The weather is warming this week, which whets the appetite for spring training.

Temperatures might touch 40 today. Be sure to lather on the sunscreen.

There might be some deep burns in today’s mailbag. Only one way to find out.

You ask, I answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original. And keep in mind that my mailbag catches two-point conversion passes and your mailbag ... well, you know.

Kyle Bradish ETA?
Any relation to Kyle Bradish CPA? The second half of the season. That’s as far as I can narrow it down. Sorry. Maybe in August? We need to keep tracking his recovery and eventual rehab assignment.

I would have an easier time catching a fly ball in left field in a heavy rainstorm while wearing stilettos than catching a break.

I should be coming home today from Sinai Hospital, except the pharmacies contacted don’t have my new AFib prescription and I have to wait until Monday. I can only get it here in-patient.

My response is, why can’t you just slip me a couple to take home?

But enough of my complaining. Let’s dig through more mailbag leftovers while I sit here in my hospital gown and self-pity.

There was talk of David Ross being added as bench coach. Any idea what happened there? Was Ross too expensive?
There aren’t any details available relating to the coaching search. Maybe later. I haven’t seen confirmation that Ross was offered the job. Just that the Orioles were “interested,” according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who didn’t know whether an offer was made.

Here we are again, blowing up roster projections in November. Stand back and cover your ears.

I want to cover my eyes every time one of my locks doesn’t pan out.

We learned more about the roster with yesterday's non-tender of right-handed reliever Jacob Webb. We know that Emmanuel Rivera has a $1 million contract that doesn’t guarantee him an Opening Day introduction. He’s out of options and the infield is crowded.

It appears to be the only set position. The Orioles could use a right-handed hitting outfielder and at least one starting pitcher. They need a backup catcher. And they’ve decided to make changes in the bullpen.

They seemed to have their eight relievers before removing Webb and left-hander Danny Coulombe, who combined for a 2.71 ERA and two elbow injuries. Coulombe underwent surgery to remove a bone chip and missed three months.

The Orioles have picked up 2025 contract options on first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn, lefty reliever Cionel Pérez and righty reliever Seranthony Domínguez. But in a surprise move, they declined the $4 million 2025 contract option on lefty reliever Danny Coulombe.

The club today also made the procedural move of reinstating pitchers Félix Bautista, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells and infielder Jorge Mateo from the 60-day injured list. 

Coulombe has been a dependable reliever for the club since they acquired him just ahead of Opening Day 2023 from the Twins for cash considerations. But now he officially becomes a free agent where he could re-sign with the Orioles or sign with any other club. 

Perhaps the team has injury concerns here as Coulombe was on the injured list last year from June 11-Sept. 20 as he underwent a procedure to remove bone chips from his left elbow.

But he finished the year throwing 3 2/3 scoreless over four games and pitched 0.2 innings scoreless in the playoffs.

The Orioles made one decision today regarding club options for 2025 and it was the easiest to forecast.

The team announced that it declined the $16.5 million option on Eloy Jiménez’s contract, which puts him on the free agent market. His deal with the White Sox included a $3 million buyout.

Jiménez wasn’t staying with the Orioles after batting .232/.270/.316 with five doubles and a home run in 33 games. And after going 1-for-24 with eight strikeouts in September.

He also couldn't play in the field while recovering from a left hamstring strain that slowed him on the basepaths.

The Orioles carried 12 position players on the Wild Card roster and Jiménez wasn’t among them. They optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk on Sept. 24 while activating first baseman Ryan Mountcastle from the injured list, but he was brought back to Camden Yards as an extra in case of an injury.

Jumping around the baseball world with a few random notes and takes.

Well at least this year the narrative that the top teams don’t win in baseball and that it’s hard to have a five-day layoff before the playoffs for division winners, were blown all to heck.

We need a new narrative!

Last year wild card teams played in the World Series when No. 5 seed Texas beat No. 6 seed Arizona.

This year’s matchup is the top-seed New York Yankees from the American League and No. 1 seed Los Angeles Dodgers from the National League.

The Orioles have some important roster decisions coming soon. Within five days of the end of the World Series they have to decide if they will pick up club options for 2025 on a few players to include reliever Seranthony Domínguez.

It comes down to a $7.5 million dollar decision. He’ll get $8 million if they pick up his option and a $500,000 buyout if they do not.

Looking at his overall numbers for 2024, where Domínguez went 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 58 2/3 innings with a career-high 1.8 homers allowed per nine, you might say do not pick up this option at that price.

On the other hand, he was better with the Orioles than Phillies despite still giving up a lot of home runs and provides another big bullpen arm in the late innings to join returning Félix Bautista. The O’s are hopeful Bautista will be his old self but bringing back Domínguez could provide some buffer. And added depth.

The O’s added Domínguez and since departed outfielder Cristian Pache from the Phillies for outfielder Austin Hays on July 26.

Reliever Burch Smith doesn’t rate as one of the bigger decisions awaiting the Orioles. However, he’s on their agenda.

Smith is eligible for arbitration despite his name being missing from some lists. He made $1 million this year, with the Orioles paying the prorated minimum salary after selecting his contract on July 11.

The Rays signed Smith as a free agent on Jan. 2. The Marlins acquired him on March 27 in a cash transaction and released him on June 20. The Orioles signed him a week later.

The Orioles optioned Dillon Tate on the day that they brought Smith to the majors. As if you’d forget.

Smith appeared in 25 games and posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.050 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings. He started out with four scoreless appearances, allowing one hit, walking none and striking out six, but he endured some rough patches, including five home runs over seven outings.  

The offseason for the Orioles has inched into another day while other playoff teams are having all the fun.

The crowd will keep thinning until it’s time for the World Series and we’re down to two. I’m just going by how it’s worked in the past.

I never posted it or gave it much thought. but I blurted out "Guardians and Phillies" when asked for my picks. The Astros were my runner-up in the American League. I was fixated on closers, and Emmanuel Clase and Josh Hader put their teams ahead of the others.

What do I know?

Let’s check out three more decisions for the Orioles that are part of the offseason meeting agenda.

The Orioles returned to the visiting clubhouse Sunday at Target Field and still didn’t know their opponent for the Wild Card series that begins this afternoon at Camden Yards. The Royals were winning in the ninth inning. The Tigers were losing in the ninth inning. The drama was high for anyone paying attention to it.

The interest from players was low. Every television was tuned to the NFL. They punted on watching baseball.

“Whoever shows up,” shortstop Gunnar Henderson said yesterday, “just go out there and continue to play our game.”

They got the Royals.

“We weren’t too worried about who it would be in the sense,” Henderson said. “Just got to know that we’ve got to go out there and continue to play. It’s postseason, so anything can happen, and they’re two outstanding teams. So we’re just going out there and trying to play the best ball that we can play.”

MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles finally know their opponent for the Wild Card series. The preparation will get a lot easier.

The Royals clinched the No. 5 seed and will come to Camden Yards for Tuesday’s Game 1, setting up a rematch of the 2014 Championship Series that began the Orioles' eight-game playoff losing streak. Left-hander Cole Ragans will start. The Tigers did the unthinkable and lost to the White Sox again.

The Orioles must finalize their roster and Albert Suarez’s presumed spot might have closed. He wasn’t shortened today in his start, throwing 71 pitches in six innings in a 6-2 victory over the Twins at Target Field.

Rookie left-hander Cade Povich is making it, according to a source, and Suárez could be held back until the Division Series. The Orioles can wait until Tuesday morning to submit their roster.

Suárez could start Game 1 of the ALDS on an extra day of rest if the Orioles advance. Their plans for him aren’t confirmed but seemed to gain clarity.

NEW YORK – The reaction to the last out was subdued out of necessity.

A fly ball sealed the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Yankees and players lined up for the traditional congratulatory handshake line. They didn't know whether they made the postseason for a second year in a row. The out-of-town scores posted on a video board in right-center field didn't show a final between the Marlins and Twins.

Manager Brandon Hyde stepped out of the clubhouse for his usual post-game media scrum, and a club official called him back inside. It was done. The Twins lost and the Orioles would get to keep playing in October.

Outfielder Colton Cowser purchased a mini water-proof video camera, dropped it and said, "It broke already." He spoke too soon, using it to take selfies with teammates and media. Heston Kjerstad doused 20-year-old Jackson Holliday with champagne and beer, the kid being too young to drink it but not to wear it. They all hugged, laughed, danced, smoked cigars and let off steam.

The visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium was covered in plastic. The Orioles couldn't clinch at home but they didn't let it ruin their party. They busted loose in the Bronx.

Manager Brandon Hyde isn’t ready or willing to contribute to the publication of his team’s obit. Not with more games to play, possession of the first wild card and champagne to chill. He’ll keep trying to clear the air of any negativity.

Hyde isn’t blind to the season’s downward turn, but he retains full confidence in the Orioles' ability to get hot again.

Beyond the usual injury and rehab updates, Hyde spent most of his nine-minute pregame media session rehashing what’s gone wrong during a sub-.500 second half and slippage in the division race. Exactly when he began to worry. Why slumps are lasting for long periods.

Hyde finished with a quip about his players occupying the top of Triple-A Norfolk’s lineup, rose from his chair and returned to his office. And the Orioles backed his trust.

A blown save in the top of the ninth inning was followed by Anthony Santander's two-run walk-off homer and a much-needed 5-3 win over the Giants before an announced crowd of 23,181 at Camden Yards. Bedlam ensued. The Orioles were eager to release their frustration and it spilled all over the dugout, track and home plate.

DETROIT – An Orioles starting rotation that had been pitching well recently kept it going tonight behind their ace.

With the team losing and not scoring many runs in dropping six of eight games, it was harder to notice the solid rotation outings. But in the last three games, O’s starters had an ERA of 1.37. Over their past seven games their ERA was 2.57 with five quality starts.

Right-hander Corbin Burnes, the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner and 2024 All-Star game starter for the American League, took that up a notch today.

Burnes allowed two singles over seven scoreless innings tonight as the Orioles beat Detroit 4-2 to bounce back after their one-hit loss Friday night.

Baltimore improved to 84-65 and moved to within two games of first-place New York, which lost today. The win keeps the O’s two games ahead of Kansas City for the top AL wild card spot.

Dean Kremer’s arm was fine tonight. And it had nothing to do with the disappearance of his welt.

The effectiveness returned along with the appearance, and in it was no-hit stuff that threatened to grew to historical proportions.

Kremer carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning before Rays top prospect Junior Caminero lined the first pitch into left field for a single. What remained was winning the first game of the series. Back to the basics.

Tampa Bay loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Caminero and Dylan Carlson and Ryan O’Hearn’s fielding error. Kremer left to a standing ovation after 88 pitches and Yennier Cano brought the crowd to its feet again with two strikeouts and a popup in the Orioles’ 2-0 victory before an announced crowd of 25,439 at Camden Yards.

The Yankees also won today to stay a half-game behind the Orioles (82-60), who clinched their third plus-.500 season in a row - the first streak of this length since 2012-14. Tonight’s game marked their ninth shutout.

DENVER – Seranthony Domínguez has converted his seven save opportunities with the Orioles following the trade that unfolded near the deadline that sent outfielder Austin Hays to the Phillies.

The ride can’t be described as smooth, but he usually gets the team where it wants to finish.

The occasional bumps have resulted in all of the scoring against Domínguez. He’s allowed five runs in 15 innings on solo homers by José Ramírez on Aug. 3, Rob Refsnyder on the 18^th, Francisco Alvarez on the 19^th, Jesse Winker on the 21^st and Brendan Rodgers Friday night.

Alvarez and Winker had walk-off homers for the Mets at Citi Field to stick Domínguez with both losses. Four of the home runs were hit in a span of seven appearances.

In 16 games, Domínguez has registered a 3.00 ERA and 0.933 WHIP with 10 hits, four walks and 19 strikeouts.

LOS ANGELES – In front of a sellout crowd on the road, with a chance to gain a game on the Yankees, against a hot team with the best record in baseball, the Orioles pitching made three runs stand up. 

The Orioles bullpen – the much-maligned O’s bullpen – stood tall.

They had repeated chances to give up the big hit, the soul-crushing hit, the hit to blow the game. But they did not.

The same bullpen that had struggled so badly in recent weeks? Yes, that bullpen.

In what had to qualify as one of the O’s best and most impressive wins of the year, they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 Tuesday to open a big three-game series.

Anthony Santander didn’t save the Orioles season.

So why does it feel that way?

They were on the verge of falling 2 ½ games behind the first-place Yankees, with zero momentum or offensive thrust. The bullpen was a mess, whether middle, late or closing. Teams in the wild card chase were gaining ground.

I don't recommend panicking but I would have understood.

The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning Friday night on a couple of singles and a brain cramp from Astros reliever Bryan Abreu, who fielded a comebacker and bypassed the force at second base or easy out at first. Up stepped Santander, who whipped a crowd of almost 40,000 into an absolute, playoff-feel frenzy with his fourth career grand slam to erase a 5-2 deficit.

For the second game in a row, the contest was moving to the later innings. The O’s offense had been very quiet but the Orioles loaded the bases in the sixth down 2-0 looking for that one big swing.

They got it again today.

Jackson Holliday’s pinch-hit, bases-clearing double turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead today in the last of the sixth. Another big Camden Yards crowd was roaring as the kid ended an 0-for-20 slump in a huge way.

Holliday attacked the first pitch from reliever Tayler Scott, who entered the game with a 1.92 ERA, an OPS against of .543 and a batting average against of .196 when pitching with runners in scoring position.

But Holliday lined Scott's splitter into the gap in right-center at 105.9 mph off the bat to score three for the lead.

NEW YORK – What to do with the rotation is a major issue for the Orioles that yielded for a spell this afternoon to a slightly bigger concern.

Would they get a hit?

Would they put a runner on base?

Mets starter Sean Manaea retired the first 17 batters before nailing Jackson Holliday with a 94.7 mph fastball. Manaea tried a first-pitch sinker to Austin Slater, who homered to right field to tie the game.

The worrying spun back to another area, a bullpen that’s unsettled and can’t earn complete trust. Peaceful stretches aren’t permissible in 2024. Stress lurks around every corner.