With the demotion of catcher Austin Wynns and LH reliever Donnie Hart, the 25-man roster is starting to take shape just one week away from the Orioles heading back to Baltimore.
The best way to look at the roster is to look at the current depth chart as we see it vs RHP and LHP and with Mark Trumbo starting the year on the disabled list. It appears that only RF and DH will need to be platooned.
Vs RHP
1B – Chris Davis (L), Danny Valencia (Needs to be added to 40-man)
2B – Jonathan Schoop, Tim Beckham
SS – Manny Machado, Tim Beckham
3B – Tim Beckham, Danny Valencia
LF – Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander
CF – Adam Jones, Craig Gentry
RF – Colby Rasmus (L) (Needs to be added to 40-man), Anthony Santander
C – Caleb Joseph, Chance Sisco (L)
DH – Pedro Alvarez (L), Anthony Santander, Chance Sisco (L),
Vs LHP
1B – Chris Davis (L), Danny Valencia (Needs to be added to 40-man)
2B – Jonathan Schoop, Tim Beckham
SS – Manny Machado, Tim Beckham
3B – Tim Beckham, Danny Valencia
LF – Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander
CF – Adam Jones, Craig Gentry
RF – Anthony Santander, Craig Gentry
C – Caleb Joseph, Chance Sisco (L)
DH – Danny Valencia, Anthony Santander, Pedro Alvarez (L)
The only other combination we can see is if Buck decides Santander has done enough to be the full-time DH early in the season. That could mean they could DFA Alvarez and then he has a choice. He can keep Andrew Susac as a 3rd catcher, freeing up Sisco to DH some and pinch hit or he can keep an extra reliever like Joely Rodriguez or Josh Edgin. Rodriguez has been very impressive and hit 100 MPH so he could very well end up with a spot.
If they go with the 13 position players, that leaves 12 pitchers (five starters, seven relievers).
SP – Dylan Bundy
SP – Kevin Gausman
SP – Andrew Cashner
SP – Mike Wright Jr.
SP – Chris Tillman
RP – Brad Brach
RP – Mychal Givens
RP – Darren O’Day
RP – Miguel Castro
RP – Richard Bleier (L)
RP – Nestor Cortes Jr. (L)
RP – Pedro Araujo
It’s going to be hard for them to send back Cortes or Araujo, but Rodriquez and Edgin are pushing for jobs. We guess there’s a chance Tillman could come up “injured” and go on the DL. This would give Cortes the 5th spot in the rotation, at least early on, and provide a spot for Rodriguez (he would be out pick). In addition, this would give the Orioles the ability to send Tillman to the minors to rehab in order to get a better read on him.
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