Mailbag leftovers for breakfast

More mail got stuck in the bag.

Lucky for me. We’ve got more content this morning.

You asked and I eventually was able to answer. Enjoy your leftovers.

Is there any indication the Orioles are going to add to the bullpen? It's been completely silent on that front.
This is what happens when I wait to share the leftovers. I was gonna write that the Orioles will add at least one reliever to a major league deal, my bold prediction or hot take, but they already did by giving Andrew Kittredge a contract for 2025 that guarantees $10 million and includes a $9 million option. Fans want a reunion with Tanner Scott, but the club might not want to make that kind of commitment. Reports have him capable of securing a four-year deal for at least $15 million per year. Who saw that coming in 2021?

What's the latest on John Means? Are his days with the Orioles really over?
Means remains a free agent, as expected. A fast deal wasn't in the cards because he's recovering from a second Tommy John surgery. The Orioles haven't closed the door on him. There's a lot of positive history there. It would be a mistake to downplay their interest. Re-signing him is a possibility. The industry perception is that he probably won't sign until much later in the offseason.

Will the Orioles complete any ballpark upgrades by the 2025 season?
Yes. It’s been reported multiple times, including here, that the Orioles would improve the sound system for the upcoming season, but they must wait until 2026 for the major stuff, including sound system and videoboard. The state approved $135 million in bond financing on Wednesday. What’s done this year with audio is temporary but also appreciated. Long overdue.  

Any giveaways that you think are really cool? And don’t say “your mom.”
I’d never! The hockey jersey on April 18 has the angry bird on the front clutching a hockey stick. Nice touch. And I like the bowling shirt on May 30. Another clever idea. I’d flip over the Colton Cowser and Gunnar Henderson bobbleheads on May 2 and 4 if I were a big Star Wars fan. The Grayson Rodriguez bobblehead on May 31 shows him wearing an entirely orange uniform. That alone is reason to want it, and to hope that the Orioles are hinting at their alternate uni. The knit beanie on Sept. 23 will come in handy over the winter … or when the temperature drops into the 60s on game day and we’re reminded that there’s no heat in the press box.

Would you want the club to acquire Luis Castillo or Pablo López?
Sure. Either one is good. López is younger. I’d need to know which players would be surrendered.

Of the really young players like Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo and the rest of the prospects, who are untouchable in your opinion?
In my opinion, Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg remain off the table. I don’t think the Orioles would move Kjerstad, Mayo and Jackson Holliday – with the lack of a spot for Mayo the only reason why I tend to pause. They aren’t trading Samuel Basallo.

In your years covering the O's, who had the hardest name to spell?
I never could write Asher Wojciechowski without checking the roster. I learned Scott Kamieniecki by pronouncing it in my head as it’s spelled. S-C-O-T-T.

There are not enough drugs in the world that could get my brain juices flowing in a way that would squeeze out another question before something happens that is noteworthy.
Thanks for sharing.

Any recent thoughts from MLB on incorporating a different baseball that might be tacky to help curb the number of pitching injuries?
I haven’t heard of any changes, though it’s discussed and I’ve read about some experimentation. It probably makes too much sense for the commissioner’s office. Improve the grip and lessen the chances of injury – to hitters who get nailed and pitchers who put extra strain on their arms trying to create more spin. Yeah, who would want that?

I know the O’s are in win mode now, but how do they find out what they have in Coby Mayo with some combo of Jorge Mateo, Emmanuel Rivera, Ramón Urías, Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn on the 25 man roster?
It’s 26, but I get your point. I don’t see room for Rivera, either. Mayo can be optioned and I’m sure that he’ll be in the majors this summer. It just won’t be on Opening Day unless the Orioles create a spot or a player is injured. I won’t use the cliché that these things tend to work themselves out, but they do. And depth is good. There’s nothing wrong with guys pounding on the door at Triple-A.

Is it file-and-go or file-and-trial?
I much prefer the latter. Who doesn’t love a rhyme? But the Orioles tend to use “go.” Either way, they make exceptions to that rule.

More home runs, Mayo or Kjerstad? More steals, Mullins or Mateo? More wins, Eflin or Rodriguez?
I’ll say Kjerstad because I expect him to get more at-bats, Mullins because I expect him to play and reach base more, and … wins don’t matter, but I’ll say Eflin by a nose.

Did the Orioles try to sign Roki Sasaki?
Nothing about the Orioles has leaked to the media and I haven’t heard anything linking them to Sasaki. Hopefully, we’ll get some answers later in the winter or at spring training.

There's a lot of talk about Sugano adjusting to the ball used in MLB, so I was wondering what kind of ball they use in the WBC. Is it closer to the MLB ball or the NPB?
Rawlings is the official supplier, with MLB standards for size and weight.

Not sure if asked and answered already, but how many homers specifically did Mountcastle lose the last couple of years because the wall was moved in? Was that the most of any player, home or visitor?
Mountcastle lost 11 homers, the most in the majors. Also per Statcast, there were 138 home runs lost over the past three seasons.

Does Trevor Rogers have minor league options?
Roster Resource lists him with two. And let’s remember, please, that only one option is used per year, no matter how many times a player is sent down.

Who is more likely to make the rotation at the start of next season, Trevor Rogers or Cade Povich?
Whichever one has a better camp and if there’s an opening. Adding Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton raises the starter total to five. Another starter could be acquired.

Would acquiring Sasaki affect the other international signings and is that the reason they seem not as interested as others?
Signing Roki Sasaki would count against the international free agent signing pool because he's an international amateur free agent. This means he's subject to the international bonus pool restrictions. I don’t know the Orioles’ level of interest but they had $6,908,600 available.

Is it too early to talk about the O's offseason like it's already over, or do you think Elias still has a couple more moves up his sleeve?
Much too early. Here we go again: The Corbin Burnes trade happened on Feb. 1. The Orioles make late acquisitions every year. They aren’t closing shop and could add another starter despite signing Sugano and Morton.

If they get 25 games into the season and Holiday is hitting in the .200 neighborhood with 60-plus at-bats, can you see a scenario where he is sent down to Triple-A?
It’s “Holliday.” And he isn’t promised a full season. Major struggles could get him sent to the minors. But I don’t think this is going to be an issue. Look for vast improvement in 2025.

Do you prefer the “tight-lipped” approach Mike Elias has, or a front office that is more open?
More open makes the job easier for the most part, but that means information is shared with everyone, including national media, and that makes the job harder. I’ve never covered a team whose front office doled out every speck of information. Some executives are easier to reach. None are walking you through every move and discussion. I remember the spring training in Fort Lauderdale when co-vice president of baseball operations Mike Flanagan said the club would be more "transparent." He might have said it after pitcher Steve Bechler died of heat stroke after a workout. It didn't last.

An injury to Adley Rutschman seems to be alluded to a lot, but he denies it. Which is it?
It’s alluded to a lot and he denies it. They’re both right. The popular theory is that Rutschman was banged up and he wasn’t the same after being hit on the hand. He doesn’t make excuses, and the team doesn’t use poor health as an explanation.

Are they still using square bases this year?
The octagon idea never caught on, and this is probably a good place to stop.

Do Mr. Splash and The Bird have a thing going on?
This is definitely a good place to stop.