The Orioles figure to have something of a logjam in the outfield next year, as established starters Anthony Santander, Cedric Mullins, and Austin Hays will be joined by top prospects Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad on the grass in the majors at some point next year. As noted by Roch Kubatko of MASN, that could come as soon as the start of the 2024 season, as GM Mike Elias has indicated that both Cowser and Kjerstad could be in the mix for the Opening Day roster next season. That leaves the Orioles with five starting caliber outfielders headed into the 2024 campaign, and that ignores depth options like Kyle Stowers and Ryan McKenna.
Needless to say, given the club’s logjam, the club figures to field interest on their outfielders this offseason, with Kubatko noting that “industry speculation” suggests the Orioles could look to move one of their five primary outfield options in order to free up playing time. Among them, Kubatko indicates that Santander and Hays have drawn the most interest, while the Orioles are likely to consider Cowser in particular to be untouchable in trade talks. Subtracting either Santander or Hays from the club’s 2024 outfield mix would leave them with a very lefty-heavy outfield, as each of Mullins, Cowser, Kjerstad, and Stowers bat left-handed. Given that, Santander might be the most sensible player for the club to move as a switch-hitter with just one year of control remaining, compared to Hays’s two years of team control and righty bat.
More from the American League…
- Dusty Baker has announced his retirement from managing, prompting the Astros to begin a managerial search. That search, of course, is still in its early stages with Houston having just been eliminated from postseason contention less than a week ago. Houston bench coach Joe Espada and former Angels and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus are both reportedly under consideration for the position, but questions remain as to who exactly will conduct the club’s managerial search. Chandler Rome of The Athletic discussed that uncertainty earlier this week, noting that owner Jim Crane and adviser Jeff Bagwell both wield considerable influence in the front office, even with GM Dana Brown at the helm of the baseball operations department. Rome notes that Bagwell was particularly influential in the club’s 2022-23 offseason following the departure of former GM James Click last November, while Crane was a key engineer of the Justin Verlander trade at the deadline this year. Rome indicates that the duo’s influence over baseball operations will continue with the upcoming managerial search, with each having “immense say” over the next manager alongside Brown.
- The Chaim Bloom era of Red Sox baseball is now officially in the rearview mirror as the club hired former major league pitcher and Cubs executive Craig Breslow as the club’s new chief baseball officer earlier this week. MassLive’s Sean McAdam discussed the importance of Breslow and manager Alex Cora building a strong relationship together in the early stages of their partnership, and in doing so noted that the relationship between Bloom and Cora frayed during the “last year or so” of Bloom’s tenure at the helm. While Cora was frustrated with Bloom’s lack of urgency in returning to contention, McAdam notes that the pair’s relationship was complicated by Cora temporarily departing the club during the 2019-20 offseason, mere months after Bloom was hired to replace Dave Dombrowski. Fortunately for the Red Sox, Breslow and Cora should have no such roadblock as they look to build a strong working relationship going forward.
Myself Bagwells influence is not great. Albeit Abreu. He did not find himself until late in season, Time when needed him most. Although rest of season would have been nice.
I would also choose Espada and maybe have Ausmus even as bench coach. But not sure how things will go. But hope have manager soon. Then can head into off season in a week or so to begin work. After WS.
Looks like most of team intact but could do better with outfield. Dubon CF and Chas LF. Think are better players. Someone to stick and hit in those areas. But look forward to a new season for Astros and hopefully a great and productive new season.
Again a other owner and former all star player wanted to be GM and poor guy who Is the POBO / GM Is leave to watch.
It’s seems to me that this story I have seen and read with other MLB clubs.
Oh for days of O’Malley’s that own the LA Dodgers who’s had a great answer to reporters questions about baseball decisions. And It was we hire baseball people to run the club and we let them do their job.
The second the Orioles window closes they’ll make changes to the playoffs to make it harder for non #1 seeds to get a ring. Guaranteed.
What?
Bure – He thinks the O’s were treated unfairly because they didn’t get a bye into the ALCS.
What? I don’t even understand what the guy is even saying.
I never realized orioles are sour grapes.
That is funny.
Absolutely. And look how McAdam says Cora “temporarily departed” the club, you mean his suspension for cheating.
Right? What a freaking joke, let’s just gloss over what one of the worst cheaters in baseball history did.
Oh look it’s the newest member of the MLBTR Tinfoil Hat club. Hello and welcome my neurotic and paranoid friend!
Make Verlander the player-manager.
He doesn’t strike me as a manager type.
Can someone please keep Jeff Bagwell away from making and influencing the decisions the Astros make? Although he is knowledgeable about the game, he is stuck in the old school ways and is too loyal to guys he played with…like Ausmus.
If he keeps making decisions he will single handedly close the Astros window and send them back to mediocrity.
He’s done ok so far.
Abreu and Montero were disaster contracts, and they did nothing to shore up the rotation in case injuries happened, even after Verlander left. That put them in a position where they had to give up their last great prospect to get Verlander back at the deadline. The last 11 months in the Astros front office has been a catastrophe, and it looks like we’re in for more. Like Rome, the Astros are so great that their ultimate downfall will be self-inflicted.
Breslow supposedly clearly laid out his responsibilities and job functions before he agreed to become the HOBO. I think he is smart enough to include the ability to fire Cora and choose his own manager.
I think that’s wishful thinking. Breslow will have to pull some Machiavellian shiet to get the players to turn on Cora. It’s the other way around with Henry’s loyalty to Cora.
YBC: Yes. I am hoping the dysfunction of Cora going straight to ownership is over.
@All I think Cora should be given a chance with Breslow. Things soured with Bloom but that doesn’t have to be the case now. With Cora having RS front office aspirations, I doubt there’s a chance he’ll get fired. He could learn a few things from Breslow in the meantime.
YBC: I don’t disagree because I don’t know what is going on behind closed doors. Cora only has one year left in his manager contract and it can’t hurt Breslow to give him that year and see how it works is out. I wasn’t trying to say that I expected Breslow to fire Cora right away. I was trying to say that Breslow should be smart enough to negotiate some power for himself (like choosing the manager) or he is not really running things.
YBC – One of the reasons Cora is an ass, he demands a roster loaded with stars like he had in 2018. He has publicly criticized Bloom for not acquiring better players.
What a massive ego.
Fever: We will see if Cora is allowed to run amok on Breslow like he did on Bloom.
Fever- having a roster full of stars is the only way cora can win. Well, that and cheating.
grnmt – So true! In his two years with the Red Sox, Grady Little won 188 games and made it to the ALCS despite being just as bad a manager as Cora. Talented teams are often successful DESPITE a bad manager, not because of them.
Fever – you are SOOO right! We never hear Grady Little being mentioned as a great manager by the cora acolytes, but it must be so, just look at his record! LOL
All – I’m afraid Cora’s connection is to Henry. He has something on him from the Video sign stealing fiasco. That is the only way ANYONE can explain why Cora got invited back after cheating and doing a crap job in 2018 when the team was so outstanding. He cost them a dozen wins that I have documented. Who knows if it could have been more. That was an outstanding hitting team that got some great pitching too that year. If Cora hadn’t messed wtih Sale in the second half, who knows what the win total might have been.
Cora, if he is allowed to stay it’s because he’s got something on Henry and there is no way to know when the statue of limitations will run out on his leverage. If Cora is talking about the front office after doing such a crap job as manager you know he has leverage otherwise he would have been deported for his cheating.
Think about this, when Cora was banging the drum in Houston the MLB was in bed with gambling. How many millions of dollars were won through the first hand knowledge of what the Astros were doing? For all we know Cora is linked to the organized crime group that controls the “legal” gambling and makes all the profits. That kind of leverage would make a twit like Cora cocky enough to brag about being a future front office guy!! Scary things to think about. I sure hope someone uncovers why he feels so confident in his future when he’s been caught cheating twice and convicted once.
Suit – It has nothing to do with intelligence. Henry probably said the hiring was contingent on Cora at least starting the season as manager, and it was up to Breslow to accept those terms or walk away.
Pretty sure that is spot on Fever. henry and what is left of the Sox FO is/was devoted to Cora and breslow had to stick with him initially at least to get that job, regardless of whether or not he had/has anyone else he was wanting to push for it.
Have long admired Breslow as a fan for what have read for his baseball acumen and knowledge. how several other players have long admired him for helping them over the years. breslow is 1 of those types would have just loved to have seen/known years ago when had access those long ST’s and got a feel for which guys had knowledge, common sense and which ones really had no clue.
Fever: We don’t know what agreements were made. Agreeing to Cora starting the year as manager seems likely. That is not a big deal. I think Breslow is smart enough to realize he is not really HOBO if he can’t eventually name his own manager and hire his own people in other areas. John Henry needs an actual HOBO and a chain of command or there will be dysfunction.
it was up to Breslow to accept those terms or walk away.
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Documentation for that? It would be strange for either Henry or Breslow to announce that.
Joe – I think you missed the part where I wrote “probably”, because as you said John Henry wouldn’t go public with it.
So what are you getting at? You think Henry didn’t even mention to Breslow whether or not he would have the option to fire Cora?
As you know I’m big on logic. It’s just not logical to think the topic was never discussed.
Bingo! Of course it was discussed. There’s absolutely no way Cora’s situation wasn’t discussed.
Fever – I am on the same page with AITSTYW.
There is absolutely NOTHING that suggests what you are suggesting about a Cora deal. If Breslow was not given time to make his own decisions then he’s not as bright as most folks think.
I believe Breslow is the POBO and is doing his job by systematically evaluating his entire organization and preparing a plan of action that will commence after the world series because I believe he wouldn’t want to distract anyone from the greatness of this world series.
I could be wrong but EVERYONE says Breslow is incredibly smart. I am holding to that belief until he proves it not true. Keeping Cora would prove it to be not true. Let the man get his house in order, plan his attack and THEN start announcing the changes.
TF – Intelligence has nothing to do with accepting the terms of a job offer if you want that job.
Breslow will be around for at least 4 years, if he agreed to suck it up and stick with Cora for at least half a season that wouldn’t be a sign of his stupidity. It would be a sign that he really wanted the job and would be willing to put up with Cora for a short time.
TRollfree: That sounds about right… lets hope Breslow has the balls to make the biggest change that is needed. Time to gut out the only “stench” that is still present.
Fever – DD got stuck with Cora and he had as much clout as any GM under this ownership group. It was sold as a diversity move but Cora has to have some connection to Henry that gives him a ton of leverage.
If Breslow agreed to keep Cora because he wanted the job so badly, he’s no better than Bloom. I firmly believe Cora will be fired once Breslow finds the right person for the job. I thought that he might sign Craig Counsell when he became available but he got snatched up in a hurry.
The jury is still out with regard to Cora. Big contracts for pitchers are less likely to happen with Cora as Manager. If Boston wants to make him Executive VP of Cheating with no say in anything, I could live with that!!!
Couple points people seem to be missing on Cora 1. How does anyone know breslow would want to fire him unless you all are insiders for all we know they could get along great 2. Coras contract runs through 2024..unless i missed it there is no option or extention after that so he can just not be resigned after 2024 its that simple. 3. If firing cora was a stipulation for the 2024 season in Breslow taking the job based on him clearly defining responsibilities etc Cora would be gone already. The fact breslow took the job knowing the current circumstances based on what has been said ie cora is manager for 2024..its safe to assume he wont be fired..so please lets move on
1. How does anyone know breslow would want to fire him unless you all are insiders
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Most RS fans think they have the inside scoop on everything in the RS FO.
They left you out of the loop?
Joe – I have to disagree with you there, it’s only the hardcore intelligent Red Sox fans that have a sense of what’s going on in the front office.
For instance a year ago I posted multiple times that Cora and Bloom did not get along. That was based on multiple sources and reading between the lines when Cora spoke. I don’t recall anyone else here agreeing with me, and now once again I’ve been proven right.
Please also note when it was revealed Cora would be involved in the POBO hiring process, I am probably the only one who agreed it was a good idea and I specifically said my reasoning involved the importance of Cora getting along with the new POBO. Look it up, my comments are still there.
JB…. most Red Sox fans witnessed with our own eyes that Cora was stabbing Bloom in the back. I am fine with Bloom being gone, but Cora’s lack of integrity keeps showing up over and over again, and for that alone he needs to go. You can’t clear up the wound until you get rid of the infection..
Poolhalljunkies – Remember the old saying about assuming!!!!
It’s too bad baseball’s trade rules differ from other sports. Otherwise, the O’s could deal some of their overstock for 1st or 2nd round draft picks three or four years down the road, keeping the flow of good prospects coming in.
You can deal fot CB picks. Assuming Gunnar gets ROY, they will have their number 1, 22 to 24th pick, ROY pick, 31st, then quite possibly a CB A (top 36). If they trade for a CB A, they’d have 4 in the top 36. That’s 4 picks earlier than Gunnar. Yes, they will be looking to trade for CB picks. And moving their window out further.
“Temporary dismissed”? He was suspended for being a Trashtro leader. Say it like it is
Reminds me of the Rays’ brief playoff interlude this year in which the broadcasters referred to his absence as “administrative leave”. I know they can’t say much more than that, but it similarly paints a benign picture over something unquestionably malignant.
Orioles fans are miserable
LOL, unlike the always sunshine and rainbows Yankees fans? Get outta here with that nonsense. You sound jealous of the Orioles success.
Non Astros fans are rooting for Brad Ausmus.
And Hicks, Aaron stays with Os?
He had his moments and was the “veteran presence” but I sure hope not.
You know the guy I think should get another chance at managing is Mike Redmond and FO need to stay out of decision during the game. That is Craig Counsell biggest problem during the playoffs. All most all the great situation that happen is when a manager gets to do what they feel is right. Not the analytics people.
What makes you think that all the great decisions he makes during the season don’t come from the analytics people in the front office?
Because he used Winkers who should have absolutely never gotten at bats. Counsell has had a lot of bad coaching in playoffs over the years.
All most all the great situation that happen is when a manager gets to do what they feel is right. Not the analytics people.
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It ain’t magic. Great decisions are based on great data. This is the case with everything in the world. To paraphrase Palmer, the more you prepare, the luckier you get.
I think Cowser will be a good player but nothing about the results he produced when he was called up this year suggests the Os should consider trading Hays or Santander just yet
Doesn’t even mention Mayo, who could easily be playing corner outfield for us this year.
I think Santander gets moved. Hays’ defense in the new left field is an added plus as well as the RH bat.
I think the Os will be an X-Factor on the trade market this year. Given their MLB Outifield depth approaching FA, positional prospect depth & ability to move a MLB arm like Kremer or Wells for an upgrade makes them fits for an arm from basically any team with potential to trade one. Hoping it’ll be a fun offseason for Os fans.
WOW…. did my BS alarm ring loudly as I read this fabrication by Nick Deeds who chose to interpret and infer what was provided in comments by Sean McAdam..
Cora manipulates the media because hungry journalists will write anything. So Cora stays in the grey area when commenting and suggests rather that states things so he can be totally unaccountable for things that are wrong. McAdam wrote things that he translated from CORASPEAK (my name for the garbage that Cora mumbles during interviews) and then Nick Deeds wrote his impression of the translated information from the McAdam interview. If you know the misinformation that comes from a game called telephone tag where a person states something and it’s passed to many people one after another and the final comment is completely different than the original comment….. this article is a fine example of that process.
Think about the last month and how Cora has declared himself the manager of the future, he’s now distancing himself from the fired guy, and who knows what manipulation Cora will spin tomorrow. Cora has the sincerity of a used car salesman yet the media members pass along what they interpret from his interviews as gospel. Unfortunately, the translation allows him an out because he simply says that’s not exactly what I said but it was what he inferred..
So lets recap the Boston portion of this article.
Was there ANY comment that was true?
1. Breslow was hired. – True
2 McAdams stressing the importance of Breslow and Cora having a strong relationship
COMPLETE BS – The proper comment should have been that Breslow and the Manager of the Boston Red Sox need to have a great relationship. That’s true but nobody knows if that is Cora so McAdam is creating or conjecturing news not reporting it.
3. McAdam suggested the relationship between Cora and Bloom deteriorated..
COMPLETELY FABRICATED since not ONE INSTANCE of Cora or Bloom was cited by McAdam and recorded by Deeds. This is how information is fabricated. Dropping suggestions of things without technically stating the lie. For the last three years NOBODY said there were issues between the two and especially issues created by Cora’s conviction and hiatus. Now it is suddenly suggested as if Cora really didn’t get along with the guy that just got fired. Cora is such a lowlife for his slimy behavior if he suggested this.
4 McAdam suggests the relationship between Cora and Bloom was complicated by Cora being SUSPENDED for a full season for cheating.
Ya THINK? No kidding being forced to take back a cheater is going to impact the relationship between the GM and Manager.. Personally I would have thought Bloom would have been more disturbed by the way Cora created direct relationships with ownership behind his back than Cora returning as a felon. Leaving out Bloom from the Henry-Bloom-Cora relationship subverts Blooms authority just like Cora did to DD.
5 Shame on you Mr.s Deeds for suggesting Cora and Breslow will have a relationship at all before anything is officially announced.
That is such crap. Stop trying to make news and start accurately commenting on things that are real. If there is nothing newsworthy then report facts about the season, the players or positive influences players have on the community. Don’t make up sensational stories that suggest things that are not true. You want to talk about the future relationships that will need to exist down the road when Breslow selects his staff. Great. Do it but do it without assuming any has a job until BRESLOW says they have a permanent job.
This article was much ado about nothing but it achieved what Cora wanted. Media sources are indirectly confirming him as Manager without any facts.
Troll.. Cora has a contract for 2024 so..until a change is made he IS the manager for 2024..why is that so hard to comprehend. To my knowledge there has been zero indication that will change even if it makes you sick.
Poolhalljunkies – Answer just one question…..
Do you expect Breslow to NOT TOUCH the current roster for 2024?
If you believe he won’t then I understand your comment. If you, like most people, think he’s going to change a lot of things, then nobody is a certainty for 2024 until he declares them a certainty.
I believe I fully understand the situation, I simply don’t believe Breslow will stand pat on a sub .500 team roster including players, coaches and manager. I hope I am right but you could be right.
Troll…we are not discussing the whole rostor but specifically the manager. And no based on the fact he took the job after clearly defining its parameters i dont think there will be a managerial change during the 2024 season
Pool – I wasn’t aware you were in on the talks with Breslow. If he agreed to keep Cora and you were there to confirm it then I stand corrected. By the way, how did you get access to those discussions. I’ve read a ton of speculation but no facts. But you know facts?
Or are you assuming that a manager with a contract can’t be fired by a new GM?
If Breslow is as smart as his degrees suggest he is I have to believe no DEAL was made with respect to any resource reporting to Breslow. I assume he has full control over the parameters of his job without interference from the ownership group. The infrastructure already exists for making moves and I’m sure it will be COMPLETELY up to Breslow to choose who will be on the Roster, the Coaching Staff and all other areas he has full responsibility for.
I believe YOU assumed some type of DEAL was made. I assumed the guy took the job under normal conditions that he defines his staff, the roster and anything else in his domain.
Which seems more logical to you considering how smart Breslow is?
TF – I know it’s very rare you disagree with me on anything, but it was all over the baseball world last year that Bloom & Cora were not getting along!
Here’s one source: audacy.com/national/sports/kurkjian-still-not-posi…
“They’re just divergent personalities and they’re looking in different directions from what I can see. So, they’re going to have to really get it together if they’re going to make those two work together. “
Fever: Good article. Kurkjian says in the article: “they’re just divergent personalities and they’re looking in different directions from what I can see.” I think Cora wanted to win now and Bloom cared more about building the farm system. That is two different directions and there is no way they could get along. So, Cora probably trashed Bloom to ownership. I hope Breslow can keep Cora from undermining him.
Suit – Do you remember the quote I posted from a Cora press conference last month? Cora specifically said after Bloom got canned something like “now we will go out and get good players and we will be able to go for it next year”.
I wasn’t a huge Bloom fan, but Cora trying to make excuses for his managerial record by blaming Bloom was just silly.
Fever: Such a bad look.
Fever and ALL – I reviewed the link and found little proof of anything. Sorry, but it’s just some guy yapping about stuff he knows nothing about. he’s guessing and presented NO FACTS. If you want to believe rumors, that’s ok but I don’t. I want facts and since the MLB channel and my other sources NEVER mentioned any issues, it seems like a localized issue created by a reporter to stir the pot.
If problems had existed, they would have been nationally discussed on MLB channel since they love hyping BS they hear about from local reporters. It didn’t happen so I’m not buying into the issue. It’s too convenient and aligns too closely with the BS the Red Sox front office pulls off.
Trade Cora to the Astros for a couple of prospects then hire Tek or Counsell.
Bagwell was influential in selecting the GM because Crane asked for his help. Crane was influential in the Verlander trade because they are good friends. Another case of Chandler Rome and “much ado about nothing.”