The Brewers sprayed champagne late Wednesday night in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field, and baseball’s offseason business began to flow.

Some teams might be in a rush with a lockout looming on Dec. 1. Some teams might want to hit the pause button early rather than make financial commitments. Everyone is obligated to meet certain deadlines.

Free agency commenced yesterday, but with a caveat. Players can’t sign with other teams for at least five days. That’s the exclusive negotiating window.

Also during this team, teams and players must decide what to do with options and opt-outs. Closer Ryan Helsley exercised his option yesterday morning. Zach Eflin’s contract includes a mutual option. The Orioles hold a $7.5 million option on Ryan Mountcastle’s deal and inherited a $20 million option on Luis Robert Jr. They included a $3.5 million option and $125,000 buyout in reliever Dietrich Enns’ contract.

The Orioles seem more likely to use the $2 million buyout with Robert, who’s been injured and has declining production, but they could try to negotiate a more team-friendly deal to hold onto a right-handed bat with some thump who can play center field.

(It became breaking news last night that the Orioles are expected to decline the option. Also breaking is how the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.)

The deadline to make $23.15 million qualifying offers to eligible players also arrives on Monday, and Rogers is the only Orioles free agent in the running for one. Veteran starter Chris Bassitt and relievers Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin also became free agents yesterday – Akin for the first time. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July and would need a two-year contract.

Players also must be reinstated from the 60-day injured list, with corresponding 40-man roster moves needed to create space. Helsley, Kyle Bradish, Colin Selby, Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill will go back on the 40-man, which was full before yesterday.

Free agents don’t count against it. Rogers, Bassitt, Kittredge and Akin dropped off.

Infielder José Barrero was removed from the 40-man roster and elected free agency, per MLB write Francys Romero, after appearing in two games with the Orioles in the final week of the season and going 1-for-6 with three strikeouts.

Barrero, a native of Cuba, hit 23 home runs in 124 games with Triple-A Norfolk but also posted a .202 average and .705 OPS. He struck out 140 times.

ESPN reports that the Super Two arbitration cutoff has been set at major league service of 2 years and 133 days.

These players received an extra year of arbitration eligibility before reaching free agency.

That’s a tough break for Orioles reliever Rico Garcia, who’s at 2 years and 130 days. Garcia earned $900,000 this season after leading the club with 75 appearances and posting a 3.09 ERA and 0.970 WHIP with 10 saves over 67 innings.

MLBTradeRumors.com ran a list of the top 40 trade candidates of the offseason. Not a single Oriole in the group.

The site also posted “others to watch,” and that’s where the Orioles jumped into the conversation.

Keep an eye on Robert, Colton Cowser, Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo.

Trading Holliday would be a surprising development, but we could say the same about catcher Adley Rutschman leading up to the deadline, and the infield is crowded with Jordan Westburg’s return.

Cowser is a plus defender who can play anywhere in the outfield but has gone from fifth-overall draft pick and runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year to a platoon player. Mayo mashed left-handers, slashing .322/.393/.712 and hitting 16 of his 24 home runs against them. His value is up again and regular at-bats are harder to attain on this roster with Pete Alonso at first base and a cluster at third, but Mayo can be a lethal weapon even in part-time duty.

As always, the front office will “listen on” anyone and see whether it’s blown away by an offer.