ORLANDO – Having Kyle Schwarber come off the board yesterday is expected to create the proverbial domino effect, which is a popular phrase at the Winter Meetings. A highly sought free agent reaches agreement on a contract and others begin to move, as well.

The Orioles could play their own version of the game.

They had serious interest in Schwarber, enough that they offered the same five years and $150 million that he accepted from the Phillies, as first reported by The Athletic and confirmed by an industry source, and plugging a designated hitter into the lineup would have led to some sort of trade. The same is true if they sign an outfielder or first baseman, and they remain linked to both Kyle Tucker and Pete Alonso.

According to another industry source, the Orioles were given a final chance at Schwarber if they attached an extra year to their offer. Schwarber turns 33 in March.

Agent Scott Boras had quips for days but didn’t bite when asked which teams were meeting with Alonso. The Orioles were reported to be in that group.

Alonso, who turned 31 on Sunday, has played in 162 games the past two seasons after appearing in 161 in 2019, 152 in 2021, 160 in 2022 and 154 in 2023. He finished with 41 doubles, 38 home runs and 126 RBIs this year and slashed .272/.347/.524. He’d also provided the kind of leadership that the Orioles need in their clubhouse.

One executive I talked to last night predicted that Alonso will “fall into their laps.” The chances increase if the Mets, as reported, are hesitant to offer a fourth year.

“Right-handed power is a commodity, guy who can play on the dirt is a commodity,” Boras said. “All the teams we met with, not one doesn’t want Pete to play first base. I think because of his digs and what he does, there’s a lot said about his defense. But we’re learning it’s very positive, because they don’t have many first basemen who can play every day in the field and carry the offensive thrust of it.”

The outfield is crowded with Taylor Ward, Tyler O’Neill, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras. Heston Kjerstad, Reed Trimble and Will Robertson also are on the 40-man roster.

Ryan Mountcastle was tendered a contract and Coby Mayo got most of the starts at first base over the last few months of the 2025 season. Samuel Basallo is supposed to play the position at times when he isn’t catching or serving as designated hitter.

President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias has talked about the payroll’s ability to handle a couple of big signings, and the offer to Schwarber is out of character, but he could snatch a frontline starting pitcher by packaging some of the excess with prospects in the system. Alonso would consume the bulk of the starts at first.

What are Mayo or Mountcastle supposed to do except sit?

Mountcastle could make around $8 million in arbitration. That’s a lot to pay a part-timer, though money doesn’t seem to be a hindrance anymore.

Mayo’s value might have dipped with his early struggles in the majors, but he’s still an attractive trade chip. Teams are intrigued by his power.

The Athletic reported last night that the Orioles are talking to the Marlins about starter Edward Cabrera, who's under team control through 2028 and posted a 3.53 ERA this year in 26 starts. The asking price might be too high. 

The Orioles could push in more chips.

* Simon Rosenbaum, general manager for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, was the Rays' advance scouting intern in 2017 and became coordinator for baseball development two years later, which enabled him to cross paths with new Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, who coached, managed and worked as minor league field coordinator in Tampa Bay’s system.

Got all that?

“I’m so grateful for the time that I got to work with him,” Rosenbaum said. “When I was starting, I was like a nerd from the front office who was getting to be on the field and interact with some of our player development staff with the Rays. And the way that Alby interacted with me, interacted with our players, our staff, treating everybody with respect, making sure that everybody felt part of it and felt valued, and his ability to speak his mind and also listen to other perspectives and make his own decisions, it was incredible. I’m so grateful for my time with him.

“I’ve learned so much from him. I think he deserves this and I think he’s gonna do a great job. I’m not looking forward to competing against him in the same division.”

* Matt Blood said his day-to-day responsibilities aren’t much different after his title changed last month to Orioles vice president of player and staff development. He previously served as vice president of player development and domestic scouting, a role he held since October 2023.

“I think the difference is the interaction and the focus at the major league level will be significantly more,” he said. “We have a brand new staff that we’re very excited about, obviously starting with Alby, and I’m just gonna be there to support them and help make sure that things go well with them. Give them really whatever they need to succeed, as well as continue to interact with all our great people in the minor leagues and make sure we’ve got a consistent message and operating procedure throughout the entire organization.”

The relationship with Albernaz thus far is “amazing,” Blood said.

“Really from the day we interviewed him to the day we hired him, he and I, and really the whole group, have been in lock step on what the plan was going to be, and the rest of the staff came together very efficiently,” Blood said. “We were aggressive in going after people that we really wanted, and it was fortunately, and by design, we have a lot of similar philosophies, so we were able to just target who we wanted, we went after them and we got them. And we’re really excited about this group.

“They work really well together. They’re hungry, they’re motivated, they’re player centered, player focused, and just want to do really good work to help the team do well.”

Blood called Albernaz “an energy provider.”

“People really gravitate to his message and his personality,” Blood said. “He’s been with a few strong organizations and he’s come out of those experiences with a lot of really good ideas for how to do things well. His leadership qualities and instincts are really impressive and it shines through the way he interacts with people. It makes people want to get on board with him. I just think he’s going to help elevate us in every way, and it’s been great working with him so far.”

* Seen in the lobby: Former Orioles infielder Paul Janish, former MASN broadcaster Gary Thorne, and former manager Dave Trembley.

Janish is the White Sox’s farm director. Thorne is working for the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT).