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Handicapping the 2016 Race…For Orioles Catcher

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If you follow politics, you know that the pundits have begun to line up the potential 2016 presidential candidates and rate their chances of getting their respective party’s nomination. That might actually be easier than figuring out who will be behind the plate for the Orioles in 2016.

The Incumbent

Unlike many political races, the incumbent here is far from a shoo-in. Matt Wieters has held the job since 2009 and despite not nearly living up to his offensive expectations, Orioles fans love him. Because the Orioles have become notoriously cheap, Wieters’ anticipated price tag will keep them from re-signing him. Before you start thinking that “face of the franchise” stuff, remember Nick Markakis is now in Atlanta.

However, Wieters recent injury may make him somewhat of a sale item, not clearance where the O’s normally shop, but possibly reduced for quick(er) sale.

The Favorite?

Many think Caleb Joseph should be sending out inauguration invites. He is by far the guy I’m most familiar with having spent a season calling Baysox games while he was in Bowie. If things follow the general logic, Joseph is the backup this year and takes over the full time job in 2016.

Fact is often stranger than fiction, so I’m not betting on this scenario, at least not the latter part of it. I say Joseph starts the 2015 season as the #1 man behind Wieters, or even starts if Matt’s not ready.By the end of the season, he’s wearing a different uniform. I see Joseph being traded whether the O’s are in the hunt or not. I think he’s already attractive to other teams either trying to add catching depth for the stretch run or as a MLB-ready return for a team sending a missing piece to the Orioles postseason puzzle. Of course he’d be packaged with prospects in the second situation.

The Other Guys

I love Steve Clevenger and think if he can wait, he could be the back-up in 2016. Tear it up in the minors and he could also be dealt, so the Magic 8 Ball has a better chance of predicting his future than I do.

Michael Ohlman makes me feel like Shania Twain…he doesn’t impress me much.

So dipstick blogger, who in the world is it going to be?

If I was a betting man, my money would be on Ryan Lavarnway. He hit .299 in a short stint with the Red Sox a couple seasons ago and he hit a combined 54 home runs in the minors in 2010 and 2011.

If there’s a strong dark horse it’s JP Arencibia. Three ML seasons with 18+ home runs jump out at you immediately and some of his minor league numbers are exactly what you want to see a top prospect do to minor league pitching. Unfortunately, he’s never hit over .233 and is a .207 lifetime hitter in the majors. In a perfect world, he makes the team out of spring training and provides depth at both 1b and catcher. Heck, it’s incredible how similar his 2011 was to what Chris Davis gave the birds last year…not that we’re looking for a repeat of that.

Polls open in mid February

The Orioles have assembled some guys with incredible potential and have enough of them to throw against the wall that one should stick and maybe more.

Sarasota will be our Iowa and maybe 2016 will be clearer when the birds break camp.

Or, we could know even less.

(This poll opens right now!)

[cardoza_wp_poll id=52]

One Response

  1. Guess we can cross one name of the list. Orioles dealt Ohlman to the Cardinals for cash. Good news: I still have a chance to be right 🙂

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One Response

  1. Guess we can cross one name of the list. Orioles dealt Ohlman to the Cardinals for cash. Good news: I still have a chance to be right 🙂

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