The Orioles did their thing week, demoting SS Jackson Holliday and 3B Coby Mayo despite both belonging to what might be Baltimore’s best opening day lineup. I got a kick out of a recent article claiming the Orioles didn’t get where they are by tanking. I like the project, as a position-statement-type writing assignment. Tough side to support. I mean sure they Rule 5 drafted Anthony Santander and played him every day until he was functional. Sure they landed Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson and Kyle Bradish via strategic quitting. They also did other stuff, but that doesn’t change the fact that they lost as badly as possible for several years to get to where they are now. They did smart stuff, for sure, but I don’t know why it’s bad to call this reality by its name.
On the field, you can make a case that Holliday is better off in Triple-A, but Coby Mayo is the right-handed bat this team says it needs. He has nothing to prove in the minors and would make them better today. His demotion feels like it’s purely about player control and is perfectly in line with the kind of front office fuckery that built the Astros and Orioles. Because hey, it works. That’s why they manipulate the calendar this way. I’m not saying it’s inherently evil or whatever. Just charting reality and calling it how I see it.
The Rangers are what it can look like when a team doesn’t tank, and they look even better with OF Wyatt Langford in their opening day outfield. It feels good to see a player earn their chance and then actually get one.
Cubs LHP Jordan Wicks claimed the fourth starter spot, and RHP Javier Assad pitched well enough that he pushed Drew Smyly to the bullpen. Both are intriguing sleepers.
Tigers RHP Casey Mize looked fantastic all spring, adding velocity and rediscovering his trademark splitter. He’s going to be rostered and started in leagues of all shapes and sizes this year. Top 50 starting pitcher for me. I saw him in the 70s among just American League pitchers earlier this year.
Marlins RHP Max Meyer has officially locked down a rotation spot to open the season after posting a 0.00 ERA and 0.70 WHIP in seven spring innings across three starts. I wish I had him everywhere.
Pirates C Henry Davis has four home runs and a slash line of .306/.381/.694. He’s been a target of mine all winter, especially when the front office started saying Yasmani Grandal would catch a lot of games. Davis has since smashed spring training and earned public praise from the pitching staff for work behind the plate. I think he’ll finish 2024 as a top five catcher.
Speaking of young catchers rising in the rankings, Yankees C Austin Wells is slashing .344/.417/.656 with two home runs. I think he’ll be in the lineup most nights and finish in the top ten.
Yankees RHP Luis Gil has been electric this spring, striking out 23 batters in 15.2 innings and recording a 0.83 WHIP. Free agent Jordan Montgomery remains a wild card, but on performance, Gil appears to have won a rotation spot. Clayton Beeter has been fine, and Clarke Schmidt has posted a 1.17 WHIP in 12 innings, but Gil gives them the best chance at unveiling an impact arm, and they’ve got two spots to spread among these three guys. .
Nationals 3B Trey Lipscomb is making a run at a roster spot in Washington. A third round pick out of Washington in 2022, Lipscomb has been lauded for his defense at camp and is slashing .364/.429/.523 with a homer and a steal in 49 plate appearances. He posted a 102 wRC+ in 80 games at Double-A this season, so it’s not a wild idea that Lipscomb could help this team right away in 2024. He walked just 3.6 percent of the time in Double-A but is at 10.2 percent so far in spring training.
Mariners OF Dominic Canzone is hitting; Mariners OF Luke Raley is not. Seattle is invested in both via trader Jerry’s machinations, so I’m not sure pedigree or price will play much of a role in who gets the most at bats. Canzone has three homers and two steals this spring along with a 162 wRC+. He could be a useful piece even in shallow leagues. The loser of this derby seems poised to leave town, so to speak, considering Mitch Garver is parked at DH.
Cardinals LHP Zack Thompson won a rotation spot in St. Louis, which is real cool considering I bet on him to do so last year but not this year. Not “bet” like I’m interpreting for Ohtani but “bet” as in rostered in some deep leagues. Anywho, Thompson posted a 1.06 WHIP and 2.81 ERA in 16 spring innings and should be a functional fantasy contributor in deepish leagues.
Royals OF Dairon Blanco made the team in Kansas City. Need some steals on speed dial? This is a space worth watching.
Astros RHP Ronel Blanco claimed the fifth spot thanks to a spotless spring. He may move to a middle-man role when Justin Verlander returns, but no sense staring the gift horse in the mouth if you need the innings. He’s posted a 0.64 WHIP and 0.00 ERA in 15.2 spring frames.
Thanks for reading!
