Taking a Stab at the Baltimore Orioles’ Opening Day Roster
By Nate Wardle
Mar 7, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Alejandro De Aza (12) is congratulated by first baseman Steve Pearce (28) after he scored a run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at a spring training baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
With the start of the regular season just a week away, the Baltimore Orioles are paring down the roster to prepare for Opening Day.
And more than ever before, Buck Showalter has some tough decisions to make. He has two players who have excelled above and beyond this spring, to the point where many feel you have to include them in the Opening Day roster.
Then there are the Rule 5 players, who both are intriguing and could be very good pieces. But is there roster space? And if you want to make space, how?
So, I decided to make my own 25-man roster for Opening Day. Chris Davis won’t be on it, he is still suspended. Steve Pearce will start at first base.
David Lough won’t be on it, he will be on the DL. And even when he comes off, he may not have a space on this team.
J.J. Hardy won’t be on it, he is also headed to the DL.
Starting Position in parenthesis:
SP (5) – Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Ubaldo Jimenez, Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez (this ranks them off some of the comments Buck has said about slotting pitchers)
RP (7) – Kevin Gausman, Brad Brach, Wesley Wright, Brian Matusz, Tommy Hunter, Darren O’Day, Zach Britton (Buck has said he is only keeping 12 pitchers)
C (2) – Caleb Joseph (C), Ryan Lavarnway
IF (6)- Steve Pearce (1B), Jonathan Schoop (2B), Everth Cabrera (SS), Manny Machado (3B), Ryan Flaherty, Jimmy Paredes
OF (5) – Nolan Reimold (LF), Adam Jones (CF), Alejandro De Aza (RF), Delmon Young (DH), Travis Snider
When Chris Davis comes back, Steve Pearce moves to the outfield, but it doesn’t automatically mean an outfielder has to be sent down. It could be Flaherty or Paredes.
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There are a lot of intriguing questions. Is anything done to keep the Rule 5 players? Could a surprise happen, such as De Aza being sent down or a player traded?
I don’t think you can trade an outfielder, due to concern over Reimold’s injury history. However, he absolutely deserves to be on the team, and in my opinion should be at least a part-time starter. As Pearce moves to the outfield, there will be less starts available, however.
What do you think? Who would you take off, or add on to this roster?