Orioles GM Mike Elias spoke to reporters before this afternoon's game against the Yankees and touched on a number of topics, including the club's needs and goals ahead of the trade deadline and the status of the club's two key, top prospects. : football players Jackson Holiday again Coby Mayo. As noted by Roch Kubatko of MASN, Elias suggested to reporters that both Holliday and Mayo will face the team's plans as “major contributors” in the second half of this year.
Holliday, of course, is a top prospect for consistency throughout the game and got a brief cup of coffee at the big league level earlier this year. The 20-year-old has looked extremely consistent in the majors during that stretch, slashing .059/.111/.059 over a 36-game hitting streak. He then returned to the Triple-A level and hit .252/.418/.429 over his next 40 games. That's a solid slash line but a long way from what Holliday has done in the past, especially considering his production in early June, when he hit just .212 with a 26.7% slugging percentage and a .394 slugging percentage over the past ten games. placement in minor league IL due to what the team called at the time “barking” the shoulder.
The young prospect returned to action after two weeks on the shelf and has been his usual self at the plate, slashing a solid .250/.464/.425 in 12 games since returning. He's been limited in appearances at DH since his return, but those limited numbers will come out soon as Elias told reporters (including Baltimore Baseball's Rich Dubroff) this afternoon that Holliday will return to the field after the All-Star break. That should leave Holliday in line to take over a regular role at second base for the Orioles at some point in the second half.
Baltimore relied on a combination of Ramon Urias again Jorge Mateo to fill the infield mix, with Jordan Westburg he plays second base on days Urias is on the roster and third base on days Mateo is on the roster. Holliday's arrival could open up an opportunity for Westburg to settle in at full-time hot corner while replacing both Urias and Mateo on the bench. Of course, that infield picture will be even more difficult with the introduction of Mayo, who Elias spoke glowingly about in an interview with reporters (including MLB.com's Jake Rill) this afternoon.
“You are in a very good place. We talk about him all the time,” Elias said about Mayo, according to Rill. “He is very close. He will help us this year. It will be almost the right moment and the right opportunity and the right road for such a thing.“
Mayo's readiness for a new challenge cannot be denied yet. The 22-year-old posted a wRC+ of 127 in 62 games at the Triple-A level last season and has followed it up with even stronger numbers this year. In 284 trips to the plate at Triple-A this season, Mayo slashed an impressive .297/.380/.606 with a wRC+ of 147. While his 24.6% strikeout rate is perhaps higher than it should be, he is more than that. preparing to swing and miss with a 10.4% walk rate and an incredible 19 homers in just 63 games.
He's as talented as a slugger can be, however, his roster fit in Baltimore is tough to sort out. Mayo's position is third base, and that's where he got almost all of his reps in the minors. That being said, his defense has drawn mixed reviews and with Westburg potentially covering the hot corner every day when Holliday moves up to the majors, that will leave Mayo on the outside looking in when it comes to attorneys in his natural position. . Mayo also got some time at first, though, and it's easy to imagine him stepping into the club's first base/DH hybrid. Even that part of the list is very crowded, however, as Ryan Mountcastle again Ryan O'Hearn at the moment they divide the time in the season Adley Rutschman and spends time at DH when not behind the plate and five outfield bats for the club- Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullinsagain Heston Kjerstad– you fight for the remaining playing time available at DH if you are not guarding the lawn.
The Orioles' talent glut could be somewhat reduced by a trade before the deadline on July 30. Elias told reporters (including Dubroff) that while the front office is focused on talent, which will run from tomorrow until Tuesday, the club will look to the upcoming deadline after that and will have an opportunity to add salary. as it pursues expansion. Kubatko added that while Elias suggested salaries could increase under the club's new ownership group, that doesn't mean it's “definitely going to happen” this summer and that the front office plans to “be disciplined” in their spending going forward, even as the purse strings are relatively loose. which was paid for under the Angelos family. Of course, even just getting to the highest paid position under the Angels family, with Cot's Baseball Contracts ranking just under $165MM back in 2017, would give the Orioles plenty of room to work this summer and heading into the season.
As for the specific needs, Elias admitted (as relayed by Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun) that adding a multi-year starting pitcher would be a “huge bonus” for the club as it heads into the season ahead. you need to complete the Opening Day rotation at the end Grayson Rodrigueza rooster Kade Povichand struggling righty Dean Kremer can be reliably penciled in thanks to the waiting free companies of John Kusho again Corbin Burns and surgery performed by Means, Kyle Bradishagain Tyler Wells that number will set them aside in 2025. As attractive as the addition of a control arm can be, however, Weyrich goes on to note that Elias has made it clear that the club “will be approaching this deadline in 2024 front and center.”
A look at MLBTR's Top 50 Trade Candidates for the summer will reveal a list full of options that could represent years of control, from the White Sox star. Garrett Crochet and a good veteran Erick Feddeto Rockies pitchers Cal Quantrill again Austin Gombereven the beginnings of Rays Zach Eflin again Zack Littell. While an intradivision trade with Tampa seems somewhat unlikely, the Orioles have the farm system to land almost any player they have their sights set on, even without parting ways with Holliday or Mayo.
That said, it's possible the club could also look to acquire short-term options. The right hand Jack Flaherty is the top rental pitcher on the market this summer and appears to be a huge underdog after struggling to a 6.75 ERA against Baltimore last year, but pitchers like Frankie Montas, Michael Lorenzenagain Trevor Williams he may also be available this summer as a pure loanee depending on the competition of his clubs at the deadline. It also wouldn't be surprising to see the Orioles try to rebuild a bullpen mix that recently lost a lefty. Danny Coulombe surgery that will keep him out until at least September.
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