howard Stern. Actually got bounced off for a couple of months. That’s why I’ve toned down…
Curly old sport, I always knew you were a legend..”Booted for a few months” hahahahahahahah
You can only use a famous person’s name if you add in expletives & political rhetoric with it. That’ll get it through guaranteed!
Clip, between you and Curly, I don’t know who’s reply made me laugh harder!!
I almost want to post and delete and experiment now…See what is taboo and what isn’t…Seeing how merely using a persons name is a no-go and all…Is the word “God” banned? Testing….Testing…
MLB news site leans drastically the same way as MLB. Shouldn’t be surprised.
At minimum the Orioles should sign Rodon to a 5 year contract this off season. They are going to need top tier starting pitching for their upcoming competitve window and Rodon is that.
rodon would be a good sign but do not sign verlander hes a grandpa tha cant pitch into september much less october .degrom is worse he will pitch 10 to 12 games a year. the rest of the year hes in a wheel chair.offer degrom 1.5 million per start. if steve cohen wants to pay him 40 mil. a year then let him. i wouldnt no matter how much money i have.
Rodon’s age versus the others you mentioned and length of contract made me go with Rodon for the Orioles. Verlander may very well pitch 5 more years but probably on 1 or 2 year deals at the most. deGrom will resign with the Mets.
If baseball teams fill the same about Rodon as you he is going to get expensive. What is your limit on him?
He was expensive last year and I believe will cost even more now. I do not have a number but think the Orioles have entered into a competive window that they need to externally add top tier starting pitching to truly increase their championship(s) probability. Do you think he makes sense for the Orioles and have a contract length and cost? Not asking to confront but interested in your opinion/take.
I thought he was a absolute bargain last year. Don’t see that being the case this year. They have him getting 5 years 140 million. I would take the over on both but definitely the money. I would rather give him 6 155 or 7 170. Just in case he ages well. I would rather beat ny la etc with total money vs yearly. I would rather have Rodon at 5 140 over Degrom 3 135 or Verlander 3 120. Rather have Verlander than Degrom. Unless Verlander gets insane money and Houston gets really cheap I don’t see Verlander leaving. Not as certain as Kershaw staying in LA but the next best sure thing where nothing is a sure thing.
I think it make sense to be interested in him with less in division play. He isn’t a ground ball pitcher so if he gets in slump or loses some stuff it could get ugly. I follow the smart gm strategy. I have no interest in the players everyone wants. There’s no value there. But if everyone is on Judge Degrom and I can steal Rodon sure. I want to pay a pitching coach nothing compared to a player to teach Chad Kuhl some control. I want trade some over rated prospects for Tyler Glasnow. I want to pay Jose Quintana 2 million and get the performance from him of 5 years ago. I want give Tyler Anderson 8 million and have him pitch so well I have to give him a qualifying offer. I don’t want to pay a 40 year old 40 million a year.
I agree wuth you. My comfort level with Rodon was 4 years but his age, talent and bidding war, I went 5 years and while I kept it to myself, I think $30 million a year. So yes, 5 years $150 million. Wouldn’t mind seeing the money being more front loaded say $33 million per year for the first 3 years then 25.5 million per year the last 2 years. It is going to be such a fun and interesting hot stove this year. It’s already been very active.
He would love it front loaded. Ownership would like back loaded. So even is likely. I’d rather pay him inflated money. I have good things to invest in right now. 4 5 years from now who knows.
Feel already like 2023 Orioles are the 2022 Tigers. Overachieved by a lot this year. They may have won 83 but can easily see 70 w a similar roster. Now, they should still sign guys but hopefully they realize there will be regression esp. among their pitching.
They also play less against the AL East so that could help balance it back in their favor.
The Orioles offense is ridiculously stacked for years to come. They have an incredible amount of high end offensive prospects, some MLB ready and some further away. They would be wise to trade some of that surplus for pitching. Signing a true ace like Carlos Rodon should be their number one priority this off-season.
Friend! 🙂 I agree with you, HBan22.
When they finally got away from their “Let’s hit lots of home runs” theory, they started improving. Now they could use a few pitchers, but they’re far better off then Boston or Tampa, so I predict at least a wild card in 2023.
Sign Rodon and Turner plus an extension for Adley and Cedric would make a dream off-season
You think Cedric is worth an extension? I’m not an O’s fan but wondered what the fan base’s thoughts are on him as a building block or a trade chip
His 2021 numbers were other worldly and his 2022 numbers were good. I think he falls between there. I think on average you can expect him suiting up at least 150 games .275 hitter with 30 doubles 30 steals 20 homers and a WAR around 4+. Add top end defense in center and he’s definitely worth building around. He’s not a FA until 2026 but I’d love to see his salary locked down and get him for few years beyond that.
I’m definitely a fan but that’s what I was thinking… even if they don’t trade him, they do already have him for a few more years so maybe they’re okay w letting that play out. I could definitely see your point though of locking him up a few more years beyond that.
I’m goood on Turner.
300 million dollars could spent elsewhere.
Really want Ohtani next year. I think this year they want to see what they have in full seasons from Adley and Gunnar, along with Grayson, Cowser, and Westburg. I’m predicting this offseason they sign Joc, trade Santander for a controllable starter, sign Taillon, and then trade for a true ace at the deadline. Then next offseason the real spending will begin.
I’d rather pay for a ace now vs trading my best prospects for one.
I like your plan but half the league is going to want to trade for that ace. The O’s will be better off signing mid-tier guys now like Taillon, Heaney, etc. hoping that they can pitch like a #2.
With the position players on hand the Orioles really only need to sign a bat to DH (Josh Bell? Jose Abreu?) And a veteran rotation arm or two (deGrom might be a possibility given the Orioles have money to spend) and this team is in pretty good shape
I’m not sure how ready the orioles really are. They definitely have a lot of young talent but the 2022 team isn’t really the actual young core of the team.
If you look at the 2022 roster only rutschmann, henderson, mountcastle and mullins really are future pieces of the lineup while others like matteo, santander and hays likely are more overperforming flukes.
And in the rotation it might be worse, I think none of the 2022 starters is more than a 5th and 6th starter.
With hitting a lot is coming up but with pitching I only really see rodriguez (hall is a reliever for me with his command or lack of it).
I’m not saying the Os can’t have a great future but I don’t see them as particularly close when only half of the future lineup and none of the Future rotation is up.
I would try to graduate enough hitting prospects so at least 7 of the future lineup are up and then they need to acquire pitching, they have some pitching depth but no 1-3 starters except for rodriguez.
If they have done that they can sign a big pitcher and a big bat to finish the product but I don’t see them at that point yet, they just don’t have the pitching yet and the hitting isn’t quite mlb ready either.
I would actually argue that Hays underperformed last year- his AVG, OBP, and SLG all fell below his pre-2022 career averages.
As for the pitching, I agree that some regression should be expected, which is why I would like to see 2 established, above average starters brought in via trade or free agency to join Rodriguez in the top 3/5 of the rotation so that only 2 of Hall, Wells, Kremer, Bradish, and Voth need to be counted on in the rotation on Opening Day with the others serving as bulk relievers or AAA depth. Plus Means should be ready to return from TJS sometime in the second half.
Elias is making mostly correct decisions!
This is a great move (once again) by Elias. He is pretty much saying to any available free agent that the Orioles are open for business. This also goes out to other teams looking to make a possible trade. The Orioles for first time in a long time have created a pathway to improve the roster further . They have a good core of younger talent in the minor leagues and do not plan on being happy with that. They want to keep growing that farm system. The Orioles may not be in the market for a big name talent at this point, but they will keep their options open and definitely will be ready for that talent soon enough.
So what is the fascination with Mateo as one of the core players?
He’s fast and he stole 35 bases. He could have stolen 50-60 if he could get on base, he had a .267 OBP. He also strikes out a ton (147) for a guy who doesn’t have a lot of power. Career OPS of 80 and he’s 27, so I don’t think we should suddenly expect .270 and 20 HR.
Yes he can field – this was the first time he was given sustained time at one position – so was this the fluke year or was this the fielder he could have been a couple years ago if given consistent time? (Need a year or two to answer that).
Because of the bad OBP and lack of power, he has to hit 7-9 in the lineup. I’d be ok with him doing that if they have 6-7 other very good to excellent hitters. But they don’t. They haven’t had a high OBP guy to hit leadoff since Roberts. Mullins should hit 2nd or 6th.