Fantasy baseball: 2020 Baltimore Orioles fantasy preview

2020 Baltimore Orioles projected starting lineup:

Hanser Alberto, 2B (.305, 12 HR, 51 RBI, 4 SB in 524 AB)
Anthony Santander, LF (.261, 20 HR, 59 RBI, 1 SB in 380 AB)
Renato Nunez, DH (.244, 31 HR, 90 RBI, 1 SB in 541 AB)
Austin Hays, CF (.309, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 2 SB in 68 AB)
Rio Ruiz, 3B (.232, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 0 SB in 370 AB)
Chris Davis, 1B (.179, 12 HR, 36 RBI, 0 SB in 307 AB)
Dwight Smith Jr., RF (.241, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 5 SB in 357 AB)
Jose Iglesias, SS (.288, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 6 SB in 504 AB with CIN)
Pedro Severino, C (.249, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 3 SB in 305 AB)

The news that Trey Mancini was undergoing surgery for a “non-baseball” injury hit hard before the suspension of Spring Training, but may not be as big of a deal now. It is still unclear what the surgery was for, but at any rate, Mancini will already be a few weeks ahead of schedule whenever Opening day happens to be.

The return of Mancini will likely mean that Hays or Dwight Smith will move back to the bench. Mancini is probably the best fantasy asset on the team, but until we get a better idea of how long he’s going to be out, it’s hard to reach for him. As of now, there is no indication of how long Mancini will be out. That makes him a tough pick despite the big power numbers. We will know more once we get a definitive Opening Day. If your draft is still on schedule, it puts you in a bit of a pickle.

There is more power to be had on this team aside from Mancini if you are willing to take a hit in the average department. Renato Nunez doesn’t have anything that jumps out at you and his value is further hurt by his DH-only status on some sites. That may drop him out of the middle rounds.

The young outfield has a lot of potential, but I wouldn’t reach for them. Hays had a promising September, but also likely has a short leash once Mancini returns. Santander could clear 30 homers considering he hit 20 in only 380 at bats last year. The average is a bit of a detraction, but I see Santander as a solid pick for your third outfielder.

Jose Iglesias could be a nice option at SS in deep leagues. His average will help and if he moves up into the top couple slots of the lineup, could really help in runs scored if this offense reaches its potential.

Prospects to watch:

The real question here is: how close is Ryan Mountcastle? Chris Davis has been the worst player to hold down a regular job in the league not just last year, but in 2018 as well. It is literally hurting this team to chase his waning power. Mountcastle hit .312 with 25 homers at AAA last year. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t break camp with the team and Mountcastle should take the starting job quickly. Davis had a strong spring, but he’ll show his true colors when the games count. Mountcastle is a good hitter with good power and is worth a look as your backup at 1B.

Ryan McKenna could find his way to the majors if he raises the average. He is one of the faster players in the Orioles’ system. If Rylan Bannon handles AAA this year the way he did in the last 20 games of last season, he could replace Rio Ruiz if he struggles through another season.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 15 months or so, you know who Adley Rutschman is. Unfortunately, we will likely have to wait until next year to use him in fantasy. If you are in a dynasty league, Rutschman is a nice target. He showed a good eye in his first 37 minor league games and showed his run producing ability. He’s done nothing to diminish his value as of yet.