It can be difficult to keep track of all of MLB’s awards. They hand them out sporadically and so far after the games have been played that no one outside of us sickos actually cares, and I’m not even sure how much many of us are terribly interested either.

Anyway, they announced the winners of the Silver Slugger awards on Tuesday. One Oriole was honored. Anthony Santander and his 44 home runs took home the first Silver Slugger award of his career, joining Aaron Judge and Juan Soto as the outfield honorees in the American League.

It’s a deserved award for Santander. He turned in career highs in homers (44), RBI (102), OPS (.814), and OPS+ (134) in 2024. There were arguments to be made for others on the junior circuit (Riley Greene, Yordan Alvarez, and Steven Kwan). But the beefy power numbers are tough to overlook for Santander and likely the reason why he won it.

The timing is ideal as well for Santander. He is currently a free agent, and is expected to get a pretty big deal from someone this winter. Will the Orioles be that someone? Count me as doubtful there. It’s not because Santander wasn’t crucial to their success in recent years, but the team has some alternative options in the outfield, and they have bigger needs on the roster, starting pitching in particular.

But it’s still neat to see Santander get all of his flowers this year—an all-star nod, a Silver Slugger, and soon a nice free agent contract! He has taken a long, winding road to end up here, and he seems like the nicest guy in the world. Congrats, Tony!

Links

Who could take veteran at-bats for the 2025 Orioles? | The Baltimore Banner
Jon Meoli chats through a bunch of options for the Orioles. Teoscar Hernández and Jurickson Profar emerge as the best fits, if not the absolute best players on the market. Both sound like reasonable targets.

Roki Sasaki will likely make a big impact for some MLB team, but at a small initial price | Steve Melewski
Sasaki does seem to be an intriguing talent, and one that would fit what the Orioles are after this winter. But will they sign him? They should certainly try, although most people expect him to go to one of the big clubs.

Baseball’s best hitters honored with Silver Slugger Awards | MLB.com
More information on Santander (and others) that received the cherished Silver Slugger award. Maybe a few more Orioles will make the list next year.

Nick Pivetta Unlikely To Accept Qualifying Offer | MLB Trade Rumors
The Orioles are mentioned here as a fit for Pivetta with Jeff Passan making the connection. That does not mean the O’s have talked with Pivetta, but simply that there is logic in him going to Baltimore. Pivetta has been solid throughout his career, but good enough to turn down the $21.05 million qualifying offer? Eh, not so sure about that. Good luck though, man!

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Trevor Rogers turns 27 today. After being acquired from the Marlins at last year’s trade deadline, the lefty appeared in four games for the Orioles. They did not go well, and he was demoted to Triple-A. Hopefully that changes in the years ahead.
• Wade Miley is 38 years old. Between 2016 and ‘17, the southpaw tossed 211.1 total innings with Baltimore. His 5.75 ERA in that time speaks for itself, although he had moments of brilliance.
• Josh Bell (this one!) is also 38. The infielder came to Baltimore as a prospect in 2009 (along with Steve Johnson) in a swap for closer George Sherrill. He played just 79 sub-par games for the O’s
• Pat Hentgen celebrates his 56th birthday. He had a three-season run with the Orioles from 2001-03. In total, the righty accumulated a 4.26 ERA over 245 innings with the Birds.
• Larry Harlow turns 73. An outfielder, Harlow spent parts of four seasons in Baltimore from 1975-79. The Orioles traded him to the Angels in the middle of the ‘79 season for Floyd Rayford.

This day in O’s history

2023 – Gunnar Henderson is named the AL Rookie of the Year, a unanimous selection.