Elias on Holliday, Mayo and Rogers

The Orioles conducted their business yesterday in the Rule 5 draft, watching seven minor leaguers leave the organization, and headed back home still short at least one starter and reliever. The meetings with agents and executives were plentiful. Perhaps they were able to make significant progress toward a deal. But the only announcements were the signings of outfielder Tyler O’Neill and catcher Gary Sánchez three days after their agreements.

Trading for an ace like the Padres’ Dylan Cease or Seattle's Luis Castillo - the Mariners want a right-handed hitting first baseman - is becoming the more likely avenue with free agents flying off the board. Garrett Crochet went to the Red Sox, so he’s out. Otherwise, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias will need to lower his sights to the middle of the rotation on shorter-term deals or bust the bank for Corbin Burnes.

While the pitching staff is incomplete, the biggest questions surrounding the lineup and bench center on who makes the club and the amount of playing time.

Elias didn’t offer any guarantees Tuesday about Jackson Holliday getting most of the starts at second base, and he listed the factors that could influence it.

“It’s gonna depend on a lot of things - on the lineup, who’s healthy, who’s pitching, who’s in that Opening Day lineup. But I think we’re gonna see a big step forward from Jackson this year,” Elias said during his media session.

“I thought he did a really good job being called into duty last year with all the injuries, kind of being thrust into an everyday role at a young age in a playoff chase with tons of infielders down, and not an ability for Brandon (Hyde) to match him up or give him off-days probably as much as he would like. Such a young kid, such a great hitter, I think we’ll see a big step forward for him. This whole roster, there’s so many guys who deserve to be in the lineup and we’ll have the ability to mix and match, and it’s hard for me to describe anyone as an everyday player versus a role player. There’s going to be 13 really talented guys and we’ll get them all in there with tons of playing time.”

The curiosity over Coby Mayo is building.

While Holliday has a position that he can seize, the organization’s top prospect will need to bump players off the infield corners or wait for a trade

“Coby can play third, he can play first, he can DH. I think there’s a lot of opportunity for him,” Elias said.

“He’s still a young guy, he has yet to really establish himself in the majors, so he’s not somebody that we wanna put too much of a burden on right out of the chute, but there’s so many ways for him to fit into this lineup. And his bat could explode this year, or at least take a step forward from his debut, and if that happens, we’ll be sure to get him in the lineup.”

The outfield isn’t an option for Mayo. Past speculation about right field seems dead.

“It’s something we talk about here and there and I just think with his lack of experience out there, with how big and tall he is and with his infield skills, and with our outfield, it’s not something that we’ve made any plans to advance,” Elias said. “But he is athletic enough to do it. He’s a good enough baseball player to do it. But it’s not something that we’re planning on pushing real heavily as of this time.”

The competition in the rotation is more easily identified if we know how many spots are open. Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer are the only locks until Elias adds to the mix.

Elias said “there’s no doubt” that Trevor Rogers will be fighting for a starting job in spring training after the left-hander made four appearances and was optioned. Rogers is making adjustments to his delivery in his offseason throwing.

“We definitely want to bring a lot more than five pitchers into spring training. As we all know, there’s no way that holds up over a full season and you kind of want to have eight or nine starters in a competition most spring trainings, and he’ll be right in the mix there,” Elias said.

“I think we knew when we traded for him, the innings totals that he reached in 2024 were a lot higher than what he had done in previous seasons, and that can lead to some guys running out of gas down the stretch. Now that he’s got that big innings platform from this year and he’s further removed from his injuries, I’m hopeful that we’re gonna see a good version of him in spring training.”

The bullpen likely will hold a long reliever, which could be Albert Suárez if he isn’t in the rotation. Rogers also might be a candidate.

“I think we’ll sort all that out,” Elias said. “We’ll look and see who makes the opening week rotation and we’ll see the composition of our bullpen. The offseason’s not done, either. We’ve got several months left and that’s something that’s gonna shake out as health and performance evolves during spring training, but also see what we do the rest of the offseason. And if there’s a starter who doesn’t make the rotation, obviously it’s a possibility to put that player in a relief role.”

* Veteran reliever Nick Anderson, who signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on Aug. 29 and is a free agent, will work out for teams Jan. 23 at Baseball Performance Center in New Jersey.

Anderson, 34, is seeking a major league deal. He spent the offseason with a pitching analyst cleaning up his delivery and mechanics.

The Orioles considered calling up Anderson this season before he strained his Achilles tendon at Triple-A Norfolk. Anderson opted out of his contract with the Dodgers and the Orioles signed him to a minor league deal.

Anderson has registered a 3.18 ERA and 1.093 WHIP in 165 games. He made 37 appearances with the Royals this season and allowed 16 earned runs in 35 2/3 innings.