Mailbag leftovers for breakfast

The mailbag is on a train to New York, demanding a seat on the Acela and refusing to ride the subway later to the Bronx. I’m with you, mailbag. I’d rather hop aboard a mange-diseased coyote.

I had some leftovers from the last mailbag dump, so let’s get to those questions first before the Orioles begin a three-game series against the first-place Yankees, who lost six in a row and didn’t score in three straight prior to defeating the Angels yesterday, 7-3.

These teams met at Camden Yards in late April and the Orioles won two of three games to leave their record at 12-18. Remember when that was reason to panic?

I kept saying, “It’s only April.” And I wasn’t wrong. But it only got worse.

Anyway, you asked, I answered, and you finally got confirmation that I didn’t skip you. The only editing happened when I called it a “mailbug.”

Will Mike Elias fess up to having had any extension talks before the trade deadline? Not about specific players, but at least if there have been conversations? Both those who are upcoming free agents, along with the ones who aren't going to be free agents for several years (like Gunnar Henderson)?
I’m glad you didn’t push for specific players because, well, forget about it. Elias isn’t going to share that information. As he’s stated countless times, it doesn’t benefit the club to have its business made public for every other team to consume. And it can lead to mistrust from agents. Elias has talked about the importance of locking up young talent and indicated that, at the least, there have been internal discussions on the matter. You’d have to think that conversations with, say, agent Scott Boras about a free agent have branched out to extensions. But we don’t know the depths. We do, however, have this April quote from Elias: “This is something we’re working on. There are guys on this team that we would like to have on this team longer than they’re currently slated for. It’s not a point-and-shoot thing. It’s case by case. … There’s only so much I can say about it other than it’s something we want to do if it makes sense, that we are working on it, and, if it happens, we’ll be out here talking about it.”

Considering the Orioles' recent surge in wins, are they more likely to wait till close to the deadline to decide on selling their pending free agents?
Closer than it appeared after firing Brandon Hyde and losing the next four games with interim manager Tony Mansolino, and falling 18 below .500 on May 24. But they need to go on a massive run. They’ve hinted at it with back-to-back sweeps and three out of five series, but then they stumble again. This is why squandering an 8-0 lead Wednesday night in Tampa felt much worse than a normal loss. You can’t dig that deep of a hole and hand over a very winnable game. Buyers will be blowing up Mike Elias’ phone and he’ll need to determine when it’s time to make a move in that direction. And that will happen before July 31.

Will Grayson Rodriguez be a starter or relief pitcher in the future?
The Orioles didn’t draft Rodriguez with the 11th-overall pick to make him a reliever. Then again, they didn’t select Brian Matuez fourth overall to make him a left-handed specialist, and that’s eventually what he did. I don’t think the Orioles have reached the point where they’re giving up on Rodriguez as a starter, but his injury history makes it possible that he could shift to late relief somewhere down the road. Right now, they’re just trying to get him back on the mound and eliminate the lat strains that have sidelined him three times.

Can you talk more about any personal experiences relating to "being inside a van at a Grateful Dead concert."
A call-back to the last mailbag! I’m not a Deadhead, but I rolled out of a few vans to attend Van Halen concerts back in the day. I mean, it’s in the name. The trick was timing your bathroom and beer runs so you didn’t miss Edward’s solo. The drum and bass solos were usually the starter’s pistol. No better live band for my money. My folders in high school had the VH logos drawn on them, which was the extent of my artistic abilities. And if you’re making a list of greatest debut albums ever and don’t have the first Van Halen on it, we can no longer be friends. But I digress …    

Has it been a generally pleasurable experience both in MLB and with the Orioles for Tomoyuki Sugano? Any chance he goes back to Japan next season?
Did you catch the Van Halen reunion concert in Tokyo? It’s on Spotify. David Lee Roth can’t sing anymore and they hosed Michael Anthony, but again, I digress … What was your question? Oh yeah, Sugano seems happy with the Orioles and his new life in the majors. He can become a free agent after the season and should garner plenty of interest after making $13 million this year. I see no reason why he’d go back to Japan, but we haven’t had a heart-to-heart talk about it.

I asked Coby Mayo in Seattle if he had received his 1st RBI baseball and he said ‘no’ and doesn’t know who has it. Have the Orioles found it, or did the White Sox chuck it into the stands after the scuffle?
Or “yeeted” it, as Colton Cowser described it when he tossed a Craig Kimbrel save ball over his head and into the Kauffman Stadium fountain last season. I’ll ask Mayo this weekend, but there usually isn’t as much interest in a first-RBI ball as a first-hit ball. If he didn’t get it by the Seattle trip, I’m assuming that it’s gone. I’ll find out.

If 2026 is a repeat of 2025, will the organization undergo a major rebuild by mid-season? Trading Adley, Gunnar, etc.?
I’d just be guessing, like anyone else. I know that the Orioles don’t want to go through another massive teardown and rebuild. I don’t think they’d do it. But they’d have to at least kick around the idea of moving players who won’t sign an extension, if that determination is made. Will they know for sure by the 2026 break? I doubt it. It’s probably more likely that they trade some veterans and keep trying to win with their core group.

Do you look forward to the air conditioning and heating with the new press box? Or the fan interaction?
They won’t need a fan if there’s air conditioning.

I mean fans as in …
There’s already fan interaction with the press box so close to the field. People stop up all the time. I’ve complained about the lack of windows, air conditioning and heat since the ‘90s. Dan Connolly nicknamed me “popcorn muscles.” The media apparently was given a vote as the ballpark was being built - open-air press box or windows that stayed shut. They chose open-air, which is understandable. But it can be brutal, especially in July and August. Visiting media loves the ballpark and the view but hates the conditions. A few complained to the Orioles back when they'd roll down the plastic covering immediately after the final out and it would become a sauna in there. I’m just happy to learn that the press box isn’t moving way up the left field line. It’s only shifting to the old MASN pregame and postgame set, which will be expanded to create more space. Of course, I’m assuming that I’ll be employed in 2026. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.  

How do you feel about the new premium club space opening next year at the ballpark?
Where the current press box is located? It was inevitable and made sense. That’s a first-rate location for fans.

Does the "future" infield players include Gunnar, Jordan, Jackson, Mayo, Urias or other players by trade or free agency or from the minor leagues?
Does? You mean do. But see, I didn’t edit your question. This isn’t communist Russia. I’d say Henderson, Westburg, Holliday and Mayo are expected to be part of the future. Urías is underappreciated outside of the organization. He’s a keeper for me. The perfect bench player. Shortstop Griff O’Ferrall is the No. 6 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline, after the Orioles made him the 32nd-overall pick last year. He was batting .205 with a .606 OPS last night at High-A Aberdeen, which is disappointing, but it’s way, way too early to judge him. I suppose that the Orioles could bring in another infielder from outside the organization, but where are you looking to put him?

Dylan Carlson is arb-eligible in the offseason, and becomes a free agent after next season. It’s good to see him healthy and playing more to his capabilities. What do you see the Orioles doing with Dylan Carlson? Personally, I would like to see him with the Orioles in 2026.
Dylan Carlson has minor league options, can play anywhere in the outfield and was hitting .318/.348/.455 against left-handers before last night. Dylan Carlson was 10-for-35 (.286) with two doubles, two home runs and an .839 OPS in May and began last night 14-for-44 (.318) with a double, two home runs and an .839 this month. Dylan Carlson is making a guaranteed $975,000. The Orioles seem to have every reason to stick with Dylan Carlson.

What's the deal with Yennier Cano?
And airline peanuts. Cano had nine scoreless outings out of 10 before Wednesday's disaster and the exception was one run allowed, which brought his ERA below 4. Now it's 5.11 That's the life of a reliever. The bigger picture with Cano isn't flattering, but narrow it and he isn't killing this team. And he isn't needed as the primary setup man. Let me introduce you to Bryan Baker. And check out Seranthony Domínguez’s numbers. But OK, he isn't in 2023 All-Star form.

How is Heston Kjerstad these days?
He fouled a ball off his right knee last night and came out of Triple-A Norfolk's game in Memphis. Hudson Haskin pinch-hit for him. He's batting .133 with the Tides.

When was the last time the mailbag was washed?
When was the last time you were washed? And this is probably a good place to stop.