Orioles' lingering lineup questions

We know where newest Orioles infielder Freddy Galvis is going to play. He's the starting shortstop and expected to be part of a new double play combination with second baseman Yolmer Sánchez.

But where does he hit?

Why wait to gather more information?

There's no fun in being patient and letting the process play out. Begin speculating and predicting now and beat the post-holiday rush.

José Iglesias was slotted second and third in the lineup last summer, which seemed ridiculous until he emerged as one of the best hitters on the club. But making Galvis the No. 3 hitter would be a reach. Or just plain dumb.

Galvis is a career .247/.291/.385 hitter in nine major league seasons, though his power has increased as he's gotten older. He's batted second in 237 games, more than any spot in the order.

He's hit eighth in 225 games and seventh in 209.

He's hit third in five.

Manager Brandon Hyde will enjoy having another switch-hitter in the lineup to maybe provide a little more balance. Galvis is a career .241/.295/.387 hitter against right-handers and a .261/.283/.380 hitter versus lefties. Seventy-four of his 95 home runs have come from the left side of the plate and the flag court at Camden Yards beckons.

Lineup predictions can be done without much fear of a newcomer crashing the scene.

The Orioles are trying to sign an extra infielder and outfielder, which would only put your bench at risk. They'd like to add a few starters, which would only jeopardize your rotation.

I shared my December submission and explained why it wouldn't hold up. The Orioles were in the market for a shortstop and I had little choice except to insert Richie Martin as a placeholder. Among other issues.

Here it is:

CF Cedric Mullins
RF Anthony Santander
DH Trey Mancini
1B Ryan Mountcastle
LF Austin Hays
C Pedro Severino
3B Rio Ruiz
2B Yolmer Sánchez
SS Richie Martin

I also didn't like putting Mountcastle at first base because he's the primary left fielder. Mancini is supposed to get most of his starts at first base, which executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias emphasized again in Wednesday's video conference call. But I was stuck.

I'll try again.

CF Austin Hays
SS Freddy Galvis
RF Anthony Santander
LF Ryan Mountcastle
1B Trey Mancini
DH DJ Stewart
C Pedro Severino
3B Rio Ruiz
2B Yolmer Sánchez

We're looking at right, switch, switch, right, right, left, right, left, and switch.

The bench can hold outfielder Cedric Mullins - a switch-hitting option in center field and atop the order - first baseman Chris Davis, backup catcher Chance Sisco and infielder Pat Valaika. But there are also utility candidates Stevie Wilkerson, Ramón Urías and the mystery signing.

Martin is out of the running after breaking his left hamate bone last weekend.

Wilkerson also bats from both sides of the plate. According to STATS, the Orioles never had five or more switch-hitting position players on the roster for the first 30 games of a season since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954.

Perhaps Wilkerson can head north with the club or replace one of the infielders later in the summer.

The ol' bait and switch-hit.