Unraveling the Juan Soto Conundrum and Its Baseball Ramifications
Juan Soto's Offseason Decision
It appears that Juan Soto's decision could come this week. The MLB Winter Meetings begin on Monday, providing an annual opportunity for agents, players, and teams to make a big splash. Many are eagerly awaiting his official announcement, as it is expected to lead to a flurry of noteworthy transactions ahead of Christmas. The Orioles, in particular, are closely watching as they have their own priorities of securing a frontline starter, a right-handed outfielder, and a backup catcher.Teams that don't land Soto are facing a dilemma. If he picks one of the three AL East teams in the mix, it could be a headache for years to come. However, if he ends up elsewhere, it could mean that their rivals have more cash to spend elsewhere this winter. This uncertainty is creating a ripple effect throughout the baseball world.
The fact that Soto is an outfielder is also relevant to the Orioles. They are in the market for a right-handed outfielder and have a few options, like Teoscar Hernández or a reunion with the switch-hitting Anthony Santander. But these two players won't sign before Soto. The organizations that Soto spurns will naturally turn to the next tier of sluggers, which could drive their price up.
Big Trades and Prospects
Big trades may have to wait as well. A club's willingness to deal prospects could shift depending on whether they land Soto. This can cut both ways. It might make a young, advanced outfielder in a team's system easier to move, or it could lead a team to hold onto a cheap, flexible talent to avoid a bloated roster financially.The Orioles are positioned as the team with the highest "Tradeability Grade" among their minor league group. This makes sense as the organization is ready to make a deep run and some of their better prospects are duplicative of what's already in the majors. Something has to give, and if they don't re-sign Burnes, a trade involving some of these young talents may be a requirement.
Corbin Burnes is an example that strikeouts are trending down in MLB. It feels like hitters are rediscovering unique roles rather than all trying to hit for power. And they are finding success while doing it! This is a positive development for the game and is far more interesting than the three true outcomes style for most players.
Orioles Birthdays and History
Today, Jackson Holliday turns 21. It's a big birthday for baseball's former top prospect. His rookie season in 2024 was not good, but that has been a theme for many of Baltimore's recent youngsters. He is expected to play a big role on this team in 2025 regardless.Stan Jefferson is 62 years old. The outfielder bounced around the league for six years, including a 45-game stint with the O's between 1989 and '90.
Lee Smith is 67 years old today. His Hall of Fame career included one season in Baltimore. In 1994, he saved 33 games for the Orioles and had a 3.29 ERA while making the AL All-Star team and finishing fifth in Cy Young voting.
Looking back at this day in O's history, in 1963, the Orioles traded outfielder Al Smith and $25,000 to Cleveland for outfielder Willie Kirkland. In 1968, a big trade occurred between Houston and Baltimore, with outfielders Curt Blefary and John Mason going to the Astros in exchange for pitcher Mike Cuellar and infielders Elijah Johnson and Enzo Hernandez. In 1973, Ross Grimsley was traded from the Reds to the Orioles in a swap for outfielder Merv Rettenmund and infielder Junior Kennedy. In 1974, the Orioles acquired outfielder Ken Singleton and pitcher Mike Torrez from the Expos while sending pitcher Dave McNally, outfielder Rich Coggins, and prospect Bill Kirkpatrick to Montréal. And in 1988, Eddie Murray went from the Orioles to the Dodgers in a deal that landed pitchers Ken Howell and Brian Holton, plus prospect Juan Bell, in Baltimore.