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Should the Orioles Reunite With Brewers Infielder?
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- Should the Orioles Reunite With Brewers Infielder?
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Baltimore Orioles could have an opportunity to bring back a familiar face to the franchise this offseason, especially if the team ends up shipping off shortstop Gunnar Henderson.
Given the 25-year-old Henderson's disappointing year at the plate and Baltimore's crowded infield, moving on from Henderson makes sense and so does replacing him with Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz.
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During the regular season, Ortiz recorded a .270 batting average in comparison to Henderson's .226. Ortiz didn't have the best major-league debut with Baltimore but he has taken a step forward since his trade to the Milwaukee Brewers who are now competing for their first-ever World Series title.
Ortiz has kept up the pace in the postseason thus far, recording two hits and driving in a run. He had a similar performance during Milwaukee's playoff appearance last year.
Meanwhile, Henderson went hitless during the Orioles' Wild Card series against the Kansas City Royals in 2024. That was a noticeable fall-off from his six-hit performance during Baltimore's postseason campaign the year prior in which he scored three runs.
At the time, shipping off Ortiz to Milwaukee was the sacrifice general manager Mike Elias needed to make to get another starting pitcher in Corbin Burnes.
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Now that Burnes took his talents to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2024, finding a way to reunite with Ortiz could give the Orioles the combination of infield versatility and playoff experience that they needed.
While Ortiz has usually manned shortstop, the Brewers moved him to third base during the summer. So far in his career, he's proved effective at both positions. Furthermore, his familiarity with current Oriole Colton Cowser would help ease the transition back to Camden Yards.
It's worth noting that Ortiz is under team control through 2029 so the Brewers will probably want decent value back from Baltimore. Even then, it would be worth a shot to give Henderson more competition if the Orioles decide not to trade him.
Besides his offense, his defense is something to keep an eye on as he's recorded 16 outs above average this year per Statcast , which has helped leave opposing baserunners on their toes.
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As Ortiz continues his quest for a ring with Milwaukee, Elias will have his work cut out for him as he tries to get the Orioles back into contention following another underwhelming season in which they missed the playoffs for the second-straight year.
