Baseball’s general manager meetings begin today in Las Vegas. The Orioles did some heavy roster shuffling last week to keep it at a full 40. Perhaps they can make the kind of progress this week that leads to other moves.

Pitchers Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano and catcher Gary Sánchez became free agents, and none of them are expected to return. Eflin’s back surgery diminished his chances but didn’t completely eliminate. He could stay on the market while teams monitor his recovery from back surgery.

Pitchers Félix Bautista, Grayson Rodriguez and Brandon Young were reinstated from the 60-day injured list. It’s a temporary reprieve for Bautista.

The bullpen added Andrew Kittredge in a trade with the Cubs. I’m old enough to remember when it was the other way around.

The Orioles picked up the $9 million option and also could be responsible, per Cot’s Contracts, for performance bonuses for appearances and games finished, and award bonuses that include Reliever of the Year, World Series Most Valuable Player, All-Star selection and Gold Glove.

On the same day that the Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde, they also dismissed Tim Cossins, a close friend who served as major league field coordinator and catching instructor. The title wasn’t attached to anyone else on the staff. It just disappeared like the man behind it. 

The Orioles are in the process of hiring coaches for new manager Craig Albernaz, with the only confirmed addition being Dustin Lind as hitting coach. We’ll find out whether field coordinator and catching instructor are making a return.

Hyde and bench coach Robinson Chirinos also were former catchers. Chirinos won’t return.

Albernaz caught in college and in the minors, with arm strength and accuracy that became legendary for the people close to him. Everyone’s got a story. The ink hadn’t dried on his contract with the Orioles before media and fans began wondering how he might influence the careers of Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo.

Rutschman is a two-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up whose offense has declined since the All-Star break in 2024. The two oblique injuries didn’t allow him to get on any sort of roll.

The Orioles are just as busy making changes to their front office as they are the coaching staff and roster.

Matt Blood is receiving another promotion, according to sources, with a new title of vice president of player and staff development.

In his new role, Blood will continue to oversee all aspects of minor league player development and operations, but with duties expanded to provide executive support for manager Craig Albernaz in major league staff and player development, as well as supporting the sports medicine and performance departments.

The latest bump removes Blood’s title of vice president of player development and domestic scouting, which he held since October 2023.

The Orioles hired Blood in September 2019 as director of player development after he served as Rangers' director of baseball innovation. Blood had worked for three years as USA Baseball's director of the 18-and-under National Team Program, and he previously spent seven seasons as an area scout in the Cardinals organization, where he worked with Mike Elias.

Former Orioles third base coach and interim manager Tony Mansolino didn’t need much time to find a new job.

The Braves have hired Mansolino as third base coach under new manager Walt Weiss. Weiss replaced Brian Snitker, who announced his retirement.

Mansolino was hired as the Orioles' third base coach and infield instructor prior to the 2021 season and replaced Brandon Hyde as manager on May 17. The Orioles finished in last place but went 60-59 with Mansolino in the dugout.

President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias referred to Mansolino as a “real candidate” for the full-time job during the season-ending press conference, but the Orioles hired former Guardians bench coach and associate manager Craig Albernaz. Mansolino wasn’t going to be retained in a coaching capacity, though many players endorsed his return toward the end of the season.

"Managing under the interim tag will be the hardest thing I’ll do in my career in a lot of ways," Mansolino said on Sept. 29. "In a sense, it is your team, especially after the trade deadline and all the guys that came in. It did start to feel like my team at that point. Up until the trade deadline with the players that were here under the previous leader, it didn’t in a lot of ways, and I think that’s fair. I think people can understand that. It’s a challenge.

The Orioles need to replace all of their hitting coaches from the 2025 season.

They’ve settled on their lead guy.

Dustin Lind is set to become the club’s main hitting coach, according to a source. He replaces Cody Asche, who accepted a job as the Tigers’ assistant.

Lind, 37, has worked as Phillies' assistant hitting coach for the past two seasons and he has ties to new manager Craig Albernaz in San Francisco, where he served as director of hitting and assistant hitting coach from 2020-23.

The Mariners hired Lind in 2018 as a minor league quality assurance coach and a year later named him director of hitting development and strategies on the major league coaching staff.

The Orioles began yesterday with a full 40-man roster and finished it with a full 40-man roster.

Many of the names changed.

Pitchers Félix Bautista, Grayson Rodriguez and Brandon Young were reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Pitcher Anthony Nunez had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk to protect him in the Rule 5 draft, ahead of the deadline to do so. Cuban outfielder Pedro León was claimed on waivers from the Astros. Outfielder Leody Taveras signed a $2 million contract.

Outfielder Dylan Carlson elected free agency. The Orioles declined infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo’s $5.5 million option. Pitchers Josh Walker and Carson Ragsdale were designated for assignment. Pitcher Shawn Dubin was outrighted to Norfolk and became a free agent. The Mets claimed left-hander José Castillo on waivers.

Six added and six subtracted.

The Orioles are staying busy making roster moves that so far are geared toward improving depth and camp competitions.

A source confirmed earlier today that Cuban outfielder Pedro León has been claimed on waivers from the Astros.

León, 27, appeared in seven games with the Astros in 2024 and was 2-for-20 with 10 strikeouts. He played in 22 games with Triple-A Sugar Land this year and hit .241/.312/.422 with six doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs. He began the season on the injured list after straining the MCL in his left knee in spring training, with an eventual transfer to the 60-day IL.

The Astros put León on waivers two days ago.

León made the Pacific Coast League Triple-A All-Star team in 2024 after batting .299/.372/.514 with 25 doubles, 24 home runs, 90 RBIs and 29 stolen bases in 118 games.

The Orioles aren’t focused only on their bullpen as the offseason has moved into a new month.

Outfield depth also must be addressed.

The team reached agreement last night with veteran Leody Taveras on a one-year contract pending the results of a physical. The deal pays $2 million, according to Spotrac.

Taveras, 27, is a switch-hitter who made $4.750 million this year while batting .205/.226/.304 in a combined 58 games between the Rangers and Mariners. Seattle selected him on waivers May 6 and designated him for assignment a month later. He became a free agent in October.

Taveras made his major league debut with the Rangers in 2020 and batted .240/.291/.370 in parts of six seasons. He appeared in 151 games in 2024 and stole 23 bases in 29 attempts. He hit a career-high 14 home runs with 67 RBIs in 143 games in 2023.

Craig Albernaz brought his three children on the honeymoon phase of his hiring as Orioles manager.

The family posed for photos this week on the Camden Yards field, with sons CJ and Norman and 2-year-old daughter Gigi wearing their nicest clothes and batting helmets.

“I’ve got an eagle right here,” Gigi said, pointing at the bird.

Albernaz gently corrected her.

“That’s an Oriole,” he said.

The Orioles made another move with a potential impact on their bullpen.

Right-hander George Soriano was claimed on waivers today from the Marlins. The Orioles designated outfielder Daniel Johnson for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster.

Soriano, 26, has registered a 5.95 ERA and 1.475 WHIP in 72 games (one start) over the past three seasons. He’s struck out 117 batters in 118 innings. Soriano had an 8.35 ERA and 1,773 WHIP this year in 24 games.

The Marlins signed Soriano as an international free agent in 2015. He missed the entire 2017 season due to injury and 2020 after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the minor league season.

Soriano mostly used a slider/changeup mix this year but also incorporated a four-seam fastball and sinker. The mid-90s four-seamer was his primary pitch the two previous seasons.

While the Orioles work to build a coaching staff for new manager Craig Albernaz and give him a roster equipped to make a playoff run, they also know the official dates for players to gather at the spring training complex in Sarasota.

Pitchers and catchers participating in the World Baseball Classic must report by Feb. 9, with position players due three days later. The remaining pitchers and catchers report Feb. 11, followed by position players on the 16^th.

Fans will have enhanced and expanded access at Ed Smith Stadium on home and away dates, including free admission to open practices at home. Entry begins approximately four hours before the start time.

The Orioles will face 12 different opponents, beginning with the Yankees on Feb. 20 at Ed Smith Stadium, which is counted among 17 home games. Nine of those games will be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The exhibition schedule also includes a home-and-home series against the Nationals. The teams play at Camden Yards on March 22 and in D.C. March 23.

Perhaps this was the plan all along.

Trade four relievers at the deadline and then try to bring them back one at a time.

Andrew Kittredge is walking through that door again, after the Orioles reacquired him yesterday from the Cubs for cash considerations. Kittredge was dealt on July 31 for teenage Dominican shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz, though the $9 million option on his contract made him controllable for a team hoping to contend in 2026.

So, to review: President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias loaned Kittredge to the Cubs and got the No. 20 or 24 prospect in the organization, depending on whether you trust Baseball America or MLB Pipeline. That’s pretty savvy.

De La Cruz, a switch-hitter praised for his advanced offensive approach, signed for $2.3 million in January, the largest bonus in the Cubs' 2025 international class and the ninth highest on the entire market. He appeared in 12 games with the Orioles’ Dominican Summer League team and posted a .509 on-base percentage, going 8-for-34 with two doubles, a triple and 20 walks.

The introduction of new Orioles manager Craig Albernaz earlier today revealed his sense of humor, passion for the game and the lives he’s intersected with along the way, and how family always is going to be a huge part of who he is both on and off the field.

His first managing act was sitting through a nearly 44-minute press conference with attention split among media and his 2-year-old daughter Gigi, who held and occasionally dropped her Oriole Bird bobblehead and a bottled water meant more as a toy than a means of hydration, engaged in cute conversations with her mother Genevieve and eventually was lifted up by control owner David Rubenstein and handed to Albernaz, who sat her on his lap, kissed her and whispered to her at one point so he could finish his answer.

Handling a 26-man clubhouse should be a breeze.

The crowd also included young sons CJ (8) and Norman (6), and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and his wife Alyssa, who left her seat for a while to play with Gigi away from the dais.

“My kids are the greatest gift I can ever, ever have,” Albernaz said, before his daughter interrupted.

Baseball’s offseason calendar is loaded with significant dates. A few others develop over the course of the fall and winter.

Today is a prime example.

The media will be introduced to new manager Craig Albernaz at a press conference at Camden Yards that airs live on MASN beginning at 11 a.m. President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias and control owner David Rubenstein also will attend.

Albernaz can explain why he viewed the Orioles as a good match. Everything he knows about the organization and what he’s got to learn. Whether he’s spoken to any of his players. His level of confidence that a turnaround is imminent for a team that finished in last place.

What did Albernaz observe about the Orioles from the opposite dugout?

The Orioles are holding onto left-hander Dietrich Enns as part of their offseason business that’s gaining momentum after the World Series.

Rather than exercise a $3 million option on Enns’ contract, the club reached an agreement on a one-year deal with another option for 2027.

Enns, 34, was involved in the last of nine deadline trades this summer, coming to the Orioles in a cash transaction with the Tigers. He made 17 appearances and posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.326 WHIP over 28 2/3 innings. He also recorded two saves.

High-leverage situations kept falling to Enns with the bullpen depleted from four earlier trades and Félix Bautista’s shoulder injury that required surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff. He’s out of minor league options and seemingly in the team’s plans for next season.

It wasn’t easy to predict.

The end of the World Series gives teams an exclusive five-day window to negotiate with their own free agents before other clubs can begin making their own pitches.

The Orioles are waiting to be turned loose in the market.

The general manager meetings begin a week from today in Las Vegas, which can ignite trade discussions in the Orioles’ quest for pitching and an impact bat. It’s time to ditch the quiet period and get loud.

Among the questions I’ve posed in recent weeks involve cramming five starters into the rotation, who bats first, who’s in center field, does Tyler O’Neill homer again on Opening Day, will some starters be on innings limits, what happens to Albert Suárez, if any starters could move to the bullpen, what the Orioles will get from Trevor Rogers, and who leads the staff in innings.

Here's another one for the discussion.

The World Series is over, which begins the official countdown to the start of free agency. The exact time is 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Teams also must decide whether to make qualifying offers to their free agents, with the cost rising to $22.025 million. The Orioles won’t float it past Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano or Gary Sánchez.

Eflin seemed like a candidate earlier in the year, before a third trip to the injured list led to lower-back surgery in August.

Teams receive a compensatory draft pick if a player declines the offer and signs with another organization. The risk, of course, is having the player accept it.

The Orioles in theory could allow Eflin to test free agency and try to negotiate a short-term deal, the ol’ pillow contract that gives him an opportunity to reestablish his value. The club, in turn, would have a veteran, track record starter for the back end of their rotation. He wouldn’t be in line to repeat as Opening Day starter.

The Orioles didn’t announce any other roster moves following Thursday’s doubleheader. They slipped back into quiet mode.

One-year major league contracts were given to reliever Rico Garcia and infielder Luis Vázquez, keeping them in the organization without offering any assurances about their status for 2026.

They can help to fill two of the team’s needs. The bullpen is hollow. The infield lacks a real utility player since Ramón Urías was traded. But there’s going to be competition in camp.

To make sense of it, remember what the Orioles did with corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera. They reached an agreement last November on a $1 million deal, making him the first of their arbitration-eligible players to receive a contract.

Rivera was designated for assignment multiple times and no one claimed him on waivers, with his salary being a detriment. The plan worked. He provided some depth at Triple-A.

New Orioles manager Craig Albernaz will have a different bench coach in his first season at the helm.

Robinson Chirinos won’t return in 2026, according to an industry source.

Chirinos was hired prior to 2025, his first coaching position at any level. He kept the job through manager Brandon Hyde and interim manager Tony Mansolino, who was promoted from third base coach on May 17.

The Orioles didn’t bring back Fredi González as bench coach following the 2024 season, leaving Hyde with a less experienced staff. Mansolino replaced him in the dugout, and the Orioles hired John Mabry as senior advisor.

To be determined is whether the club will give Albernaz, who’s a first-time manager, a veteran coach in the dugout.

Focus on the Orioles has shifted from the managerial search to the coaching staff, but there’s also pending roster business that heats up after the World Series. Decisions on options and non-tender candidates, setting the 40-man, crafting a plan to ditch last place and jump back into the playoffs.

It’s always interesting to get an outsider’s perspective, a scout from another organization who’s tracked the team and some of its affiliates.

You could fill a room with them and everyone would agree that the Orioles must join the race to find arms.

“Baltimore is starting to figure some things out pitching-wise. They really have,” a scout said.

“There’s some guys who are really starting to progress and making some strides, but Baltimore’s got to get some pitching. Starting pitching and bullpen. But they’re gonna be in line with a lot of other organizations to get it.