The MLB Winter Meetings are nearing its end, and so far, the Baltimore Orioles have definitely made their presence known.
A lot can be said about the extent of that presence. However, it’s undeniable it’s a stronger presence than we as fans are used to seeing, especially this early in the offseason.
As of writing this, Orioles GM Mike Elias and company have been able to lock up two free agents while in Dallas. The first was power-hitting right-handed outfielder, Tyler O’Neill. The second being slugging backup catcher Gary Sánchez.
My thoughts on these signings are mostly positive. O’Neill struggles with injuries almost every year, but no one can deny the raw power he possesses. Last year, Oriole fans had a front row seat to that power a few times.
While the potential of losing Anthony Santander is great and hurtful, O’Neill on the deal Elias got him isn’t worst case at all.
A bright spot with O’Neill that is really getting overlooked is how good of a defender he is. He has won two Gold Glove Awards, both in left field for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Not only is moving the wall in going to help O’Neill offensively, it will defensively as well if he spends time in left.
All in all, this move did upgrade the outfield defense and secured that righty bat the O’s desperately needed to balance the lineup.
Then with Sánchez, it’s a lot of the same positive feelings. James McCann was a great back-up over the last two seasons. In no way would there be any negative feelings towards McCann and what he did for the Orioles.
However, Sánchez is just a better option, especially offensively.
Adley Rutschman is fully expected to come into 2025 the same Adley we know and love. But now adding a bat like Sánchez, who works a lot better in that DH role that O’s manager Brandon Hyde uses his secondary catcher for quite a bit, is more powerful and plays to the Orioles’ philosophy a lot better.
Heaven forbid Rutschman does find himself in lulls like he did last season, Sánchez, once again, is a better option to help fill that void.
Both of these signings are moves that we just don’t see happening before this season. It’s hard to envision previous ownership allocating $8.5 million to a guy who is supposed to be a backup.
However, these Winter Meetings haven’t been all sunshine and rainbows for Oriole fans. It really is true.
Ever since the start of July, all the way until now, expectations set for the Orioles organization simply haven’t been met. So far into the Winter Meetings, we have seen a few new arms enter into the AL East, all arms the Orioles very well could and should have been in the running for.
It has to be understood that with free agent signings, it is, in fact, a two-way street.
Eight years and $218 million for Max Fried is a hefty deal and is one the Orioles, with David Rubenstein or your local hobo as its owner, were never going to beat. That deal reminds me a lot of the Carlos Rodón deal to the same team prior to 2023. A hefty, maybe longer than it should be deal that so far hasn’t played too well in the Yankees’ favor. He was also a guy that a lot of fans, my self included, called doomsday after we missed out on him in a contention window.
Nathan Eovaldi re-signing with the Texas Rangers is another one that really hurt, but I just can’t blame him. Getting $75 million for three years is a deal I would hope Rubenstein would be perfectly fine with. However, it’s hard to get someone to leave where they already are comfortable and have had success, with way less income tax.
With that being said, going forward from now into spring training, a little less frugality would not hurt the Orioles.
Corbin Burnes is the best player on the free agent market, and he is going to cost a pretty penny. Balancing whether we can be the team that overrides the computers and analytics and shell out the big contract or going the secondary level route is yet to be seen. Hopefully, it will be the former.
Sean Manaea still is a good arm on the market who I’ve said before could be a good fit for the Orioles. Judging by the contract given to Eovaldi of $25 million AAV, I really hope Manaea is also on Elias’ radar, and he is ready to give out a good $20 million for someone who could really improve the O’s rotation if Burnes is a no-go.
Thursday, December 12, is the last day of the 2025 Winter Meetings in Dallas. Make sure to keep your social media notifications on, as it could be a busy one around the baseball world.
What are your thoughts on the Orioles’ approach so far this offseason? 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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