Vanessa: You are listening to the Beatline Podcast Network, America's number one daily sports podcast. This is your morning baseball briefing for October 24th, 2026.
Nick: Good morning, Orioles fans. I’m Nick, and alongside Vanessa, we’re diving deep into the post-season landscape. It’s a busy time in Baltimore.
Vanessa: That’s right, Nick. The regular season wrapped up with a rain-canceled finale against the Yankees, leaving us at 79-82 and second in the AL East. But the real story isn't the standings; it's the roster construction under new GM Jared Banner.
Nick: Exactly. We’ve talked about Banner’s hiring over the last few days. Today, we’re looking at the specific position battles that will define their 2027 spring training camp. We’re talking third base logjams, catcher hierarchies, and outfield depth.
Vanessa: And we have three big segments coming up. First, the battle for the starting rotation spots. Second, the internal competition at third base and behind the plate. And finally, our roster cut predictions—who’s staying and who’s getting shipped out?
Nick: It’s a classic offseason puzzle. With Pete Alonso gone and the bullpen overloaded, every spot is on the line. Let’s get into it.
Vanessa: Before we hit Segment One, a quick word from me and Nick. If these daily breakdowns help you start your commute or fuel your morning routine, consider supporting the show. A small tip via the link in the episode description keeps this coverage free and daily. Thanks for helping us keep the beat.
Vanessa: Alright, let’s talk rotation. In yesterday’s episode, we noted that acquiring two reliable starters was a key prediction for spring training. Looking at the current list, who do you think actually holds those jobs right now?
Nick: Well, Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz are the anchors. Bassitt brings veteran stability, and Baz has the stuff if he stays healthy. They’re locks for the top two spots. But the competition for spots three through five is where it gets interesting.
Vanessa: Right. You mentioned Trey Gibson and Cade Povich earlier. How do they stack up against Trevor Rogers and Brandon Young?
Nick: Trevor Rogers is the wild card here. He’s been around, but his velocity has dipped. Brandon Young has more upside, but inconsistency. I think Banner looks at the data—launch angles, spin rates—and might lean toward Young or even a call-up from the minors over Rogers if the numbers don’t lie.
Vanessa: So Rogers could be traded? That would be a huge move for the front office.
Nick: Possible. Remember, we predicted they’d add two starters. That implies they might move some existing arms to acquire talent elsewhere. Or, they use this surplus of arms as trade bait. Felix Bautista is a closer, so he’s untouchable, but guys like Yennier Cano or Andrew Kittredge? Those are movable pieces.
Vanessa: Let’s look at the bullpen. It is stacked. We have Bautista, Cano, De Leon, Foster, Garcia, Heuer, Hiraldo, Hoppe, Kittredge, Nunez, Sanders, Suarez, Walker, Wolfram, and Zulueta. That’s fifteen relievers.
Nick: Fifteen! That’s too many. The league average is around twelve. To make room for those two new starters we talked about, they need to trim this down. I see Cameron Foster and Alex Hoppe as the most likely candidates to be non-tendered or traded. Their stats haven’t been consistent enough to justify the roster spot when you have guys like Rico Garcia showing promise.
Vanessa: Rico Garcia has been impressive in the minors. Do you think he makes the team out of camp?
Nick: I do. He’s young, he’s got a good fastball-slider combo, and he’s cheap. He’s exactly the type of arm Banner wants to develop. So, my prediction: Foster and Hoppe go, Garcia stays. That gets us down to thirteen, which is manageable.
Vanessa: Makes sense. Keep the upside, cut the redundancy. Now, let’s move to Segment Two. The infield. Specifically, third base. We have Blaze Alexander, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Coby Mayo. Who wins that job?
Nick: This is the biggest logjam in the organization. Yesterday, we discussed how Pete Alonso’s departure leaves a hole in power, but also opens up roster flexibility. At third base, Coby Mayo has the highest ceiling. He’s got the raw power, but his defense is still a work in progress.
Vanessa: But Blaze Alexander has been solid defensively. Is that enough to edge out Mayo?
Nick: In today’s game, defense matters, but offense drives wins. However, Christian Encarnacion-Strand is the dark horse. He can play first base, third base, and even DH. His plate discipline is elite. If Banner wants a guy who can handle platoon splits and play multiple positions, CES is the utility king here.
Vanessa: So, maybe Mayo doesn’t win the everyday job? Maybe he’s traded?
Nick: That’s a very real possibility. Other teams love Mayo’s bat. If the Orioles can’t find a way to make him an everyday starter due to defensive concerns, trading him for pitching or catching depth makes perfect sense. It aligns with our prediction about adding starters.
Vanessa: Interesting. So the battle isn’t just internal; it’s external too. What about shortstop? Gunnar Henderson is locked in, obviously. But Jose Barrero is there. Does he have a path to playing time?
Nick: Not at shortstop. Barrero is strictly a utility player now. He’ll compete for the bench spot. Jackson Holliday is at second base, and Jeremiah Jackson is... well, he’s another utility option. The real battle is between Holliday and Barrero for versatility. Holliday is the future, though. He’s got the tools to be an MVP candidate.
Vanessa: Holliday is exciting. Let’s talk catchers. Samuel Basallo, Carlos Narvaez, and Yohel Pozo. Who handles the battery with the new staff?
Nick: Samuel Basallo is the guy. He’s young, he’s got a strong arm, and he frames the pitch well. Narvaez is the veteran presence. He’s great for game-calling and mentoring. Pozo is the insurance policy. I think Basallo wins the starting job, Narvaez plays 60 percent of the games, and Pozo goes back to the minors or gets traded.
Vanessa: So, two catchers on the roster. That seems tight. Do you think they add another catcher via trade?
Nick: Maybe not another catcher, but they definitely need to address the outfield logjam before they worry about catching. We have Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Christian Franklin, Rece Hinds, Heston Kjerstad, Luis Robert Jr., Leody Taveras, and Reed Trimble. That’s eight outfielders.
Vanessa: Eight outfielders! That’s insane. Luis Robert Jr. is the clear starter in center field. But who else?
Nick: Colton Cowser is the favorite for left field. He’s got the exit velocity and the defensive range. Rece Hinds is the wild card—he’s got massive power but low contact rates. If he can improve his strikeout rate, he’s a starter. If not, he’s a fourth outfielder.
Vanessa: What about Christian Franklin and Leody Taveras? They’re both speed-and-power types.
Nick: Franklin has shown flashes of brilliance, but consistency is key. Taveras is more of a journeyman profile. I think Heston Kjerstad edges them out for the right field spot because of his all-around game. So, Cowser, Robert, and Kjerstad are the likely starters. Hinds fights for the fourth spot.
Vanessa: So who gets cut? Who trends down?
Nick: This leads perfectly into Segment Three. Our roster cut predictions. Based on the 79-82 record and the need to stabilize, I think the front office will prioritize youth and control. Guys on pre-arbitration contracts are safe unless they underperform badly.
Vanessa: Okay, let’s name names. Who is trending up and who is trending down right now?
Nick: Trending Up: Samuel Basallo, Jackson Holliday, and Shane Baz. These guys represent the core. If they succeed, the team succeeds. Also, Rico Garcia in the bullpen. He’s undervalued and ready.
Vanessa: And trending down?
Nick: Trending Down: Trevor Rogers, Cameron Foster, and Alex Hoppe. Rogers’ contract is expiring, and his performance has declined. Foster and Hoppe have struggled to find consistency in high-leverage situations. They are the easiest cuts to justify financially and competitively.
Vanessa: What about Coby Mayo? He’s trending down defensively, but his bat is there.
Nick: Mayo is in a tough spot. If he doesn’t fix his defense, he loses his everyday role. But his bat might fetch a trade. So he’s trending down as a starter, but potentially trending up as trade value.
Vanessa: That’s a nuanced take. So, the plan is: Cut Rogers, Foster, and Hoppe. Acquire two starters (maybe using Mayo or CES as bait). Promote Garcia and Basallo. Lock in Holliday and Robertson.
Nick: Exactly. And keep Cowser and Kjerstad in the outfield. That gives you a young, athletic, cost-controlled core. It’s a smart rebuild strategy under Banner.
Vanessa: We’re running out of time. Let’s recap. The Orioles have a lot of moving parts. Third base is a logjam, the bullpen is too deep, and the outfield needs clarity. But the core of Holliday, Henderson, and Robert is solid.
Nick: And with GM Jared Banner at the helm, I expect aggressive moves. We predicted two starters and an 85-95 win total. If they execute this roster shuffle correctly, that’s totally achievable.
Vanessa: We’ll see you in spring training. Until then, subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network wherever you listen. Share this episode with an Orioles fan who needs to hear this.
Nick: Go Birds.