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Baltimore Orioles: What’s on their 2022 post-lockout to-do list

By Eric Treuden

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 29: The locked gates before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The game was closed to the public due to the social unrest in Baltimore. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 29: The locked gates before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The game was closed to the public due to the social unrest in Baltimore. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JUNE 25: The 2019 top overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on before the Orioles play the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JUNE 25: The 2019 top overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on before the Orioles play the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

The Baltimore Orioles need to bring in a veteran stopgap at catcher until Adley Rutschman is ready

The Orioles have uber-prospect Adley Rutschman chomping at the bit to join the big league squad and take the baseball world by force. In 2021, splitting his time between the Orioles’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, Rutschman lit up minor league pitching and showed that the Orioles won’t be able to keep him down for very long in the upcoming campaign.

Looking through the Orioles’ 40-man roster, there is not a single catcher to be found. FanGraphs’ Roster Resource has Brett Cumberland and Cody Roberts listed as the starter and backup for 2022 respectively, but it is highly unlikely that one or even both of them make the Opening Day roster.

There are very few players of note left in the free agent pool whose primary position is catcher. Amongst the remaining notable names who could potentially join the O’s are Robinson Chirinos, Austin Romine, and Kurt Suzuki.

Of that trio, Chirinos and Suzuki both have experience in the playoffs (not that they would see the postseason in Baltimore) so you know they have what it takes to play on the big stage. Kurt Suzuki is a well-respected catcher who has been around the league forever and could serve this Orioles team well as a veteran stopgap for Rutschman and ultimately end up backing him up if all goes according to plan for the 2022 Baltimore Orioles.

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