-1745819772711.png){kind=logo}
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is aware that the roster could undergo more changes before players begin reporting to spring training. He also insists that it didn’t need much work.
“I felt good about this club when I initially took this job,” he said at Friday’s Birdland Caravan event at the warehouse.
It’s true. But Albernaz’s hiring came before the Orioles signed first baseman Pete Alonso, closer Ryan Helsley and starter Zach Eflin and traded for outfielder Taylor Ward, starter Shane Baz and set-up man Andrew Kittredge.
The cupboard is better stocked, but it wasn’t close to bare.
“That just speaks to the team that Mike (Elias) and his group have constructed, both in the player development side and acquisition side,” Albernaz said.
“What I love about Mike and his crew is that they’re identifying how to get our team better and they’re not just trying to win the offseason, which is signing everyone. They’re very thoughtful and calculated on the type of people we’re bringing in in the clubhouse, but also how they fit with the players we already have.”
Attempts are made to sign or trade for another starter, and perhaps an offer to Framber Valdez that includes fewer years and a higher annual average value gets a deal done, if the Orioles don’t mind surrendering a draft pick in exchange.
In the meantime, Albernaz can plug in Baz and Eflin, whenever the latter is ready after undergoing back surgery in August.
“Bringing back Eflin, one, he’s such a great clubhouse guy and person, work ethic. And for him, he’s gonna have a bounceback year,” Albernaz said.
“He said it himself, battling some injuries last year and not having the year that he wanted, so he put a ton of work in this offseason. I’m excited about what he can do. And obviously, you bring in a talent like Shane Baz. I have a little bit of history with him seeing him with the Rays. It was only for a little bit, but the stuff jumps out. And he’s such a competitor. Even at a young age when I was around him, he was just different than his counterparts at the same age.
“So bringing two guys in like that to support the rest of the starting pitching group, it’s going to be fun to watch.”
Where competitions play out will become evident in spring training. The bullpen isn’t set. The position side is much closer to it, but that could change with one move.
“That’s the beauty of me coming in year one, fresh eyes,” Albernaz said. “Something I always say, our guys have put in a ton of work in the offseason and they’ve made changes, they’re trying to get better. And I want to see where they’re at and kind of go from there.
“Hopefully, we have competition all over the field. That’s a good thing. That means our guys are competing and getting better.”
Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson are two players who could be fighting for jobs in Sarasota. Mayo joins a crowd at first base and might get some reps in right field. Jackson might have a shot at a utility role if there’s room for a player with that skill set.
Albernaz is new, but he knows about Mayo’s raw power and the sore hamstring last year.
“Coby is doing a lot of great work this offseason,” he said. “I’m excited to kind of see where he’s at. He was dealing with a little injury last year, too, and he’s definitely trying to prove himself, especially with the minor league track record he has. I’m just excited to see him play.
“With J.J., being new to the kind of utility role-type deal because he’s such a dynamic athlete, that’s going to be something we’re going to talk about and have him get comfortable and see what that plan looks like for him. He can do a lot of different things, so guys like that make the team impactful and kind of help everyone else play.”
Albernaz has engaged in long conversations with his players to learn more about them, what they want to get out of the season and how to go about it.
“It’s been awesome,” he said. “It’s been really cool to talk to them. I’ve said this before, but going into these conversations, I’m expecting to be like 15 minutes and they’ve been an hour for each one, so it’s very telling of where they’re at and also where they want this season to be.
“Everyone’s saying the same thing as far as getting back to playing their brand of baseball. They finished strong last year. Well, we finished strong last year. We just want to keep the momentum going.”
Early impressions of Albernaz include his propensity for referencing the boys – he caught himself doing it at the Caravan - and what he intends to do for them. He was asked whether there are any “non-negotiables” when they arrive at the ballpark.
“Just showing up,” he said.
“It’s tough to really have like non-negotiables. And I think where there’s bad culture, there is a ton of rules, and then when there’s a good culture, the rules simplify, right? That’s the biggest thing with us is, we already have great dudes in the clubhouse. It’s allowing them to be themselves. And more importantly, they want to show up to the field every day. They look forward to going to the field. It’s not a job, it’s not a chore. They really enjoy being around each other, being at the yard, and that’s something with our guys, that’s not going to be an issue.”
Don’t expect Albernaz to single out anyone as peaking his interest in camp.
Is there anyone he’s really intrigued about seeing?
“All of them,” he replied without hesitation.
“I haven’t seen these guys up close, just being in the other dugout, so I’m excited about seeing all of them. Even the guys we brought in, like Pete and Taylor, you want to see how they mesh with the group. I’m just as giddy as anyone just to see all our boys play out there.”
Yes, the boys. They seem enthused about having Albernaz in charge.
"Had to give him a hard time on the accent a little bit," said shortstop Gunnar Henderson. “Yeah, I enjoy hearing him say my name because I remember when he first got hired, he was like, my name's gonna be the most fun to pronounce. But he's been great. He seems like a really great guy. The interactions we've had today have been great. I’m super pumped to have him along and really looking forward to getting into it with him.”
“We’ve had some great conversations,” catcher Samuel Basallo said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “He seems like a great guy, and looking forward to getting to know him a little bit better. It seems like he gets along really well with the guys, so I’m looking forward to working with him this year throughout the season and getting to know him a little bit better.”
“I’ve gotten to have a couple of chats with him and he’s awesome,” said outfielder Dylan Beavers. “I can’t wait to get to work with him, and he seems super excited, too. It’ll be great.”
“I really like him so far,” said Tyler Wells, who could start or relieve this season. “I think that he’s a straight shooter and I think that is really important in this line of work. All the conversations I’ve had with him have been very, I guess like, very intentful with what we are trying to continue to refine as an approach with everything going into spring training. I think that has been very clear for a lot of us and kind of set the standard for us in a good way.
“For us, he expects us to show up and work every single day, but he wants us to go in there and he wants us to be intentful with our time. He wants us to be intentful with the relationships that we have with our teammates, and he wants us to go out there on the baseball field and do the fundamentals right. And I think that he’s doing everything where, he made it very clear that to win ballgames, that’s exactly what we need to do.”
