Because You Asked - The Voyage Home

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.

I lost track of pitcher Roansy Contreras. Is he in or out of the organization?
It's the Roansy Contreras shell game. And the answer is "yes." He was in and out, and now he's back in after the Orioles claimed him again yesterday from the Yankees. He's on the 40-man roster. Outfielder Daz Cameron was designated for assignment. Infielder Luis Vázquez cleared outright waivers, was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk and received an invitation to spring training. Has nothing to do with the other two moves, but it also happened yesterday.

How many outfielders constitute "too many outfielders"?
You can never have enough pitching. I’m not sure what they say about outfielders. Thirteen seems high. The Orioles could get away with carrying four because Jorge Mateo and Ryan O’Hearn are capable of backing up. The Ramón Laureano signing appears to leave the Orioles with five.

Will the Orioles wear all-orange uniforms to match the Grayson Rodriguez bobblehead?
@UniWatch reported that it's happening for the first time since 2010, when the Orioles wore orange from head to toe as a throwback for an Aug. 13 game. Most players wanted to throw them back, but it’s a fun look that reminds older fans of the 1971-72 teams. If those uniforms were good enough for Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer and Boog Powell …

Do you have a favorite uniform combination?
Is it too boring for me to nominate the home whites? I just think it’s a clean, classic look. But I’ll enjoy the all-orange for nostalgic reasons.

Will the Orioles trade for Dylan Cease?
I could be way off, but I feel like a trade is gonna happen for a starting pitcher. Maybe it’s Cease, maybe someone else. I’ve heard that the Padres checked on Samuel Basallo, Jordan Westburg and Coby Mayo, but those players weren’t on the table. I doubt that it comes as a surprise. Nothing has changed. Cease is a one-year rental, which explains why some teams are cautious about surrendering too much.

Players' thoughts on the Splash Zone?
Anything that entertains the fans. They came up with the water celebration idea and liked how the organization ran with it.

When do pitchers and catchers report?
They report on Wednesday, with the first workout the following day. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 18.

How much for the heart valve?
It cost me an arm and a leg.

Did Trey Mancini retire?
No. He reportedly has signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks. He was prepared to call it quits after not playing last season, though he thought about exploring chances overseas. But Arizona is extending his career. Good for him. Hope it's good for them, too.

What's the maximum number of outfielders you think the Orioles will carry into the regular season?
Thirteen seems high. Five would likely be the limit, which leaves room for six infielders and two catchers. The Orioles don’t need six pure outfielders on the roster because O’Hearn and Mateo (if healthy) can play the position.

Where will Tampa be playing their home games this season since the stadium was destroyed?
The Rays will play at the Yankees’ spring training site in Tampa, which is George M Steinbrenner Field. Tropicana Field wasn’t destroyed. That sounds so permanent. But it needs major repairs. I’m gonna miss it. “The Trop” sounds much better than “The Stein,” and it has a roof.

Which newly signed Oriole are you most excited about? I think Tyler O'Neill will have a career year this upcoming season.
Depends what you mean by “excited about.” I think O’Neill can be a big-time contributor if he stays healthy. He’s more than just power. But I also think Charlie Morton is going to be an important and dependable veteran presence in the rotation. He was a smart signing. He just isn’t Corbin Burnes and that’s the unfair comparison made with every new pitcher.

Haven’t heard of any deals recently involving a PTBNL. Have they become a thing of the past?
They still exist, but it seems more common now for deals to involve cash considerations. The Orioles did it with the Reds for Austin Slater and Livan Soto, and with the Athletics for Daz Cameron. And, yes, they got cash from the Rays for Chad Bradford. Not a PTBNL. I swear.

The front office has clearly favored adding bats who can hit left-handed pitching this offseason (Sanchez, O'Neill, Laureano). O'Hearn and Mountcastle seem likely to cover first base in a platoon situation. Westburg appears to be gearing up to be an everyday player at third, spelled occasionally by Urías. My question is, what does this mean about Coby Mayo? There is no obvious spot for him on the opening-day roster. And there's not even an obvious path to him getting called up barring injury. Is that the plan? What if it's July and no one has gotten hurt or massively underperformed? It just seems weird to have a prospect who is so highly regarded throughout the industry but to have his team construct their roster in a way that seems designed to box him out.
And the award for longest mailbag question goes to … man, these things are so hard to open. You! OK, you’re right about Mayo lacking a clear path, and especially if the Orioles carry five outfielders. They won’t fret over having Mayo on hold until they can get him on the roster. You want guys banging down the door. But he has nothing left to prove at Triple-A beyond defense, and that includes first base if it’s his future position. What happens to Mayo in camp and during the season will be one of the most interesting stories to track. I feel confident that he’s playing in the majors in 2025, and these things have a way of working themselves out.

Do you think Mike Elias makes one more big move before the end of the month? And don't say your mom.
I’d never! I think there’s another move in the works. How big, I don’t know, but I just have a feeling that something else is coming. I’m thinking a trade for a starting pitcher, but we’ll see.

Is Gavin Sheets still a free agent? I remember when his father, Larry, played for the Orioles.
Dang, you’re old. Kidding. Sheets remains unsigned. I heard that the Orioles were interested at one point, though I’m not sure how another left-handed hitting first baseman/corner outfielder would fit on the roster. But they apparently talked.

How do you see the at-bats being divvied up in the outfield now that Laureano signed?
Laureano can back up anywhere, including center against left-handers, which could keep Colton Cowser in left until they flip-flop. Heston Kjerstad can be a left-handed hitting alternative to Tyler O’Neill. There are plenty of at-bats to go around, but I’d expect Cowser to be an everyday guy.

Is it worth getting a PS5 just so I can buy MLB the Show with Gunnar's face on it?
My last video game experience was Asteroids at a Glen Burnie arcade on Crain Highway. I saw Mookie Wilson’s ground ball go though Bill Buckner’s legs on a small black-and-white TV behind the food counter. I’m the wrong person to ask about … (goes back to check) … PS5. Isn’t that a classroom in Brooklyn?

Buck Britton had a great run in the minors as a manager. How much impact do you think he will have this season for the O's? Will he become the O's manager in the next few years or will we lose him to another club?
It’s been a long time since I received a “Buck Britton as Orioles manager” question. Britton will be an asset as a major league coach with his ability to assist in multiple roles and his close relationship with many of the younger players. They love him. Other major league teams were showing interest in him as a coach. Brandon Hyde has guided the Orioles to back-to-back playoff appearances, including 101 wins and a division title in 2023. The Orioles aren’t thinking about replacements.

Now that we've signed Terrin Vavra, are we ready to call it a winter and move forward with the roster that's currently in place?
No. It could happen but that isn’t the plan. Mike Elias is making calls and checking the waiver wire. We could see a signing or trade before pitchers and catchers report or during camp if a perceived upgrade becomes available.

What’s your first question for Tomoyuki Sugano in Sarasota?
“How are you adapting to life in the U.S. and the majors so far?” That seems like a good opener. I won’t ask whether he’s pitched as an opener. How about, “Are you prepared for the extra workload in a five-man rotation?” Or, “What’s it like to get acquainted with your new catchers?” Or, “Know any English curse words?” Or, “Is a hotdog a sandwich?”

What happened to Matt Angle, the former Orioles outfielder from Ohio State?
Such a random question. He was just named co-hitting coach with Triple-A Columbus. Angle played in 31 games in 2011 and hit his only major league home run off …?

Go on.
The Tigers’ Justin Verlander.

It's been about 10 years now. Should we finally give up on the Pat Connaughton signing?
I know breakups are painful, but yes, it’s time to move on. You’ll find love again.

Who is your dark horse in the minor leagues to make the Orioles’ pitching staff as either a starter or in the bullpen?
On Opening Day? Keep an eye on Matt Bowman in relief. The Orioles re-signed the Chevy Chase native to a minor league deal after he allowed six runs in 15 2/3 innings in 15 appearances. But there would need to be room for him.

Is a cookie a dessert or a snack?
Yes. Either way. There’s no wrong answer. And this is probably a good place to stop.

Why is Vermont maple syrup so superior to the stuff that comes from Pennsylvania?
I’ve learned that maple syrup is lighter in color earlier in the sugaring season and turns darker later. And the darker the syrup, the more robust the maple flavor. Maybe that’s the reason. I don’t know. It’s a sticky situation, and it’s definitely a good place to stop.