{"id":32907,"date":"2025-02-10T07:19:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T07:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=32907"},"modified":"2025-02-10T07:19:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T07:19:09","slug":"report-baltimore-orioles-three-biggest-questions-to-answer-at-spring-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=32907","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Baltimore Orioles\u2019 Three Biggest Questions to Answer at Spring Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Baltimore Orioles need to get resolution on these three items before they wrap up spring training in Sarasota, Fla.<\/p>\n

\"Sep<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the four most beautiful words for baseball fans this time of year \u2014 \u201cpitchers and catchers report.\u201d<\/p>\n

It means that spring training is starting, and for the\u00a0Baltimore Orioles their pitchers and catchers report on Thursday to their Sarasota, Fla., facility. The position players follow on Feb. 18<\/p>\n

The Orioles are coming off back-to-back playoff berths, including a 2023 AL East division championship. But the pressure is on. The team boasts some of the best young talent in the game and Baltimore has hit a wall in the postseason, failing to win a playoff game.<\/p>\n

The window to contend is now wide open. If the\u00a0Orioles\u00a0want to be in position to be ready for the start of the regular season, these three questions are worth finding answers for before Opening Day at\u00a0Toronto\u00a0on March 27.<\/p>\n

The Embarrassment of Infield Riches<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Orioles have a great problem \u2014 the roster has a significant amount of talent. That\u2019s no more apparent than in the infield, where all eight of their 40-man roster infielders have Major League experience, and the vast majority are home-grown.<\/p>\n

Gunnar Henderson,\u00a0Jackson Holliday, Jorge Mateo,\u00a0Coby Mayo, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O\u2019Hearn, Ram\u00f3n Ur\u00edas and Jordan Westburg are all multi-positional infielders. Last year, only two logged consistent time at only one position \u2014 Henderson at shortstop and Mountcastle at first base.<\/p>\n

Baltimore has been creative in how they get each of these players playing time, but this could be the spring where the rubber meets the road. The O\u2019s probably need more starting pitching and a trade may need to be made at some point.<\/p>\n

Players like Mountcastle are closing in on free agency. Mayo is a highly coveted trade piece by multiple teams. Mateo will not be ready for the start of the season due after UCL reconstruction.<\/p>\n

Spring training will be about two things \u2014 figuring out what an everyday infield might look like and determine which may be as trade pieces down the road.<\/p>\n

The Rotation Situation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First, the easy part.\u00a0Orioles\u00a0fans should not count on seeing Kyle Bradish or Tyler Wells this season. Both are recovering from major elbow surgeries and, if the recovery of past starting pitchers is any indication, the best to expect is that each could make a start or two late in the season.<\/p>\n

The O\u2019s are a bit more optimistic about Wells. But the point is Baltimore shouldn\u2019t build this season\u2019s plans around either. If they can help, it\u2019s a bonus.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not the biggest problem.<\/p>\n

The gaping hole left by free-agent ace\u00a0Corbin Burnes\u00a0is the biggest problem. Baltimore took a volume approach, adding\u00a0Charlie Morton\u00a0and\u00a0Tomoyuki Sugano\u00a0in free agency.<\/p>\n

The O\u2019s have nine starters on their 40-man depth chart. Five will make the rotation. Four won\u2019t. Baltimore will spend the next several weeks figuring that out.<\/p>\n

The Fifth Outfielder<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A team has depth when the fight to be the team\u2019s fifth outfielder is a significant storyline.<\/p>\n

Baltimore lost Anthony Santander in free agency but signed Tyler O\u2019Neill to a three-year deal filled with opt-outs that feels like a one-year deal. O\u2019Neill will take Santander\u2019s place in right, while Cedric Mullins will patrol center field.<\/p>\n

Colton Cowser, last year\u2019s runner-up for rookie of the year, will be in left field. Heston Kjerstad, a highly respected prospect, has probably done enough to serve as one of the backups.<\/p>\n

So, the fight comes down to Ram\u00f3n Laureano and Dylan Carlson for the fifth spot. Both are recent signees. Laureano resurged offensively last season, can play multiple positions and has a respected glove. Carlson is a former first-round pick that doesn\u2019t have a lot of pop.<\/p>\n

But, like Laureano, he can play all three positions and has a plus-glove.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Baltimore Orioles need to get resolution on these three items before they wrap up spring training in Sarasota, Fla. 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