The best part of Thanksgiving might be the leftovers. The holiday stretches for days and days.
Mailbags also can be stretched and they won’t turn different colors if those days become weeks. They also don’t create dirty dishes and pans that need soaking.
Let's dig into these leftovers.
What do you think of Zac Gallen for our rotation? We have a ton of Scott Boras players, so Mike Elias seems to be comfortable working with him. Gallen cannot be the main addition, but if we can get another pitcher like Ranger Suárez or Framber Valdez in addition to him, I am more than OK with that.
As long as you’re happy. But seriously, I would have shown a little more enthusiasm a few years ago, when his ERA was 2.54, or even 3.47 and 3.65 the next two years. It was 4.83 in 33 starts this year, and his 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings were the lowest of his career. But he would be a nice addition to the rotation. Maybe not the “main” guy, but on the other hand – and there’s usually two – would it be that bad if Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers and Zac Gallen comprised the top three? Come on, be honest with me.
Roch, have the Orioles explained in any detail what Mike Shildt's duties will be? His title gives me the impression that he's going to be in charge of player development in the minor leagues. Who was doing the work that he will now be doing? This feels like a big change to me.
Ha, you said “duties.” You also misspelled his name, as did the poster of the next question, but I made the necessary corrections in a rare bit of editing. S-H-I-L-D-T. The Orioles haven’t announced the hire, which leaves us to speculate and assume. Upper-level minor league coordinator of instruction means he’ll work with players at Triple-A and Double-A. I don’t think anyone else had the title. I checked the staff listing. We’ll find out more later, but he seems like a really smart hire given his past experience in player development and the rest of his resume, including successful manager. Anything he can do to better prepare prospects for the majors will be a big asset.
Any concerns from the team on some of Mike Shildt’s past interpersonal issues?
Apparently not. They hired him. Shildt sought a return to player development, as he told the San Diego Union-Tribune after he resigned as manager. Sounds like the mental and physical toll was becoming too much. Whatever issues arose with some coaches shouldn’t follow him in his new role.
Do you anticipate any other coaching hires?
Only one assistant hitting coach, Brady North, is confirmed via sources. The Orioles had two in 2025 with Sherman Johnson and Tommy Joseph. So … maybe one more? I don’t know. The Orioles haven’t announced any of the hires. Maybe we find out more before or at the Winter Meetings. Mike Elias is bound to be asked about the staff during one of his suite scrums.
Is Cole Irvin the lucky charm for our team? We went to the postseason in the two seasons he was with us, and the season he left us, we had the poop show that was last season.
Thanks for editing yourself. We should point out here that Irvin wasn’t with the team for the entire 2024 season. But yes, the Orioles were a playoff team for the two seasons that he was on the roster. “The Curse of Cole” probably isn’t a thing, but I’ll begin to wonder if it takes another 30 years for the Orioles to get back to the postseason.
Is Bradfield destined to be the outfield version of Mateo?
That’s Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Jorge Mateo for you newcomers. And I’ll admit that I’m confused about the concerns over Bradfield that keep cropping up here. The kid can get on base and steal them, and he’s outstanding in center field. That last part immediately separates him from Mateo, who was a hazard in center. And that’s not a dig. He was an infielder trying to play the outfield. He was a lot better at it than Billy Rowell, the first-round pick in 2006, ninth overall, who rates as one of the biggest draft busts in club history. Set the record for most games played for Class A Frederick. That's a dubious honor. Never got to Triple-A. And he was moved from third base to right field in Fort Lauderdale, which pained me to watch. He was breaking the wrong way on balls. He still made 109 starts out there with Frederick in 2009, was moved to first base and disappeared after 2011. But back to Bradfield. He won’t hit for power and who cares? He’s gonna smoke line drives in the alleys and be a nightmare for opposing teams on the basepaths. He’s gonna run down everything in center. Sit back and enjoy the show.
Is Grant Anders staying on the coaching staff?
No. I reported that he wouldn’t return, and the Washington Post has reported that the Nationals hired Anders as development coach and bullpen catcher. That's a convenient move.
Got any thoughts or comments on how the Dylan Cease signing has impacted the market on other starters?
Cease is getting $210 million over seven years from the Blue Jays after posting a 4.55 ERA and 1.327 WHIP in 32 starts with the Padres. The rest of the market should be naming its next born after him. Look, Cease would have fit nicely near or at the top of the Orioles’
rotation. He’s finished second and fourth in Cy Young voting, and 22nd twice for Most Valuable Player. He averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings this year. He’s made 32, 32, 33, 33 and 32 starts the past five seasons. I had no issues with the Orioles making a serious run at him. Someone has to be the first domino to fall. And now we can sit back and watch how the market is impacted for starters like Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai, Ranger Suárez and Michael King.
If you had a choice, who would be your first target for a starting pitcher?
1963 Sandy Koufax.
If you had a choice among current starters ...
Valdez, Suárez or Imai. I don't think there's a wrong answer here. Valdez if I'm forced to pick one. He goes atop the rotation and he's gonna give you close to 200 innings. Take the workhorse for a ride.
Are the Orioles serious about Kyle Schwarber?
They aren’t talking. I mean to the media, not to Schwarber. I saw the report about the Orioles showing some interest in Schwarber, among other big bats, and I have no idea where a mostly DH would fit on a club that likes to keep that spot flexible and rotate players. Samuel Basallo and Adley Rutschman are supposed to fill it much of the time when they aren’t catching. But Schwarber is a big bat and clubhouse leader and I can see why there would be some intrigue. Do I think he comes to Baltimore? Yes. When his team travels here.
Whatever did happen to the freeze spray that Ralph Salvon and trainers used in the past? You never hear about it anymore when players get HBP, etc.
Yeah, I posed that question myself recently. Whenever someone brings up Salvon’s name I immediately think about him spraying ethyl chloride like a parent applying sunscreen to their child at the beach. You see it used a lot with soccer players. And I mean you do. I refuse to watch soccer. The spray provides instant relief by numbing the area but can mask a more serious injury. Most ballparks have X-ray equipment and teams tend to be more cautious with their investments. And I read somewhere that it’s listed as a hazardous substance, if you can believe the internet, which I still think is only a fad.
Should there be a free agent signing deadline before spring training? If so, when would you have this deadline?
Five days after the World Series. Let’s get it done. The activity in a small window would be frenzied and lots of fun, which also is how I’ve been described back when I was dating.
Maybe not something you want to answer, but why does it seem that the national media doesn’t get the Orioles and how they operate? All this national guys talk about how they could be big players in free agency, and it obviously never happens.
The media is basing these predictions on team needs, the last-place finish and urgency to win, and ownership’s “deep pockets.” To be fair, anything is possible under a new regime. The Orioles aren’t going to spend like the Yankees, Dodgers and other behemoths, but maybe they make a big strike and shock the industry. I’d be far more skeptical if Dan Duquette was trying to do it with hands tied.
What's your position on PEDS and Hall of Fame election? IMO, the numbers for Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, Sosa, Palmeiro, etc. are tainted. Tainted is not Hall worthy.
Nice timing as I peruse the latest ballot. There isn’t a right or wrong answer, no matter what anyone says. There also isn’t a perfect ballot. I changed my stance, though not as often as Cal Ripken Jr., and began casting votes for players under suspicion who didn’t fail a test. I shouldn’t play judge and jury. Manny Ramirez failed two tests, so he’s a hard “no.” Palmeiro failed a test, though I’ll always wonder about a tainted B-12 shot. That was his explanation and it’s plausible. I totally understand your reasoning and you certainly are not alone. It’s the hardest part of the voting process for me.
Who was most responsible within the Orioles organization for helping Trevor Rogers turn his career around?
The easiest answer is Trevor Rogers. It doesn’t happen without his dedication and hard work, much of it done at Driveline, the data-driven player development organization. He got stronger. He regained his confidence. But you said “within the Orioles organization.” Pitching coach Drew French, assistant Mitch Plassmeyer and pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek – all of whom will return in 2026 – also deserve some of the credit. Rogers began throwing strikes, mixing up his pitches and keeping the ball off the barrel. A new sweeper became a real weapon for him. Everything here is why the Orioles are confident that Rogers will avoid a regression.
I threw out a question about a week ago on why teams don't stick with Jacob Webb all that long, after Texas wouldn't re-sign him. He can be erratic but seems to me effective if used in the right roles, and you can just expect a harmless walk every other inning or so if he's on his game.
Walks tend to be harmful, especially the leadoff kind, but yeah, he posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.030 WHIP in 55 games with the Rangers and is a free agent. The Orioles non-tendered Webb rather than risk his projected raise to $1.7 million after he posted a 3.02 ERA in 60 appearances. His walks per nine innings dropped from 4.3 with the Orioles to 2.6 with the Rangers, who also non-tendered him. I don’t have an answer for why he keeps bouncing around except maybe the salary.
Will you tell us the reason you ended your own Iron Man streak, or will we have to wait for your book?
This seems like a good place to stop – for now.