Baltimore Orioles: Any surprises on the roster?

Do the Baltimore Orioles and Buck Showalter have any surprises on the final 25-man roster in store?

So here’s a column that’s meant to be interactive for Baltimore Orioles fans. Do any of you see any surprises in store when the final roster is announced by Buck Showalter? Perhaps a veteran who won’t make it, or maybe a young guy catching on?

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First off, that might be a bit of an unfair question. This isn’t the NFL where we routinely see aging vets cut during camp and so forth. And the reason for that is simple; baseball contracts are guaranteed. If a team decides to DFA a player off their roster, not only are they still on the hook for that guy’s salary, but they’re also running the risk that they’ll end up paying the guy to literally play against them.

In football contracts aren’t guaranteed, so while the player’s salary will count against the salary cap the team isn’t on the hook for the cash. Nevertheless, the odds of someone being “cut” from the Orioles isn’t good. Could it happen? Sure. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

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That doesn’t mean however that trades might not be made. As I’ve said for the past few weeks, the Orioles have a decent amount of outfield depth in the organization. Might they be willing to move someone such as a Nolan Reimold or a Henry Urrutia if it meant upgrading their starting pitching? You could also look to the minor leagues; there are two first basemen (named Walker and Mancini) – could one of them be moved perhaps?

If there are going to be any surprises, I would say that the bullpen is the best candidate in terms of a place to see them. There are a couple of slots that might well be up for grabs in the ‘pen, although space is limited. Could such a surprise potentially involve Dylan Bundy, who’s first pitch on Thursday went over the fence?