The Orioles are home for only their second series at Camden Yards. They don't hit the road again until April 22 in D.C., which barely counts.

Hitting the baseball is more important to them. They've scored nine runs in their last four games and six in their last four losses.

The mailbag has avoided any serious tears and mild strains. It helps to dig out some leftovers before the extra weight creates holes in the bottom.

You asked and I answered, and I treated editing the same way that I avoided those jelly-filled chocolates in a Whitman's sampler.

Any Kyle Gibson updates?
Gibson made his first start yesterday with Triple-A Norfolk and threw 47 pitches in 3 1/3 innings. That’s four “ups” for Gibson, who allowed one run and three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The innings and number of pitches were the most important components. He’ll attempt to increase both in his next start, and the Orioles can decide how much longer he needs to stay down there.

Opening Day is getting closer. The Orioles are in Toronto and will work out this afternoon at Rogers Centre. First pitch is right around the corner.

We don’t know the exact composition of the roster and whether it’s really just down to Jorge Mateo vs. Livan Soto for the last position spot and Bryan Baker vs. Matt Bowman for the last bullpen spot.

There are other questions that require more time before they can be answered. For instance:

When will Grayson Rodriguez return to the rotation?

Rodriguez wasn’t available to the local media after his injury was revealed in Sarasota, offering a daily, very polite, “not today, sorry” at his locker. But he appeared again on Foul Territory yesterday and confirmed that he’s throwing a bullpen session in a few days as part of his ramp-up.

The Orioles are chipping away at their camp roster. They've gotten it down to 36 players.

Veteran starter Kyle Gibson was optioned today to minor league camp after the Orioles signed him last week to a one-year deal. He was staying back in Sarasota, and manager Brandon Hyde told the media in D.C. that the ramp-up hopefully will have Gibson ready around May 1.

Catcher Maverick Handley and infielders Vimael Machín, Emmanuel Rivera and Luis Vázquez were reassigned to minor league camp.

None of these moves are unexpected. The Orioles are set behind the plate with Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez, who stayed healthy through camp. Livan Soto appeared to have an edge in the battle to replace injured shortstop Gunnar Henderson unless Jorge Mateo is deemed ready to play on Opening Day.

Mateo remains in Sarasota and is receiving heavy doses of at-bats over the next two days before a decision is made on his availability. He could join the team in Toronto or remain at the complex.

Jordan Lyles did exactly what the Orioles needed him to do in 2022. 

Lyles was an innings eater. He posted every fifth day, making 32 starts and tossing 179.0 innings, averaging close to six innings per outing. The 31-year-old was the only member of Baltimore’s pitching staff to make at least 25 starts, and provided incredibly valuable stability at the top of the rotation. 

Baltimore won 83 games that year, a shocking 31-win improvement from the previous season. Lyles’ consistency and veteran presence played a big part in that turnaround. 

In 2023, Kyle Gibson was tasked with much of the same. Post every fifth day, eat innings and give the bullpen some breathing room. He delivered exactly that. 

Gibson was tied for the American League lead in starts with 33 and tossed 192.0 innings, 12th most in the bigs. He completed five innings of work in 28 of his 33 outings. 

BRADENTON, Fla. – Zach Eflin was happy with his final exhibition start, but he didn’t smile during today’s media scrum until asked about Kyle Gibson.

They were teammates with the Phillies in 2021-22 and are reunited in spring training after the Orioles signed Gibson last night to a one-year deal.

“I was thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Eflin said. “I think everybody in the clubhouse is thrilled. Everybody knows that Kyle Gibson is one of the best people on planet earth, so to be able to have him be a part of this team again is huge. Everybody’s looking forward to it.

“He’s such a role model, mentor in every single aspect of his life. He did great things with this team a couple years ago and I’m excited to be a part of it with him.”

The Orioles will break out one of the oldest rotations in baseball after Gibson completes his spring training.

BRADENTON, Fla. – A running joke developed between veteran pitcher Kyle Gibson and his agent as the winter months passed without a new contract. Free agency was dragging like an infield mat. It’s better to laugh about the situation than to stress.

“The next guy that would sign,” Gibson said this morning, “I’d be like, ‘OK, well, I’ve got to be next.’”

He said it over and over.

Gibson officially came off the board last night by passing his physical with the Orioles and signing a $5.25 million contract with incentives. He’s back with the team that named him the Opening Day starter in 2023, won 101 games and a division title and lauded his performance and leadership – long after he left.

“Everyone that I’ve talked to, I mean, guys were talking about Kyle to me when I first got here,” said Charlie Morton, who signed for $15 million on Jan. 3. “They were like, ‘Oh yeah, Kyle was this guy in the clubhouse. Gibby was one of the best guys I’ve been around. A great teammate.’ And so to see that he’s re-signed here, like those are the kind of guys ...

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles were on the brink of exploding, and in a good way. This wasn’t dissension. It was celebration.

They won 101 games and the division in 2023, stomping the rebuild into submission. The champagne was on ice after the clincher and players were handed goggles in the clubhouse to protect their eyes.

“You don’t need glasses,” veteran pitcher Kyle Gibson shouted. “The burn’s the best part.”

Now that’s leadership.

Free agency appeared to burn Gibson but he’s returning after signing a one-year contract last night for $5.25 million. Injuries dug into the Orioles’ depth. Gibson is one of the remedies. It just won’t be immediate with the need to undergo his own spring training and ramp-up.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The quest for starter depth has caused the Orioles to circle back to Kyle Gibson.

The club announced tonight that it signed Gibson to a one-year contract. A source confirmed that the deal guarantees $5.25 million. The Athletic also reported that Gibson can earn $1.525 million in performance bonuses.

Gibson, 37, spent the 2023 season with the Orioles and emerged as one of their most popular players while going 15-9 with a 4.73 ERA in 33 starts. He pitched for the Cardinals last season and registered a 4.24 ERA in 30 starts.

The free-agency process didn't move as quickly for Gibson this winter.

“Kyle was amazing for us a couple years ago, what he did in the clubhouse, plus how he took the ball every five days and kept us in almost every game,” manager Brandon Hyde said after a 9-1 loss to the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium. “He was an unbelievable leader. Had a good year last year in St. Louis, and I’m really happy about having him back.”

It’s still early November, so the Hot Stove is far from heating up. But with this past week getting us further removed from the end of the World Series, the offseason – specifically free agency – has officially begun.

For the Nationals, that means it may be time to make some significant offseason additions to the major league roster after years of waiting for their in-house prospects to reach the bigs, opening the window for them to compete again.

Mike Rizzo reportedly said at the General Manager Meetings this week in San Antonio that he thinks the Nats could make a big free agent signing this winter if it makes sense for the club, which would be a stark contrast to the organization’s philosophy over the last three offseasons.

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at MLB Trade Rumors’ list of the top 50 free agents and which players its staff predicts will land in Washington …

1B PETE ALONSO
Top 50 rank: 7
Contract: Five years, $125 million

ST. LOUIS – The Orioles have had many nights this year where they have been an aggressive hitting team. And many nights where that works out well for them.

They began last night leading the American League in runs per game. But they also ranked 14^th and next to last in walk rate and they are 28^th in the majors with a walk rate of 7.0 percent. American League average is 8.2.

The O’s hitters, on average, see 3.80 pitches per plate appearance to rank 11^th-most in the league and league average is 3.88 per PA.

Yes, they rate low in walks, but high in runs scored and they rank first in the majors in slugging and sixth in MLB in team OPS where they are also third in the AL.

In an extended answer before last night’s game, manager Brandon Hyde explained why many nights the O’s are an aggressive hitting team that sometimes hunts pitches early in counts and why they like it that way.

Money remains a determining factor in free agency, with the most lucrative offers usually winning out. The game’s evolution still has its limits. Some things stay the same.

However, the Orioles are finding that they’re a more attractive destination after emerging from the rebuild.

The perception of the organization has shifted, and more dramatically than the left field wall.

It won’t make Shohei Ohtani regret the $700 million he’s getting from the Dodgers, but the selling points are beginning to multiply.

“It’s been really refreshing and it’s such an easy conversation for Brandon Hyde and I to explain why this is a good place to come play,” executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said at the Winter Meetings.

A week’s vacation for your trusty beat writer usually guarantees something for the Nationals: News.

Countless times over the years have I gone off the grid only to find out the Nats made some kind of major transaction in my absence. So, count me genuinely shocked when I got back to town after an extended Thanksgiving break with nary a peep coming out of South Capitol Street. Don’t get me wrong, I was glad Bobby Blanco’s holiday weekend wasn’t ruined by breaking news. But I fully expected to come back with reason to share my thoughts on multiple items of interest.

Instead … well, there really isn’t anything new on the Nationals to discuss. The Winter Meetings begin Sunday in Nashville, so there will be actual news soon enough. But not yet.

Perhaps the most interesting development of the last week from the Nats’ perspective was the flurry of moves made by other clubs. Especially when it came to free agent starting pitchers.

There have already been a number of moves in that oh-so-important department, and you better believe the Nationals were paying attention and calculating how it might impact their own pursuit of pitching help this winter.

The Cardinals signing of Kyle Gibson to a one-year, $12 million deal with an option didn’t shed much light on the Orioles’ plans for their rotation.

Those intentions already are illuminated.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias wants an upper-level starter for the rotation. Gibson is a great guy who put up some good numbers in 2023, but Elias is aiming higher.

He won’t find a higher-quality individual, but this is about upgrading the rotation.

Elias gave interviews at the general managers meetings and to MASNsports.com and 105.7 The Fan over the last few weeks, and it’s the same summary. He wants pitching. Near or at the top of the rotation and in the back end of the bullpen.

The Orioles were expected to find a new Opening Day starter in 2024, whether from outside the organization or by choosing one of their returnees.

Now, they’re assured of doing it.

Kyle Gibson reached agreement today on a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that includes an option for 2025, per a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, with multiple outlets confirming.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers first reported that Gibson will receive $12 million next season.

It’s an ideal landing spot for Gibson, who lives in the St. Louis area and attended the University of Missouri. He follows the Cardinals’ agreement yesterday with veteran Lance Lynn to a one-year deal plus an option for a guaranteed $11 million.

The Nationals, like pretty much every other team in the major leagues, could use some pitching help entering next season. They would love to add an experienced starter to a rotation that, while improved from a year ago, still was lacking in many ways.

Saying you’re interested in adding a veteran starter, however, is very different from actually adding a veteran starter. And the term “veteran starter” can mean a whole lot of different things.

Are we talking about a top-of-the-rotation guy, someone who could lead this staff for years to come? Are we talking about a middle-of-the-rotation guy, a solid-but-unspectacular pitcher who takes the ball every fifth day and usually gives you a chance to win? Are we talking about a back-of-the-rotation guy, a stopgap solution who may not even make it through the entire season?

We don’t know specifically yet what the Nationals have in mind. But if we look back at Mike Rizzo’s track record, we can probably get an idea about the type of pitcher he usually pursues. And the type of pitcher he usually ignores.

Since becoming general manager in 2009, Rizzo has signed nine starting pitchers as major league free agents: Jason Marquis and Chien-Ming Wang in 2010, Edwin Jackson in 2012, Dan Haren in 2013, Max Scherzer in 2015, Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez in 2019, Jon Lester in 2021 and Trevor Williams in 2023.

In one sense it was a bit unexpected that an O’s pitching staff that performed so well in the second half of the 2023 season would perform poorly in the playoffs. But they gave up 21 runs as Texas swept the Orioles in three games. They gave up 18 in the last two games as starters Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer combined to allow 11 runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Texas is a good hitting team, but Orioles pitchers seemed to be hitting their stride the longer the season went on. This time Texas got the better of them.

For the 2023 season, the O’s team ERA was 3.89 to rank fifth-best in the American League. Baltimore was just a few points behind third-place Tampa Bay's 3.86 and a bit further back of first-place Minnesota's 3.74.

In the first half of the season Orioles pitching went 54-35 (.607) with a 4.15 ERA. In the second half the staff went 47-26 (.644) with a 3.58 ERA of 3.58 that was first in the AL and third in the major leagues. The O's played at a 104-win pace after the All-Star game.

The O’s team ERA by month in 2023:

The offseason remains relatively quiet for the Orioles after their Division Series loss to the Rangers.

They signed pitcher Guachi Jules to a minor league contract, and the only information I can find is he’s 19-years-old, right-handed and assigned to the Dominican Summer League orange team. Pitcher Austin Voth, catchers Anthony Bemboom and José Godoy elected free agency.

Director of draft operations Brad Ciolek is joining the Nationals as senior director of amateur scouting. Gunnar Henderson, Kyle Bradish and Ryan O’Hearn are finalists for the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Players Choice Awards. Catcher Adley Rutschman, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and left fielder Austin Hays are Gold Glove finalists.

Reliever Nate Webb signed a two-year minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. Pitcher Bruce Zimmermann underwent core muscle surgery in Philadelphia and should be ready for spring training.

Otherwise, hardly a peep.

On an Orioles team that produced 101 wins, their first 100-win year since 1980, along with making the postseason for the first time since 2016 and winning the division for the first time since 2014, several veteran players made key contributions.

But the Orioles have five free agents and all five could be playing somewhere else in the 2024 season. Infielder Adam Frazier played in 141 games and had an OPS of just .696, but that number was .932 with runners in scoring position. Outfielder Aaron Hicks is a free agent also but his OPS was .806 in 65 O’s games.

On the pitching side, right-hander Kyle Gibson is a free agent after leading the team with 15 wins, 33 starts and 192 innings. He tied for third in the AL in wins and was sixth in innings. He was a leader in the clubhouse and outside of it as seen by his Roberto Clemente Award nomination. The guy sure gives back – within the clubhouse and outside of it.

I see value in having Gibson back on the team to provide pitching depth. I just have concerns of a price tag of $10 million or more for such depth. Hard to put a dollar figure on what his mentorship for young pitchers and leadership for all players meant. But the club might have to look somewhere else for the same thing next year if they decide to try and get what he brings at a lower price.

Pitchers Jack Flaherty and Shintaro Fujinami are also free agents. It’s hard to see a scenario where the club pursues Flaherty, but maybe there is one out there. Fuji was given every chance to hold down a spot in high-leverage relief and spent a few nights looking like a steal. And a few looking like much less than that. I say the O’s let him walk and look for more consistency elsewhere, even if it comes in a package that doesn’t feature a 100 mph fastball.

The end was laid out early for us, the six runs scored over the first two innings in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. And yet, it felt so abrupt. Funny how that works.

A strikeout with two down in the top of the ninth inning, Rangers sprinting out of the dugout to celebrate, Orioles staying in theirs to watch and maybe learn. The hurt so evident later.

“It doesn’t really feel real right now,” said catcher Adley Rutschman.

Everyone looked like they were in a haze.

I could carry away so many images from the 2023 season, but I may be stuck with the sight of players sitting in front of their lockers after the media entered. Pretty much a full room, which is highly unusual. It actually was jarring. And not a sound made. Just blank stares.

ARLINGTON, Texas - For the Orioles there was sort of a clear theme to their postgame interviews last night after the Game 3 loss to Texas. The Rangers took an early 6-0 lead on their way to a 7-1 win and a series sweep in the American League Division Series.

Proud of a very good season and AL East championship. But also hoping and truly believing this is just the first step for this talented group of players.

They got swept three straight by Texas and the country didn't get to see the Orioles that we saw most of the year. Take the experience and learn from it. Use it as motivation to return next season and go farther.

"We have a lot of guys who have never been to the postseason before. So, this hurts and it's okay to hurt," manager Brandon Hyde said. "It's okay to have this kind of fuel to your fire in the off-season. It's going to take a while for us to get over this a little bit. But I think our guys will come in hunting and hungry in spring training. The guys coming back, especially the young guys, know what this feels like, know what it tastes like, and it sucks. If they did soak it in a little bit, they're going to be better for it down the road."

Outfielder Austin Hays expressed similar sentiments. I asked him when he has time this offseason to look back on the 2023 season, what will come to mind?