SARASOTA – Coby Mayo understands why the Orioles pursued free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso and made an aggressive pitch with a $155 million offer for the five-time All-Star.

“They went after a big fish and they got him,” Mayo said this morning.

Mayo isn’t reeling from it, even though he doesn’t have a clear path to regular playing time after batting .301 with a .941 OPS in 24 September games. Alonso is a powerful obstacle at first and Jordan Westburg is tabbed as the regular third baseman, though he tweaked his oblique three weeks ago and those injuries tend to linger.

“Not frustrating at all,” Mayo said. “I mean, Pete Alonso is one of the best first basemen in the league and as a player on this team, you’ve got to be super happy for this organization, for the fans.

“As far as myself, I’ve just got to play well. I think if I play well … there’s gonna be opportunities there no matter what.”

A decline in at-bats can’t be blamed on Mayo. His final month impressed, but he’s a victim of circumstances.

“I was really proud, the way I finished last year. Really, really proud,” he said. “It gave me confidence knowing going into the offseason that I can be a really good big league player in this league. Not just offensively but defensively. I thought I played really good at first, thought I carried myself well throughout that month.

“We were going into Toronto in early September and I think I was hitting like .180 or .185 with a sub-.600 OPS, and saying to myself, ‘Man, I don’t want to finish the year like this. I’ve got to get out of this somehow.’ And me and (John) Mabry talked for like two hours pregame, just about hitting, and I don’t know what clicked, but something must have clicked and finished that month really, really well.”

Because Mayo gets the business side of baseball, he’s thought about the possibility of joining another team. He has value and the roster also holds Ryan Mountcastle and Samuel Basallo, who can play first when he isn’t catching or serving as the designated hitter.

“It’s no surprise that there could be trades happening,” Mayo said. “It wouldn’t be a shocker to anybody, so you kind of know the situation you’re in and you have to not worry about the future. Kind of live in the moment. And that’s what I kind of did all offseason, just worried about where my feet were at and working really hard in the gym and in the cages and at the field. Just trying to be the best player I can be and whatever happens, happens. But right now I’m here and trying to do what I can to help the team out.”

Mayo will try to learn from Alonso, whether through conversations or observations.

“I think he’s made a good living for himself hitting in this league,” Mayo said. “He’s been really good defensively, too, with all his picks and saving runs. I think you can learn a lot from a big league talent like him. I’m excited to get working with him a little bit and see where all that goes.”

Mayo could shag fly balls in the outfield corners later in camp, but he’s busy taking grounders at first and third base. The Orioles moved him across the diamond last summer, only to consider expanding his role if he’s on the club.

“I’ve been working at third a good bit right now,” he said. “First obviously still. As far as other positions, not yet. I haven’t heard anything. But whatever they kind of want me to do, I’m gonna do and just try to be available for any position they want me to play.”

Mayo already had to make adjustments going from third to first and now must work in reverse.

“First was great,” Mayo said. “Third, it was a little different just because of the throwing aspect. You’re not taking those reps every day at third throwing across. The footwork’s a little different, you don’t have as much time, so it’s a little different, but you kind of get going a little bit once the days go on.”

* Dean Kremer threw live batting practice on the main field, with Basallo his first hitter. Basallo swung at the first pitch and sent a sharp ground ball into right field, with no infielders to stop it.

Kremer struck out Alonso with an off-speed pitch during the “inning.” Alonso could be heard saying, “Oh, good pitch.”

Dylan Beavers, the next batter, also struck out on what appeared to be the same pitch.

Shane Baz replaced Kremer, and Alonso either lined a “single” into left field or lined out to the phantom left fielder.

Kremer came back out to resume his session and continued to look sharp. He struck out Payton Eeles for his final batter.

Baz didn’t get another up. Eric Torres and Keagan Gillies also pitched.

“This will be like my third day and got a little live today, so I woke up, bounced out of bed. I was ready to go,” Baz said.

“Just meeting everybody, almost everybody. I’ve really enjoyed talking baseball with them, talking approach. I just love the energy in here. It seems like the personalities are great. Just seems like a really good place.”

The pitching coaches came up with a couple adjustments for Baz that they delivered in the offseason.

“Super helpful to get it early and just be able to work on it at home, as well as here,” he said.

Asked to be more specific, Baz smiled and said, “I’m gonna try to hold my cards close to my chest right now.”

“I’m sure it’ll be seen and I’ll talk about it more,” he said, “but I’m gonna keep my cards close to my chest right now.”

* Reliever Colin Selby is encouraged by the progress he’s making from shoulder inflammation that’s going to force him onto the injured list. He estimated that he’s only a couple of weeks behind.

“I think we’re on a good path right now,” said Selby, who appeared in 11 games last season and registered a 3.21 ERA over 14 innings. “I think we’re gonna be good to go. Maybe start some mound work in a couple weeks.”

Selby strained his left hamstring in late July and didn’t pitch again until Sept. 23 and 26, tossing three scoreless innings with one hit allowed and no walks. But the shoulder discomfort became noticeable toward the end of the season.

“I was dealing with that a little bit,” he said, “and then the hamstring thing came back, so I just wanted to finish strong and then work on this in the offseason.”

Selby began throwing in the offseason when he’d typically ramp up and the shoulder didn’t respond to it.

“We shut it down for a little bit and then I came down here in December, started working with Kyle (Corrick) and felt like we got some pretty good work in, so I think we’re on a good path. We’ve got a good plan,” Selby said.

“I think we’re playing it by ear a little bit still,” Selby said, “but I don’t think it’s gonna be a lot of time or anything.”

* The Orioles traded Andrew Kittredge to the Cubs at the deadline for minor league shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz and got him back in November in a cash transaction.

It never occurred to him that he’d return.

“I probably didn’t think about that,” he said. “Just kind of take it day-by day, year-by-year, see kind of how it goes. That’s kind of the life of a reliever.”

Kittredge will play a key role in the bullpen as a high-leverage set-up man. He’s one of the few locks among the group. Some others are more like assumptions or just tossed into the competition.

“Just being around a lot of the guys last year, young guys that kind of got their feet wet, so to speak, just a lot of talent,” Kittredge said. “And then bringing guys like (Ryan) Helsley in. I had a chance to play with Dietrich (Enns) back in Tampa and was able to see what he can do. Helsley a couple years ago, we had a really good time in the St. Louis bullpen. So a lot to be excited about.”

Kittredge is thrilled to be reunited with Helsley, who led the majors with 49 saves in 2024.

“He’s great,” Kittredge said. “Just a great teammate, hard worker, no ego. Just honestly the kind of teammate you want. I’ve got nothing but great things to say about him as a teammate and a friend.

“I consider him a friend. We played together the one year, and just excited to get to play with him again.”