With the recent return of Cedric Mullins, the Orioles optioned Ryan McKenna back to Triple-A Norfolk, the first sign of the O’s returning to their full stable of position players.
The next man to return would be Aaron Hicks, who Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said could rejoin the club in San Diego after his rehab assignment in Norfolk. Of course, his veteran presence, versatility and keen batting eye make Hicks a valuable addition to the lineup and off the bench.
This has opened the debate of what the Orioles will do when Hicks does return. Will the O’s send their No. 2 prospect Colton Cowser back to the minors, DFA Jorge Mateo or possibly release Hicks?
First off, it’s a good conundrum to have enough talent that the debate even comes to the surface. But the reality is that a move will have to be made. Of course, there are also ways to manipulate the whole scenario to avoid making any move.
Let’s visit the two players in question and their respective seasons, starting with Jorge Mateo.
The reigning Fielding Bible Award winner for shortstops, Mateo was all the rage from a defensive standpoint last season. With new rules for base running, the lightning rod of the team would be able to show off his strongest trait, his speed.
Mateo came out of the gate and hit .333 for the first month of the season. He was getting on base and was able to steal eight bases while posting a .377 on-base percentage.
From there, it’s been a complete 180° turn of who we saw to start the year. In the subsequent months to follow, Mateo’s slashline has been extremely scary.
- May: .128/.165/.151
- June: .196/.250/.250
- July: .167/.211/.278
- August: .182/.250/.364
Unfortunately, Mateo’s offensive production has been a void to the Orioles’ lineup, especially when in 92 games, he has only 17 walks to 70 strikeouts.
Defensively, Mateo appears to have regressed from his standout 2022 season. Plays that he made look easy last year are eluding him and have actually forced the Orioles to move Gunnar Henderson to the shortstop position in most games.
At this time, Mateo has become nothing more than a defensive replacement and pinch-runner. His talents could help leave him on the roster, especially for the postseason where runs are harder to come by.
The Orioles’ No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 prospect, Colton Cowser has helped the Orioles to a 22-10 record since his arrival. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, the fire that has caught the team has not transpired offensively.
Through 26 games, Cowser is slashing .115/.286/.148 with no home runs and just four RBIs. The Sam Houston product has scored 15 runs and walked 13 times, earning a higher OBP than what Mateo has put forth in the last four months.
With Cowser, you have a young and talented rookie who is adjusting to the big leagues. Similar to Gunnar Henderson, the talent is there, and you know it’s just a matter of time before he breaks out and catches lightning in a bottle.
He is capable of playing all three outfield positions as a plus defender with an average arm and quick reaction time. Another big difference is his patience at the plate, as he averages 4.7 pitches per plate appearance, showing the ability to work the count.
So, what happens next? As stated above, Hicks is on his rehab assignment, and if it goes like Mullins, he should be back after three to four games. So what should the Orioles do since a roster move would have to be made?
The first option would be to DFA Mateo. This would allow him to go on waivers, allowing one of 29 other teams to add him to their roster. A team like the Rays or Rangers could benefit from someone with Mateo’s speed, especially come playoff time.
The second option would be to demote Colton Cowser to Triple-A Norfolk. This would allow for more consistent playing time, but the problem with this move is that the Orioles have been patient thus far, so why return him because of lack of production?
Cowser would play regularly the rest of the season, but it’s not long before the season ends in Norfolk, so then you start the cycle over next season of Cowser adjusting to the big leagues.
A third option would be to keep both and DFA Hicks. The issue with that is, once again, you expose him to waivers, giving teams like the Astros and Mariners an opportunity to grab him for a postseason push.
One option that has not come up, though, is keeping everyone, and there is actually a way this works out where the Orioles don’t have to DFA or demote anyone at the same time. Hicks will be starting a rehab assignment soon. This can work to the Birds’ advantage as the maximum allotted time for a rehab assignment is 20 days.
As of September 1, active rosters can increase up to 28 players. Returning Hicks in September would allow the Orioles to keep Cowser, Hicks and Mateo on the roster for a postseason push.
The fun of this will come postseason time as rosters are only allowed 26 active players and a maximum of 13 pitchers. September will be the time for these three players to earn their spot for the postseason.
Which scenario do you see playing out? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!
Like Stephen’s content? Follow him on X – @SRJHeckman, and listen to the official podcast of The Baltimore Battery, The Final Strike, anywhere you get your podcasts!
THE BALTIMORE BATTERY 
Leave a comment