3 free agent targets who are more attractive with Orioles' outfield changes

Right-handed pull hitters visiting Camden Yards (and Orioles players themselves) have regularly expressed their disdain for the changes the Orioles made to their ballpark ahead of the 2022 season. What was a bandbox for right-handed power hitters for years suddenly became a cavernous valley where long fly balls died ahead of the warning track and descended into waiting gloves for routine fly outs. Indeed, hitters like Aaron Judge and Trey Mancini openly quipped about the Orioles' decision to move left field back several feet. "Nobody likes it," Mancini said.

As the New York Post recently reported, the massive Camden Yard dimensions swallowed up 137 would-be home runs from 2022 to 2024. Not exactly a recipe to lure right-handed free-agents to Baltimore.

Last week's announcement that the Orioles would walk back their 2022 "over-correction" by moving the fence between 14 and 26 feet closer to the plate is likely a good first step towards making Baltimore a palpable spot for right-handed hitters to play. This is notable, with the Orioles expressing interest in signing a right-handed hitting outfielder this offseason, with three particular righties coming to mind as potential beneficiaries of the announcement.

Tyler O'Neill, OF, Boston Red Sox

Few players raised their value more than Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill during the 2024 season, who emerged from an injury-plagued 2023 with the Cardinals to have a robust season with the Red Sox. O'Neill went from a 0.4 WAR effort with 9 home runs and a .715 OPS in 2023 to 2.7 WAR with 31 home runs and an .847 OPS in 2024.

Of his 31 home runs, 25 of them went to left or left-center field, meaning O'Neill was predominantly a pull hitter. With the Orioles' left field dimensions becoming more hitter friendly, perhaps O'Neill would want to take his talents to Baltimore this winter. It would certainly beat watching him hit more walk-off homers against the Orioles.

Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Although I am on record saying the Orioles should steer clear of Hernandez, the decision to move the left field wall in renders the signing of the former Blue Jays slugger more palatable. The right-handed masher socked 33 home runs last season with the Dodgers, making the most of his one-year, $23M deal and setting himself up well for free agency.

Like O'Neill, Hernandez is a pull hitter, as 25 of his 33 home runs went out to left or left center. With the Orioles seemingly not pursuing Juan Soto, and with Anthony Santander testing free agency, the Birds could do worse than adding Hernandez, especially with left field at Camden Yards becoming more friendly to right-handed power hitters.

Christian Walker, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Even before the Orioles' announced that they were moving left field in, Christian Walker made sense as a free agent target for the Orioles. The right-handed hitting slugger has mashed 36, 33, and 26 home runs, respectively, over his last three seasons, and may have had more in 2024 but for a strained left oblique that cost him around a month of the season. With Ryan Mountcastle's struggles - especially in the power department - coming to light in 2024, the Orioles would be wise to target Walker to play first base. And while it is entirely possible that Mountcastle himself sees great improvement with the changes to Camden Yards in 2024, Walker would be an upgrade.

The changes to Camden Yards suit Walker well, as only 3 of his 26 2024 home runs were hit to center or right field. He's also a terrific defensive first baseman, posting an elite 13 Outs Above Average en route to his third straight gold glove in 2024. The Orioles should make a serious run at signing Walker to play first base, and with the changes to Camden Yards taking place this offseason, perhaps a reunion between the two is in the cards.

While pitchers may be a bit disappointed that the Orioles have worked to fix their overcorrection in left field, right-handed hitters may finally start looking at Camden Yards as a hitter-friendly ballpark again. The Orioles sure hope so, as they work to supplement their lineup with right-handed power this winter.