As a fan of a team that is struggling to win and that failed to meet expectations, we all have our opinions on how an organization should be run. It’s great to be the Monday Morning GM, but it also becomes frustrating at the same time.
With the Baltimore Orioles, it has become more than easy to point the finger at general manager Mike Elias for the team’s short-comings and flat-out failures this season.
Not securing a top-tier starting pitcher or two in the offseason is solely on Elias, and he has admitted that he came up short, though former ace of the staff Corbin Burnes did verify that he was offered a four-year, $180 million deal from Baltimore.
Grayson Rodriguez was expected to be a big part of the starting rotation and take the next step in his growth in 2025. That backfired, as the former first-round pick ended up having season-ending elbow debridement surgery after not taking the mound once this season for the Birds.
In all, 31 players have visited the IL this season in Charm City, with Tyler O’Neill (three times), Zach Eflin (three times), Colton Cowser (two times) and Jordan Westburg (two times) each having multiple stints. Unfortunately, that has driven a big spike in the middle of the team, challenged the depth in many areas and played a significant role in the Birds becoming sellers at the trade deadline.
This year’s deadline saw the Orioles trade away nine players and acquire 16 prospects in return, with more than half of them slotting into the organizational top 30.
That leads us into the next head-scratcher. Cedric Mullins and Ramón Laureano were dealt, which affected the outfield depth in major way. Recently, the aforementioned Colton Cowser (concussion) and Tyler O’Neill (wrist) both returned to the IL, which left that depth thinner than John Angelos’ wallet.
Many thought that with outfielder Dylan Beavers, the Orioles’ No.3 prospect, tearing up the Triple-A International League, we would see the former No. 33 overall pick make his MLB debut.
Beavers currently possesses a 23-game on-base streak that has seen him collect 28 walks and 22 hits, including eight home runs and 16 RBIs. He is slashing .300/.418/.517/.935 with 18 home runs, 50 RBIs, 22 stolen bases , 100 total hits, 76 runs and 67 walks in 92 games played with the Norfolk Tides this season. Beavers can also play all three outfield positions.
The same questions are being asked regarding catcher Samuel Basallo, who is currently the Orioles’ No. 1 and MLB Pipeline‘s No. 8 prospect. However, the biggest difference with Basallo is his position work, where at the Triple-A level, he has played only 43 games behind the plate and only 24 games at first base.
Many will look and say that he has played catcher his entire career, but as a professional, Basallo has only played 215 of his 395 professional games as a catcher (54%). There is a lot more entailed to just catching a ball from the pitcher and throwing it to try and catch would-be base-stealers.
One area current O’s backstop Adley Rutschman has always been praised for is his preparedness and his ability to involve the pitchers into pre-game preparations. The catching position requires as much study and preparedness as pitching does and is a very demanding and taxing job.
So, why would Beavers and/or Basallo not be given the call and the opportunity to play and get some major league experience? The answer is as simple and complicated as a date and a contract.
As long as Beavers and Basallo do not arrive to the big leagues prior to Friday, August 15, 2025, they will remain rookie eligible for the 2026 season. That also includes them being on the top 100 of at least two publications’ top prospects lists in order to gain a draft pick, if perchance either would win Rookie of the Year.
“I think we have to be aware of the rules and, in general, systems that are in place that benefit players and benefit organizations,” GM Mike Elias said. “You just kind of hope that that stuff synchronizes well with whatever the baseball need or player development need is. So it’s something that takes a back burner to baseball decisions.”
So, as the Orioles head towards the final stretch of the season, the games don’t seem to matter quite as much anymore, but for players such as Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson, it’s a chance to showcase and prove that they belong in the majors and/or a part of the core to lead the Orioles forward.
The true question is this: Is Mike Elias showing his hand early, or has he figured out a new way to play the system designed to prevent it from being rigged all over again?
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