Three more Orioles questions that linger (O's reach agreement with Kittredge on one-year deal)

The passing days bring us closer to spring training and the resolution to some burning issues, but other answers aren’t forthcoming until much later. Until games are played and the summer months lead us to fall.

Here are a few more.

How will Tomoyuki Sugano adjust to the majors?

Sugano also must adjust to life in the U.S. This isn’t only about baseball.

Speaking of baseball, it’s going to be different from the one used in Japan. It won’t be tacky, it’s slightly smaller and the seams are smaller.  

The Orioles don’t think it’s a big deal and are paying him $13 million.

Sugano has transitioned into a low-90s fastball pitcher with a broad secondary mix that includes a cutter, slider, sinker, curveball and splitter. But especially impressive is his command, which the Oriole are counting on to stay with him. He’s averaged 1.7 walks per nine innings in 12 seasons in the Japan Central League.

Sugano walked only 16 batters last year in 156 2/3 innings and he’s a pitch-to-contact guy at 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

“I’m obviously not a guy who throws 100 mph, but I’m very confident in my control, command, my pitch mix,” he said via agent Shawn Novak in his video call. “That’s why I’ve had a lot of success in Japan, and I’m not looking to really change anything now. I want to use my pitch selection, my pitch mix, my command to pitch in the States and see where it takes me from there.”

Which starters are moved to the bullpen?

Any discussions about the rotation are done with trepidation due to the possibility that it’s going to change again.

The Orioles might not be done after signing Sugano and 41-year-old Charlie Morton. They could find a No. 1 starter in a trade, which might require moving a pitcher as part of the return.

Sugano and Morton currently are in a group with Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer. Albert Suárez made 24 starts last season, Cade Povich made 16 as a rookie and Trevor Rogers made four after the Orioles traded for him. The Orioles won’t go with an eight-man rotation. I have doubts about six early in the season.

Suárez is out of options and looks like a swingman. The Orioles are developing Povich as a starter and likely would put him in Triple-A Norfolk’s rotation if he doesn’t break camp with them, though we used to view DL Hall that way and he kept winding up in the ‘pen. They acquired Rogers to be a starter, but they have the freedom to option him.

Chayce McDermott made his first major league start last season and Brandon Young is waiting for his debut. They must be included in these discussions.

I only feel confident about Suárez.

Can the Orioles count on Jorge Mateo for Opening Day?

The break-camp roster would undergo a significant change if Mateo is on the injured list.

Mateo underwent surgery in late August to repair his left elbow, the exact description being an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with internal brace and flexor repair. He isn’t a pitcher and it wasn’t his throwing arm, so a return in late March is possible.

The injury was classified as a left elbow subluxation, which happened on July 23 when Mateo collided with Gunnar Henderson while chasing a ball up the middle at loanDepot park in Miami. The Orioles had to wait for the swelling to go down and be convinced that he couldn’t return from it before the surgery.

Mateo was tendered a contract but didn't sign - he's reportedly seeking $4 million and the club is offering $3.1 million - and the Orioles seem confident that he can get ready, even if he isn’t full-go on the report date. Maybe he is. We’re about six weeks away.

What happens if he hits the IL?

The Orioles could carry an extra outfielder, since Mateo is expected to back up beyond the infield. They could carry a different infielder who presently seems to be squeezed out of the picture.

* I wanted to share Brian Matusz's obituary and information on donations in lieu of flowers:

Brian Matusz, beloved son, brother, teammate, and friend, passed away on January 6, 2025, leaving a legacy of love, passion, and excellence. Born in Grand Junction, Colorado, Brian moved to Arizona at just one year old, where he began his lifelong love affair with baseball.

As a child, Brian could often be found at the Little League fields, first watching his older brother play and later carving out his own path in the sport. At just 8 years old, he would spend all day at the fields before heading home to play catch with his dad or brother. By age 12, he was already making his mark, pitching six innings and hitting three home runs in the district championship game.

Brian’s talent flourished at St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix, where he earned First-Team All-State honors in his junior and senior years and was named Arizona Player of the Year in 2005. His exceptional skills earned him a scholarship to the University of San Diego, where he became one of the top pitchers in college baseball. In 2008, he led the nation in strikeouts, was named Rivals Pitcher of the Year, and set the school’s all-time strikeout record.

The Baltimore Orioles drafted Brian 4th overall in the 2008 amateur draft, and he made his Major League debut on August 4, 2009, at Tigers Stadium in Detroit, surrounded by 35 friends and family members. Over eight seasons in the MLB, Brian played with the Orioles and the Chicago Cubs, leaving a significant mark both on and off the field. He was a key player in the Orioles’ playoff runs in 2012 and 2014 and was named the Orioles nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2015, honoring his dedication to community service.

Brian’s commitment to giving back extended beyond the baseball diamond. Since 2009, he was a cherished part of the Casey Cares Foundation, where his kindness and gentle spirit touched the lives of critically ill children and their families. Whether visiting children in the hospital, playing wiffle ball at events, or welcoming families to the field, Brian always made time to connect with others through his warm smile and genuine compassion.

Off the field, Brian was a man of many passions. He loved driving his 1968 Camaro, golfing ambidextrously, playing basketball, and cheering on his Arizona Cardinals. His friendships spanned decades, from Little League and high school teammates to his college years at USD and his time with the Orioles.

Brian is survived by his loving mother, Elizabeth; his father, Mike; his brother, Christopher, and sister-in-law, Katelyn; his grandmother Eleanor, his cousins, Ken, Doug, James, Brendon, Elizabeth, Adam, Kyle, Drew, Noah, Robert, Michael, Evan, and Lauren; and many aunts and uncles across the country. He also leaves behind countless friends and teammates who cherished his camaraderie and warmth.

A celebration of Brian's life will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6180 W Utopia Road, Glendale, AZ 85308, on Friday, January 24th. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a Mass and Celebration of Life to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Casey Cares Foundationhttps://www.caseycares.org/news/loving-memory-brian-matusz  in honor of Brian’s enduring commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

Brian Matusz will forever be remembered for his love of the game, his big heart, and the countless lives he touched. He was a tremendous blessing to this world and will be deeply missed.

* News broke around midnight that the Orioles reached agreement on a one-year deal with veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge, 34, that is worth $9 million and includes a $9 million club option and $1 million buyout. The Athletic first reported it.

Kittredge is a former 45th-round draft pick of the Mariners in 2008. He pitched for the Rays from 2017-23 and spent last season with the Cardinals, when he set a career high with 74 appearances and posted a 2.80 ERA and 1.132 WHIP in 70 2/3 innings. He was an All-Star in 2021.

Kittredge has a career 3.44 ERA in 255 games. Though he brings closing experience, he’s going to serve as a set-up man and some insurance behind Félix Bautista, who’s returning from Tommy John surgery.

Kittredge underwent his own ligament-reconstructive elbow surgery in 2022, limiting him to 14 appearances the following year, but he handled a heavy workload last summer and brought the usual swing-and-miss stuff. His slider produces a 41.3 percent whiff rate per FanGraphs.

Right-handers hit .188 with a .538 OPS against him last season, and left-handers hit .296 with a .908 OPS.

The Orioles have their fifth major league signing after outfielder Tyler O’Neill, catcher Gary Sánchez and pitchers Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton. They've sent $96 million.

The bullpen was a priority with the subtractions of Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb. The club could remain in the market for another left-hander.