Question: Do you think Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg or Gunnar Henderson would be traded? Since the club traded Adley Rutschman, I think that the everyone is available. From: Rick Potlock
Answer: Rick, I don’t think the Rutschman trade indicates that everyone is available, but I think it shows that Mike Elias isn’t reluctant to trade high draft picks.
Holliday, Westburg and Henderson were high draft picks, but I don’t think any of them will be traded this offseason.
Westburg didn’t play at all in 2026 due to Tommy John surgery, and his value would be much lower than it would be had he played.
I believe Holliday is going to have a much better year in 2027 than he did this season because he’ll be healthier, and he still has incredible potential and won’t turn 23 until December.
After a tough season in 2026, Henderson’s value would be much lower than it would have been a year ago, but I think the Orioles want to take another shot at contending with him.
If the Orioles wanted to deal him now, and I don’t think they do, they’d have many interested teams. I think they’ll see how 2027 starts, and if they’re not in contention at the trade deadline, then perhaps they’ll consider trading him as they did Rutschman.
Question: Hi, Rich. Longtime reader, first-time questioner.
Given ABS tracks every pitch please tell me that MLB is using it to calculate the accuracy of all umpires’ ball/strike calls, not just the calls that are challenged, and that this accuracy rate is used as one criterion for evaluating which umpires to keep, and which to send back to remedial umpire school.
<Insert standard disclaimer here that most umpires are remarkably accurate in their ball/strike calls.>
But some are not, and were it not for the 2-challenge limit a lot more of their calls would be overturned. From: Steve Palmen
Answer: Steve, I’ve been waiting for someone to use that talk show line, and you’re the winner.
Not only do the major leagues track all umpires’ ball/strike calls, they’ve been doing it for a number of years.
They don’t release the rankings, but they’re used to help assign umpires to postseason games. You can assume that the umpires for the World Series are among the highest-rated for accuracy.
Umpires with lower ratings aren’t sent back to “remedial umpire school,” but they’re not rewarded with prestigious and lucrative postseason assignments.
Seven umpires retired after this season, and most were among the lowest-rated ball/strike callers.
Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: [email protected]. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.