On O's podcast, Elias on acquisition of Félix Hernández

He may have ultimately opted out of the 2020 big league season, but the Orioles would certainly take a repeat of Félix Hernández's spring training performance from last year when the right-hander takes the mound in Sarasota over the next few weeks.

Signed by the club this week to a minor league deal that will pay him $1 million if he's in the majors, Hernández recorded a 1.98 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings. He was well on his way to wrapping up a spot in the Atlanta Braves rotation when he decided to bypass the season, opting out due to concerns about COVID-19.

He started his spring last Feb. 22 in North Port, Fla., against the Orioles and threw two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts. He struck out Anthony Santander swinging in the first and Mason Williams in the second.

O's executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias talked about "King Félix" on the Orioles' "Inside the Yard" podcast Thursday night with hosts Geoff Arnold and Brett Hollander.

"I think we're all looking forward to having him in camp," Elias said on the show. "I think it's a good balance to have with some of the younger pitchers on our staff now, especially after the Alex Cobb trade, although we had been talking with Félix Hernández and had that in motion well before the trade. We've got a lot of young pitchers and we wanted to get a veteran presence with them.

"Félix Hernández was very interested in pitching for us. I got to see him with the Braves last spring training. We faced him and our staff got to see him and he looked really good. I think he really missed competing and playing. He really feels like he's got more to do, even though he's got a Hall of Fame resume right now. He feels like he has something to prove and is excited to come mentor a young staff. We'll bring him in to see what he's got.

"He's (got) a great energy and a great personality, and just having him around will be a boost. We're going to be on the lookout for more (pitchers). There are a lot of free agents left on the market and we're still working on that."

Among four pitchers the club added to the 40-man roster in November were young starting pitching candidates Zac Lowther, Alexander Wells and Michael Baumann. Elias talked about this trio on the podcast.

"They very well could pitch in Camden Yards this year," Elias said. "We're going to be prepared and hoping for them as options as we go through the season. They've all three had tremendous success in the minor leagues. Lowther and Wells are in the crafty lefty mold while Mike Baumann is a power pitcher - I mean this guy's got some huge stuff.

"Mike ended his alternate site experience with a flexor strain. He's fully rehabbed from that but we're not going to push him out at the beginning of spring training and have him go at 100 percent knowing he's coming off an injury and some missed time. Probably be pretty conservative with him at the beginning of spring. But I do think, if he pitches the way he is capable, he'll become a big league option before the end of this year. That's our hope. We are excited about the number of starting pitching prospects starting to get near (the majors)."

These three pitchers have all won or shared the O's Jim Palmer Award as the club's Minor League Pitcher of the Year over the last few seasons. Wells was the 2017 winner after a season when he walked just 10 batters in 140 innings for Single-A Delmarva. Lowther shared the 2018 award with fellow lefty Keegan Akin. Baumann and Grayson Rodriguez were co-winners for the 2019 season.

Saying goodbye to a friend: Thanks to reader and commentor Mossy Mac for passing on the sad news in the comments section here yesterday that a valued member of our O's blog family has passed away. On Jan. 10, Eddy Riggs, who went by "Eddy Let's play 2" on the blog, died of complications from pneumonia. He was 65.

Born in the Essex-Dundalk area, Eddy was a real Baltimore guy who loved the sports teams in our area, his wife Ellen told me Friday afternoon.

"He loved the Ravens, but the Orioles were his No. 1," Ellen Riggs told me. "Baseball was his No. 1 go to and he played baseball earlier in his life. He was very family oriented and loved his daughter and grandkids (he had nine!). But he enjoyed spending time on the computer," which of course included time spent here talking with other fans about his beloved Orioles.

He was retired in recent years and spent some time helping Ellen run a day-care facility for kids. We'll miss Eddy's contributions here but were lucky to say he passed our way. RIP, friend.

If you want to send a note or card to Eddy's wife Ellen, send them to 1839 Darrich Road, Baltimore, Md. 21234.

In the picture posted here, Mac is on the left and Eddy on the right.