Orioles should not trade Gunnar Henderson | MAILBAG

Question: Any thoughts on what is plaguing Gunnar Henderson? Is he trying too hard and too intense? Is he on information overload? Can this be corrected with coaching? Does he need to take a break? Is he frustrated with the team’s losing record this year?

Is it time to trade him while he has value and before he becomes a free agent in 2028?  Does he need a change in position?

Finally, in your opinion, is his situation being handled correctly by the ballclub? From: Edward Cuneo

Answer: Ed, there’s a lot to unpack in your questions. I can’t answer them all because I don’t know the answers to some of them, but I know the answers to others.

Most important, the Orioles should not trade Gunnar Henderson. He has the potential to be one of the best players in baseball and has been at times.

I sometimes think Gunnar tries to play “hero ball,” trying to make up for what the rest of the team doesn’t’ do, so, yes, I think he’s often trying too hard.

I don’t think a break would help him, and I think he probably is very frustrated with how the team is playing.

I think he’s the best shortstop on the team and shouldn’t change positions. While other teams would clamor for him, trading Henderson would weaken the Orioles in the short run and the long run since prospects, even good ones, are unlikely to replace his production over the next few years.

Question. Can you give an update on how the players traded for Shane Baz are doing?  Also, 75 games in, do you have an evaluation of Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward? From: Jeffrey Tabak

Answer: Jeffrey, the Orioles traded catcher Caden Bodine, pitcher Michael Forret and outfielders Austin Overn and Slater de Brun for Baz.

Entering Wednesday’s games, Bodine was hitting a combined .352 with a .969 OPS for Single-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green with eight home runs and 48 RBIs.

Forret was a combined 6-0 with a 2.80 ERA in 12 starts for Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham.

Overn, who’s on the 7-day injured list, is hitting .309 with a .908 OPS with seven homers and 19 RBIs for Montgomery. de Brun is on the 60-day injured list and has yet to play this season.

Rodriguez is on the 15-day injured list with a lower back injury. He was 2-2 with an 8.06 ERA in six starts for the Angels. My evaluation is that Taylor Ward is producing more for the Orioles than Rodriguez would have.

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.