Taking another look at Orioles' roster decisions

Who have you got in the World Series?

How much do you care after the Orioles lost in the Wild Card?

They’re busy reconstructing the coaching staff after moving on from co-hitting coach Ryan Fuller, bench coach Fredi González and major league coach José Hernández, and after co-hitting coach Matt Borgschulte returned to the Twins. But there’s lots more to keep them preoccupied this month and beyond.

Roster decisions are on the agenda, of course, and the following are included:

What to do with Emmanuel Rivera.

This one won’t heavily tip the scales in the American League East, but it’s a decision that’s on the back burner.

The Orioles selected Rivera on waivers from the Marlins on Aug. 21 and he hit .313/.370/.578 with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 14 RBIs in 27 games. This is the same guy who batted .214/.294/.269 in 96 games with Miami. And manager Brandon Hyde often praised Rivera’s defense.

Rivera was relegated to the bench with Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and Ryan Mountcastle back in the active roster. Coby Mayo is another right-handed hitter who plays the corner infield and the Orioles need to clear a path.

They can’t option Rivera because he’s out of them. He’s eligible for arbitration, with MLBTradeRumors.com projecting a raise to $1.4 million.

There’s no question that Rivera would be a useful reserve, and he landed on the Wild Card roster, but making room might prove impossible.

What to do with Gregory Soto.

This one seems easier to resolve but it isn’t a slam dunk.

The Orioles traded for Soto at the deadline and, in a surprising move, sent pitching prospect Seth Johnson and Moisés Chace to the Phillies. Johnson was the organization’s eighth-ranked prospect and No. 3 among pitchers per MLB Pipeline.

Johnson, returning from Tommy John surgery, made his major league debut on Sept. 8 in Miami, quicker than anticipated, and was torched for nine runs in 2 1/3 innings. He’ll be fine. He’d certainly be competing for a rotation spot with the Orioles.

Soto also had a shaky first impression with his new team. He allowed four runs in one-third of an inning in Cleveland, and in his third appearance surrendered four runs in one-third of an inning in Toronto. It was a process to gain trust, but he strung together 10 scoreless outings in a row and finished with six straight before the playoffs.

The last pitches thrown in 2024 resulted in no runs or hits, one walk and one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning against the Royals. Soto also is eligible for arbitration after earning $5 million this year, and Trade Rumors projects a modest raise to $5.6 million.

Reliever Danny Coulombe returned from elbow surgery, but Soto deepens the left-handed pool. The Orioles could mentally erase those disastrous early appearances and bring him back, especially after parting with Johnson.

What to do with Austin Slater.

Slater will become a free agent five days after the World Series unless the Orioles choose to negotiate a new contract. The arbitration process enabled his salary to climb to $4 million.

The Orioles got him from the Reds at the deadline for cash considerations and he hit .246/.342/.333 in 33 games after slashing .185/.308/.222 in a combined 51 games with the Giants and Reds. But he was 7-for-33 in September.

Slater can run and play anywhere in the outfield, as well as first base. He’s a career .271/.364/.429 hitter against left-handed pitching. He basically could be like Ryan McKenna as that right-handed hitting extra outfielder, defensive replacement and pinch-runner, while the Orioles also carry Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins and Heston Kjerstad.

They’ll need to replace Anthony Santander if he leaves in free agency, and the goal obviously will be a much more impactful bat.

There’s a chance that the Orioles try to bring back Slater at a smaller cost. Otherwise, they’ll search elsewhere for the next McKenna-type outfielder.

* In response to the devastation created by Hurricane Milton, the Orioles have partnered with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support relief efforts through the “Season of Sharing” initiative that provides assistance to people in need.

The Orioles have committed to donating $250,000 and will match up to another $250,000 to aid families and individuals affected by the storm across Sarasota and Manatee counties. The Patterson Foundation in Sarasota will provide $100,000 if the total is reached.

“In times of crisis, it’s essential for us to stand together as a community,” Orioles owner David Rubenstein said in a statement. “We hope that this match challenge inspires our fans and community members to give generously and help provide immediate relief for those affected by Hurricane Milton.”

All net proceeds from the Orioles’ 50/50 spring training raffle will be donated to All Faiths Food Bank.

“By supporting both Season of Sharing and All Faiths Food Bank, we hope to alleviate some of the financial and food insecurity burdens faced by families affected by the hurricane,” Orioles minority owner Mike Arougheti said in a statement. “Our hope is that these efforts will provide a pathway for families to regain stability and peace of mind as they recover.”

Fans are encouraged to contribute to the Season of Sharing initiative by visiting cfsarasota.org/Baltimore-Orioles-Hurricane-Milton-Relief.