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Baltimore Orioles 2024 opening day roster projection 2.0
How does the brutal news of Kyle Bradish's UCL sprain affect the Orioles heading into Opening Day?
The Baltimore Orioles have not made any significant roster moves since we published Baltimore Orioles opening day roster projection 1.0, with fringe players Nick Maton, Diego Castillo, Kaleb Ort, and Matt Krook joining the Orioles down in Sarasota. What sparked the need for Projection 2.0 was the disappointing news that the 2023 team's best pitcher, Kyle Bradish, had sustained a sprained UCL and could miss a large chunk of the season. Along with losing Bradish for an indecipherable amount of time, the Orioles also announced that projected number four starter John Means would start the year on the IL.
The bliss Orioles fans felt after the team acquired Corbin Burnes to fill out the rotation lasted all of two weeks. Early spring injuries reared their ugly head, and the Orioles were left searching for starting pitching. A familiar theme of the last two offseasons.
Against this backdrop, let's dive into Projection 2.0.
Catchers: Adley Rutschman, James McCann (2)
No changes here from version 1.0 to 2.0. Barring injury, Rutschman and McCann will open the season as the Orioles' two catchers.
But can you imagine? As disappointing as the Bradish news was, it would be hard to imagine a more devastating injury to the Baltimore Orioles than losing Adley Rutschman. How critical health is and will be to this team's success cannot be understated. Let's hope Rutschman and McCann have a completely healthy 2024 season.
Infielders: Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O'Hearn, Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Ramon Urias, Jorge Mateo (7)
Just one small change here, with Ramon Urias sticking around as a backup infielder for now instead of getting traded at the end of Spring Training as Version 1.0 predicted. At the end of the day, Urias is still superfluous with all the infielders around, and I think he will eventually be traded. But with Jorge Mateo working out in the outfield and preparing for a super-utility role, the Orioles could choose to Keep Urias around a bit longer to back up second and third base.
Outfielders: Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, Heston Kjerstad (4)
Ramon Urias takes the place of Ryan McKenna who, despite being a popular player, ultimately loses his role with Mateo playing more outfield. I still have Kjerstad as the "last" guy off the bench for this team, under the hope that he starts 3-4 times a week at DH or in the outfield.
I recognize how similar he is to Ryan O'Hearn in a handful of ways: left-handed power and the ability to play first, outfield, and DH. If Ryan Mountcastle struggles against righties - which has often been the case - the Orioles could easily fit O'Hearn and Kjerstad into the lineup against right-handers regularly.
I realize the risk in not carrying McKenna, or another outfielder such as Sam Hilliard, due to past durability issues with Mullins, Hays, and Santander. But with the Orioles not wanting to lose Urias or Mateo as part of the roster crunch, I see them running these 13 players down the orange carpet on Opening Day against Los Angeles.
Starting Pitchers: Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Cole Irvin (5)
♪ Hello starting, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again. ♪
After seemingly being relegated to the bullpen following the acquisition of Corbin Burnes, Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin are now the frontrunners to fill the final two spots in the Orioles' rotation. In Version 1.0, which included Kyle Bradish and John Means in the starting rotation, Wells and Irvin were in the bullpen, prepared to provide length when needed and, in Wells' case, possibly pitch in high-leverage situations. Of course, this opens up two new holes in the bullpen.
The Orioles could also look outside the organization, with Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Michael Lorenzen, and Mike Clevinger still available as free agents. But with Mike Elias indicating that Means will be back sooner than later and that Bradish will return sometime this year, it is unlikely the Orioles dip into the free agent pool, especially for the two expensive options in Snell and Montgomery. Barring further injury or surprise in Spring Training, the Orioles fill the two spots vacated by Bradish and Means internally.
Relief Pitchers: Craig Kimbrel, Yennier Cano, Danny Coulombe, Cionel Perez, Dillon Tate, Jacob Webb, Mike Baumann, Keegin Akin (8)
I highly considered new Oriole Matt Krook for one of the final two spots in the rotation. While Krook struggled in four appearances with the Yankees last season, he was dominant in AAA Scranton-Weils Barre, pitching to a 1.32 ERA and striking out 55 batters in 34 innings.
Ultimately, I think the Orioles add two relievers capable of pitching in bulk, with Mike Baumann and Keegan Akin taking the final two spots. Besides, Krook has options and is a similar late-inning reliever to stalwarts Perez and Coulombe. I do believe Krook, as well as recently acquired righty Kaleb Ort, see time with the Orioles at some point this summer.
The loss of Bradish undoubtedly hurts. However, Tyler Wells has pitched very well as a starter during the first half of 2022 and 2023, and maybe, just maybe, Bradish will be ready to return just as Wells begins running out of gas and can return to the bullpen. As for Irvin, he will likely return to the bullpen when John Means returns to the rotation.
There you have it, baseball fans, projection 2.0. Let's hope that this is our last spring projection facilitated by injury and that 3.0 can focus on a new acquisition or two, or better yet, highlight the Orioles who have starred in Grapefruit League play.
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