Because You Asked - Thunderbolts*

The weather is warming this week, which whets the appetite for spring training.

Temperatures might touch 40 today. Be sure to lather on the sunscreen.

There might be some deep burns in today’s mailbag. Only one way to find out.

You ask, I answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original. And keep in mind that my mailbag catches two-point conversion passes and your mailbag ... well, you know.

Kyle Bradish ETA?
Any relation to Kyle Bradish CPA? The second half of the season. That’s as far as I can narrow it down. Sorry. Maybe in August? We need to keep tracking his recovery and eventual rehab assignment.

Will Félix Bautista be 100 percent ready for spring training and Opening Day?
Definitely for spring training as long as he hasn’t suffered any setbacks. We can assume Opening Day, as well, but he first must get through camp.  

What happened to Nick Anderson, the reliever that the Orioles signed late in the season?
He’s recovered from an Achilles injury and remains on the free agent market. He had his pro day Thursday and multiple teams are considering a one-year major league deal. Just gotta review the medicals. I’m told that Anderson spent the offseason with a pitching analyst, refining his mechanics to hone in on fastball metrics and the split change.

Any chance that the Orioles re-sign Nick Anderson?
They didn’t attend his pro day, so it seems unlikely.

How is your recovery going? I am still available to grill you a steak dinner. Have you made plans for travel at spring training?
I’ll downplay my recovery if it gets me a steak. I’m better, thanks. Just working on my lung capacity and trying to get back into workouts. I still can’t expand my chest, so bench presses are out. Maybe in February. I've booked a flight, hotel and car for spring training. Now, about that steak …

Have you heard of any interest from this team in the Dodgers' young pitching such as Gavin Stone or Bobby Miller, as they have an excess of pitching?
I haven’t heard anything but heed the warning. I’m not privy to these conversations. I just know the club has been interested in a top-of-the-rotation starter. Don't know that they'd go after another middle-to-back-end type.

How do you foresee the O's handling Coby Mayo in spring training? Leave him at third? Give him reps at first base? Try him in the corner outfield positions?
The first two. They want to keep trying to develop him at third but have talked about his future perhaps being at first. They don’t seem ready to try him in the outfield. He’s never played it. We'll keep checking whether he starts shagging fly balls.

What exactly is a development coach responsible for?
Development.

This is what makes us already miss Melewski.
That isn’t a question. The development coach assists players in improving their skills in such areas as hitting, fielding, pitching and base running. They also help players with their mental skills.

Do you have any insight upon whether Adley Rutschman or Gunnar Henderson have been offered extensions like Bobby Witt Jr.? I think it would say more about the organization securing those two than signing some overpaid free agent “ace.”
I’d be surprised if an actual offer was made, but the Orioles are open to the idea. They understand the wisdom in locking up a young star. I just don’t think it’s happened yet. If so, it’s really been kept quiet.

There’s been some confusion. But Q stays with the Orioles, right? He’s not a package deal with Anthony Santander?
Qadry Ismail? Now I’m confused.

Dear God. I mean Brandon Quinones.
Here’s a Q tip: Brandon works for the Orioles as team translator and baseball communications assistant. He was on a recent video conference call. It doesn’t appear that he’s following Santander to Toronto, unless the Blue Jays wanna work out a trade.

Seeing that James McCann is still available, do you think that the Orioles jumped the gun with Gary Sánchez or do you think he’s an outright improvement over McCann?
One improvement would be power, though McCann is no lightweight. The Orioles didn’t make any offers to McCann, so they must have decided to move on from him. I’m surprised that he hasn’t signed yet. I know there’s interest from multiple teams.

Chances of a lockout/player strike in two years? I personally think only about 10 percent. Too much money involved on both sides.
There’s always money involved on both sides and it didn’t prevent a lockout the last time that the collective bargaining agreement expired. I have little faith in the sides being agreeable right away, but maybe that’s just my scars talking.

You’ve pointed out that Andrew Kittredge will be the closer when/if Félix Bautista can’t. Is that official? Seranthony Domínguez seemed to close a few times last season. Why not him?
Hold on there, varmint. I didn’t say Kittredge definitely would be the backup closer. I said he can close and he gives the Orioles another option. I’ve written how Domínguez took over for Craig Kimbrel last season. He’s probably first in line behind Bautista, which I suppose makes him second. I’ve also mentioned Yennier Cano as a possibility.  

Given that the Orioles were in on Tanner Scott after signing Kittredge, are they still looking to add to the bullpen or was he a special case?
I’m still not clear whether the Orioles continued to pursue Scott after signing Kittredge. I think it’s still possible that they sign another reliever, though that would make it harder for Albert Suárez to break camp with the club unless he shoves someone out of the rotation.

Are the Orioles putting Tyler O’Neill together with Anthony Santander’s trainer in hopes he’ll improve his health?
Santander found Baltimore native Troy Jones while conducting a search. The team didn’t arrange it. “He started looking at, what can he do to be better as a pro,” Jones told me last season. “He came to Florida and interviewed multiple facilities.” Santander visited a couple places in Miami before connecting with Jones, whose wife, Doris Bumbry, is the niece of former Orioles outfielder Al Bumbry.

Are you able to share the names of some former Orioles who attended Brian Matusz’s memorial service in Phoenix?
I spoke with his dad yesterday. Former pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti were there, which is really cool. Others included Chris Tillman, Matt Wieters, Zack Britton, J.J. Hardy, Brad Brach, Miguel Gonzalez and Caleb Joseph (who spoke). Brady Anderson was supposed to attend with his daughter, but something came up at the last minute. Rich Hill, Matusz’s former coach at USD, was the last speaker. Former teammate and major league pitcher A.J. Griffin and former MASN reporter Jen Royle also spoke. A bunch of former Orioles employees attended, which meant a lot to the family. I heard it was very emotional, as you’d expect. I have a video link to the service and will watch it.

What’s your take on the Orioles’ rotation? Are they done?
I think it’s crowded but the Orioles could trade for another starter. They haven’t shut down. There are matches out there, especially in Seattle, but where have we heard that before? Late deals are common with this team. Must I reference Corbin Burnes again? I promised myself that I’d stop.

What’s the deal with no-see-ums (aka biting midges)? Also, Biting Midges would be a great name for a band or minor league baseball team.
This is probably a good place to stop.

Did you ever find Bugs Bunny attractive when he put on a dress and played a girl bunny?
Yes, though he went a little heavy on the makeup. Rushed me right through puberty. And this is definitely a good place to stop.