The task of constructing a 26-man roster for 2024, and it’s never too early to begin the process through staff meetings, is easier in some ways for Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. The backup catcher already is in place with another season left on the four-year deal that James McCann signed with the Mets. The Orioles usu

PROSPECT REVIEW: DYLAN CREWS Age on opening day 2024: 22 How acquired: Drafted No. 2 overall in 2023 from LSU Ranking: No. 1 (No. 4 overall) per MLB Pipeline, No. 1 (No. 3 overall) per Baseball America MLB ETA: 2024* Projected by MLB Pipeline Signing bonus: $9 million (second-largest draft signing bonus ever) 2023 levels: Rookie-level Florida Compl

PLAYER REVIEW: LANE THOMAS Age on Opening Day 2024: 28 How acquired: Traded from Cardinals for Jon Lester, July 2021 MLB service time: 4 years, 14 days 2023 salary: $2.2 million Contract status: Arbitration-eligible, free agent in 2026 2023 stats: 156 G, 682 PA, 628 AB, 101 R, 168 H, 36 2B, 3 3B, 28 HR, 86 RBI, 20 SB, 5 CS, 36 BB, 176 SO, .268 AVG,

There must have been times this summer when left-hander Dayton Lane Hall, once a highly-ranked Orioles pitching prospect, felt he might not make a return to the majors this year. Much less be on a playoff roster and pitch well in the postseason. But his five-plus weeks spent in Florida in midsummer to build arm strength and get his fastball velocit

The Orioles’ swift exit from the Division Series brings us to the first mailbag of the offseason. Tailor made if you’re the Rangers, also bringing us to the first Taylor Swift pun. I'll get to ERAs later. (Her current tour is called Eras. Try to keep up and be cool like me.) The organization doesn’t go dark. Executive vice president/general manager

One thing that has been true about fans throughout Birdland for a long time: They love it when national media reporters and outlets say nice things about their team, and some get really hacked when they do not. Or say something perceived as a slight. My opinion is that MLB Network was on the O’s bandwagon pretty much throughout the 2023 season. The

PLAYER REVIEW: ILDEMARO VARGAS Age on Opening Day 2024: 32 How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, May 2022 MLB service time: 4 years, 7 days 2023 salary: $975,000 Contract status: Signed for 2024, arbitration-eligible in 2025, free agent in 2026 2023 stats: 86 G, 286 PA, 262 AB, 32 R, 66 H, 13 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 1 SB, 1 CS, 19 BB, 20

It used to be said that the Orioles worrying about a closer was akin – as opposed to Keegan Akin, which wasn’t said – to putting shiny hubcaps on a rusted Ford Pinto. They had far bigger issues than worrying about ninth inning leads. Like, trying to get a ninth inning lead. But we’ve moved past bad teams. The Orioles won 101 games this season. They

Mike Elias confirmed this week that he’s returning as Orioles executive vice president/general manager, and Brandon Hyde remains the manager following a 101-win season. However, the scouting department won’t go untouched. An industry source confirmed today that director of draft operations Brad Ciolek is joining the Nationals as senior director of

The Nationals are adding another experienced name to a revamped scouting department, hiring Brad Ciolek away from the Orioles to serve as senior director of amateur scouting, a source familiar with the move confirmed. Ciolek spent 12 of the last 13 seasons with the Orioles in a variety of roles, most recently as director of draft operations. Owner