(Baltimore) While remaining cautious, Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said it’s clear the team would like to extend the contracts of some of its top young prospects.
As the American League East champions begin their off-season, the question is whether Elias will be able to get along with them.
“We are working hard to keep this team as efficient and healthy as possible,” declared the general manager. Obviously, we have players that we really like in this formation, and part of our objective of having a successful club is to succeed in keeping these players with us. »
Elias and team manager Brandon Hyde met with the media Thursday, two days after the Orioles were eliminated against the Texas Rangers in the second round of the playoffs.
The Orioles, who have won 101 games this season, will need to find a way to extend the contracts of second-year catcher Adley Rutschman, as well as their rookie shortstop Gunnar Henderson.
It is not uncommon to see a team reach a long-term agreement with its player well before the end of his contract.
However, the Orioles occupy the 29e rank of the Majors in terms of payroll. In an article from New York Times published in August, team president John Angelos seemed doubtful about the possibility of seeing the Orioles’ young core remain in Baltimore.
“When people talk about giving $200 million to one player, $150 million to another, we would be so financially hollow that we would have to raise prices massively,” Angelos mentioned in the article.
On Thursday, Elias was hesitant about certain players and the team’s needs for the future. The latter preferred to concentrate on the season which had just ended for his team. However, he seems to be aware of the surplus of young people in the training, not all being able to play at the same time.
With the exception of pitcher Félix Bautista, who will be out for a while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Elias said he is not aware of any other significant injuries on the team.