Some items remaining on Orioles' calendar

January has the potential to be a busy month for the Orioles based on some important dates and roster business that needs completion.

The general managers and Winter Meetings are over. Players eligible for qualifying offers already decided whether to accept or decline, with Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander choosing the latter and setting up the Orioles to receive compensatory draft picks.

The non-tender deadline also passed, with the Orioles sending reliever Jacob Webb into free agency. He signed with the Rangers.

Corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera is the only arbitration-eligible player who signed a 2025 contract, agreeing to $1 million to avoid a hearing. Eleven Orioles remain unsigned – pitchers Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, Trevor Rogers, Keegan Akin and Gregory Soto, catcher Adley Rutschman, infielders Ryan Mountcastle, Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías, and outfielder Cedric Mullins - and salary figures will be exchanged Thursday night unless deals are struck.

These players remain with the Orioles, so it’s only about setting salaries. Hearings will be held between Jan. 27-Feb. 14.

Webb ($1 million) and outfielder Austin Hays ($6.3 million) won their hearings in February. Hays is a free agent after the Orioles traded him to the Phillies.

Left-hander Cionel Pérez didn’t have to go through this process because the Orioles picked up his $2.2 million option. Pitchers Matt Bowman and Burch Smith elected free agency rather than outright assignments. Bowman signed a minor league contract to stay in the organization.

The international signing period begins on Jan. 15 and the Orioles have $6,908,600 in their bonus pool. The expectation is that around a dozen players will be signed. Give or take.

The Orioles still haven’t shared the date when pitchers and catchers report to spring training, but bank on the second week in February. They were required to be in Sarasota last year on Feb. 14.

The first exhibition game is Feb. 22 against the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium, one of the jewels among spring training complexes. The Orioles travel to Clearwater the following day to play the Phillies, with media treated to the best lunch in the Grapefruit League. The occasional cheesesteak also finds its way into the press box, but none of us remember to save room. Just gotta power through it.

The second annual Spring Breakout game is March 15 against the Yankees in Sarasota. Orioles' prospects played Pirates prospects last year in Bradenton, which gave us Paul Skenes versus Jackson Holliday. Holliday struck out during a six-pitch at-bat that featured three pitches clocked at 100 mph or higher.

“I think he was probably throwing like 110. That’s what it looked like,” Holliday quipped. “Brought out a cutter. I got to see all of them this time. It’s a fun at-bat. I mean, good pitches get hitters out sometimes.”

None of this happens before the Orioles announce their non-roster invitees to camp. Twenty players made the list last winter, heading by Holliday and catcher Samuel Basallo. Holliday is on the 40-man roster. Basallo will be an invite again.

Also brought to camp were infielders Coby Mayo and Connor Norby and top pitching prospects Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott and Justin Armbruester. Mayo, Povich and McDermott are on the 40-man roster and automatically get a locker in the major league clubhouse. Norby was traded to the Marlins.

Daniel Johnson was the only non-roster outfielder in camp. He’s a free agent after the Orioles outrighted him.

Enrique Bradfield Jr., the Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2023, should be at the complex this spring. Dylan Beavers and Jud Fabian also could receive invites.

Too soon for Vance Honeycutt? The Orioles selected him in the first round in 2024 and he’s the No. 3 prospect in the organization.

We’re also waiting for more details, including participants and locations, on the Birdland Caravan that runs from Jan. 30-Feb. 1.

Don’t worry about a potential conflict with the Ravens if they make a deep playoff run. The conference championships are played Jan. 26 and the Super Bowl is Feb. 9.