Outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., the Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2023, highlights their list of spring training invites.

Twenty-six non-roster players will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota – 10 right-handers, two left-handers, four catchers, five infielders and five outfielders. Other players could be added later if the Orioles finalize another minor league contract.

Infielder Terrin Vavra is the most recent example, agreeing to terms yesterday on a minor league deal with a spring invitation.

Bradfield is the No. 6 prospect in the organization, according to Baseball America. MLB Pipeline’s final 2024 ranks placed Bradfield fourth.

The Orioles summoned Bradfield from the Twin Lakes side last spring, and he played in the Spring Breakout game.

The Orioles today announced that they have invited 26 non-roster players to MLB Spring Training in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes 10 right-handed pitchers, two left-handed pitchers, four catchers, five infielders, and five outfielders. A complete list of the Orioles’ 26 non-roster players for 2025 Spring Training is below:

Baltimore’s current Spring Training roster is attached. Orioles pitchers and catchers are scheduled to hold their first workout on Thursday, February 13, while the first full-squad workout will be held on Tuesday, February 18. The Orioles are slated to open 2025 Grapefruit League play at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday, February 22, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Let Albert Suárez be clear about this again. Practice for the next time that he’s asked.

Would he rather start or relieve? Relieve or start?

Does it matter to him?

“Not really,” Suárez replied at Friday night’s Birdland Caravan stop at PBR Baltimore. “Like last year, it didn’t matter, either. I was just ready for anytime. So this year will be the same mentality.”

Bets could be won by challenging fans to name the Oriole who made the second-most starts last season behind Corbin Burnes’ 32. Súarez tied with Dean Kremer at 24, and his 32 appearances tied Burnes for first among pitchers who didn’t work exclusively in relief.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Agreed to terms on a 2025 minor league contract with INF Terrin Vavra.

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with outfielder RAMÓN LAUREANO on a one-year major league contract for the 2025 season with a club option for 2026.

Laureano (pronounced lah-reh-AH-no), 30, slashed .259/.311/.437 (74-for-286) with 16 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 35 runs scored, 33 RBI, 15 walks, seven hit-by-pitches, and eight stolen bases in 98 games between the Cleveland Guardians and Atlanta Braves last season. He opened the season with the Guardians and batted .143 (10-for-31) in 31 games before being designated for assignment on May 20. After being released, Laureano signed a minor league deal with the Braves on May 29, before having his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett on June 15. He hit .296/.327/.505 (64-for-216) in 67 games after joining Atlanta. Laureano spent time on the 10-day Injured List from July 9-18, with a left oblique muscle strain. In 2024, he appeared in 67 games (39 starts) in right field, 26 games (all starts) in left field, and 14 games (9 starts) in center field while tallying seven outfield assists between the two teams.

Laureano is a seven-year major leaguer with the Athletics, Guardians, and Braves. Over his career, he’s appeared in 353 games in center field, 242 in right field, and 26 in left field. His 49 outfield assists since he debuted in 2018 are the fifth most in MLB during that time. He was originally selected by the Houston Astros in the 16^th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. The A’s acquired him for right-handed pitcher Brandon Bailey on November 20, 2017. Cleveland claimed him off waivers on August 7, 2023.

To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder LUIS VÁZQUEZ was designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The play still haunts Jordan Westburg and serves as a hard lesson.

Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals’ young star, reached on a tie-breaking infield single with two outs in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the Wild Card series. Westburg’s throw to first base was late as Kyle Isbel crossed the plate in a 2-1 loss that completed the sweep at Camden Yards.

Westburg keeps replaying it in his head, with the same result. He made a diving stop on a ground ball up the middle with runners on the corners, and Gunnar Henderson raced to second base in case Westburg tried for the force.

“Witt is fast,” Westburg told the media while standing at his locker inside a quiet clubhouse. “I got to the ball and made a stop. It’s kind of sandwiched in between dirt and my glove. Didn’t pick it clean right away. Probably took an extra half second to kind of get my feet underneath me and try and get off a throw and he was too fast. Yeah, I want to make that play. It’s a tough play. I’m trying not to beat myself up over that.”

"I was in the hole a little bit, so I was doing my best over there to get it," Henderson said. "Felt like whatever way he decided to go. Obviously the guy at first (Michael Massey) can run and Bobby obviously can run really well. Just tough play."

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• INF Jacob Amaya claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox.

The latest health updates on Orioles recovering from injuries or surgeries will be shared on the first day of spring training. Media access begins Feb. 13.

Nothing passed along at this point has sounded the alarms.

Jorge Mateo seems to be the largest question mark regarding Opening Day availability as he recovers from Aug. 28 surgery to correct a dislocated left elbow. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Mateo’s “not going to be a hundred percent citizen of spring training, but he’ll be ramping up and we’ll be able to address whether or not he’s going to break for exact Opening Day a little bit later.”

That crowded infield might have found its solution. Too soon to know.

Closer Félix Bautista also needs to ramp up after reporting and is going to be on a slower spring pace than his teammates, but he’s expected to be ready for March 27 in Toronto.

The maturity of Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday can reveal itself in many ways.

On Friday night, it happened behind a bar at PBR Baltimore during a Birdland Caravan stop. Holliday is old enough to drink alcohol – and certainly to pour, which he was busy doing.

The kid turned 21 in December. He won’t be relegated to sipping “Bird Bath” water, unless he chooses it, if another clinching celebration erupts in the clubhouse.

Holliday will report to spring training as the favorite to win the second base job, but it’s a competition. He probably can’t afford to have a terrible camp with the team well-stocked in infielders, even after designating Emmanuel Rivera for assignment.

It would get a little trickier if Jorge Mateo isn’t ready for Opening Day, but still manageable. And there’s always the waiver wire.

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired infielder Luis Vázquez from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations.

Vázquez, 25, was 1-for-12 with two runs scored, one RBI, and a hit-by-pitch in 11 games with the Cubs last season. He made his MLB debut on May 22 vs. Atlanta. Vázquez slashed .263/.347/.432 (62-for-236) with 16 doubles, eight home runs, 33 runs scored, 24 RBI, 25 walks, six hit-by-pitches, and one stolen base in 64 games with Triple-A Iowa in 2024. The infielder appeared in 51 games at shortstop, seven at third base, and six at second base in Triple-A. He was originally selected by Chicago-NL in the 14^th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Alberto Melendez Torres (PR) High School.

To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Emmanuel Rivera was designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias joined a group of players and local media this morning in volunteering at the Warehouse Collaborative, a space for Baltimore-based nonprofit organizations to share resources. Moving from station to station, Elias boxed and bagged donated items and books, assisted in building skateboards, tore tags off Orioles hoodies and shirts to be distributed.

Employees divided everyone into four groups and turned it into a contest, with the winning team posting the fastest times. Elias and Adley Rutschman left the facility with bragging rights.

Elias is eyeing much bigger victories down the road, but this was a nice start on Day 2 of the Birdland Caravan.

A 13-minute interview session followed with Elias, who confirmed that he isn’t done conducting roster business - or at least attempting it.

Asked whether he’s still targeting pitching, Elias said, “I think we’re targeting improvements to the team.”

Today I write my last blog entry for MASNsports.com. Those words make me emotional and a bit sad.

But it’s been a heckuva run filled with memories of special people, players, media friends and O's staff along with too many nights at ballparks to count. But those places are home to me and the people I have worked with have been like family. 

I have worked full-time radio jobs in Frederick, Md., Richmond, Va., and at WBAL Radio in Baltimore earlier in my career, but nowhere did I work as long as this current job. As I noted recently, I was the first writer hired here back in the day and the first season I covered in this role was in 2008.

So it’s been a minute and I’ve seen a lot in this job – a lot of winning and losing.

Readers here know I am often optimistic about the Orioles. I am incredibly so with the current group. Fans and readers can vent about moves made or not made and debate how good this team is or is not.

And then there were two. Just two days left to share a few thoughts here on the Orioles as I wrap up my 17 years with MASNSports.com.

I continue to stay upbeat and am embracing whatever comes next.

But in whatever manner I follow and/or cover the 2025 Orioles there are a few things I’m looking forward to.

Can the team start fast?: They did last year, and the chance is there to do that again. The 2024 Orioles won their first two games, never spent one day at or under .500 and ended April in first place at 19-10. By the end of May they were 36-19. It all set the stage for a good season and another playoff run.

The O’s open the 2025 season with four at Toronto. And while the Blue Jays won just 74 games last year, they are certainly expected to be a club capable of a playoff run this year. Then the O’s next three opponents all finished at or above .500 last season. But then they play three more series out of four against under .500 clubs from last year.

When former Oriole star Adam Jones was officially hired by the club this week as special advisor to the general manager and a community ambassador, I felt the O’s made a great move.

Because of love and passion.

Jones has a deep love for this organization and a real passion about Orioles baseball. He’s always had it since they acquired him in a trade with the Mariners and that love and passion for the Orioles has never waned.

Few would work harder for the Orioles to be winners, and few would take more pride in any successes they have.

Adam really, really loves the Orioles.

The Orioles broke out another option year to bend from their file-and-go stance in arbitration.

Jorge Mateo has agreed to a contract for the 2025 season to avoid a hearing. He’s set to earn $3.55 million, according to an industry source.

The deal also includes a $5.5 million option for 2026 with escalators that could increase the value to $6 million based on plate appearances this season, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

The club added an extra year to previous agreements with John Means and Trey Mancini past the deadline to exchange figures. Otherwise, negotiations are closed. ]

Mateo filed for $4 million and the Orioles countered at $3.1 million. MLBTradeRumors.com projected a raise to $3.2.

The front office vision shared by the newcomers who marched into Camden Yards beginning in the winter of 2018 required them to gaze into the past. To look back while also trying to push a flailing franchise forward.

Adam Jones is serving as an ideal example of this mindset, with the Orioles hiring the five-time All-Star and one of the most popular players in franchise history as special advisor to the general manager and community ambassador.

He’s an Oriole again.

It’s almost like he never left. Or it never left him.

Jones and executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias spent about 32 minutes this morning on a video call with reporters and random media. The moving trucks departed Baltimore earlier today for Sarasota, carrying 320 uniforms, 300 hats, 200 helmets, 10 pitching machines, 800 dozen baseballs and 300 bats, with an arrival scheduled for later this week. Jones will get there from his Barcelona home, working as a guest instructor and getting acclimated to his new job and set of responsibilities.

Prospects ranking season is winding down but, in a ranking released yesterday via The Athletic’s Keith Law, O’s catching prosect Samuel Basallo got his highest-ranking yet and an evaluation that was quite favorable on his defense.

I have written here numerous times that the Orioles have been consistently saying that Basallo can stay as a catcher. They see that big arm and flexible body with agility for someone his size and see a solid defensive catcher.

Basallo was ranked No. 3 in the top 100 by Law, behind only Boston’s Roman Anthony and Sebastian Walcott of the Texas Rangers. In his top 100, Coby Mayo was ranked No. 18 and Enrique Bradfield Jr. was No. 82, giving the O's three top 100 prospects.

Law believes Basallo has shown the tools and athleticism to project as an “above-average defender.” His top 100 is here (subscription may be required).

He goes on to write that: “He’s got at least a 70 arm and is athletic enough to become a 55 receiver and blocker, although right now he’s succeeding more on his pure physical ability and needs more polish on the finer points of catching.”

The love for Orioles minor league catcher Samuel Basallo keeps growing, with The Athletic’s Keith Law ranking him third yesterday on the site’s top 100 prospects list.

Red Sox minor league outfielder Roman Anthony is first and Rangers infielder Sebastian Walcott is second.

Baseball Prospectus ranks Basallo at No. 11, three spots ahead of Coby Mayo and 35 ahead of Enrique Bradfield Jr. Baseball America ranks Basallo 14^th, which is 15 spots ahead of Mayo and 67 ahead of Heston Kjerstad, who still qualifies at this outlet. Basallo is the highest rated catcher.

The Athletic has Mayo 18^th and Bradfield 82^nd.

The obsessing and hype surrounding past decorated Orioles prospects Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday is shifting to Basallo, who celebrated his 20^th birthday in August.

The Orioles weren’t finished with the position player side of their roster.

The club announced today that it signed outfielder Dylan Carlson to a one-year contract. It’s worth $975,000 with a $25,000 bonus if he reaches 200 plate appearances, according to an industry source.

Infielder Jacob Amaya was designated for assignment to create room for Carlson on a full 40-man roster.

Carlson, 26, is a switch-hitter and the 33^rd overall pick of the Cardinals in the 2016 draft. He split last season between St. Louis and Tampa Bay and batted .209/.287/.277 in 96 games.

This was a big drop from the 2021 season when Carlson finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He hit .266/.343/.437 with 31 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 65 RBIs in 149 games.

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with outfielder DYLAN CARLSON on a one-year major league contract for the 2025 season.

Carlson, 26, slashed .209/.287/.277 (49-for-235) with seven doubles, three home runs, 19 runs scored, 25 RBI, 22 walks, five hit-by-pitches, and two stolen bases in 96 games between the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays in 2024. He opened the year on 10-day Injured List recovering from a left acromioclavicular (AC) joint sprain before being reinstated by St. Louis on May 5. Carlson was acquired by the Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shawn Armstrong on July 30, 2024. In 39 day games last season, he slashed .263/.327/.305 (25-for-95) compared to a .171/.261/.257 (24-for-140) slash line in 57 night games.

In five big league seasons between the two clubs, Carlson has batted .237/.317/.376 (365-for-1538) with 83 doubles, 10 triples, 37 home runs, 192 runs scored, 175 RBI, 158 walks (3 IBB), 30 hit-by-pitches, and 13 stolen bases in 484 games. Carlson, a switch-hitter, is a lifetime .285/.361/.431 (123-for-432) hitter versus left-handed pitchers compared to a .219/.300/.355 (242-for-1106) hitter against righties. He has appeared in the Postseason three times with St. Louis (2020-22) and his six Wild Card Series games trail only Yadier Molina (7) for the most among Cardinals players. In 2021, he finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting and set the Cardinals single-season records for rookie switch-hitters with 53 extra-base hits, 237 total bases, 31 doubles, 65 RBI, and 57 walks. Carlson was originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (No. 33 overall) of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Elk Grove (CA) High School.

To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder JACOB AMAYA has been designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.