KEY POINTS

  • Why does Chris Davis keep coming back?
  • Ryan Mountcastle is chomping at the bit
  • Orioles hurlers have hope for the first time in a long time

When the Baltimore Orioles host the New York Yankees March 26, the Birds rebuild will continue. There were no juicy free agents added, all things considered, that’s a good thing.

Pitchers will be in phase 2 of the sabermetrics era. General Manager Mike Elias hired saber analyst Sig Mejdal to work with the organization last year. Staff at every level of the pitching department seems to have bought into the philosophy, Four O’s minor league clubs led their leagues in ERA.

A pair of non-roster invitees will get the ball when the Grapefruit season opens Saturday. Chandler Shepherd will be the Orioles’ against the Atlanta Braves in North Port, FL. Ty Blach will follow Sheperd.

Only one Bird is ailing. DJ Stewart is recovering from offseason microfracture surgery for his right ankle. He hopes to play is some exhibition games, but Stewart is no lock for the major league roster. Chris Davis has been sick for two days.

Of the everyday players, only two will be older than 30 when the season opens, assuming first baseman Davis decides he wants to play this year. One of those will be free agent shortstop Jose Iglesias.

Iglesias turned into an adequate American League infielder over the years. He is a solid .270 bat and fields shortstop better than most. He is projected to be Baltimore's top middle fielder this year.

A nine-year-old Iglesias saw the O’s play in his native Cuba 20 years ago. Baltimore played Team Cuba as part of a home-and-home goodwill effort. Iglesias was at the stadium in Cuba and glued to his television. The Orioles lost both games, but earned fans on the island state.

The shortstop is in camp with another Cuban prospect outfielder Yusniel Diaz. Diaz is one of five prospects acquired in 2018 from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Manny Machado.

Unless Davis returns to his old form, or prospects Ryan Mountcastle or Adley Rutschman make the team out of Spring training, Iglesias might be the best hitter in Baltimore this summer.

Davis is still owed $51 million through 2022 then $42 million in deferments. That contract has stood in Mountcastle’s way for a couple of years. Rutschman will probably not play in Baltimore this season.

Cuba Major league baseball