The Orioles began yesterday with a full 40-man roster and finished it with a full 40-man roster.

Many of the names changed.

Pitchers Félix Bautista, Grayson Rodriguez and Brandon Young were reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Pitcher Anthony Nunez had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk to protect him in the Rule 5 draft, ahead of the deadline to do so. Cuban outfielder Pedro León was claimed on waivers from the Astros. Outfielder Leody Taveras signed a $2 million contract.

Outfielder Dylan Carlson elected free agency. The Orioles declined infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo’s $5.5 million option. Pitchers Josh Walker and Carson Ragsdale were designated for assignment. Pitcher Shawn Dubin was outrighted to Norfolk and became a free agent. The Mets claimed left-hander José Castillo on waivers.

Six added and six subtracted.

Pitchers
Keegan Akin
Félix Bautista
Kyle Bradish
Yennier Cano
Dietrich Enns
Jose Espada
Rico Garcia
Yaramil Hiraldo
Andrew Kittredge
Dean Kremer
Chayce McDermott
Anthony Nunez
Cade Povich
Grayson Rodriguez
Trevor Rogers
Colin Selby
George Soriano
Kade Strowd
Albert Suárez
Tyler Wells
Grant Wolfram
Brandon Young

Catchers
Samuel Basallo
Maverick Handley
Alex Jackson
Adley Rutschman

Infielders
Gunnar Henderson
Jackson Holliday
Jeremiah Jackson
Coby Mayo
Ryan Mountcastle
Ryan Noda
Luis Vázquez
Jordan Westburg

Outfielders
Dylan Beavers
Colton Cowser
Heston Kjerstad
Pedro León
Tyler O’Neill
Leody Taveras

The Orioles also picked up the $9 million option on Kittredge’s contract, as expected. I was having trouble picking up the mailbag and decided to lighten it.

You ask, I try to answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

Also, my mailbag designates your mailbag for assignment, waits for it to go unclaimed and releases it.  

What’s your immediate impression of Craig Albernaz?
I don’t do impressions and I can’t mimic a New England accent.

Not that kind of impression.
Sorry. I think he crushed his press conference. Relaxed, fun, showed his family guy side – not that accent – and didn’t come across as an outsider with little or no knowledge of the Orioles or the city of Baltimore. He gave real answers. He wasn’t trying to avoid them. We know why he’s here, and it’s easy to understand how he builds relationships. He’s gonna get respect and also keep it loose. Guys are gonna like playing for him. What they also need to do is play better.

Is Zach Eflin going to sign with the Orioles?
This is just a prediction. I don’t have concrete information, metal information or information of any other material. No. I don’t expect it to happen. But the Orioles could do a lot worse than Eflin for a back-end starter and he might have to settle for a lesser deal after back surgery and his 2025 struggles.

What kind of culture will Albernaz create?
Glad you asked, since that was one of the topics at his presser. “The culture is set by the players,” he said. “Us as a coaching staff, front office, we support the players. At the end of the day, coaches don’t play, front office members don’t play, the players play. It’s all about the boys and that is something that will drive that culture is the players in the clubhouse. And we will be there to support them every step of the way. I’m a firm believer in leadership comes in different ways and styles. You don't have to be a veteran to be a leader. You can be a young guy and everyone leads by example or leads in their own way. So it’s up to me to figure out how each player ticks, get to know them and then allow them to go out and play carefree baseball.” Hope that helps.

Are the Baltimore Orioles satisfied with their right-handed bats on the MLB roster or is help coming from the minors, making a trade inevitable? What are you hearing?
I haven’t heard squat but the Orioles know the imbalance. They could use a right-handed bat, probably for the outfield. Leody Taveras is a switch-hitter who provides an option in center field. That’s his only option. He’s out of the minor league kind. Right-handed Cuban outfielder Pedro León has two options but only seven major league games from 2024 on his slate. The Orioles still need an impactful hitter, and right-handed probably would be preferred. I’d take a quality hitter from either side. If you can hit, you can hit. Feel free to quote me. The depth acquired for the farm system makes it easier to talk trade.

Are some of the Guardians' coaches expected to follow Craig Albernaz over to Baltimore?
“Expected” is probably too strong. They could. It isn’t uncommon. We’re still finding out the number of openings. Three hitting coaches are gone, along with the bench and first base coaches.  

Does the manager or the organization choose the rest of the coaches?
It’s a collaboration, which Mike Elias explained at the press conference. “Different conversations happening with different returning coaches or coaches that are still in the organization,” he said. “Not really the time or place to get into all that but suffice to say there will be alterations to the composition of the staff. That’s normal year to year, but also when you have a manager change. We definitely want the ability for him to put his stamp on the staff. I think part of our hire and knowing the talent that we’re bringing into the organization with a guy like Craig Albernaz is we want him to ply his trade and have an impact in the clubhouse, on the field with the way our team prepares, trains and competes, and part of that is choosing some staff members around him. We’re collaborating together on it.”

Any ideas on the makeup of the coaching staff?
They won’t wear makeup.

I give up.
That’s not a question.

Is Ryan Mountcastle’s defense enough of a factor to keep him over Coby Mayo? If it is decided to trade him, would there be a market? Which was worse, the wall or vertigo?
Always vertigo. There isn’t a positive spin for it. The Orioles like Mountcastle’s defense but maybe not at his projected salary in his last year of arbitration. He’s a non-tender or trade candidate. The preference, of course, would be a deal rather than getting nothing in return. There will be a market for a player with his power, even if his home run totals are in decline. I’ve heard scouts describe him as a change-of-scenery guy. A history of injuries could scare away some teams, but the Orioles should be able to find a partner.

Who’s your favorite O’s prospect below Norfolk?
Outfielder Nate George, the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year. Baseball America ranked him second in the system and MLB Pipeline had him eighth. He’s only 19 and was drafted in the 16^th round in 2024. He reached High-A ball this summer. That’s it. But he slashed .337/.413/.483 at three levels with 14 doubles, nine triples and 50 stolen bases. Electric. “Nate George is gonna be so much fun,” said a scout from outside the organization. “Kind of an out-of-nowhere guy, and the kid is an absolute spark plug. Plays with so much energy. Can play center field, has a plus arm, is a plus runner, looks to have good bat-to-ball skills. Could be maybe like a Brett Gardner type profile, maybe a little bit better hitter in the end.”

Which is the better animated Halloween movie, Coco or Nightmare Before Christmas?
Never saw Coco. My granddaughter was obsessed with Nightmare Before Christmas, which forced me to become obsessed. So, that one.

Can Albernaz fix what's wrong with Adley Rutschman? He hasn't looked right for a year and a half.
Albernaz hit .199 in the minors and never played in the majors. He was an elite defensive catcher, but I assume you want Rutschman “fixed” at the plate and not behind it. All three hitting coaches are gone. Maybe fresh eyes, voices and approaches can impact everyone who struggled. The team batted .235/.305/.394 and ranked 24^th with 677 runs scored.

Does the roving hitting instructor in the minors spend enough time with each affiliate? Is he more of a supervisor who oversees all the hitting coaches, or is the role mostly a glorified title?
A roving instructor roves. It’s in the title. He goes to the affiliates and also checks in with hitting coaches.

Has Albernaz been in contact with the players yet?
He estimated six or seven, and not just because he was entertaining his sons with the 6-7 “joke.”

How many wins do you think the Orioles get in 2026?
The free-agent market opened for business yesterday. The general manager meetings are held next week, followed by the Winter Meetings in December. The Orioles haven’t put together their coaching staff and are a long way from setting the roster. All of this is my way of saying it’s much too early to predict a win total. How about we double back to this in spring training?

After watching the World Series, I feel like I need a pep talk. Can you give us any hope that this team will spend enough money to allow us to compete with the big spending clubs?
The Orioles will raise their payroll again. They will not move into the top five in baseball. They can compete by spending wisely. They’re more likely to spread the wealth instead of heaping it upon one player. Ownership has deep pockets, as we were reminded again Tuesday. Must make it harder to grab their car keys.

Should we hire Scott Boras as our GM to get better pricing on the top free agents?
He won’t take that much of a pay cut.

Are you a Dr Pepper or Mr. Pibb fan? I hear Coca-Cola is dropping Pepper from its roster and is picking up Pibb. To me it’s like letting Rafael Palmeiro go for Will Clark.
Dr Pepper is distributed by either Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola, depending on the region in the Country. But Dr. Pepper is not owned by either of them. Mr. Pibb is owned and distributed by Coca-Cola. This explanation comes courtesy of “Mike from CT now in Florida,” who will be waiting by the mailbox for his check to arrive. I don’t drink much soda but am Team Pepper, and that includes the diet, which tastes amazingly like the regular.

Have we hired a new GM yet or is Elias fine carrying multiple titles?
The Orioles haven’t hired a new GM and Elias is used to carrying multiple titles. He used to be executive vice president/general manager. The GM search is expected to be put on the back burner.

Is it Alby or Albie?
I had a 50-50 shot and got it wrong. He prefers Alby. The Orioles checked on it.

Apologies if I asked this already: Any info on Ryan Flaherty’s interview(s)? He's been anointed a sure-thing future manager and yet no one seems to want to hire him. Is it something he said?
Flaherty is going to be a major league manager. Maybe it’s just a little too soon. The future doesn’t necessarily have to be now. The many roles he's filled in multiple organizations and his analytical background certainly work in his favor. I don’t know how he came across in interviews.

Lamar Jackson of the NFL’s Ravens removed all games and distractions from the locker room, and the team responded by winning two straight. In 2026, would it be necessary for the Orioles to do something similar to keep their focus on a World Series run? Or would the union step in and call it a foul?
Teams aren’t required to provide games at the ballpark, and those games aren’t a distraction. I don’t think a pool table or chess board caused the Orioles to finish in last place. They had the same stuff when they posted the best record in the American League. They aren’t playing cards during the seventh inning stretch. If they go fish, it’s in Sarasota after a workout.  

Among the current core, who do you think has the ability to take on some clubhouse leadership? And don't say "your mom."
I'd never! Jordan Westburg can be that guy. He’s getting more comfortable, letting more of his personality show. The media saw a change in him last spring. Unfortunately, he’s dealt with some injuries that have removed him from the clubhouse and the daily interactions. Colton Cowser does a nice job of keeping guys loose with his sense of humor, which can be an asset over the course of a 162-game grind.

Bo Bichette can hit and he’ll likely become a free agent. The Orioles need a right-handed bat for their offense, and I can see Bo Bichette as a fit. Do you want to hear about it?
I’ve got my hands over my ears. Bichette received the qualifying offer yesterday, which he’ll likely turn down. I don’t see him as the same fit as others. An infielder would need to be traded or moved to the outfield. I’ve heard a suggestion that the Orioles should put Jordan Westburg in left field because “he can play anywhere.” Based on what, the one game with Triple-A Norfolk in 2023? Someone else endorsed Jackson Holliday for center field, which would be a new one. Are we trying to weaken the defense here? I’ve heard how infielders could rotate into the designated hitter spot, but they might bump into whichever catcher isn’t behind the plate. But this isn’t my money or my problem.

Care to guess where the 2026 Orioles end up in the MLB payroll rankings? Think they were 15th this year. Might they go to 12th or something like that?
Something like that. They were 15^th in 2025 and I’ll predict 13^th next year. Just a guess. Other teams also influence the rankings. They don’t stand pat.

Has Dylan Beavers considered “Wynona's Big Brown Beaver” by Primus as his walk-up song?
I'll make it my first question to him in spring training. And this is probably a good place to stop.

I've never seen a live Oriole. I mean the actual bird. I once talked to Brooks Robinson at Jack's Corned Beef, but that doesn't count here. Could you suggest the team keep some live Baltimore Orioles in captivity at Camden Yards for the fans to pet and feed, like the Rays in Tampa?
The rays tank is in St. Petersburg. Yeah, I know, I’m a buzzkill. And this is definitely a good place to stop.