Leftovers for Thanksgiving breakfast

The turkey will be the star today in many households, but I’m more of a sides guy. They can make or break a meal.

Trading for or signing a starter the caliber of Corbin Burnes, if not actually him, would be baseball’s turkey. The same goes for a big right-handed bat.

Three more minor league signings on Monday were sides.

The Orioles didn’t make any bold moves last November, their final transaction of the month a minor league contract for left-hander Jakob Hernández. They claimed outfielder Sam Hilliard on waivers from the Braves and gave right-hander Adrian Heredia and left-hander Andy Tena minor league deals.

The most important business this month has involved restructuring the 40-man roster, with relievers Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb unexpectedly entering free agency, and finalizing the coaching staff. Those are the primary sides. We’re talking stuffing, potatoes and casseroles. The minor league stuff, while necessary to build depth, is more like the relish tray.

Here are a few items that I’m bringing to the table. Consider them to be my version of canned cranberry sauce.

* Left-hander Blake Snell is off the board, ending any sort of pursuit by the Orioles.

We don’t know how far talks advanced with agent Scott Boras and what the club was willing to spend, whether it was anywhere close to the five-year, $182 million deal offered by the Dodgers, but there was legitimate interest.

Bringing back Burnes remains a possibility, the strength depending on which media member chimes in. The Orioles are viewed as favorites by a few writers at MLB.com, which was unimaginable in past years. Funny how new ownership changes perceptions before the payroll.

Boras also represents Burnes, creating duel conversations with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. And that’s just two of his clients.

“It definitely adds an element to it,” Elias said Sunday on MLB Network Radio. “In some ways it can make things more efficient because it’s fewer phone calls, fewer puzzle pieces to put together. A little bit more one-stop shopping. But on the other hand, if a certain agency has multiple players that a team is pursuing, they have more information about where that team is in their market pursuits because they have more of the players. So there’s pros and cons to it and its different every year, different shapes and sizes, but it’s definitely one of those nuances that can affect things in any given year.”

* MLB Network's Jon Morosi confirmed that the Orioles have interest in veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, which was assumed all along.

Eovaldi has been linked to the team in the past and he comes at a cheaper price, with MLBTradeRumors.com projecting a two-year, $44 million contract. He isn't Snell, Burnes or Max Fried, but he'd plug nicely into the rotation with Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer. He turns 35 in February and comes with some durability concerns, but he made 29 starts this year and logged 170 2/3 innings.

The Orioles got an up-close look at Eovaldi’s ability to be impactful in October during the 2023 Division Series. His playoff experience, with a 3.05 ERA in 17 games, is a big bonus.

* The promotion of Buck Britton to major league coach makes sense on many levels. He was the logical choice to replace José Hernández.

Hernández brought valuable experience with his 15 seasons as a major league infielder. He could assist in numerous ways.

I asked Hernández about his duties and here’s what he said:

“Right now, this year I’m helping Tony Mansolino with the infielders, doing ground balls, throwing BP and just helping everybody. (Anthony) Sanders with the outfielders, I help him, too. Just pretty much a little bit of everything.”

Britton also has the skill set to do the job and there was a chance that another team would scoop him up after his contract with Triple-A Norfolk expired on Oct. 31. The Orioles don’t want to lose him. They appreciate what he brings to the table, and that includes the relationships built with the younger players. They rave about him.

Bench coach and assistant hitting coach didn’t make as much sense as major league coach. It’s an ideal way to take advantage of his versatility – he played every position except center field and catcher - and introduce him to baseball’s highest level.

Triple-A was Britton’s ceiling when he played. He busted through it after retirement.

* Robinson Chirinos was the surprise announcement.

So much for those David Ross rumors.

Chirinos has no previous experience and he’s replacing Fredi González as bench coach. That lets you know how much he was respected in the clubhouse and the industry.

González and Hernández speak Spanish, and their departures created a void that Chirinos can fill. And Chirinos has a terrific relationship with Adley Rutschman, mentoring him in 2022.  

Britton and Chirinos are viewed as manager material in the majors. Now they’re on the same Orioles staff.   

* The Orioles need a Triple-A manager and one possibility is promoting Roberto Mercado again.

Mercado made his Double-A debut this year with the Bowie Baysox after managing High-A Aberdeen for two seasons. He was honored in 2022 with the organization’s Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award and guided the IronBirds to the South Atlantic League championship series.

Whatever happens with Mercado, he remains quite the success story after an unusual hiring. He spent 18 years as dean of students at New Britain High School in Connecticut, where he also coached the baseball team. He had no professional experience, though he coached some international youth teams and in the collegiate Cape Cod League.

Mercado managed the Orioles in the Spring Breakout game and the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. He’s on a roll.

We’ll find out later whether he’s still on the Baysox staff.