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Baltimore Orioles in difficult spot with Trey Mancini

By David Hill

Sep 28, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Trey Mancini (16) scores a run against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Trey Mancini (16) scores a run against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles find themselves in a difficult spot when it comes to Trey Mancini. His impressive return from Stage 3 colon cancer made him one of the heartwarming stories in baseball last season and still managed to perform at an above average level. However, the Orioles are also still in the midst of their ongoing rebuild, and with Mancini a year away from free agency, need to make a decision on his future with the team.

That decision could be made for them. There has not been any progress towards an extension between the Orioles and Mancini, leading to the possibility that he could be traded.

Trading Trey Mancini would send wrong message to Baltimore Orioles

While there are plenty of teams that are looking for help at first and the corner outfield, Mancini would be difficult to put a value on. His .255/.326/.432 batting line in 616 plate appearances, while hitting 21 homers and 33 doubles, is impressive given the context of his medical issues. However, that batting line was worth a 104 OPS+, hardly the type of production one would want from a first baseman or corner outfielder.

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The difficulty in trading Mancini also makes the value of an extension hard to determine. It is reasonable to expect that he will return back to his previous form as he is another year removed from his battle with cancer. But that is not a given – this could be the player that Mancini will be going forward.

There is also the message that would be sent to the locker room. Mancini emerged as a leader and a fan favorite, someone that the team and fanbase can rally around. Even though the rebuild is ongoing and does not appear to have an end in sight, he is someone the fans can point to as a reason to watch and support the team.

From a purely baseball standpoint, it makes sense for the Orioles to see what they can get for Mancini. But his value goes beyond what he produced on the diamond, which is something that the Orioles need to factor in when making such a move. That value may need to be factored into an extension as well.

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The Baltimore Orioles are in a tough spot with Trey Mancini. Unless they can work out an extension, they are in a no-win situation.

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