Former O’s catcher Robinson Chirinos and possible Brandon Hyde replacement Buck Britton are among the newcomers for the 2025 coaching staff.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The MLB hot stove remains on more of a low simmer so far. A starting pitcher came off the board yesterday with free agent Yusei Kikuchi reaching agreement with the Angels on a three-year, $63 million deal. I was mildly intrigued by the idea of Kikuchi in an Orioles uniform, but at that price, no thanks. The O’s will continue to search elsewhere for starting pitching help.
The Orioles did make some news yesterday by announcing their 2025 coaching staff, which includes a spate of changes from last year. As had been previously reported, the O’s will employ three hitting instructors, with Cody Asche holding the official role of hitting coach, Tommy Joseph as assistant hitting coach, and Sherman Johnson the wordy title of assistant hitting coach/upper level hitting coordinator.
The two most intriguing additions are Robinson Chirinos as bench coach, replacing Fredi Gonzalez, and longtime O’s organizational player and coach Buck Britton joining the staff as an unspecified major league coach. Chirinos, who ended his 11-year playing career with one season as an Oriole in 2022, was by all accounts a popular teammate and a great role model for then-rookie Adley Rutschman. This will be his first coaching experience, but as a former catcher he knows the game inside and out, and if he can help restore the good vibes that the 2022 club had — which the 2024 Orioles seemed to be missing, especially in the second half — then it seems to be a good hire. Bonus points if he can work some magic to get Adley back on track.
As for Britton, the O’s have been molding him as a future big league skipper for some time. He’s ascended the rungs of the minor league managerial ladder, starting with Low-A Delmarva in 2018, moving to Double-A Bowie from 2019-2021, and then Triple-A Norfolk from 2022-24. He could be Brandon Hyde’s heir apparent — and maybe sooner rather than later if the Orioles get off to a slow start in 2025. Nearly every member of the O’s young core played for Britton at some point in their minor league careers, so he’ll be welcomed into the Orioles clubhouse with open arms.
How much impact will the new coaches — or any coaches — have on the Orioles’ on-field record next season? Your guess is as good as mine. But on paper, it seems like a pretty good staff.
Links
Orioles Announce 2025 Major League coaching staff – MLB.com
Jake Rill has more details about the Orioles’ coaches. TIL that there’s someone named “Mitch Plassmeyer” on the O’s staff, and that he was here in 2024, too. Who knew?
Should Orioles bring back Austin Hays? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
That’s gonna be a no for me.
Latest Elias interview reviews shopping list and preference to hold onto top prospects – School of Roch
Mike Elias says he expects the market to heat up at the Winter Meetings, which start Dec. 8. So don’t worry about missing any major hot stove action while you’re devouring your Thanksgiving dinner.
Blue Jays Interested In Anthony Santander, Corbin Burnes – MLB Trade Rumors
This headline made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with two former Orioles: lefty John Parrish (47) and second baseman Harold Reynolds (64).
On this date in 1962, the Orioles made the best Rule 5 pick in franchise history, selecting 18-year-old outfielder Paul Blair from the Mets’ system. The Rule 5 draft worked differently back then and teams were allowed to select players who had only been playing professionally for one year, like Blair, whom the Mets had signed as an amateur in 1961. Blair arrived in the bigs for good in 1965 and spent the next dozen years as the greatest defensive center fielder the O’s ever had, winning eight Gold Gloves while carrying a perfectly capable bat to go with it.