Would Orioles cut ties with Tyler O’Neill in 2026? | MAILBAG

Question: I’d love to see Heston Kjerstad get another serious look, but with the addition of Taylor Ward and the emergence of Dylan Beavers and possibly Jeremiah Jackson, it’s already a crowded outfield. My question is this: Do you think there is any chance the O’s will cut bait with Tyler O’Neill this year? From: Ken Holsopple

Answer: Ken, besides those you’ve mentioned, there’s also Colton Cowser and Leody Taveras, whom the Orioles signed in November.

Tyler O’Neill has two years and $33 million remaining on his contract, and they’d like to get some return on that investment.

Beavers and Cowser are left-handed hitters. Taveras is a switch-hitter. Samuel Basallo, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday all hit left-handed. Enrique Bradfield Jr., who’s not going to make the team out of spring training, also is a left-handed hitter.

The Orioles wanted to get more right-handed hitters so they wouldn’t be as vulnerable against left-handed pitchers.

They did that with the acquisition of Ward and first baseman Pete Alonso, and they’re hoping they can get some production out of O’Neill. Perhaps he hits well enough so that he becomes a trade chip later in the season, but I can’t see them dropping him early in the season if things don’t work out.

Kjerstad needs to have a healthy and productive spring training and most likely will have to return to Norfolk and show that he can be healthy and productive there before the Orioles have a place for him.

If the Orioles only have Jackson and Ward as productive right-handed hitting outfielders, that’s not enough. An injury-free O’Neill could help them.

Look at his 2024 record: He hit .313 with a 1.179 OPS against left-handers. If he could come close to that, that would be a big help.

For the moment, other than Jhonkensy Noel, who’s coming to camp on a minor league contract, they don’t have any other right-handed hitting outfielders in the high minor leagues, so O’Neill will get plenty of opportunities.

Question: I’d like to see Jackson Holliday play center field during spring training. What do you think? From: Rob Schroeder

Answer: Rob, the Orioles have Colton Cowser and Leody Taveras as center ielders. They also have Reed Trimble on the 40-man roster. Dylan Beavers has played center in the minors but said at the Caravan on Friday that center field hasn’t been discussed with him.

Both Tyler O’Neill and Taylor Ward have some experience in center in case of an emergency.

The Orioles aren’t going to move Jackson Holliday to center field. Who would play second base?

They’ve invested two years in converting him to a second baseman, and he’s shown improvement and will get better in 2026.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.