Day One of the Winter Meetings

ORLANDO – Time to get this party started.

The Orioles trickled into the Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria yesterday for baseball’s annual Winter Meetings. They boarded early and later flights, escaping the cold back home and plunging into the Hot Stove.

President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias will sit down with executives and agents today in his quest to find more pitching and another hitter. He’s already had a fairly busy offseason by hiring manager Craig Albernaz and assisting in the construction of a coaching staff, trading for reliever Andrew Kittredge and outfielder Taylor Ward and signing closer Ryan Helsley. He’s also claimed catcher Drew Romo and outfielder Will Robertson for the 40-man roster and made a batch of moves aimed at improving the minor league depth.

We’d like to know just how much the Orioles are willing to spend in free agency. How far they can stretch payroll.

A starter is desired for the top portion of the rotation and a No. 1 like Framber Valdez is gonna cost them. Elias hasn’t spent more than $15 million on a pitcher, the contract given to veteran Charlie Morton last offseason. Tomoyuki Sugano received $13 million the previous month.

Signing Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Tatsuya Imai, Michael King or Zac Gallen would confirm that the Orioles have moved into a new neighborhood. The Orioles reportedly met with Valdez at last month's general manager meetings in Las Vegas. 

Elias seems to be targeting a second starter, as well, who can be plugged into the back end of the rotation. The trade market provides another avenue.

We’d like to know which players could be moved from the major league roster and the organization’s prospect list.

Untouchables don’t always hold onto that status.

The Orioles will be linked to outfielder Kyle Tucker, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger and first baseman Pete Alonso for as long as those guys remain unsigned. We’d like to know where the Orioles are more inclined to spend big, who is more likely to receive an historic contract. Is it the starter or the hitter?

Maybe it’s none. It can’t possibly be both, right?

Adding anyone from that group opens the door for a trade. The Orioles don't exactly have tons of space in the outfield or at first base.

These next few days also could provide more clarity on the Orioles’ plans for the bullpen beyond Kittredge and Helsley, and whether Elias thinks they need a utility infielder and could carry three catchers. 

* Former Orioles pitcher Mike Baumann is at the Winter Meetings with his family.

Baumann, 30, is hoping to land a major league job, which is why he’s in Orlando. He pitched in Japan this year but had his season cut short due to injury.

It was just a bout of tendinitis. Nothing serious.

The Orioles drafted Baumann in the third round in 2017 out of Jacksonville University. He pitched for five teams in 2024, including the Mariners, Giants, Angels and Marlins.

* Infielder Jeff Kent was the only players chosen to the Hall of Fame last night by the 16-member Contemporary Era Committee.

Kent received 14 votes. Carlos Delgado was behind him with nine, followed by Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy with six. A minimum of 12 votes were required for induction.

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela received fewer than five and won’t be eligible again until 2031.

Baseball certainly has a unique Hall of Fame, if that’s the right word. No Bonds, Clemens or Pete Rose.