Taking a closer look at final roster decisions and camp standouts

Now, it's back to work for the Orioles.

A league-mandated off-day is followed this morning by a workout at Sarasota and flight to Boston for Thursday's opener at Fenway Park. Some pitchers will throw. Some hitters will hit.

Anthony Santander apparently won't have to convince the Orioles that his oblique is fine and his status on the active roster is unaffected. He's taken more swings this week, getting dozens of at-bats, and is definitely on the opening day roster.

Could an outsider crash it?

Anything is possible. The Rangers haven't designated second baseman Rougned Odor for assignment, but it's coming and the Orioles already are doing their homework on him. There's enough interest to start the background work.

No team is going to claim Odor on waivers and inherit the $27 million remaining on his contract. He can be signed for the league minimum, and the Orioles must evaluate whether it makes sense to hand him a full-time job.

The roster is nearly set, but a final decision is pending on third baseman Maikel Franco. He's getting a heavy dose of at-bats in simulated games, along with his previous starts in the Grapefruit League, but the Orioles still could option him to the alternate camp site for more work because of his condensed spring training.

Franco has said that he's ready. The Orioles are waiting to cast the final vote. He isn't assured yet of making it to Fenway Park.

The bullpen can hold nine pitchers and it's actually possible that the Orioles end up taking two of the three who seem the most unsettled - Travis Lakins Sr., Dillon Tate and Cole Sulser. A popular assumption, and I made it, was that only one would avoid being cut with eight spots secured, but early matchups might dictate otherwise.

It would be temporary. And get used to it. The shuffling between the majors and Triple-A is going to be constant.

Outfielder DJ Stewart is headed to the injured list, but should be back around the home opener on April 8. He's been hitting, but no outfield work in real games has him ticketed for the alternate camp site. The Orioles will be playing the Nationals, in non-Florida weather conditions, and Stewart can get in his defensive reps and really test the hamstring.

In case you missed it yesterday, second baseman Yolmer Sánchez cleared unconditional waivers and was granted his release. I don't sense much interest from the Orioles in negotiating a new deal. They're more inclined to stick with the infielders on their roster and also keep monitoring the opt-outs and waiver wire.

The Orioles went 10-17-1 this spring to finish 14th in the Grapefruit League standings, which actually exist, but spring records hold as much value as a subway token at a vending machine.

The Tigers were 13-11 after picking first in the 2020 draft. The Astros went 6-14 to finish below the Orioles. The Royals were first in the Cactus League at 16-8, while the Padres went 12-13.

Guess which team is viewed as a World Series contender.

Consumers of run-differential data should know that the Orioles' minus-34 was the worst in the Grapefruit League and second-worst overall behind the Reds' minus-46. And then be reminded that teams pull starters early from games and send out players who won't be on the opening day roster. Many of them won't be in the majors.

Trey Mancini will be in the lineup Thursday, and no one could have known that he'd plow through spring training as if he'd never undergone cancer surgery and chemotherapy treatments. Doctors couldn't be sure. The team certainly didn't know.

Not only did Mancini keep playing, he also kept hitting, going 17-for-51 (.333) with two home runs and a .352 on-base percentage. His 18 strikeouts led the team, but that's like complaining about a sprig of parsley on Top Chef. He had to regain his timing and pitch recognition after a year away from the game. To stay patient when he probably wanted to jump out of his spikes swinging at every ball.

He's also probably eager to reduce the amount of time spent rehashing his colon cancer diagnosis and recovery and just focus on baseball again, but it's an amazing and inspiring story and he's been generous and understanding in sharing the details. And he's dedicated to using his platform to spread the message about the importance of early detection and to promote his foundation with its mission statement to help those who are facing illness, empower those who are suffering from trauma and help those who are experiencing difficulties.

Everything else in camp was just stats. Mancini was the single most important person for reasons that stretched beyond the box scores.

Inside the box scores, Austin Hays had a phenomenal spring by going 20-for-51 (.392) with four doubles, a triple, four home runs, 13 RBIs, three stolen bases and a 1.192 OPS. He appeared in 18 games. He handled every outfield position.

He didn't sustain a freakish injury.

Those fingers will stay crossed on the flight to Boston and throughout the 2021 season. The way he hits, I doubt that it will screw up his swing.

Hays has made 42 starts in center field, 12 in right and eight in left. He was a right fielder at Jacksonville University, but played more center than right in the minors. He'll be busy at all three spots this season, as long as Cedric Mullins avoids the bench or Triple-A.

The range is such an asset in center. The arm is such a weapon in right, though it plays anywhere. He's got all the tools and just, again, needs to stay healthy.

"I think we accomplished everything that we needed to," Hays said earlier this week. "I feel really good defensively, offensively. The main thing is my body feels really healthy. I'm finally ready to play 162, so I'm really looking forward to getting that started."

Ryan Mountcastle collected 12 hits this spring, including five doubles and four home runs. He tied Hays for the club lead in homers and RBIs (13). His five doubles ranked first. He turned 24 last month and can be scary good.

The play in left field wasn't satisfactory in some games, but grading from home rather than actually watching every inning in person seems grossly unfair. And there's always an asterisk based on Florida conditions. You've heard of the high skies and winds. They're the same in Sarasota as Fort Lauderdale and in every other camp.

Mountcastle is still learning all the nuances of the position, his fourth as a professional. He was much better in 2020 than expected. But the Orioles also have the freedom to play him at first base and the flexibility at designated hitter to put him there. Whatever his job on a given night, he's going to be a menace in the middle of the order.

The Red Sox haven't named their Game 2 starter, but it's expected to be right-hander Tanner Houck, followed by right-hander Garrett Richards in Game 3. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi gets the opening day assignment for the second consecutive year.

It's left to the Orioles to figure out the best lineups.