Connor Norby

The two things working against Norby for 2024 are his middling defense at second base and in left field and Baltimore's impressive depth. If he were on a team like the White Sox, he could be ticketed for everyday work at second base to start the season and he might even climb to the first or second spot in the lineup. He is a professional hitter and enters his age-23/24 season with a career .295/.362/.498 slash line, 25 home runs, 10 steals and a 21 percent strikeout rate in 147 games at Triple-A. Norby bats right-handed and Oriole Park at Camden Yards had the second-worst overall 2023 Statcast park factor for right-handed batters and was third-worst for righty homers, so the depth chart isn't the only reason he could benefit from a trade. Norby has average speed and could chip in a handful of steals if he is playing every day.

Norby, the 41st overall pick in 2021, is pretty good at everything that matters in fantasy and is nearing his big-league debut. His best tool is his hit tool and his worst tool is his fielding at second base, but he's good enough to play there everyday if his bat is as good as expected. Norby got better luck on balls in play (.322 BABIP vs. .277 BABIP) after a promotion from High-A to Double-A and he was generally just a better hitter across the board (better approach, more power) as the season progressed. He hit .303/.382/.588 with 21 home runs, 10 steals a 19.9 K% and a 10.4 BB% in 71 games from July 1 on at Double-A and Triple-A. Norby was once a plus runner, but he's now more of a 50- or 55-grade runner who could steal double-digit bases over a full season. There are some other candidates for middle-infield work in the short term (Ramon Urias, Jordan Westburg, Joey Ortiz), and if the Orioles stick with Jorge Mateo, that would only leave second base open. However, Norby is arguably the best pure hitter long term of Baltimore's non-Gunnar Henderson infielders.