Spring training has ended, and the regular season is just a day away. With the excitement of the season upon us, it’s time for some hot takes.
With the regular season getting ready to start, The Baltimore Battery has gathered together to come up with 10 hot takes for the 2024 Orioles season.
After some back and forth debating, we are unveiling our top 10. So let’s jump in and see what our hot takes are for the season.
DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE HOT TAKES, MEANING SOME COULD LOOK DRASTIC OR DOWNRIGHT CRAZY… THAT’S THE POINT.
10. Ryan Mountcastle hits 35+ home runs
Over 115 games, Mountcastle hit 18 home runs, battling vertigo for a portion of the year. He returned and hit 10 home runs over 54 games, showing better plate discipline and spraying the ball all over the field.
Mountcastle hit 22 long balls in 2022 and 33 in 2021. With the emergence of Ryan O’Hearn, Mountcastle won’t have as much weight on his shoulders, allowing for him to be more aggressive, as we predict he will hit 35+ home runs this season.
9. Coby Mayo is traded
It’s about now that some jaws are dropping, but the possibility is real.
A deep and crowded infield has put Mayo into an awkward position. He continues to hit well, and his defense has improved drastically, making him an intriguing option.
Ranked as the Orioles’ No. 4 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 30, the Orioles could use Mayo to acquire another front-end starting pitcher or possibly a back-end bullpen arm.
8. Colton Cowser wins AL Rookie of the Year
Cowser stormed through spring training with a .304 average and a 1.135 OPS while hitting six home runs in 46 at-bats.
Cowser showed why he is the Orioles’ No. 3 and MLB Pipeline’s No. 19 prospect and why he will be the Birds’ fourth outfielder coming out of camp. We’re predicting that Cowser will perform so well that he’ll give the O’s back-to-back AL Rookies of the Year.
7. John Means is moved to the bullpen
John Means had been a strong starter for the Orioles prior to having Tommy John Surgery. He returned to pitch four games last season but was shut down prior to the postseason with shoulder issues.
Because of his shutdown, the Orioles held back Means’ offseason program, as he will start the season on the IL.
If Means’ arm continues to give him issues, it’s quite possible he becomes more valuable in the pen to limit the wear and tear on his arm, especially in a contract year. It’s similar to what Tyler Wells went through late last year.
6. Dillon Tate becomes the Orioles’ closer by June
Dillon Tate is back and looks like the pitcher that turned heads in 2022. Missing the 2023 season with a flexor strain and stress reaction, Tate is well rested and ready to return to work.
Craig Kimbrel was signed to fill in while Félix Bautista recovers from Tommy John Surgery. The concern is that Kimbrel will be the pitcher towards the end of last season after the Phillies’ overuse of him.
This would open the door for Tate, who has converted eight of 11 career saves and pitched to a 0.33 WHIP in six games this spring. Tate will be a major boost to the bullpen and could become the anchor the Orioles need to hold down the ship while Bautista recovers in 2024.
5. Anthony Santander is traded at the deadline
Yes, pick your jaw back up. The possibility exists because you have players like Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers, not to mention the crop behind them, waiting in the wings.
Santander signed an $11.7 million deal this offseason as the final year of his contract. If his bat can offer a big-time pitcher or the younger players push the issue, he could be the first player to go.
4. Gunnar Henderson wins AL MVP
The Orioles have three legitimate candidates that could garner MVP votes this season, but the front-runner has to be the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Gunnar Henderson.
After slashing .254/.325/.489 with 28 home runs and leading all rookies in extra-base hits and runs, Henderson looks to take another step forward in his second full season. It’s easy to have expectations of .270/.345/.599 with 30+ home runs from the O’s stud shortstop.
If the Orioles win the AL East with him producing monster numbers, this is more of a lock than a hot take. However, you still have players like Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Julio Rodriguez to battle with in the American League.
3. Enrique Bradfield Jr. is a September call-up
The Orioles’ 2023 first-round draft pick blew through three levels of his first taste of professional baseball last year.
With the speed, defense and ability to hit for contact, it’s easy to see Bradfield Jr. forcing the Orioles to make difficult decisions with veterans and other outfield prospects already in the farm system.
If EBJ comes close to any production like Jackson Holliday last season, he could find himself as a late-season roster addition and a game changer on the base paths for the Birds in a postseason push.
2. Cedric Mullins has another 30-30 season
When Cedric Mullins is healthy, he is a spark plug, game-changing player on both sides of the game. He’s not even two full seasons from his first 30-30 season, and it’s not too far-fetched to believe he could do it again.
Mullins was having a strong start to last season, slashing .263/.356/.479 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases before hamstring injuries sidelined him twice over the next two months.
Now fully healthy, Mullins has a chance to show that he can still be a top producer for the Birds in their deep lineup.
1. The Orioles win the World Series
Adding Corbin Burnes gave the Birds the front-line starter they coveted, and Dillon Tate returning provides a heavy anchor to the bullpen that was in the top 10 in baseball last season.
The only true newcomers are Tony Kemp and Colton Cowser in the lineup, with young guns Henderson, Rutschman and Westburg set to take in bigger roles for the team.
The Birds stormed through the league last year and kept most of the same team intact while adding two top pitchers. This could be one of the best opportunities for the Orioles to bring back their first World Series trophy since 1983.
There is a lot to unpack, but some great takes that could bring a fun twist to the team this year. While these are hot takes, this is what we believe are closer to the realm of possibility than not.
What do you think of our hot takes? Do you agree or disagree? 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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