Tyler O’Neill’s status as the first player signed to a multi-year contract since Mike Elias’ hiring as executive vice president/general manager in November 2018 comes with a caveat attached to it.

O’Neill can opt out of his three-year, $49.5 million deal after the 2025 season. He can dive back into free agency and search for a more lucrative offer or fulfill the entirety of his agreement.

The Orioles can get a year from O’Neill as the replacement for free agent Anthony Santander, with power, on-base ability and upgraded defensive at multiple outfield positions with his two Gold Gloves in St. Louis, and pivot again in the offseason – whether staying in-house or working the free agent and trade markets. They can plan on having him for three seasons to go with Colton Cowser and eventually 2023 first-round pick Enrique Bradfield Jr.

If O’Neill decides to opt out, the Orioles are allowed to make him a qualifying offer and, if declined, receive a compensatory draft pick. They could get something back beyond his production for one season.

Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander were among the dozen players to decline the $21.05 million. Burnes signed with the Diamondbacks for six years and $210 million, giving the Orioles the 30^th-overall selection in the draft. They already owned the 19^th and will net another if Santander signs for north of $50 million.

Two events today made it clear that the Orioles were preparing for a roster move.

Reliever Burch Smith walked to the bullpen this afternoon with pitching coach Drew French, assistant Mitch Plassmeyer and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel. He completed a session and returned to the clubhouse, exiting it after the media arrived at 3:30 p.m.

Left-hander Danny Coulombe returned to the club after three rehab appearances with Triple-A Norfolk, stopping by his locker multiple times and offering a smile to reporters as he passed. He wasn't able to speak about his status until it became official.

Manager Brandon Hyde offered confirmation during his session, saying that Coulombe was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and that Smith would go on the 15-day IL with a right adductor/groin strain.

Coulombe hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since June 8. He underwent surgery later that month to remove bone chips from his left elbow, robbing them of a high-leverage reliever with a 2.42 ERA and 0.615 WHIP in 29 appearances.

Orioles left-hander Danny Coulombe is reinstated from the injured list and available to pitch tonight. Burch Smith goes on the IL with a right adductor/groin strain.

Coulombe is returning from June surgery to remove bone chips in his left elbow.

Smith threw in the bullpen earlier today with head athletic trainer Brian Ebel watching him.

The Orioles lost two of three games to the Tigers last weekend at Comerica Park. They meet again beginning tonight at Camden Yards, but there’s more at stake than revenge.

Yesterday’s 5-3 win over the Giants brought the Orioles within four games of the first-place Yankees with nine more to play. They lead the Royals by three for the home wild card.

The latest road trip began last night at Dodger Stadium, where the World Series memories for the franchise are much nicer than in Queens. The Orioles are down to two after they return next week from Denver, playing three games in Boston and Detroit and three in New York and Minnesota.

The roster is going to change multiple times to uphold the 2024 theme. It’s much too late for stability. Don't even think it.

The injured list should get a little bit lighter. An extra player and position player can be added on Sept. 1.

In the meantime, let’s check out some more lingering questions.

* How long is the leash on Burch Smith?

A team has only so many dramatic comebacks in the bank. Expecting three in a row seems a bit unreasonable, a tall order that can’t always be scaled. Maybe spread them out a little.

Make a baseball life a little easier while fighting to get back into first place.

Dean Kremer ran into two-out trouble in the fourth inning tonight, surrendering three runs and receiving no offensive support except for a walk. No hits or rallies. Nothing unusual for this team.

Ramón Urías tied the game in the fifth inning with a three-run homer, the uprising a tad earlier than usual, but Alex Bregman and Yanier Diaz went back-to-back on consecutive Burch Smith pitches in the seventh in the Astros’ 6-3 victory over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 21,654 at Camden Yards that split the series.

The heroics ran out for the Orioles, who were held to a season-low two hits and are 76-56.

NEW YORK – Players changed into their home white uniforms last week at Camden Yards and filed out of the clubhouse and onto the outfield grass for the annual team photo. Closer Félix Bautista was there despite the elbow surgery that cost him the entire season. Danny Coulombe joked with Jordan Westburg, wondering if they’d be asked to leave.  

An agreement was reached.

“If you’re going, then I’m going.”

You’ve gotta laugh to keep your pennant hopes from dying.

The roster has undergone so many dramatic changes that some players might be hard to identify without a scorecard or elite facial recognition skills.

The Orioles honored Corbin Burnes on Friday with his own bobblehead night. He appreciated the gesture and took one home.

It just wasn’t anything new to him.

Teams have come up with the idea to doll up Burnes pretty much at every level after Little League.

“I’ve had a bunch of bobbleheads,” he said. “I had two or three in Milwaukee, I’ve had a couple in the minor leagues. My college (St. Mary’s of California) did one this year at the basketball game they had. I have quite a few Corbin Burnes bobbleheads in the office.”

Burnes isn’t a rabid collector, one hint being that he isn’t exactly sure of the number while pitching for the Brewers.

An adjustment to the Orioles’ bullpen seemed inevitable.

The move came early this afternoon.

Dillon Tate was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and right-handed reliever Burch Smith had his contract selected from the Tides.

Smith will wear No. 40. Tate will try to fix whatever’s wrong.

Tate has made three appearances this month and given up runs in each game – four over two innings against the Athletics and two over two innings in back-to-back outings against the Cubs. He surrendered 11 hits. His ERA has climbed from 3.38 to 4.59.

The Orioles announced two more minor league signings today, agreeing to terms with infielder Niko Goodrum and right-hander Burch Smith.

Goodrum, 32, appeared in nine games with the Rays and four with the Angels this season and went 3-for-29 with 10 strikeouts. The Pirates selected him on waivers June 10 and he was granted his release a week later.

In parts of seven major league seasons, Goodrum has batted .224/.297/.383 with 76 doubles, 11 triples, 42 home runs and 152 RBIs in 415 games and also played every infield and outfield position. He broke into the majors with the Twins in 2017, played for the Tigers from 2018-21 and appeared in 15 games with the Astros in 2022.

Goodrum spent 2023 between Triple-A Worcester in the Red Sox’s system and with Lotte in the Korea Baseball Organization.

Smith, 34, made 25 relief appearances with the Marlins this year and posted a 4.25 ERA and 1.618 WHIP in 29 2/3 innings. He pitched in Japan in 2022 and Korea in 2023.