Jorge Mateo

Mateo was a fantasy darling in 2022 when he hit 13 home runs and led the American League in steals with 35. Predictably, his role with the Orioles has diminished over the past two years as the team has reopened its competitive window. His 2024 season was cut short by an elbow injury which required UCL reconstruction surgery in August, and it's possible he's not ready for the start of spring training. Mateo is a good player, but simply put, he is not the type of player that clears 500 plate appearances on a contender. The 29-year-old has a .270 OBP over parts of five major-league seasons. Perhaps a move to another rebuilding club lead to a volume-driven resurgence, but in his current situation Mateo has limited appeal. Read Past Outlooks