SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was asked a few days ago about a drama-free camp, how the only injuries were sustained prior to the report dates. The conversation included warnings about the risks of jinxing it.

Here we are.

We learned earlier today that Jordan Westburg hasn’t played since Saturday due to lower-back soreness. And shortstop Gunnar Henderson exited today’s game after one inning with lower right side discomfort.

No further details are available. Manager Brandon Hyde will provide an update in his post-game media scrum.

Henderson made a nice running grab of Bo Bichette’s line drive in the first. He led off the bottom of the inning with a ground ball to first baseman Will Wagner, who bobbled it and flipped to pitcher Easton Lucas.

The opportunities to empty the offseason mailbag are dwindling. Spring training is right around the corner. Who’s excited?

That’s my only question. The rest must come from the readers.

You ask, I try to answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

I don’t tamper with length, style, clarity or brevity. I usually don’t bother to shower. This is a very casual mailbag.

Also, my mailbag reports early and yours has visa problems and a maxed-out AMEX card.

Orioles control owner David Rubenstein spoke to Yahoo Finance this week at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He mentioned twice how the Orioles are in “pretty good shape," endorsed a salary cap and went over some of the ballpark renovations.

The club’s payroll has risen to 15^th in the majors at $156 million, per Roster Resource, and we’re waiting for the outcome of Jorge Mateo’s salary figure exchange. He’s seeking $4 million and the Orioles countered at $3.1 million.

Rubenstein described the payroll as “consistent with our needs,” and added, “I don’t think anybody is not playing with the Orioles because of money reasons."

“Spending the most money doesn’t always guarantee you a World Series championship," he added, "and in fact many times people with smaller payrolls have won the World Series. I’m reasonably optimistic we’re gonna do well this year.”

Rubenstein explained how the luxury tax works, with a penalty incurred for teams going over it.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Claimed INF Jacob Amaya off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
• Designated RHP Roansy Contreras for assignment.

The offseason roster churn continued today for the Orioles and pitcher Roansy Contreras.

The club claimed infielder Jacob Amaya on waivers from the White Sox and designated Contreras for assignment. The 40-man roster remains full.

Amaya, 26, was designated for assignment on Jan. 8 to create a spot for Jose Rojas. The White Sox claimed him on waivers from the Astros in August.

The right-handed hitting Amaya was a Dodgers 11-round pick in the 2017 draft out of South Hills High School in California. He appeared in four games with the Marlins in 2023, one with the Astros last year and 23 with Chicago, batting a combined .182/.222/.195. He went 12-for-67 (.179) for the White Sox.

Amaya has experience at second base, shortstop and third base. He could report to spring training and vie for a utility job if he remains in the organization.

Right-hander Roansy Contreras is on the move again this offseason, with the Orioles being his fifth organization since 2024.

The Orioles claimed Contreras on waivers from the Reds this afternoon. He’s out of minor league options and could report to spring training trying to compete for a bullpen spot.

Contreras, 25, split the past season between the Pirates and Angels and posted a 4.33 ERA and 1.288 WHIP in 37 games, including three starts. He debuted for the Pirates in 2021, his lone appearance producing three scoreless innings in a start, and he’s registered a 4.72 ERA in 90 outings.

The Yankees signed Contreras as a free agent in 2016 and traded him to the Pirates five years later in the Jameson Taillon deal. The Angels selected his contract in May 2024, the Rangers claimed him on waivers Oct. 31 and he landed with the Reds on Dec. 19.

Contreras was designated for assignment this week after the Reds acquired infielder Gavin Lux from the Dodgers. He has a 5.47 ERA since the beginning of 2023, a 18.5 percent strikeout percentage and 10.5 percent walk rate.