Morning Rundown: Baltimore Orioles hit hard with injuries, trade rumor update, Spring Breakout
Orioles already have a few players out, Pirates trade rumor update, and player's reaction to the Spring Breakout game.
We are barely into camp, and the Baltimore Orioles have already been off to a rough start regarding injuries.
Kyle Bradish has a UCL sprain and is going to start the year on the injured list. He went 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA in 168.2 innings last season for the Orioles.
Not stopping there on the pitching front, left-handed pitcher John Means is also behind his regular routine after needing to delay his off-season program due to elbow issues.
He’s pitched in just six games over the last two seasons due to injuries.
Reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Gunnar Henderson has an oblique issue that may require him to rest for a couple of weeks, but according to the article, the Orioles aren’t worried about him missing much, if any, time yet.
Finally, Samuel Basallo, one of their top prospects, has a fracture in his throwing elbow. He will continue to hit but will not throw until late April.
Basallo, 19, went from Single-A to Double-A in 2023, putting up a 162 wRC+ in 483 plate appearances.
Robert Murray of Fansided talked about the much-conversated rumors surrounding the Pirates and Marlins.
According to Murray's sources, the Pirates and Marlins have talked, but a deal hasn’t been close so far.
It’s really anyone's guess at this point, and probably not worth spending too much time on it unless something happens, but Murray did mention Rowdy Tellez as a possibility for the Pirates sometime before it did happen, and he was first on a few other things.
When it comes to pitching, few organizations have the depth that the Pirates do regarding their prospects. Not only do they have the best pitching prospect in the game currently, Paul Skenes, but they also have a few high-upside prep picks from the last couple of years that have climbed the ranks.
On the flip side, the Orioles have the best farm system in the game, and that’s highlighted by some of the best-hitting prospects. That includes Jackson Holliday, who is widely considered the best prospect overall.
The two sides will meet each other in the first ever ‘Spring Breakout’ on March 14. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com talked to a few of the potential participants for an article yesterday getting their thoughts on the game.
Pirates rumored to be in on Whit Merrifield. Hard pass for me. Why they just don't start Triolo there and have Liover serve as the back-up MI is beyond me.
In an annual tradition I started on The Asylum, then moved to Pirates Prospects, then Bucs on Deck, I bring you my annual prognistication of who will make the Opening Day roster. A few notes. 100% means that barring injury a player will be on the roster. Anything less than 100% accounts for idea that injuries could occur, giving that player a greater chance to make the roster. Without further ado.
Catchers
Yasmani Grandal…..100%
Henry Davis……………90%
Jason Delay……………20%
Ali Sanchez…………….10%
Abrahan Gutierrez…...0%
Carter Bins……………….0%
.
Yesterday’s surprising comments by Shelton caused me to list Davis at 90%. I suppose if he tanks in Spring Training, there’s a chance he starts in AAA. I have Delay as the favorite over Sanchez.