Taking a much-too-early look at Orioles' 26-man roster

The work required to build the 26-man roster for Opening Day is a long way from completion. The surface hasn’t even been scratched.

At least one starter and reliever, a right-handed bat – likely for the outfield – and a backup catcher bring boxes that still need checking. The Orioles are on the clock but the ticking isn’t really that loud. Plenty of time remains to finish shopping before camp opens in mid-February. Plenty of names remain on the board who could fill specific needs of the club, and there are also trade talks that might produce upgrades.

This is the point in the offseason when I’m reminded of the gaps in the roster. A national publication is asking for a projected lineup, rotation, bullpen and bench. The list will be outdated in a few months, but that isn’t my problem.

The issue is coming up with 26 names.

Starting with the rotation, an Opening Day in December could line up Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Trevor Rogers and Cade Povich, with the first two vying for the March 27 game in Toronto. Albert Suárez is a possibility, of course.

An Opening Day on its scheduled date seems certain to include at least one new pitcher, which isn’t helpful in this exercise.

Blake Snell is off the board and the Athletics shocked the baseball world by giving Luis Severino a three-year deal worth $67 million, setting up the sequel to “Moneyball.” But Corbin Burnes and Max Fried remain, and the Orioles aren’t backing away from the top shelf in the market.

They could settle for the next level of starters. They could try to swing a trade. However it’s done, the five who project today won’t stay intact.

Eight relievers are needed and it gets more complicated with Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb gone.

Félix Bautista returns as closer and the Orioles will ease him back into duty. Manager Brandon Hyde, calling into WBAL Radio’s “Hot Stove Show,” said he wanted to lower expectations a little bit, but also that Bautista is having a normal offseason and the club will check on him again at next month’s minicamp.

“When he’s right,” Hyde said, “he’s the best pitcher in the game.”

We’ll assume that Bautista is right.

Seranthony Domínguez, Yennier Cano, Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin are expected to join him. Having Suárez in the rotation eliminates him from a long relief role. Having Rogers and Povich in the rotation, which I’m doing for this exercise, shifts Suárez to the ‘pen.

I’ll choose Colin Selby as the eighth reliever. He tossed four scoreless innings with one hit allowed in his three appearances this year. But the 40-man roster also includes Bryan Baker, Luis González, Kade Strowd and Brandon Young.

Thaddeus Ward cleared outright waivers yesterday and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk, leaving 37 players on the 40-man roster.

The backup catcher probably isn’t in the organization, which leaves me with René Pinto over Blake Hunt based on major league experience. He’s appeared in 82 games.

The infield is an easier call with Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo. However, there isn’t room for Coby Mayo or Emmanuel Rivera. Livan Soto is also on the outside.

The present outfield would consist of Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins and Heston Kjerstad, with Daz Cameron – back in the organization – coming off the bench to provide a right-handed bat. No other outfielders are on the 40-man roster.

That’s going to change.

I'll keep Henderson atop the order and put Adley Rutschman second. He gets a clean slate after a rough second half.

With no consideration given to the opposing starter, I'll probably have Mountcastle third, O'Hearn fourth, Westburg fifth, Cowser sixth, Kjerstad seventh, Mullins eighth and Holliday ninth, knowing that's too many left-handed hitters in a row and demonstrating why this club needs a right-handed bat.

For the sake of the assignment, I'll likely make O'Hearn the DH in a mock lineup and put Kjerstad in right field. And then I'll wait for the Orioles to blow it up.