Seeking answers to five Orioles questions

It’s another slow day for me. At least that’s what I’m told. Or “ordered” is more like it.

(This would be funny if I didn’t survive the surgery but the story ran anyway. Now that’s a slow day.)

Here are some topics and decisions hovering around the Orioles. You can do the heavy lifting today and tell me what’s going to happen.

Apologies in advance if any of them became outdated earlier this week because I still didn’t have access to my laptop. Or because I died.

Coby Mayo had a few stops in the majors this year and went 4-for-41 in 17 games. He’s waiting for his first extra-base hit.

The rest of us are waiting to find out what happens to Mayo in 2025. He doesn’t have a position waiting for him, though first base is an easier grab if Mountcastle is gone. The Orioles seem reluctant to try him in right field.

What happens here?

A. Mayo makes the club and gets occasional starts in the corner infield and at DH.
B. Mayo makes the club and gets regular playing time at multiple spots.
C. Mayo is optioned in spring training.
D. Mayo loses his untouchable status and is traded.

A Pittsburgh-based media outlet labeled Ryan Mountcastle as a trade target for the Pirates. Mountcastle is eligible for arbitration again and MLBTradeRumors.com projects a raise to $6.6 million. Teams must tender contracts or non-tender players by Nov. 22 at 4 p.m.

What happens here?

A. The Orioles reach agreement on a contract and Mountcastle is the first baseman on Opening Day.
B. The Orioles non-tender Mountcastle.
C. Mountcastle is traded before Opening Day.
D. Mountcastle flies to the left field wall, tilts back his head as he rounds first base, heads for the parking lot and is never seen again.

Trevor Rogers made four starts with the Orioles and was optioned after they acquired him from the Marlins at the deadline. He didn’t return.

The Orioles didn’t surrender Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers to get four games out of Rogers. They sent him down with specific instructions. And they expressed their confidence in him.

"I think it’s a big offseason for him,” manager Brandon Hyde said at his season-ending press conference. “I know there's gonna be plans in place. When we saw Trevor a few years ago in Miami, it looked like what we saw the first night here in the Wild Card. It was 97, 98, really, really good stuff. We know what's in there.

“I know we're gonna be diving in with him. They already have been diving in with him this offseason. We're excited about the upside of Trevor. Try to get him back to that All-Star form.”

What happens here? 

A. Rogers breaks camp in the rotation.
B. Rogers breaks camp as a long reliever.
C. Rogers is optioned in spring training.
D. Rogers is traded to the Marlins for Norby and Stowers.

Jorge Mateo underwent reconstructive elbow surgery on Aug. 28 and finally was declared out for the rest of the season. We’ve been told that he should be ready for Opening Day.

That’s good news, but for whom? Besides Mateo, of course.

Mateo is eligible for arbitration with a projected raise to $3.2 million. He’s going to be a backup if he’s on the club unless there’s an injury. Maybe that whole super-utility thing actually happens and he’s also used in the outfield. But until I see it, I'm not falling for that or a banana in the tailpipe.

What happens here?

A. Mateo is tendered a contract and stays with the Orioles.
B. Mateo is non-tendered, cast into free agency and signs with another club.
C. Mateo is non-tendered, but the Orioles negotiate a new contract that pays less than $3.2 million.
D. Mateo retires and is hired as a roving baserunning instructor.

The Orioles need a backup catcher. Every team has one and this is no time to be different.

James McCann is a highly respected veteran catcher who’s a free agent. Both sides seem open to consummating a new deal.

What happens here?

A. The Orioles sign McCann to a one-year deal, perhaps with an option.
B. The Orioles sign or trade for a different backup on a major league or minor league deal.
C. The Orioles stay in-house and break camp with one of the catchers in their organization.
D. The Orioles sign McCann to a four-year, $40.6 million deal and trade him to the Mets halfway through it.