The state of the Orioles outfield has changed substantially from a year ago.
All-Star right fielder Anthony Santander is now in Toronto with free agent Tyler O’Neill replacing him.
Austin Hays and Kyle Stowers were traded last summer.
Colton Cowser went from being a pre-2024 question mark to runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year.
It’s no wonder Tuesday’s announcement of a one-year agreement — worth a reported $4 million and including a $6.5 million club option for 2026 — with veteran outfielder Ramón Laureano stirred up speculation about Baltimore’s outfield. The 30-year-old is the fourth outfielder to be added to the 40-man roster by general manager Mike Elias since the end of last season, joining O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, and Daz Cameron.
Is a trade involving an incumbent outfielder — such as the still-unestablished Heston Kjerstad — for an impact starting pitcher in the works?
Or is Laureano merely a solid bench player and insurance for a contending club?
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A look at the platoon splits of the projected starting outfield lends credence to the latter. And it’s not as though Carlson — who’s coming off an awful 2024 and still has minor-league options — should have been regarded as a roster lock anyway. The uncertain Opening Day status of infielder Jorge Mateo — still recovering from season-ending elbow surgery — could also buy time to begin 2025 with five outfielders on the 26-man roster.
The lone holdover from last year’s Opening Day outfield, Cedric Mullins rebounded from a poor start to 2024 to hit 18 home runs and post a solid .710 on-base plus slugging percentage while continuing to play excellent defense in center. However, the 30-year-old batted just .196 with a .506 OPS in 101 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, the second time in three years he’s finished with a sub-.600 OPS against southpaws. In other words, penciling in the lefty-swinging Mullins for 150 starts wouldn’t sound wise as he enters a contract year.
Meanwhile, Cowser — who typically started in center field when Mullins didn’t last year — batted .224 with a .661 OPS against left-handers in his first full season in the majors. That’s not to suggest someone entering his age-25 season won’t improve against lefties to cement himself as an everyday player, but the Orioles want to make sure they’re covered if the lefty-swinging Cowser doesn’t take the next step.
Enter Laureano, who batted .305 with an .869 OPS in 102 plate appearances against lefties last year and owns a .274 average and .802 OPS against southpaws for his career. Though better suited for the corner spots at this stage of his career, Laureano also carries plenty of experience playing center field and has one of the best throwing arms in the majors.
As for O’Neill, the Orioles entered the offseason prioritizing a right-handed-hitting outfielder, which is why they signed the 29-year-old to a three-year, $49.5 million deal that includes a player opt-out after the 2025 campaign. In his lone season with Boston, O’Neill clubbed 31 home runs and demolished lefty pitchers to the tune of a .313 average, 16 homers, and a 1.180 OPS in 156 plate appearances. The former St. Louis Cardinal owns a .923 OPS facing lefties for his career.
But O’Neill, a two-time Gold Glove winner, has played in more than 96 games in a season just twice in his career as injuries have too often left him sidelined. He had three stints on the injured list last season due to a concussion, knee inflammation, and an infection in his leg, and it’s also worth noting O’Neill has posted a sub-.700 OPS against right-handed pitching in each of the last three seasons.
In other words, we’re not talking about someone with the durability or even the recent batting profile to expect 150 starts, which is why discussion of trading Kjerstad is probably overblown. A crowded roster and lingering effects from a concussion sustained in a July beaning derailed any chance of the 26-year-old Kjerstad establishing himself in the majors last season, making this a pivotal year for the second overall pick of the 2020 draft who owns a .299/.382/.541 slash line over 592 Triple-A plate appearances.
8The Orioles didn’t sign O’Neill to a multiyear deal to play him exclusively on the short side of a straight platoon, but there’s definitely a path for Kjerstad to receive plenty of at-bats, especially if he takes advantage of early opportunities. Additional starts could come at the designated hitter spot that’s expected to remain flexible.
Ideally, the Orioles will see good health and well-rounded performances from Mullins, Cowser, and O’Neill with manager Brandon Hyde not needing to be too rigid from a platoon standpoint, something over which he’s drawn criticism in the past. But adding Laureano leaves Baltimore better equipped against left-handed pitching and in the event of an injury to one of the projected regulars.
Or maybe a trade is indeed in the works.
Regardless, it’s good to have quality depth, which is something Laureano should provide.
