Mateo’s role on 2025 Orioles is to be determined

During Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias’ press availability to discuss moving in the left-field wall, he surprised those listening with an unprompted endorsement of Jorge Mateo.

Mateo, who missed nearly the entire second half of the season after colliding with shortstop Gunnar Henderson in Miami in late July, had Tommy John surgery a month later.

Along with Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías, who also missed significant time, Mateo’s injury was one that hurt the Orioles more than many thought, Elias believes.

“Jorge Mateo, I think he was an underrated absence for us in the second half,” Elias said. “He had a reconstructive elbow surgery. Whether he’s 100 percent full-go on the first day of spring training is still TBD, but suffice to say, he’s going to have a very full, if not 162 games, something close to that season. He’s really somebody that we’re able to plan around fully more or less in 2025, and that hasn’t changed.”

Before Elias’ video conference, there was thought that the Orioles would either attempt to trade Mateo before the November 22nd deadline for tendering contracts, or not offer him one at all.

The Orioles did offer Mateo a contract. They also offered one to Urías, which was expected, after his strong performance in the second half. They also reached a $1 million settlement with corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who was a late August pickup off waivers from Miami. Rivera probably wouldn’t have been claimed if Mateo and Westburg had been healthy.

With Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn at first base, the Orioles have a glut of infielders. Henderson will play shortstop. Westburg will probably again shuttle between second and third. Urías can play each of the four infield positions. Jackson Holliday will play second base.

If those six infielders are on the Opening Day roster, where does Mateo fit in? And, will he be fully recovered from his Tommy John surgery by then?

The Orioles also might need to find a place for Coby Mayo, and Rivera remains in the picture, too.

Mateo was once a big-time prospect for the New York Yankees and was traded to Oakland in 2017 in the deal that brought Sonny Gray to the Bronx. In June 2020, the Athletics sent him to San Diego, and after 79 games over two years, the Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Padres in August 2021.

The Orioles that Mateo came to bear no resemblance to the current team. In his second at-bat in his first game with the Orioles, Mateo showed off his speed with an exciting triple.

That game was the Orioles’ third straight loss in what would turn out to be a 19-game skid, the second longest in team history. Only six other players — Mountcastle, Urías, Cedric Mullins, Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells — remain from a team that lost 110 games.

Mateo, who played second base, shortstop, third base, left and right field, hit .280 in 32 games. His season ended in mid-September with a lumbar injury.

In 2022, Mateo played a spectacular shortstop for the Orioles, who won 31 more games than the year before. He had a 2.4 Defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement), and there was disappointment when he wasn’t named a Gold Glove finalist.

Mateo’s offense wasn’t spectacular as he hit .221, though he led the American League with 35 steals.

In 2023, Mateo had an excellent start, hitting six home runs, driving in 17 runs and hitting .347 through April. He also stole 10 bases in 11 tries, but things went south after that; he finished with a .217 average. His only home run was an inside-the-parker in Oakland in August, and Mateo lost playing time at short to Henderson. For the season, Mateo stole 32 of 37 bases.

In 2024, with Henderson at shortstop fulltime, Mateo started 52 times at second base and only three times at short. He had two starts in center field.

Mateo’s defensive WAR at second was just 0.1, and he hit .229 with only 10 walks contributing to a .267 on-base percentage, the same OBP he had in 2022 and 2023. He stole 13 of 15 bases.

Other than Mullins (32 steals) and Henderson (21), the Orioles don’t have many threats to steal, and their 98 steals were tied for 18th in baseball.

Perhaps the Orioles are going to give Mateo more playing time in the outfield or maybe there’s a trade coming to allow him to play more.

Elias seems enamored of Mateo’s speed and seems determined to find a significant role for him on the 2025 Orioles.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.