Taking another look at Orioles position players and an update on Tate

To find the last position player acquired by the Orioles, you’d have to go back to Dec. 1 with the signing of Cuban outfielder Jordan Sánchez to a reported bonus in the range of $400,000-$450,000.

MLB reporter Francys Romero had the Orioles finalizing the deal back on Oct. 26, pending the completion of a physical. Sánchez, 18, left Cuba in July 2023 and is headed to the Dominican Summer League.

To find the last major league position player, you’d have to go back to Nov. 1 with the waiver claim of outfielder Sam Hilliard from the Braves. He remains on the 40-man roster.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias left open the possibility at the Winter Meetings of bringing in another outfielder, but he also noted the internal options who could replace free agent Aaron Hicks.

“I think there’s some interesting guys there,” Elias said, “and we’re probably going to get somebody who pops out of that group and is able to step into those shoes.”

Thirteen pitchers are expected to be carried on the Opening Day 26-man roster. Who are the projected 13 position players if we’re limited to in-house candidates and no one goes on the injured list?

The catchers are easy in this healthy scenario – Adley Rutschman and James McCann. Maverick Handley will return to Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles reached agreement with David Bañuelos on a minor league contract and a spring training invite, which hasn't been announced.

The infield is a headache to figure out beyond Ryan Mountcastle, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and Ryan O’Hearn, and that’s assuming no one is impacted by a trade.

Jorge Mateo signed for $2.7 million and Ramon Urías was tendered a contract, but they aren’t promised spots in the lineup or on the bench. Jackson Holliday will arrive in camp with a legitimate chance to make the club, as emphasized by Elias at the Winter Meetings. Joey Ortiz will try to head north in a utility role. Terrin Vavra will try to do it again.

Coby Mayo and Connor Norby are the longest shots due to a space crunch.

The outfield locks are the main starters in 2023 – Austin Hays in left, Cedric Mullins in center and Anthony Santander in right. Ryan McKenna signed for $800,000, is a solid defender at all three spots, provides speed and a right-handed bat off the bench, and is out of options. Heston Kjerstad ended the season on the Division Series roster and should get the orange carpet treatment on Opening Day.

Colton Cowser made his major league debut on July 5, was optioned twice and didn’t play for the Orioles after Aug. 11 unless you count a couple days on the bench at the beginning of September. Kyle Stowers made the team out of spring training but didn’t have an at-bat with the Orioles after May 14, his chances of being on the expanded roster ruined by a fractured nose.

Hilliard is versatile and a left-handed bat, but the Orioles have plenty of them. He’s out of options and due to receive $800,000 after agreeing to terms to avoid arbitration.

Maybe the safest projection is Rutschman and McCann as catchers, Mountcastle, O’Hearn, Henderson, Westburg, Urías and Mateo as infielders, and Hays, Mullins, Santander, McKenna and Kjerstad as outfielders. But that group leaves Holliday in Triple-A.

I’d also be hesitant to cut Cowser unless there’s an issue with the extra left-handed bat.

Having Urías and Mateo in the infield, which also could block Ortiz, is done here only because they weren’t non-tendered. I’m not confident that they both head north, which his why this is a very early roster prediction.

Today's assignment: Give me your 13 position players.

* Reliever Dillon Tate is doing more than throwing off a mound in his recovery from the forearm and elbow injuries that prevented him from pitching for the Orioles this year.

Tate is working out at the Driveline Baseball facility in Washington. Brandon Mann, the senior pitching coordinator, posted an Instagram video of Tate registering 99.8 mph with a Plyo ball.

Seems pretty healthy to me.

The Orioles are counting on a full spring training from Tate and a return to 2022 form, when he registered a 3.05 ERA and 0.991 WHIP in 67 appearances and allowed only six home runs in 73 2/3 innings.

The ground balls induced by his sinker, his primary pitch that averaged 94 mph and held opponents to a .214 average in 2022 per Statcast, make him a valuable high-leverage reliever.

Tate has two options left, which makes it easy for the Orioles if they run out of room in the bullpen. But he could earn the job in camp and become one of their most important additions.