The FO is probably somewhat responsible for Walker, who makes 20 mil, staying in the middle of the lineup everyday
You think the front office has dictated that Walker has to play every single day? He's played 64 of 66 games. Not a single one as a pinch hitter, either - that's 64 starts.
I would say it’s a safe bet that they demand that he is in the lineup, and given every chance to work out of his slump.
I don't disagree but then everyone complains about Dubon playing too much so he can't really win. As for where they bat in the lineup, doesn't really matter where he puts them because there isn't anyone else that should be batting 3rd either right now. This is why I think O'Hearn should be the Astros top target. They can give Walker and Altuve more days off, especially when facing tough RHP.
"Given every chance to work out of his slump" is not the same thing as being in the lineup every day, at all. In fact, I think being worked too hard is probably detrimental to that break out. A day off a week couldn't hurt.
Yep. Also he’s an idiot with how he managed a bullpen that doesn’t even have any wrong answers, but it’s not all that damaging because there are no wrong answers. That said- we’ve had enough position players get hurt that it’s hard for him to do much damage with playing time decisions.
There will be other teams, with more to offer than the Astros, interested in O’hearn in a deadline deal.
Might be true, but for example, Whitcomb had close to a 1.000 OPS in Sugarland and was striking out only 21% of the time. Might he be able to help? We'll never know.
O'Hearn is a 30+ platoon-only 1B with a career 2.1 bWAR. He's having a career year, but I think the Astros could afford him. I'm not sure they would pay the price it might take, but they are not devoid of trade assets.
No one is going to offer a package that we can't match for O'Hearn...whether we think this team is good enough to want to match it is another question
He’s a FA next year. He would just be a rental. We would probably be outbid and it’s probably a good thing. He has already cooled off in June.
You think this team can't afford him but think we are going to afford a controllable bat? The fact he is a rental is the only reason we can afford him... And yes, he realistically isn't as good as he has been which is another reason why teams aren't going to pay some ridiculous amount based on his hot April/May. That said, he had a .777 OPS last season against RHP and a .802 OPS against them in 2023. He is a very solid bat against RHP...something we desperately need.
Perhaps he's not a worthwhile addition. He also makes $8m this season. Could be Trey Mancini 2.0. But his rental status is what might make him cheap enough to be a relative bargain compared to what else is out there this trade deadline. And our dire need at 1B might make him a worthy gamble at that price. He's outproduced all of our hitters this year except maybe Pena.
This may be true, but the good thing is that Elias is on the hot seat. The Orioles need MLB ready players, not prospects, as they need to compete next year. This only works if Arrighetti returns and Javier and/or Garcia continue to progress without setbacks. Colton Gordon and Shay Whitcomb for Ryan O'Hearn.
