It’s that time of year again when the MLB offseason is in full swing, and we still are riding the high of our AL East, 101-win Baltimore Orioles 2023 season.
Of course, we all are watching to see what the MLB Executive of the Year, O’s GM Mike Elias, will do to upgrade the team, whether through signings, trades or some of each.
As fans, there are questions that we would like addressed regarding this offseason, and we are going to answer some of those questions and provide some insight from a fan’s perspective.
Let’s jump on in and see what questions are in the mailbag for the first offseason edition of Battery Q&A.
1.) Would Elias consider trading for Juan Soto for one year? You could provide a better package than anyone, trade away a big bat and get a high comp pick the next year to replenish what you lose. – Gerald J. Baines via X/Twitter
While having a superstar like Juan Soto in your lineup gives you a strong, middle-of-the-order power bat, this is one bat the Orioles will probably stay clear of this offseason.
As talented as Soto is, the asking price would be tremendously steep, and his price to remain with the O’s would be even steeper.
The Orioles have a plethora of talented outfielders currently on their roster and in the minors, with Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad ready to get their shots at the big league level next season.
It’s a fun idea, but one I think would require giving up too much to land a one-year player and a comp pick. Plus, although draft picks are nice, the Orioles are now in “win now” mode, where they want to add talent to the big league team.
2.) This is a three-part question. Who will be our next top-100 prospect that is underrated and blows up, similar to Samuel Basallo this past year? Do we sign a veteran position player this offseason? Who do we trade to get pitching or to help payroll? – Chaumette Garcia via Facebook
To answer your first question, the first player that comes to mind is Enrique Bradfield Jr. His strong showing last season through three levels of minor league ball showed that GM Mike Elias did his due diligence.
The biggest takeaway was his 26 walks to 16 strikeouts, while stealing 25 bases in 25 games across three levels. Bradfield Jr. should start this coming season in High-A Aberdeen, where he finished last year.
I personally don’t think the Orioles sign a veteran to any of the positions outside of pitching. Aaron Hicks remains a veteran option as a fourth outfielder. But the O’s already have prospects such as Joey Ortiz, Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and Connor Norby, who all have good cases for big league playing time, if they’re not traded for major league talent.
As for trading, I see Cowser, Mayo, Ortiz Norby and Dylan Beavers as the top prospects who Elias is willing to trade to obtain a pitcher. It will cost a few prospects to land someone like Corbin Burnes, Dylan Cease or Logan Gilbert.
As for payroll, we could see increases with signing someone like Sonny Gray or offering a long-term extension to Gunnar Henderson and/or Adley Rutschman.
3.) Do MLB players get any kind of retirement / pension from the union? After all, they paid plenty in dues. – Richard Trueheart via Facebook
In order to accrue a pension, an MLB player must obtain 10 years of service time. Once they hit 10 years, they will receive a pension that averages out to about $7,500 a month. If they wait until the age of 62, they can earn upwards of $200,000 per month.
The minor leagues also have pensions for players who don’t make the show, and all major league players receive medical benefits for life once they appear in the majors.
Some players like Chris Davis (2037), Matt Holliday (2029), Manny Ramirez (2026) and Bobby Bonilla (2035) are receiving annual payments on remaining contracts. Other players will remain in the game in some capacity or become analysts for networks.
There were a lot of interesting questions to go through for this first edition. It’s a long offseason, and in due time, there will be another round or two of Battery Q&A before the 2024 season begins. Be on the lookout so you can submit your questions.
What do you think the O’s need to do this offseason to upgrade the team? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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