Ten players in the Orioles organization will participate in the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic, which runs from March 5-17 and features 20 teams representing nations and territories from around the world.
Already reported were shortstop Gunnar Henderson with Team USA, pitcher Dean Kremer with Team Israel, and relievers Rico Garcia and José Espada representing Puerto Rico.
We found out last night that outfielder Tyler O’Neill is playing for Team Canada and outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. is playing for Panama.
Minor League left-handers Micah Ashman (Canada) and Naykel Cruz (Cuba), right-hander Ryan Long (Great Britain) and shortstop Luis Vázquez (Puerto Rico) also will participate in the WBC.
Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama and Puerto Rico are in Pool A for Round One and play games in San Juan. The United States, Brazil, Great Britain, Italy and Mexico are in Pool B and play in Houston. Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japana and Korea are in Pool C and play in Tokyo. Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua and Venezuela are in Pool D and play in Miami.
The quarterfinals in Houston and Miami will be played on March 13-14. The championship round in Miami will begin March 15 with the first of two semifinal matchups, while the second semifinal takes place on March 16. The championship game is March 17.
The Orioles were busy yesterday tossing another player into their utility mix, and he seems to have the most solid footing.
Blaze Alexander was acquired from the Diamondbacks for reliever Kade Strowd, minor league right-hander Wellington Aracena and minor league infielder José Mejía.
President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias can’t be accused of hording young talent. He’s parted with a bunch of it to get starter Shane Baz from the Rays and now Alexander.
The whole roster equation seems to be shifting with Alexander out of options. To make him fit might require optioning or trading Coby Mayo, trading Ryan Mountcastle or designating Leody Taveras for assignment.
Taveras is out of options and signed for $2 million. He’s supposed to back up Colton Cowser in center. Alexander has played three major league games at the position and 10 in the minors. To me, that's still Taveras' territory.
The Orioles could use a backup for third baseman Jordan Westburg and the options before the Alexander trade were shifting Henderson or moving Mayo back to his old position.
Having Alexander on the roster reduces Jeremiah Jackson’s chances of making the club. Removing Strowd could increase Garcia’s odds.
Alexander’s first name really is Blaze, with the middle name Chanee. And I’m sure he’s already heard the jokes about hitting 420-foot home runs or having a promotion in his honor on 4/20. But it gives us something else to talk about in spring training.
Let’s liven up this joint and dig out a few items from the mailbag.
How much stock should anyone put in the national baseball writers that mention the Orioles are connected to so-and-so? I think they make up most of their content!
The legit media isn’t going to invent content. That’s a sure-fire way to lose credibility. But let’s focus on Framber. I’m assuming the coverage of his negotiations prompted your question. The “polls” that had the Orioles as overwhelming favorites to sign him seem based more on assumptions. They expressed a willingness to keep spending on the pitching side after giving Pete Alonso $155 million. They sought a No. 1 or 2 starter. Other suitors appeared to drop out, including the Mets and Red Sox. So it must be the Orioles, right? Nope. I heard from someone familiar with the negotiations that the Orioles were “out” at least a week ago. There are questions about whether the team made a formal offer or more of a hypothetical one after meeting with him in November. There were on him, for sure, but I don’t think to the degree that was reported. Zac Gallen remains in play, but Mike Elias also could go the trade route. That outcome wouldn’t surprise me.
Why can’t we have nice things? Is Framber’s new nickname “The Motor City Madman?”
I think that one is already taken. So is “Motor City Cobra.” Fans are feeling snakebit after the Orioles failed to sign Valdez, but you are allowed to have nice things once in a while. Alonso is a good example. Of course, we’ll revisit this topic if he’s injured.
Which player(s) are most on the bubble heading into spring training? Meaning, who really needs a strong spring to justify making the OD roster?
There are a bunch of them in the bullpen, including Rico Garcia and Grant Wolfram. Strowd qualified, too, before the trade. I’ve also mentioned Yennier Cano because he has options and needs a bounce-back season. I think he’s lost the luxury of just getting ready for the season. Coby Mayo also might be a bubble guy for as long as Ryan Mountcastle remains in the organization, since he has options and plays a crowded position. But yesterday’s trade opens up more questions for Elias in camp.
When do you leave for Sarasota?
I fly out Monday morning, much earlier than usual, because the media is getting a tour of the new player development facility. The first day of player access is Wednesday.
The big ticket free agent starters are off the board. Will the dominoes begin a fall with the next tier (such as Bassitt, Gallen, Verlander)?
Logic says that’s precisely what should happen, but Dylan Cease was supposed to loosen the logjam after signing with the Blue Jays on Dec. 2 and lots of big names remained on the board. Now that we’re approaching spring training report dates, I’d expect a few more pitchers to find new homes, but others could wait until the right offer comes along, perhaps after a starter is injured in camp.
Whenever one of the Hispanic players talks to the public it’s through an interpreter, and I get the reason. But in day-to-day interaction with coaches and other players, do they just make it work directly?
That’s usually the case. Interpreters like Brandon Quinones are around mostly for the media, with some players being more comfortable speaking Spanish. They usually understand the questions. Tyler Wells mentioned at the Birdland Caravan how much he enjoys his interactions with Samuel Basallo, comparing it to brothers needling each other.
Do you have a suggestion for a playlist for some of the troubled and worried minds like Nick, OOF, Judy and Dirt to help them through tough times like missing out on Framber? I thought “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Iz would be a good closing song, but not sure what else.
That’s a good one. For Judy, I’d suggest “Not Everything Has to End Adley,” or “Men Behaving Adley.” Others might be uplifted by “Happy,” “Walking on Sunshine” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Also, “Eye of the Tiger,” “I’m a Believer” and “I Will Survive.”
How many runs does the offense need to score to make this rotation winnable?
Maybe I’m naïve, but I think more highly of the rotation than many of you. The Orioles will add another starter. It just won’t be Framber Valdez or Ranger Suárez. I know that stings, with hopes raised so high. They would have pushed the Orioles further into the World Series discussion. But this seems like a deeper group than in 2025. Kyle Bradish can be an ace and he’s primed for his first full season since 2023. A healthy Zach Eflin could provide a big boost. Think about his post-trade work in ’24. What Trevor Rogers did in 18 starts wasn’t a fluke, but he’s motivated to prove that he can maintain that level of performance throughout a season. I like Shane Baz’s stuff, though the cost in prospects was steep. Now, take everything I’ve said and hope that the Orioles score at least five or six runs a game just to make it a little easier. The Yankees led the majors last year with 5.19 per game. The Orioles were 24th at 4.18.
What are your thoughts on the chance of signing Ramón Urías as the utility player? Also, did you do your own shoveling to dig out of this mess?
Ah, the weekly Ramón Urías question. I wonder if he knew just how much he was loved here. This one came in before the Blaze Alexander trade. Urías would have been a useful bench guy, though I don’t know at what cost. To me, it beat having to move a player to another position in order to rest someone. I had lots of assistance with snow and ice removal. My neighbors kept an eye on me after the heart surgery, though it’s been more than a year. They also took pity on me as I resorted to using canisters of table salt on my icy steps. I wasn’t playing the aortic valve replacement card, but they didn’t give me any choice and I appreciated it. We have really good people on our street.
Do they put out a list of which practices are open practices? I would like to catch a few, but I’m also too far from Sarasota to drive down and hope for the best.
Understood. On the days with no home games, workouts will be held from around 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the backfields. On the days with home games, workouts will be held from about 9-11 a.m. They’re open to fans. Fans can park in the East lot. Feel free to call the facility if you want further confirmation.
Ramón Urías has compiled 12-plus WAR in five seasons. Even cynical Orioles fans perk up when his name is mentioned. He comes cheap. What's stopping the reunion?
Urías has an 11.2 bWAR in six seasons. We didn’t have a reunion earlier because, maybe he was holding out for playing time than the Orioles could provide. I didn’t think the Orioles had room on their roster. Now they’ve got Alexander and that ought to end the Urías talk.
Are there any competitions among position players in camp?
The Orioles seemed pretty set on that side until Alexander came along. Now my head is spinning. Mayo has another minor league option, and his roster spot seemed to hinge on whether the Orioles decided that they needed a more versatile defender. I thought we might get Mayo versus Jeremiah Jackson or someone else who was more utility than slugger. Now, I don’t know. Alexander has the clear edge over other utility candidates like Jackson, Payton Eeles and Luis Vázquez. So, is that really a competition.
Who is going to be our utility infielder?
Waiter, check please.
If I put a hot dog in a blender, could it become a casserole?
Eventually, yes, depending on what else you do with it. And this is probably a good place to stop.
What part of the beaver do the nuggets come from?
This is definitely a good place to stop. And that’s also what the Beaver said.