The 2023 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings are officially underway, with executives, general managers and skippers from all 30 teams arriving to Nashville, Tennessee, for a week-long conference.
Last year, O’s GM Mike Elias and members of the front office traveled to San Diego for the return of the in-person Winter Meetings. Coming off an 83-win 2022 campaign, the O’s were prepared to contend, leaving behind their rebuilding stage.
Now, in the second year of “win-now mode,” the Orioles, once again, will be looking for immediate upgrades to their big league club for the 2024 season. It has been reported multiple times over the last month that players expressed a stronger interest in coming to Baltimore, realizing the team was on the rise.
So what do the Orioles need to do this offseason to improve their team? Let’s dive into what you need to know as an O’s fan for the 2023 Winter Meetings.
TEAM NEEDS
Firstly, the team needs a top releiver to replace All-Star closer Félix Bautista, who will miss the entirety of the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The back end of the Orioles’ bullpen is a focal point this offseason. Yennier Canó did convert eight saves filling in for Bautista in the final month of the 2023 season but fills in more as a set-up man.
Elias and Co. are hoping to bring in a reliever with closing experience. Such a move could help offset the loss of Bautista, who was the winner of the 2023 Mariano Rivera Award as the AL’s top reliever.
Some names that industry sources have linked to the Orioles include Robert Stephenson, Jordan Hicks, Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman and former O’s farm product Josh Hader.
The second need for this club will be adding a starting pitcher who can upgrade their young rotation, which already includes two rising stars in Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez.
At the General Managers Meetings in early November, Elias stated his intent to acquire a starter who can ideally slot into a top-three spot in the rotation. The O’s could get outbid in the free agent starting pitching market, so they may need to swing a trade to land their ideal target.
If the O’s decide to sign a top free agent starter or land one of the top trade targets, it may not happen this week, as Elias said last year that he primarily uses the Winter Meetings as an “information-gathering event.”
RULE 5 DRAFT
The Orioles have selected at least one player during the Major League portion of every Rule 5 Draft since 2006. With four spots currently open on the 40-man roster, the O’s will likely use the No. 29 overall pick on Wednesday to select a player
The Orioles’ No. 17 prospect, 24-year-old outfielder Hudson Haskin, is the only one of Baltimore’s top 30 prospects who is eligible to be taken by another team in this year’s Rule 5 Draft.
KEY EVENTS
• Sunday, Dec. 3: Hall of Fame Contemporary Era ballot results released (Cito Gaston, Davey Johnson, Jim Leyland, Ed Montague, Hank Peters, Lou Piniella, Joe West and Bill White)
• Tuesday, Dec. 5: Draft Lottery (O’s have the No. 24 overall pick in next year’s draft)
• Wednesday, Dec. 6: Rule 5 Draft (O’s have the No. 29 overall pick)
What are you most looking forward to during this year’s Winter Meetings? 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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