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The All-Star break doesn’t provide much rest for those of us covering the draft, tracking Ryan O’Hearn and emptying a mailbag.
The last pick in the draft was announced Monday evening. Major League Baseball did something right, getting rid of Day 3. O’Hearn was the designated hitter for the American League, and as I told him would happen, I tuned out the second after he came out.
That’s the luxury of “covering” it from home. I was in Texas last year for five Orioles representatives, plus Gunnar Henderson in the Home Run Derby.
Baseball has the best All-Star Game of the major sports, but nothing compares to the Midsummer Classics of my youth, with future Hall of Famers all over the field wearing their teams’ uniforms. (Nice to see that second part come back last night.) And prior to interleague play, which removed the novelty of the American League facing the National League outside of the World Series.
Also, get off my lawn.
A bunch of you got in my mailbag, and here are my responses, with the usual disdain for editing and the disclaimers about it. You ask, I try to answer, and we have another sequel to the beloved 2008 original that university professors recite in their “Study of Mailbag” lectures.
Also, my mailbag gets drafted in the first round and your mailbag gets stuck buying another round at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Now that we are 43-52 at the All-Star break, is it safe to assume that we will be only sellers at the trade deadline?
You know what happens when you assume. Each time that I’m ready to bury the Orioles, they push an arm through the dirt and make me wonder whether they’re back. A sweep last weekend gets them only five games below .500, but they lose the last two by a combined 17-1 … and at home … and to the Marlins, whose only recognizable names were former Orioles. The real issue is that seven teams are ahead of the Orioles for the last Wild Card and the trade deadline is July 31. Mike Elias needs to be convinced that they can make a run, but is that still possible with the deadline July 31? I don’t know whether it’s “safe,” but the odds favor your instincts.
Do the Orioles have a workout program for players for the offseason? Or are they on their own with an honor system?
It depends on the player. The Orioles send some guys home with a winter workout plan, which can involve conditioning or specific areas that need improvement. Trevor Rogers knew what he had to focus on at home. Other players are on their own, trusted to stay in shape and avoid sketchy nutrition shops. That trust factor really applies to those living outside the country. Players have their “exit interviews” as the season nears a close. Or at least they did. I assume it’s still a thing.
Would everyone be happy if we drafted only pitchers?
No. The same goes for drafting only hitters. The same goes for a 50-50 split. The only way to please everyone is to let them do the drafting.
The year is 2047. Kyle Stowers has just hit his 763rd career home run. Meanwhile, 50-year-old Trevor Rogers has just won his 512th career game. Will Nashville Orioles’ fans still be mad about the trade, or will they recognize that trading Barry Bonds for Cy Young probably worked out for both parties?
There’s too much to unpack here. Nashville? That can’t possibly still be a thing. I do love the idea of Stowers and Rogers becoming legends in the same trade. Quick, name a past deal that resulted in both players making the Hall of Fame, and before they already were on the threshold. My head immediately went to Roberto Alomar for Fred McGriff, if that one meets my criteria. But I digress … Fans were venting on social media about Stowers hitting three home runs Sunday despite the fact that Rogers is pitching like the staff ace. That’s just how it works.
Is there an unwritten rule where teams cannot trade their only All-Star representative before the game occurs?
You mean like not bunting to break up a no-hitter or stealing second base with a big lead? Or saying, “Man, this game is moving along quickly” in the press box, which inevitably leads to long rallies with multiple pitching changes? A general manager is gonna make that deal if there’s a short window to do it. But yeah, it would be poor timing and, ideally, a trade that you’d put on hold. Just imagine O'Hearn getting introduced last night, stepping out of the box and being motioned back to the dugout.
Are the Orioles cooked or what?
The heat is on. They need to get red hot coming out of the break and hope that it isn’t too late.
Is there any conversation about extending Mike Elias’s contract to put the offseason firing rumors to rest?
Does a team make that kind of a move just to shut people up? Here’s the thing about the contract: We don’t know length, money or any of that stuff. We don’t know how much was left on former manager Brandon Hyde’s deal. The Orioles don’t share. We only received confirmation about past extensions because Elias and Hyde still had jobs. Elias is expected back in 2026. What you’re hearing about an offseason firing is more opinion than rumor. This is the risk of being on social media. I don't recommend it unless absolutely necessary, or it leads you to School of Roch.
Any thoughts on Lil Slayyy's music?
I haven’t gotten around to listening. But one of these dayyys.
In terms of likeliness to be traded, how do you rank Eflin, Morton, Sugano?
I’ve always felt that Eflin was most likely, and would fetch the most, but teams must be convinced that he’s healthy and can stay that way after two trips to the injured list. Morton has become an unlikely chip after a horrible start to his Orioles career. I’d rank Sugano third on this list because of his decline, but he looked a little better in his last outing. I think you got it right in your question.
Are the Orioles ever gonna host the All-Star Game?
The three certainties in life: Death, taxes, and the commissioner saying the Orioles are "in the conversation." He reportedly did it again yesterday. It's become a running joke. (The judges also will accept "a viable candidate.") But the ownership change and plans to renovate Camden Yards present the best odds, with 2028 the earliest possible year.
Why did our draft suck?
You’re already grading it? I know, I know, you were joking. The Day 1 haul was really impressive. The first four picks were players expected to go higher. Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy landing with the Orioles at No. 31 was like catching a falling star. MLB Pipeline ranked him 17th.
Matt Blood have any thoughts on why Aloy dropped? Do they expect to sign everyone?
It’s two, two, two questions in one! Blood didn’t address Aloy, but there was talk about the kid chasing too much, leading to high strikeout totals. Also, some concerns about inconsistency. Apparent red flags for some scouts. But I’ll say it – he’s a steal at 31, at the plate and in the field. This was a tremendous pick. I don’t have an answer to the signing part. Blood wasn’t asked. There doesn’t appear to be an obvious signability issue in the group. No one expected to go much higher who dropped.
Is it lunacy to label Félix Bautista’s 100-mph pitch a “sinker” when its vertical drop in much less than his splitter? (The acceptable answer is yes, yes it is.)
Well, you took care of that one for me. Maybe more readers should just answer their own questions, though it might ruin the whole point of a mailbag. Also ... yes, yes it is.
Have you been given any updates on Nate George, when we should expect his promotion up to Aberdeen?
You didn’t need to use “up.” You don’t get promoted down. It’s like saying “whittle down.” You’re welcome. The Orioles don’t normally let us know in advance when they plan on moving up players, but George is batting .337/.391/.515 with seven doubles, four triples and a home run in 25 games with Class A Delmarva. He also stole 17 bases, though he was caught nine times. And this is after he tore up the Florida Complex League (.383/.451/.556 in 23 games.) He looks like a five-tool player but he’s only 19. He’s moving at an acceptable pace, especially for a 16th-round pick.
How many of the injured pitchers do you anticipate pitching for the Orioles this season?
All of them. Albert Suárez seems to be the farthest away, though I don’t have any Cody Poteet updates and haven’t asked. Zach Eflin and Cade Povich made rehab starts Sunday and are getting close. Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are able to face live hitters, as opposed to the dead ones that take every pitch. Grayson Rodriguez is throwing his breaking stuff in bullpen sessions and, from what we’ve been told, hasn’t experienced any setbacks. Keegan Akin is about to start his rehab assignment, which should be brief.
Will interim manager Tony Mansolino be replaced before the end of the season?
No. He’s got the job on an interim basis through 2025 and then we’ll see whether the Orioles conduct a widespread search, as expected, and whether Mansolino has a shot at returning. Players like him, for sure. Of course, they also liked Brandon Hyde, so that only counts for so much.
Would we stand to get more value by avoiding trading Zach Eflin and instead keeping him through the end of his contract, offering him a qualifying offer and then getting a compensatory draft pick when he declines it?
Depends on what teams would offer in a trade, right? But we know how much Mike Elias likes those draft picks. What you’re proposing – and a proposal seems so sudden because I hardly know you – makes total sense.
This seems like a good place to stop.
That isn’t a question. And stay off my side of the street.
Should the Orioles try to trade Cedric Mullins, give him the qualifying offer or let him hit free agency and see whether he’d take a one-year deal while they wait for Enrique Bradfield Jr.?
Depends on what teams would offer in a trade, right? The QO is out. That’s too much. But a contender might be willing to pony up for a player with his skill set, especially the pop, speed and defense in center that, yes, the metrics downgrade. Poor jumps, below-average arm. But he outruns those “mistakes.” Anyway, don’t get me started on that. In my perfect world, the seller version of the Orioles get something for Mullins at the deadline and then re-sign him for one year if he’s willing to take a short deal. That seemed unlikely early in the season but his numbers are down.
Samuel Basallo hit his 19th home run a few days ago. Once the trade deadline passes, is there any indication he’ll get called up?
It’s more of an expectation than an indication. Mike Elias said he’s hopeful. Basallo is getting the necessary experience behind the plate, which seems to be the holdup. Let’s say August, with Basallo maintaining his rookie status for 2026. Maybe he’s the record-setting seventh catcher this season. David Bañuelos got an at-bat over the weekend but he was the designated hitter. Oh, so close.
Will they do anything special for the first pick, like have him get announced at an MLB game?
This is how it always works, and it also can happen with a few of the other first-day selections. Ike Irish will sign and get his Camden Yards reception. And I’ll patiently wait for the day that I can write “Fighting Irish” after benches and bullpens empty in a game. My eyes will be smiling.
What's the slot value for the 19th pick in the first round?
The slot value for the Orioles' first-round selection is $4,420,900.
Should MLB consider having the All-Star Break a little earlier, since we're about 60 percent through the regular season?
That would make sense, so it won’t happen. How about pushing back the draft again so it doesn’t bump up against the break and trade deadline? At least it’s only two days. But I digress again …
All this talk about pitchers and drafts, what kind of beer other than draft does someone usually get in a pitcher?
I’ll defer to former Orioles minor league Scott Beerer. Or Stu Miller. Or Bud Norris. Or John Löwenbräu and Pat Heineken. And this seems like a good place to stop.
“Spaceballs” is getting a sequel after nearly 40 years. Are there any older movies for which you'd like to see get a legacy sequel? And don't say “Your Mr. Mom.”
I’d never! But very clever. How about Bull Durham II? Stay with me here. Kevin Costner comes out of retirement at age 70, mentors a young pitching prospect in Class A, gets a September call-up and becomes the seventh Orioles catcher. And this is definitely a good place to stop.
