The non-tender deadline has passed, the Baysox have a new logo, and scoping out the free agent arms.
Good Morning, Birdland!
It feels like the offseason is truly starting to kick off now. Nearly all of the players that were given the qualifying offer are now free agents. The non-tender deadline has passed, which created another batch of interesting free agents. Even a somewhat big trade went down between the Reds and Royals. Things are happening!
The Orioles are still hanging out in the background, with most teams. They did see Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander turn down the QO earlier in the week, and then on Friday the front office decided against tendering Jacob Webb a contract for 2025. The Webb news was somewhat surprising, but not earth-shaking. Middle relievers, unfortunately, occupy the most volatile and replaceable position in the sport. This is the second time that we have learned that reality this offseason, the first was when the Orioles declined a team option on lefty Danny Coulombe earlier in November.
If we are trying to read between the lines, it certainly feels like Mike Elias is angling to rebuild the bullpen in some way this winter, preferably one that is more flexible than it was in 2024. Webb and Coulombe were both good for the Orioles, and they were both out of minor league options. Replacing them with younger players could serve to deepen the ‘pen overall and also avoid any sort of negative regression that may have been coming for those two.
What also seems a fair estimation in relation to these moves is that the Orioles will not be investing too many free agent dollars into their bullpen this winter. They already have some pricey arms in the relief corps. Seranthony Domínguez is due $8 million in 2025. Gregory Soto is projected to get $5.6 million in arbitration. The fact that Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano are still so cheap is a nice makeweight in that regard. But it’s not so much the money as it is the flexibility concern. Veteran free agents are inherently rigid. They don’t ride the Norfolk shuttle. And it’s not like there are a ton of options out there that are going to be undoubtedly better than Webb or Coulombe would have been for much cheaper in 2025.
So, what happens next? In the bullpen, probably not much. Expect Elias to do some dumpster diving on the periphery of the roster. Maybe there will be a veteran that is still available on the cheap come February. Otherwise, the O’s are probably rocking with what they have plus some guys we have never heard of. That seems fine, and it puts the team in a position where they can evaluate things throughout 2025 and look to bolster the bullpen by the time the trade deadline rolls around in July.
Links
Just how risky do the Orioles’ want to be when it comes to free agent pitching? | The Baltimore Banner
Mike Elias is yet to dish out a big contract, and it feels unlikely that the first time he does so will be for a free agent starting pitcher. But times have also changed. The time for the Orioles to strike is now. The young core is here, it’s productive, and it’s cheap. There is room in the budget to splurge, and this team clearly needs rotation help.
Meet the Chesapeake Baysox! Orioles’ Double-A affiliate gets a new look | MLB.com
Do these regional rebrands work? Is there someone in the area saying they cannot get behind a team called “Bowie” but is emphatic about the “Chesapeake” location? I suppose that at the very least it could improve the amount of merch sold. Adding a crab and the Maryland flag to the logo is a proven winner around these parts.
Revisiting Orioles bullpen after Webb’s non-tender | Roch Kubatko
Roch digs into the bullpen a bit more. It is probably wise for Elias to not run back the exact same crew as 2024. Some slippage is to be expected, even with Bautista coming back. But he did get rid of two of the better arms rather than the fringier ones. Let’s see if it works out!
Orioles starters excelled despite tough circumstances in 2024 | The Warehouse Podcast
At times, I am a shameless shill. This is one of those times. Here is the latest episode of my podcast, where I ramble for nearly 40 minutes about the Orioles’ rotation in 2024 and where they go in 2025. Check it out if you want. Or not. Enjoy your Saturday.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Brandon Snyder turns 38 today. A former first-round pick, Snyder played in 16 games with the Orioles from 2010-11. He returned to the organization in 2015, but only played at the minor league level.
- Justin Turner is 40. The Orioles were Turner’s first big league team, playing in 17 games between 2009 and ‘10. He has since gone on to a really good career that has spanned five more organizations and seen him make two all-star teams. At the moment, he is a free agent looking to bring his 114 OPS+ from 2024 to a new club.
- Adam Eaton is 47 years old. The right-handed pitcher made it to Baltimore near the end of his 10-year MLB career. He played in just eight games for the 2009 O’s.
- Ryan McGuire turns 53. His Orioles career lasted just 17 games in 2002.
- The late Todd Cruz (b. 1955, d. 2008) was born on this day. Between 1983 and ‘84, Cruz was a defense-first third baseman for the Orioles. Along with Rich Dauer and Rick Dempsey at the bottom of the O’s lineup, he formed what was referred to as “The Three Stooges,” a loving dig from Ken Singleton about how poor the trio performed at the plate.
- It’s a posthumous birthday for John Anderson (b. 1929, d. 1998). He pitched in four games for the 1960 Orioles.
This day in history
Baseball Reference doesn’t mention anything of note happening on this date for the Orioles. So, instead, here are some happenings from beyond Birdland:
1963 – The first episode of Doctor Who is broadcast by the BBC. The show is now the world’s longest running science fiction drama.
1976 – Jacques Mayol becomes the first man to reach a depth of 100 meters undersea without breathing equipment.
1992 – The first smartphone, the IBM Simon, is introduced.