As the MLB offseason approaches its two-month mark, the excitement lingers, with several notable players still available in free agency. The potential for significant trades looms, awaiting the settling of the free agent market. Yet, as we step into the new year, our attention naturally gravitates towards the forthcoming 2024 season and the strategies employed by each team to bolster their rosters.
In the upcoming series of articles, we will delve into one pivotal statistic from the 2023 season for each of the 30 MLB teams, meticulously dissecting its implications for the highly anticipated 2024 season. Today, let us embark on this journey by focusing on the American League, with a captivating exploration of the Baltimore Orioles, while reserving our examination of the National League for our subsequent installment.
The Baltimore Orioles take center stage, flaunting an intriguing statistic from their 2023 campaign: Felix Bautista’s remarkable tally of 33 saves. Bautista’s prowess knew no bounds, boasting a formidable 1.48 ERA and an average of 16.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Moreover, his outstanding win-loss record of 8-2 further attests to his exceptional performance. Alas, fate intervened, cutting short Bautista’s season due to an elbow injury in late August, subsequently necessitating Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him for the entirety of the 2024 season. Despite this setback, the Orioles displayed resilience in close encounters, amassing a commendable 30-16 record in one-run games and an impressive 11-6 record in extra-inning games, largely owing to the contributions of Bautista and Yennier Cano. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Bautista faltered in six save opportunities, resulting in a lackluster save percentage of 85%, which cost the Orioles four of those six games. The impact of Bautista’s absence is evident in their overall record, with a pre-injury mark of 80-48 (.625 winning percentage), slipping marginally to 21-13 (.618 winning percentage) post-injury.
Undoubtedly, the Orioles will sorely miss Bautista in the upcoming season. However, in a bid to fill the void, they have made a significant move by securing the services of Craig Kimbrel through a one-year contract featuring a club option. Kimbrel, previously a member of the Phillies, experienced a mixed performance in 2023, surrendering 10 home runs in 69 innings while converting 23 of 28 save opportunities. His struggles raised concerns among Phillies fans, and those doubts were validated when he faltered in two games during the NLCS. As the Orioles strive to defend their division title, the decision to entrust Kimbrel with the role of their new closer undoubtedly adds an element of intrigue to their prospects.
Remain engaged as we persist in unraveling key statistics and their far-reaching implications for teams as they meticulously prepare for the highly anticipated 2024 MLB season.