Baltimore Orioles and Collection of Corner Outfielders

By Nate Wardle | Nov 30, 2016

Aug 23, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Henry Urrutia (51) hits a infield single during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles are in the market for at least one corner outfielder, but if you look at their 40-man and minor league rosters, it is a position where the team is deep.

So, the question becomes, is that talent not ready, or not major league caliber talent?

A look at the 40-man includes 35 players. Of those, four would be considered corner outfielders: Christian Walker, Hyun-Soo Kim, Joey Rickard and Dariel Alvarez. Note this does not include Mike Yastrzemski (listed on AAA Norfolk roster), Henry Urrutia (listed on AA Bowie roster), Xavier Avery, L.J. Hoes, Julio Borbon, Chris Dickerson or Nolan Reimold. Avery, Hoes, Borbon and Dickerson were all minor leaguers in 2016, and are now free agents.

Reimold was in the major leagues, but is now a free agent himself. Several of these players have many fans in the organization, namely Borbon for his defense and Reimold.

What’s the deal? Well, I think most of these guys are what people call AAAA players. Good enough to play well in AAA, but not quite major league caliber. This is especially the case for Dickerson and Borbon, who are on the tail end of their careers.

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I’m not sure Urrutia has had the opportunity to prove himself at the major league level, and it doesn’t appear he will get a chance either, after being demoted to AA Bowie in late 2016.

Yastrzemski, in my mind, needs at least part of a season where he is fully healthy at AAA Norfolk in order to rebuild his batting ability, and then I think he will belong in Baltimore. My one concern is that he and Rickard may be similar players.

As many know, I am a huge Reimold fan. However, with the team looking to improve their defense, I’m not sure there is a spot for him in Baltimore.

Then there is Walker and Alvarez. Walker would also not be an upgrade defensively, and I think at this point he needs either a fresh start, or will be a AAAA player.

Alvarez continues to be a fantastic outfielder, but his bat continues to not support being a major league player.

However, if the Baltimore Orioles go out and sign players, these guys won’t have the chance to platoon with Hyun-Soo Kim, or start outright in right field.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind setting limits on who the team is trying to sign and if not, going with Alvarez in right field and Walker platooning with Kim. Then, the money could be used in contract extensions and for bringing back Mark Trumbo at DH.

Next: Orioles Interested In Rich Hill

The Baltimore Orioles may be stunting the abilities of Walker and Alvarez by keeping them out of the major leagues. It is soon time to figure out if either of them are capable of being a contributor on a major league roster.

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