The Orioles’ offseason plans may be getting clearer, and Jackson Holliday looks like the name to watch.
A recent report about Baltimore being willing to consider just about everyone on the roster still made a point of separating out two Scott Boras clients: Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson. That stood out, because the Orioles have a crowded infield and obvious needs elsewhere, especially in the rotation and outfield.
But the bigger clue may be what was left unsaid. Holliday, the former first-overall pick, was not included among the players described as off-limits. That omission has fueled the sense that Baltimore could be open to moving him, even if he is not the most obvious candidate at first glance.
The thinking here is tied to the Orioles’ roster fit and to the Boras connection. The industry has long understood that Holliday is not likely to sign an extension with Baltimore, and that he could be dealt by the trade deadline in the same way Adley Rutschman was a year ago. The relationship between Elias and Boras clients has also been a recurring theme, and Boras has publicly praised Elias in the past.
There is also a belief that Holliday’s father, Matt, may be seeing the situation clearly from the outside. As a former player, he understands the pressure that comes with being the first overall pick and with the way this development path has gone. Around the league, Holliday was already being discussed as a player who could be moved ahead of the deadline.
If Holliday does go, the ripple effect could help create room for Jordan Westburg, another Boras client, to move to second base. That would put him where he belongs and might help him stay healthier. Gunnar Henderson would remain at shortstop, or possibly third if that’s the route Baltimore chooses.
Henderson is not being treated as untouchable, either. The idea is that Elias wants other teams to know the asking price would be enormous, and Boras would have every reason to support that, since a blockbuster deal could help rebuild Henderson’s value.
The Orioles may even need to bundle Colton Cowser with Holliday to make the return look substantial. Still, the sense around Holliday has changed quickly, and it would not be surprising if he is gone before spring training.
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