Options Critical To Building Orioles Opening-Day Roster
The Baltimore Orioles could face a bit of a crunch when it comes to their Opening-Day roster, and it could factor into whether players like No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday make the roster or not.
Nine different Orioles have no more minor league options, which means any decision about those players comes with risk.
If any of these players don’t make the Opening-Day roster they cannot be immediately sent to the minors. Because they are out of options, they must clear outright waivers before they can be sent to the minor leagues. By putting those players on waivers they’re exposed to the rest of baseball and can be claimed.
Recently, MLB Trade Rumors published a list of 40-man players with fewer than five years of service time and no minor league options remaining. Players with more than five years of service can refuse an option.
The list is filled with players that could play critical roles for Baltimore — or be sacrificed in the name of a player like Holliday making the roster.
Because Holliday is not on the Orioles’ 40-man roster, the Orioles will have to clear a spot for him if he makes the club.
That could cost a player like shortstop Jorge Mateo, third baseman Nick Maton, outfielder Ryan McKenna, first baseman Tyler Nevin or third baseman Ramon Urias a spot on the team. Or, if the Orioles deem all of them too valuable to lose, then Holliday could be sent to Triple-A Norfolk, regardless of how well he plays, because Holliday still has options.
All of those position players are out of options.
The pitchers without options are starting pitcher Cole Irvin, along with relievers Mike Baumann, Cionel Perez and Jacob Webb.
Irvin has an opportunity to be in the Opening-Day rotation after the injury to Kyle Bradish and the need for John Means to continue to build up for the regular season. Perez was a vital part of the O’s bullpen last year. But Baumann and Webb could be boxed out of roles in the bullpen, depending upon who emerges and who gets hurt.
Whatever happens, those are nine players to watch. Their option status will play some role in how the Orioles prepare their Opening-Day roster.
