Reflections on spring training as Orioles break camp

Minor league signings in November tend to be forgotten as spring training nears its conclusion. They provide copy during the offseason's dead zone. Players given generous amounts of space on websites and in newspapers are footnotes later as camp cuts are announced.

There are exceptions, of course, which brings us to left-handed relievers Joely Rodriguez and Josh Edgin.

I've covered past spring trainings when the decision to take guys of this caliber north would be a no-brainer. The Orioles didn't have guys of this caliber.

Closer Zach Britton's stay on the disabled list provided room this year for another left-hander to join Richard Bleier, but Nestor Cortes Jr. will occupy that space and the club will go with five right-handers.

The ideal scenario probably would have been to retain three lefties and have Cortes serve as the long man to back up five right-handed starters. Rodriguez or Edgin could have provided a nice contrast. But Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo made the club and the decision on the final spot came down to Rodriguez, Edgin and Miguel Castro.

Castro was a big disappointment in camp, starting with the sore knees and lower back that delayed his debut. But he was electric yesterday against the Phillies with a 97-98 mph fastball that he could locate and six strikeouts over three scoreless innings.

The Orioles could revisit the idea of making him a starter, but his value in the 'pen increases as they attempt to carry two Rule 5 picks through an entire season.

Rodriguez was my darkhorse pick before spring training and he still could have an impact over the summer, but he's out of options and can't ride the shuttle without passing through waivers.

Other observations while I get reacquainted with life up north:

* There hasn't been an award created for camp Most Valuable Player, but Anthony Santander deserves any recognition coming his way.

Besides the flurry of free agent signings that included Alex Cobb's four-year, $57 million deal, there may not have been a more encouraging development than Santander's production at the plate and improvement in the field. He went 19-for-65 (.292) with four doubles, four home runs and a team-leading 18 RBIs in 26 games. He was squaring up the ball from both sides of the plate. And he can't be accused of being a liability in left and right field.

Santander made another outstanding catch yesterday in left, breaking back and reaching over his head to rob Carlos Santana of an extra-base hit. It will be interesting to see whether he gets regular at-bats as the designated hitter in Mark Trumbo's absence, including an opening day start against the Twins. And whether he becomes part of a time share in right field with Colby Rasmus instead of Craig Gentry always getting the starts against left-handed pitching.

* Cedric Mullins was one of the last cuts and he's expected to return to Double-A Bowie and join Austin Hays in the outfield. If that's how it plays out, they certainly don't have to stay in the Eastern League for the entire summer

Hays could get the Trey Mancini treatment from 2016 and make a hasty jump to Triple-A Norfolk. Hamstring injuries limited Mullins to 76 games last season and it makes sense to send him back to Bowie, especially with the Tides outfield getting so crowded, but he's got tools that the Orioles desperately need and he flashed them almost on a daily basis.

The speed, the defensive excellence, the instincts. He's a real talent and being a switch-hitter won't hurt the cause. He could develop into an everyday player in Baltimore or at the least become a valuable fourth outfielder capable of impacting a game late.

* Pedro Álvarez went from free agency to another minor league deal with the Orioles to a spot on the opening day roster - assuming again that no other moves are made. He didn't seem to have a prayer after signing last month, but Trumbo's injury changed the landscape.

His spot may be temporary with Trumbo expected back sometime in April. They probably can't co-exist. But there's nothing wrong with having a left-handed power bat on the bench and he's 4-for-12 with a home run against Twins opening day starter Jake Odorizzi. He's 2-for-5 against Game 2 starter Kyle Gibson.

* Did the Orioles overpay for Alex Cobb? Some fans took to Twitter to complain about it.

So the team is foolish and irresponsible if it won't spend and also if it does. I truly get the arguments, but here's a news flash: There aren't many pitchers drooling at the prospect of pitching at Camden Yards and in the American League East. Cobb has a track record in the division and his changeup figures to become a much bigger part of his arsenal now that he's so far removed from Tommy John surgery.

The Orioles made a bold move that was universally praised and celebrated inside the clubhouse. Guys who wondered, at least privately, about the commitment to winning moving forward with so many pending free agents were energized.

I have no idea if other teams were bidding on Cobb and dangling three- and four-year deals and I don't care. Check the rotation last year. Check the projected rotation going into spring training (I had Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Mike Wright Jr., Castro and Cortes.) I'll take my chances with Cobb and the rest of the group while keeping a close eye on Hunter Harvey.

Lance Lynn preferred a one-year deal from the Twins while the Orioles talked about multi-year proposals. That's fine. Cobb remained on the market and the Orioles needed another starter. And the deferred money made it work.

Of course, they could have tried to bring back Ubaldo Jiménez at a much cheaper cost. I'm sure that would have excited the masses.

* Alex Presley couldn't find a better offer while exploring in his 48-hour window and deciding whether to opt out of his minor league deal. The Orioles are glad to hold onto him.

Presley was reassigned yesterday and will join Norfolk's outfield. He went 13-for-40 (.325) with two doubles and a triple, and manager Buck Showalter likes his defense. There just wasn't a spot for his left-handed bat with Rasmus and Santander on the roster.

The Tides outfield should have nice depth with Presley, Joey Rickard, Jaycob Brugman and DJ Stewart. Brugman had a run-scoring double and single yesterday against the Phillies and Showalter noted how impressive he's been since the club outrighted him and he's been getting regular at-bats at minor league camp.

Showalter thinks Brugman can contribute later this summer. Don't forget about him.

* Four spots are needed on the 40-man roster to accommodate Rasmus, Álvarez, Gentry and Danny Valencia. Britton already was moved to the 60-day disabled list.

Perhaps the Orioles can do the same with left-hander Chris Lee, who sustained an oblique injury early in camp. That would bring down the total of corresponding moves to three.

Keeping Rodriguez or Edgin would have bumped it back up to four.

I don't like to speculate on guys being designated for assignment in case I'm wrong and, well, it just feels cruel. But there are 25 pitchers on the 40-man. That's the area to begin the search.

* Infield depth in the system remains a concern. The utility job was wide open and no one claimed it, the reasons varying depending on the player.

Showalter did praise Engelb Vielma's defense toward the end of camp.

Adrian Marin wasn't in the running, but he had the game of his life yesterday after entering late, including a tremendous diving stop up the middle to keep the score tied, a double and run scored in the top of the ninth and another fine play in the bottom half.

It speaks volumes that the Orioles made another attempt to sign Ryan Flaherty to a minor league deal, believing last night that it was done. But the Braves stepped up with a major league offer. And now Flaherty can hang out with Nick Markakis.

They are family.

* Did anyone notice that Caleb Joseph batted .324 this spring?

Joseph went 12-for-37 with four doubles, one home run and eight RBIs in 15 games. He didn't seem particularly happy with his throwing earlier in camp, but he lost a caught-stealing when Jonathan Schoop couldn't hold onto the ball while applying the tag.

The catching depth was a concern early in the winter and remained when Francisco Peña signed with the Cardinals, but Audry Perez returned on a minor league deal and Andrew Susac, acquired in a trade with the Brewers, looked good after getting into the flow following his brief hospital stay.

Susac quietly went 6-for-13 with a double and home run and I liked what I saw of his work behind the plate, however small a sample size. I wasn't locked into every pitch, but those times that I raised my head ...

Austin Wynns has an impressive arm and it's obvious why the Orioles like him behind the plate. I made one of my worst calls when I assumed that he'd outlast Susac in camp. They're going to be a nice tandem at Norfolk.

Chance Sisco earned the backup job by hitting .429 (15-for-35) with five doubles, one triple, two home runs and 10 RBIs. He pulled the ball, he drove it to the opposite field and he flat-out raked.

He can keep working with John Russell on his throwing and I'm sure that Joseph will mentor him because that's how the veteran operates. He's always been generous and team oriented.

* Manny Machado is really good. It was nice of spring training to offer confirmation.

* Tim Beckham looks like he can handle third base while Machado returns to shortstop. In fact, he played it like his natural position.

He just needs to stay healthy. A hamstring injury sidelined him in September - it's been an issue in the past - and he tweaked his groin on Thursday while hustling for a ground ball down the line.

Beckham apparently will avoid the disabled list. The Orioles will arrange a simulated game on Tuesday as a final test.