The Orioles announced several roster moves today, including that infielder/outfielder Franchy Cordero and outfielder Nomar Mazara have been released. Also, infielder Ryan O’Hearn was reassigned to the minor leagues. Both Cordero and Mazara opted out of their deals, general manager Mike Elias tells Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Elias expressed optimism about the club re-signing Cordero.
The Orioles spent much of the offseason attempting to stockpile non-roster players that hit from the left side. Lewin Díaz was twice claimed off waivers and then subsequently designated for assignment, eventually clearing waivers the second time around. O’Hearn was claimed off waivers from the Royals but then later passed through by the O’s. The club also signed Mazara, Cordero and Josh Lester to minor league deals. It seems neither Cordero nor Mazara were getting roster spots for Opening Day, leading to them opting out of their deals and returning to free agency, though the O’s will still have those other players around for the left-handed non-roster depth they craved.
Cordero, 28, has appeared in 227 MLB games between the Padres, Royals and Red Sox. He’s hit 21 home runs in that time but also struck out in 34.8% of his plate appearances. His .221/.290/.386 batting line amounts to a wRC+ of 83, indicating he’s been 17% below league average. He’s had a tremendous spring, however, hitting .413/.426/.674 in 18 games.
Mazara, 28 next month, was once a highly-touted prospect, appearing on Baseball America’s Top 100 in 2015 and 2016. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to live up to that pedigree thus far. His .256/.315/.414 batting line in 684 MLB games amounts to a wRC+ of 89. Unlike Cordero, he wasn’t impressing much this spring, with a batting line of .231/.286/.308.
Both players are now free to pursue opportunities with all 30 clubs. They will both likely receive interest, given Cordero’s hot spring and Mazara’s former prospect pedigree. As Elias mentioned, the club feels good about their ability to retain Cordero, so it’s possible he returns on another minor league deal before long.
Dang Cordero literally just had an at bat like an hour ago
higgy – It always amazes me how a website that refuses to mention Pitcher Wins continues to bring up ST stats like it means something.
ST stats mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
And Cordero is neither an infielder nor an outfielder, he is a DH that can’t hit ML pitching. His Red Sox career ended with him badly misplaying a fly ball and misjudging the outfield wall, he is a brutal fielder.
I pray Bloom doesn’t pick him up again, as bad as the Benny trade already is.
Fever – I get there are better options out there and I get that you want your team to have a better option than Franchy.
That said, I’ll take his stats (ST and regular season) over yours any day. Franchy was a big time fan favorite during his short time in Padres organization (couldn’t stay healthy to develop).
He doesn’t deserve the extent of your animosity.
Long – right or wrong, some guys wind up wearing the hat of villain for what they represented, sometimes for something lost.
Like it or hate it, as much as you say franchy meant something to SD, he meant nothing to Boston when he came to town sat the expense of a more talented actual Boston favorite for many (not all) fans.
Then, he was below average offensively, and a mixed bag on defense. He didn’t pass ‘the eye test’ in a RF that plays like CF, even if advanced metrics weren’t really bad.
It’s like a slap hitter batting .200 with a 15% K rate. You may say he’s got a good eye, and, he’s getting the ball in play… but meh, you aren’t wowed.
Franchy was a guy who fans didn’t want, and replaced a guy who was an all star and gold glover.
Somewhere a non-contending team will pick him up, or, someone who needs a 4th OF for cheap. He’s not done by any means. I’ll be hopeful personally that it isn’t a 3rd reunion with bloom, just because I don’t really see upside above being cheap filler at this point in his career. But I don’t wish him badly per se, it wasn’t HIS choice to be swapped for Benny.
GA – can’t dispute the stats and that Franchy never lived up to the hype. Early on he was the “5 Tool” player of the future.
Just not a fan of personal attacks by upset fans when a decision by their team results in a trade and a guy (Franchy in this instance) likely busted his butt and gave his all – yet misplayed a ball (Trent Grishman and Bill Buckner come to mind) at a big moment in time or otherwise, failed to produce at the plate.
I’m more of a “hey, sorry it didn’t work out here, better luck at your next stop” kind of a guy. The personal attacks of fans have irked my gray haired self for many many years.
I’m a Padres fan – I don’t hate on Eric Hosmer for example – it is what is was and my team is paying him to play for the Cubs via a stop in Boston. I don’t hate on Wil Myers for another example even though Padres traded Trea Turner to get him.
Wil is a very good dude (not sure about Eric).
With hosmer at least it was only money (easy to say right?) And, he’s a case of was he really that bad? He only had one season as a below average hitter at a 94 ops+, everything else was between 100 and 131. Maybe more was expected, but, he was OK to fairly good looking back on it all in his time in SD.
Reminds me of JD Drew in his time in Boston. I can remember him coming to the plate and the grand stand drunks would scream things out like ‘JD Drew, please don’t su*k!” He wasn’t bad either, an above average hitter, just not what some fans hoped for.
Funny question to you as a Padres fan… you guys drafted turner in 14’, flipped him in ’15, and then insisted on tatis as a guy who never even played a game in ’16 in large part to make up for having given up turner.
Do you think there would’ve been insistence on tatis had turner not gone to WAS? I sort of think not as much, that CHW could’ve bundled something else together.
GA – I’ll take a shot at an answer but it’s from verified on fact. I really don’t think anyone had any idea of what Tatis was at the time of that trade – Sox or Padres. I don’t recall that he had even played any professional games. I have no idea on the “insistence” aspect of the question.
I think GM’s get too much credit for a Tatis trade and too much blame for a Turner trade.
In the end, for me, having Tatis balances out the loss of Turner. That is how trades should he viewed in my opinion – some work and some don’t. That is one long term Padre fan view on it.
As for Hosmer, you aren’t wrong and it was always my point, the early years he wasn’t bad, just overpaid.
Long –
It’s all just conjecture, that’s the fun of it.
But I remember tatis got a pretty good bonus as a young kid, and was one of the top international signings that window. At the time I was more or less following up a lot on what the white Sox had been moving in and out of their minors earlier that season as, for us, 2016 was the year that brought Chris Sale to town. And I recall some reports that focused in on tatis having been key to SD making that earlier trade, again at least according to media so take it all with a grain of salt. Or, maybe I’m remembering wrong too. One of these nights I need to look up some old articles and see how far the memory has fallen off.
As for turner, well, he had about as much upside as any promising 1st rounder – which is to say, no guarantee, but, better probability than a 14th round lottery pick throw in.
That was one trade where WAS was the big winner, a servicable SP, talented SS, and didn’t give much of consequence up.
Long – When you say my stats, I assume you are referring to the man Franchy was traded for … Benintendi, who in the last two seasons has won a Gold Glove and made the All-Star Team and has put up a .770 OPS.
By all means, you take Franchy’s ST and regular season stats if being a “fan favorite” is that important to you.
In Boston, players become fan favorites when they actually HELP THE TEAM WIN GAMES.
And your last sentence is a bit melodramatic, as my comments were purely based on Franchy’s performance. I said absolutely nothing about him personally. Saying a player has performed poorly doesn’t equate to hatred. I do not and will not pretend to live in a feel-good fantasy world where people aren’t allowed to state facts if said facts aren’t endearing.
GASox – I agree with most of what you said, but Franchy wasn’t a “villain” to Sox fans. He simply didn’t perform, and when you don’t perform you won’t be embraced by Red Sox Nation.
Jason Bay was traded for one of the most popular Sox players of all time, and everyone loved Bay … because he produced.
A more recent obvious example is Verdugo coming in the Mookie trade. Mookie was a God in Boston, but nobody is ragging on Verdugo … because he produces.
I can provide many other examples.
Long – Personal attack? You’re now accusing me of a “personal attack”?
Are you really that ignorant, or are you just a snowflake who needs to stay in your safe space where baseball facts are not welcome?
I said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PERSONAL about Franchy, stop lying.
And the one instance I brought up of him misplaying a ball was in a meaningless game at the end of a last place season, so you have no idea what you’re talking about “big moment in time”.
“The White Sox signed shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., ranked No. 27 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list, for $825,000, and outfielder Franklin Reyes, ranked No. 30., for $1.5 million.”
============================
As Long mentioned, GMs might get too much credit or blame. Tatis had no appearances for the WS when the trade was made. It probably could just as easily been Reyes they traded for.
Eh…. I agree with the idea/sentiment of what you’re thinking, if not exactly the examples you used.
I’d prefer to look at Nomar being traded away to prove your point. By the time Manny was traded he kind of wore out his welcome with the fans and locker room and had gone a bit too far with the antics.
As for verdugo… he’s been tolerated, but I don’t think he’s been all that embraced. There just isn’t much to be excited about with him, and, I’ve seen people express being disappointed in his play – at least in that he was expected to take a step forward, hit a higher gear and he never has. Its just so much of the supporting cast rotated around him in the OF by bloom have been so BAD it makes him seem better than he is. But, youre right that he hasn’t been heavily attacked/ostracized.
I wonder if Verdugo would’ve had a rougher time of things had he been part of a better team? Would people have expected more, and, seen him as a weaker link?
“And the one instance I brought up of him misplaying a ball was in a meaningless game at the end of a last place season, so you have no idea what you’re talking about “big moment in time”.”
I Liked how Franchy, guy who accomplished nothing during a career was compared to Billy Buckner in Long’s error quote. Billy Buck had near 3k hits, was a terrific OF before the 1st devastating leg injury (with speed) and wonder often how many people who post on this site are even aware of their non existent knowledge of players they try and drag down to equate with nobodies like Cordero?
I meant your stats – literally
Spring Training wins and losses mean absolutely nothing.
Individual Spring Training performances mean something for some players. To claim otherwise is to live in denial. Every year we see players affected by their performances.
And it was a good AB, WTH?
Looks like Vavra will get the last bench spot.
He’s a good player. Solid bat, smart hitter, plays everywhere. His father was a ML hitting coach.
Vavra says Stowers got the last bench spot.
Stowers says it was actually McKenna that got the last bench spot.
Vavra. Please keep Vavra. More than anything else noticable to me about his play last year and in ST is ATTITUDE. Dudes fearlous. A gamer. Small sample size, of course, but doesn’t seem to feel PRESSURED.
Yogi said “90% of this game is mental, the other half physical”. Amen to that Mr Berra, amen to that.
Yep. There was a whole lot of hype for him. I hope he can turn things around.
He went from the Rangers to the White Sox. He hit a few homers and had streaks of being a good player. Then, as most talent does in Chicago, he began to fade and was sent on his way.
Whew.
Never understood why they brought the 3 of them in in the first place.
Hearn and Cordero had good springs, I’m kind of surprised that one was optioned and ine released
bighiggy;
Rule #1 – Good springs are what fans look for, that’s not what the teams look for.
Statistics lie. Always have. Always will. Have to have the experience to know how to put them in context.
It depends who you get those hits against. ST is tough for any kind of evaluation. Pitchers are experimenting with the arsenal in exhibitions. Roster will turn over all season anyway.
I’m 90% confident that statistics lie between 8 and 12% of the time.
whyhayzee;
Maybe…..
What I see reading the articles and posts here regarding pitchers is that all that matters is the pitchers K vs. W rate.
MLB organizations can save themselves a whole lot of time and money by hiring a few part-time minimum-wage college kids to
look those numbers up up – then they can lay off all those well
paid silly people that look at heaven knows what to evaluate their pitchers….they only cause confusion.
Lack of minor league options on Cordero and i think O’Hearn doesn’t have any minor league options either so he may be released soon too.
Both had good springs but neither were on the 40 man roster which made it easier to go with Vavra
Neither were on the 40 man roster, so neither were optioned. Cordero opted out of his contract and O’Hearn was reassigned to the minor league camp.
o hearn is getting paid 1.4 million to play in triple a he is an insurance policy for 1st base.
It looks like Mazara’s career might be over. I wish him luck.
Mazara may benefit from a KBO stint
Is Mazarin, Ben Grieve?
Maybe Nomar will catch on with Boston for nostalgia.
As I said on Masn, there was a NFL films football follies many moons ago
The head coach exclaimed, get him out of there he has no hands.
Nomar’s issue is get him out of there he has no arm
Anyone think Bloom could sign Cordero to a minor league deal? I’ve seen the guy do crazier things, like he did with Hosmer.
With those fans? I doubt Cordero would want to come back to Boston/Worcester.
Forgive the fans for having to endure the fact that Cordero was acquired for Benentendi. One of the more idiotic deals the Sox have made in the past 30 years. All thanks to Bloomers.
Great example milt, thank you.
Wait. The Sox got Benitendi from the nyy. As for idiotic deals the Sox have made, this one doesn’t even make the top 20.
Avenger.. I can’t figure out what you’re saying, except you’re wrong.
Benintendi was drafted by the reds, declined to sign. 2 years later he was the first round pick by the red sox. Named runner up for rookie of the year. Played a handful of games in the pandemic abomination and bonehead bloom sold low on him to the Royals for franchy and spare parts lottery tickets, where he was immediately a gold glover in a season where OF defense stunk at fenway. Benny then followed it up with an all-star appearance the next year. Royals flipped him to NY in trade as they knew they’d be priced out of him as a FA and sold high.
No, this isn’t shades of Bagwell or Ruth, but, SO FAR this is a horrible trade for boston. In 5 years maybe a lottery ticket becomes an all-star and it won’t look as bad, but, don’t bet on it.
Those 3 lotto ticket prospects aren’t going anywhere. Winckowski is the only guy with realistic MLB usefulness. & he looks like a swing man.
Must be the drunk avenger, makes no sense
“Those 3 lotto ticket prospects aren’t going anywhere”
Have you been following Luis De La Rosa? I doubt it.
baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=del…
Its a long way to the bigs, but right now “arent going anywhere” is way off base.
Ok A ball numbers? I mean, sure. Maybe you get a middle reliever option in 3 years. Maybe slightly better than Winckowski. He’s
outside the top 30. 35+FV prospect. Pretty Bland.
GASoxFan4 hours ago
Avenger.. I can’t figure out what you’re saying, except you’re wrong.
=============================
I don’t know why I have to keep reminding you guys, but there is more than one “Sox” team. Avenger is right to some degree, The “Sox” got Benny after he went to NY.
miltpappas5 hours ago
Forgive the fans for having to endure the fact that Cordero was acquired for Benentendi.
==========================
They traded Benny for Winc. And I’d make a modest wager that Winc’s WAR with the RS will be higher than Benny had with KC/NYY.
Joe, he said the sox got benintendi FROM the NYY.
That is wrong.
Even if you buy he was talking white Sox, which makes no sense to begin with when the talk going on and that he commented on was clearly about bloom, and a red sox trade, there is zero accuracy in claiming he was gotten from the NYY. He was a free agent when the white Sox got him.
Well, even though war isn’t the best evaluation of a pitcher, winc is at a -0.3 so far compared to Benny putting up 5.6 in the last 2 seasons.
I don’t think that’s a good bet to be making. I’m not sure he even lasts 5 more seasons with Boston.
Maybe he meant the other Benny. Nicky. Like the younger crazy version of Nick Cage
@AvoidtheNoids I didn’t say I agreed with him coming back, I only said I could see Bloom bringing him back.
“I didnt say”
I didnt misunderstand you or accuse you of anything. I just added that as a FA it takes two to sign a contract, and with the reception he got from Boston’s fans before, because he happened to be in the Benny trade, he would, no way, want to sign here. It isnt just up to Bloom whether he comes back.
I think he would sign anywhere that gives him a chance. But it’s doubtful it happens, that I agree with.
Looks like Nomar is no-more for MLB… the orioles are now the 4th team in 4 years he’s failed to stick with. Maybe it’s time to shine in the KBO
Nobody is going to want to face the Orioles this year
Ace.. we”ll find out Thursday (lol)door mats no more for sure but now we’ll see when expectations are above finishing with less that 95 plus losses how they respond…
Nobody is going to watch the Orioles this year
Why? 85 wins is a possibility I suppose. They did absolutely nothing this off-season. You have to supplement that young core with a couple veteran pieces but that cost would have come out of the owners pockets. Not happening.
The Birds go cheep as birds do
I remember when I wanted Mozara as the center piece of a Hamels deal
Came here to say the same thing. His swing was great in those first few years with the Rangers, but he never progressed. Sad to see how far he’s fallen.
Franchy was always someone that I thought would be an everyday regular. Amazing power. Great arm. Decent speed. But K’s way too much. I remember that 489 ft HR in AZ while a Padre. Crazy strength.
Say it ain’t so, Franchy! I was looking fwd to some mammoth dingers to the Warehouse. Oh man, all 3 of the backup 1Bs had outside chances to make the 26 man but I had the highest hopes that Franchy would be blasting HRs and giving Montcastle a break. I guess, they’re going to rotate existing talent to 1B and sacrifice the defense there.
To be fair—I dont think Franchy and O’hearn were going to be playing stellar D.
The problem is that Franchy is probably the worst fielder I’ve ever seen. You need to be a really good hitter in order to make an impression. It’s like a pitching prospect that only throws 93. It’s hard to get to the top of the list.
Joe – Funny thing about you thinking franchy is such a bad fielder…
Of everybody Bloom and Cora threw into RF who played any appreciable amount last year, say 100 innings? When you exclude the 500 innings JBJ spent there, who has always been a defensive whiz…
Franchy rated the best of the bunch on fangraphs.
Better than Ref. Better than Arroyo. And MUCH better than Verdugo who will be there just about full time in ’23.
Franchy had a uzr/150 of +16.3… Verdugo was -17.3 and, yes, Verdugo logged over 460 innings there so it wasn’t small sample.
You want DRS, it was 0 vs -5. You want ARM it was 0.8 vs -3.3. RngR 1.0 vs -1.6. Now, they were graded similarly in ErrR, but that doesn’t really help you either as far as what bloom constructed for this season.
It really doesn’t much matter, except, if you thought Franchy was bad in RF, buckle-up because Verdugo is expected to be significantly worse
Drawing conclusions from 123 innings in RF is meaningless. Those advanced statistics are no good for a short sample size like that.
In 82 innings in LF he was graded as a poor defender. They’re useless without more data. & He was -2 OAA in RF and -1 in LF. So not exactly glowing in small sample sizes either.
The short sample statistics are there to correlate with what a fan saw while he was in RF. Not some analysis of his ceiling as a player.
The intent is to show that Verdugo STUNK in RF, and, performed worse than Cordero. Ergo, if cordero looked bad while grading out to that level, Verdugo, being put there by bloom this season, projected to look much much MUCH worse to the eye than cordero did
And whether you take Verdugos 500+ innings, or nearer 900 innings, he was NOT a small sample.