This, that and the other

With so much attention thrown at the Orioles’ rotation and the free-agent starters who keep signing with other clubs, Adam Frazier looked like a guy yesterday sneaking through the back door.

The Orioles signed Frazier to a one-year, $8 million contract, increasing their offseason spending on the major league roster to $18 million.

Left-handed bats have been a priority. Finding a player who can replace Rougned Odor at second base has been a priority. Frazier checks those boxes, and he also can play the corner outfield.

That’s three boxes. Or four if breaking it down to left and right.

Frazier won’t duplicate Odor’s power, but he makes contact - he ranked in the top five percent in the majors with a 12.1 percent strikeout rate and 14.4 whiff rate this year, per Statcast – and he hit .305/.368/.411 in 2021 during his only All-Star season. He’s an above-average fielder at second, with 15 defensive runs saved, a 1.5 ultimate zone rating and 11 outs above average, and he's twice been a finalist for a Gold Glove.

He’s an upgrade. He fits.

The Orioles have a plan in mind where they rotate players to supply rest and limit the injury risks. They crave the versatility that Frazier can provide.

Not necessarily a super-utility guy, though his resume reads like one. Maybe in a platoon at second base, since he’s a career .279/.343/.405 hitter with 36 of his 43 home runs against right-handers, and starts in the outfield corners to allow Anthony Santander and Austin Hays to serve as the designated hitter or take nights off.

This isn’t Terrin Vavra’s ticket to Triple-A. He could win a job in camp. But the Orioles didn’t want to force it.

Jordan Westburg and Joey Ortiz, both right-handed hitters, could try to cram their way onto the Opening Day roster. The current setup, if it goes undisturbed, seems to lessen their chances.

Frazier will make the same salary in 2023 as he did with the Mariners this summer. He also has the same career batting average (.277) and number of RBIs (117) and stolen bases (20) before and after the All-Star break.

Unrelated but interesting to me. Love the quirky stuff.

Frazier has been the leadoff hitter in 386 games, by far most at any spot, and he could move to the top of the order when Cedric Mullins is on the bench. He’s 2-for-17 at Camden Yards.

* The offseason activity by the Orioles didn’t lead to any changes in the major league coaching staff beyond Cody Asche’s promotion from upper-level hitting coordinator to offensive strategy coach.

“Stability’s huge, and the ability for us to stay consistent with our players and have the same guys working with them again,” manager Brandon Hyde said during a Winter Meetings interview with "MASN All-Access."

“When you’re getting healthy as an organization is when you’re bringing people back and you’re continuing, so it feels good, coming off the year we had.

“We’re excited about adding Cody Asche. He’s going to bring a lot to the table from an offensive standpoint. The career he had as a player and kind of what he’s gone through. Super-impressed with him as a coach. I think it’s great for him to join some of the really talented coaches we have.”

* The 2023 schedule includes games against every team, which lessens the number of collisions with the rest of the American League East.

The Orioles will play the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Rays 13 times each instead of 19.

“What do I think about it?” Hyde said, repeating a question during his media scrum. “I think it's a little more fair. I think it's more fair for everybody and I'm looking forward to it. All the AL East is looking forward to it.”

Too bad, perhaps, that it’s finally happening with the Orioles on their way up after experiencing all the miseries that a rebuild has to offer.

“I don't know,” he said. “I think that it's going to be fun, too, playing everybody. I think that's going to be a fun part. I know it's going to be more travel, but I think to be able to play every single team is going to be enjoyable for everybody, which means playing some of the guys we play against all the time a little bit less. I think we're OK with that.”

The season begins and ends with series against the Red Sox.

* The Orioles broke ground on a 22.5-acre baseball academy in Guerra, Dominican Republic back in October 2021. Their boldest statement in their quest to establish an international presence.

We haven’t heard much about the future home to the Orioles’ regional facility for Caribbean and Central and South American player development operations. On the day of the announcement, the Orioles estimated a final ribbon-cutting in 12-16 months.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias provided an update at the Winter Meetings.

“I’m not ready to announce when it’s going to open, but it’s going really well,” Elias said. “It’s on target. I was just there. The construction looks really cool. It’s coming along.

“It’s very weather-dependent, some shipping delays with COVID. You kind of buckle up for some delays with these, generally. Some of these other teams that are building right now had to shut down construction. Fortunately, we’ve been able to avoid that.

“It’s coming along. I think in this coming calendar year we’re going to start getting in there at some point in time and maybe have some programs and part of the (Dominican Summer League) season there.”

The complex will house more than 100 players, coaches and staff, and provide dormitory-style rooms and entertainment spaces. It will include three classrooms and a computer lab to provide on-site learning and an education plan for each player. Nutritious meals will be served daily in the dining room.