Because You Asked - Here We Go Again

The weekend always seems like an opportune time to dump the contents of the mailbag, and chances to do it are running out in 2024.

You ask and I answer, which leads us to the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

I thought about editing, but it appealed to me as much as coal in my stocking or trying to hit Gerrit Cole.

Also, my mailbag comes down your chimney with a bag of presents and your mailbag sweeps it.

Do you think Tyler O'Neill will avoid the injured list for the entire season?
O’Neill has landed on it 14 times in his career, including three in 2024. But I’d have trouble predicting a full season out of any player. You never know when an injury is gonna strike. There’s luck involved, too. “I think the injuries that he has had have been minor,” executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias told the media at the Winter Meetings. “They’re things that have blown over. We’re hoping we can keep him healthy. We’ll take good care of him. We’ll have DH at-bats available for him. … He’s a young guy and I think he’s had bad luck in some regards with some injuries.”

Who has signed better players this winter, the Orioles or the Yakult Swallows?
The Orioles get the dub. Duh!

Do you get the sense the O’s are done looking for outfielders with the O’Neil signing? Is there any chance they go after Teoscar Hernández, Tony Taters or even trade for Kyle Tucker?
Elias indicated at the Winter meetings that he could add another outfielder, but I don’t know where he’d fit unless the Orioles carry fewer than seven infielders. A depth-type move could be made to pad the Triple-A roster. I don’t see anyone the caliber of those three being pursued.

Not a mailbag question, but how are you feeling?
At the risk of jinxing it, I’m feeling much better. Thanks. I’ve turned a corner. A surgeon at Sinai Hospital told me Monday that I’ve “graduated.” I’m cleared to drive and to work out as long as I don’t expand my chest that’s wired shut. So, no bench presses. Curls for days, but gotta keep those elbows tucked in. I just need to listen to my body because it’ll let me know if I should slow down. Also, I sneezed yesterday and reached a level of pain that I don’t want to revisit. I made a sound similar to what you’d hear after backing your SUV over a cat. I still have tears in my eyes.

Castillo, Cease, Manaea, or Burnes? Who do you see coming to the Orioles?
I’d rank Burnes fourth on that list for money reasons. Manaea would cost a draft pick. I’ve been saying that a trade seems like the more likely solution, which puts Castillo, Cease and others in play, but there are a handful of mid-to-back rotation guys who are unsigned. The Orioles could forget trying for a No. 1 starter and strengthen the area behind Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin.

How would you judge the situation at second base going into spring training? Isn't it clear to everyone that right now (assuming he makes a full recovery), Jorge Mateo is much better than Jackson Holliday both offensively and defensively? How can the O's justify starting Holliday and sitting Mateo?
Holliday was drafted one/one and was the No. 1 prospect in baseball. His ceiling is higher. He’s only 20. Mateo has hit .221, .217 and .229 the last three seasons, with an identical .267 on-base percentage. That’s weird. Much better offensively? Let’s get a larger sample size from Holliday before judging him. Mateo will get some starts but the Orioles envision him backing up at multiple positions and playing the outfield as an extra right-handed bat.

What do you want for Christmas? And please don't say "your mom"
I’d never! World peace, good health and a handle of Tito’s vodka. Not necessarily in that order.

Any hot rumors on where they might move the press box after they turn it into an upscale beer hall and gambling den?
We’re expecting the press box to move up the left field line. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America is trying to get a rule passed that all press boxes must be located between first and third base. Can’t go any further toward the foul poles. I’d settle for air conditioning and heat.

Any reason why no coaches have been hired over the age of 40?
New bench coach Robinson Chirinos is 40 years and 192 days. That’s over. I can’t say that the Orioles purposely are targeting younger coaches, but they tend to be more versed in analytics and the type of instruction that the organization preaches. There are exceptions, of course. Buck Britton is a really good fit as a major league coach, and some teams were checking whether he’d become available after his Triple-A contract expired on Oct. 31.

What is the minimum number of sources - anonymous or otherwise - you require before you're comfortable publishing an article?
It depends on the subject. If it’s someone close to the situation with direct knowledge who’s passing along information, like a signing or hiring for instance, that’s fine. I only needed one person to share information on coaching hires. Otherwise, it’s recommended that you get multiple trusted sources for a bigger story. I learned that the hard way earlier in my career. Why do you ask?

You're the one who put out that the Orioles were going to spend more, but are surprised when people expect that?
To clarify, they are spending more - they gave a backup catcher $8.5 million and handed out the first multi-year contract under Elias – but I never predicted a big signing at the Winter Meetings or that they’d outbid the Yankees and Dodgers for top free agents. That’s what I meant. Corbin Burnes was acquired on Feb. 1. It didn’t happen in Nashville. And the Orioles aren’t moving there. I know you didn’t ask but it’s worth repeating.

Why did you think Max Fried never seemed like a realistic target? If Fried was never a realistic target, then the conversation about re-signing Corbin Burnes is all nonsense.
I haven’t expected a bank-breaking free-agent signing but gladly will admit that I was wrong if it happens. I don’t recall the Orioles being linked much to Fried but they maintained interest in re-signing Burnes. They know him. He’s a workhorse and an ace. But he’s also in line to top Fried’s eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees.

How does the Orioles' rotation stack up against the rest of the AL East as all the teams are currently constructed?
The Yankees have Fried, Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, plus Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt. Everyone else ranks below them. The Red Sox traded for Garrett Crochet. The Blue Jays have Kevin Gausman, an All-Star in 2023 who slipped a little this year but registered a 3.83 ERA in 31 starts, and they also can trot out José Berríos and Chris Bassitt. The Rays have Zack Littell, Ryan Pepiot and Taj Bradley, and two-time All-Star Shane McClanahan is returning from Tommy John surgery. The Orioles’ trio of Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer puts them in the mix, but they need at least one more starter.

Is Félix Bautista on track for the season?
Yes, but the Orioles will be careful with him early. They don’t intend to use him exactly as they did prior to his surgery. They’ll need convincing that he’s able to handle the same workload.

What is it that you can’t do when you’re making $50 million per year that you can do when you’re making $51 million per year?
You can’t stop clipping coupons or buying groceries at the Dollar Store.

Are you looking forward to a Jack Flaherty reunion? Or was that a long time ago?
Good one. Flaherty would fill a need in the middle of the rotation if the Orioles got the Tigers/Dodgers version. Not their 1.0 version.

Would the Orioles' sense of urgency best be correlated to the speed of a slug or a caterpillar? It’s definitely not a Snell.
Also a good one. I see what you did there. They’re trying to get deals done but need cooperation from the other side. It takes two, baby. They understand the urgency with starters flying off the board but also understand that negotiations continue past the Winter Meetings. They might have to venture outside their comfort zone with payroll or the surrendering of prospects.

Who's the Orioles head athletic trainer?
Brian Ebel’s replacement hasn’t been announced. Maybe before the end of the month. Most definitely before spring training.

With the acquisition of O'Neill, what is the plan with Heston Kjerstad next year?
It won’t be a straight platoon but Kjerstad could get plenty of at-bats against right-handers, whether he’s in the outfield or at designated hitter. The Orioles say there’s an opportunity for him. It's certainly time.

How many times since your surgery have you clutched your chest, looked up at the sky, and said, "Elizabeth! I'm comin' to join you!"
You big dummy! (Does anyone besides us get the reference?)

Is it a big deal that the Orioles lost seven minor leagues in the Rule 5 draft?
It indicates how highly other teams rate the farm system. Six of those players were selected in the Triple-A phase. Is that some sort of record? I don’t remember it happening since I’ve covered the Winter Meetings. I'm predicting that Tyler Burch pitches in the majors next year.

Assuming he doesn't return, is Anthony Santander an O's Hall of Famer for you?
I’d put him ahead of a few guys who are in it. They shall remain nameless. You could describe Santander as a “fringe” Hall of Famer. All of those home runs the past few seasons and the fact that he's one of the most popular players to wear the uniform strengthens his candidacy, but he ranks 13^th in Orioles history in homers. His 11.1 WAR doesn’t bowl you over. Let’s see how long he stays on the ballot.

Heard any rumors about Coby Mayo being on the trading block? And if so, any thoughts about how much interest there is? It's really hard to see him even making the 13 position players with the current roster mix, seems like sort of a waste to place him in Norfolk until someone gets hurt.
I don’t think the Orioles are actively shopping him. I don’t know whether he’s still untouchable. There’s no doubt that other teams would target him in a trade. I think the more likely outcome, and this is just an opinion, is that he’s optioned in camp and waits for a spot to open. He’ll be in the majors next year at some point. But like you, I don’t know where there’s room on the Opening Day 26-man roster unless the Orioles trade a player blocking him.

Regardless of what has been said, do you see O’Neill as closer to a platoon guy or a regular starter?
Paul O’Neill is retired.

Tyler, you horse’s a …
From everything reported at the Winter Meetings, O’Neill is going to play more than a platoon guy. He won’t get into 162 games, but he’s gonna be a regular as long as he’s healthy and hitting.

Given the history of the modern era with prominent walls like Mikhail Gorbachev’s fall of the Berlin Wall, and most recently Kamala Harris’s collapse of the Blue Wall in her bid for the White House, did Mike Elias read the writing on the wall and cement his Oriole destiny by conceding Walltimore back to the hitters of Camden Yards?
That’s a lot to process. I’m making an exception and allowing the use of “Walltimore” here while still hoping that it goes the way of the Dodo bird. Nails on a chalkboard sound like Pavarotti compared to that. Also, this is probably a good place to stop.

When will the free agent/trade rumors Cease? When the yule log Burnes? Or when Jesús comes back?
This is definitely a good place to stop.