Pondering what's more important among Orioles' needs, and other topics

If the Orioles hold onto their offseason plan as if it’s covered in stickum, they’re going to emphasis starting pitching, late-inning relief and an impact bat while constructing their roster for Opening Day.

I don’t believe there’s an actual order to it. The calls and meetings are taking place and any deal that can be completed, whether in free agency or a trade, will rank ahead of the others. Mike Elias isn’t putting any of these needs on a back burner.

The hiring of a general manager sits there.

I’ve got more questions swirling in my brain, and among them is which of these additions is most important to the club’s future success? That’s different than which comes first.

I’m not too chicken to egg you on.

For me, it’s always about starting pitching. The Orioles are in pretty good hands with Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Tyler Wells, Dean Kremer and maybe a healthy Grayson Rodriguez and his ace-like ceiling. The depth is decent with Cade Povich, Brandon Young and some Triple-A arms. Double-A Chesapeake has some intriguing prospects.

A team trying to go from last place to the World Series, doing its best Blue Jays impression, can’t rely solely on this group. Too risky. And especially if Wells goes back to the bullpen, which always is a possibility. And knowing that Rodriguez hasn’t pitched since July 31, 2024.

“There’s nothing going on right now that would hold him back,” Elias said last week. “He’s not injured right now and he’s preparing for spring training, but the poor guy’s missed a year and two months basically, and we’ve got to be mindful of that, and I think he’s a really nice wild card talent for us, and I’m really optimistic and bullish about it. But the fact that he’s missed so much time recently, we just have to be prudent about that.

“We don’t want to plan around him too heavily, but I really like where he’s at.”

A stud starter, whether in front of Bradish or directly behind him, would ease concerns about the unit. That’s a big-time top three, with the possibility of Rodriguez pitching as he did before the latest injuries and knowing what Kremer brings near the back end.

I’ve heard opinions that a true No. 3 starter would be worth exploring and could be easier to obtain. It’s still a formidable top three, assuming that Rogers doesn’t backslide. I’m just more sold on the Corbin Burnes type who’s expected to deliver a dominant start every fifth or sixth day.

I understand the urging for a top-tier hitter for the lineup. Someone that pitchers fear. I endorse taking pressure off the “core,” as it’s referred to in every article and discussion. Get someone who won’t disappear for long stretches, begin to press, take bad at-bats. And don’t worry too much about left-handed or right-handed. 

One theory is that a better rotation lessens the need to pile up runs. The other theory is that a higher-scoring team will be less dependent on its starters to hold down the opposition. Personally, I’d rather be equipped with a staff that shuts down teams and requires less support. But hey, aim for both. Give up fewer runs and score them in bunches. Make life easier.

A closer is important with Félix Bautista out for most of the 2026 season, but there’s got to be a lead to protect or he’s just occupying space in the bullpen. Andrew Kittredge was a smart pickup for a late-inning role, but the Orioles need a few more relievers. They’ve got to strengthen their set-ups, and that’s true whether or not they tender Yennier Cano a contract.

We’ll see whether the Orioles sign or trade for a pure closer or take someone with closing experience to compete for the job.

In my quiet moments, I also wonder how many starts Rodriguez makes in 2026.

Rodriguez has totaled 43 over two seasons since the Orioles drafted him 11^th overall in 2018. The elbow is cleaned of bone spurs. The lat may be less vulnerable to strains. The Orioles will take all of it into account and still proceed with extreme caution, monitoring his innings closer than the norm and maybe even shifting him into the bullpen if that’s where he can be the most useful and also protected.

Would the Orioles consider re-signing Zach Eflin for the back end of the rotation?

Eflin was the Opening Day starter this year but that wouldn’t be his calling in 2026. He could accept a one-year, pillow contract to build his value before re-entering the market.

An important consideration is whether he’d be ready for the start of the season after undergoing back surgery in August with a four-to-eight month recovery period. Perhaps it doesn’t matter and the Orioles or any other team would just go through the ramp up process and activate him when ready.

Perhaps the Orioles would make other moves that decreased the interest in Eflin.

Will the Orioles carry four catchers on their 40-man roster or is Maverick Handley vulnerable?

Everyone seems to be assuming that Alex Jackson is the third catcher on Opening Day. The Orioles want to be able to write Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo into the lineup and have an extra backstop on the bench.

The 40-man is full and the Orioles eventually must create room on it.

Is zero a number? Discuss.

OK, I’ll put a little more effort into it.

“The Math Doctors” site says it is, indeed, a number, and explains the difference between zero and infinity, which is not a number.

Zero is a number; in fact, it is a real number. It is on the number line right between 1 and -1. You can add, subtract, and multiply with 0 and get real answers. You can divide numbers into zero and get a real answer, zero. You can’t say anything like that about infinity.  It is not on the number line and you can’t do computations with it.

Now you can go back to your lives.

Lasagna isn't a casserole and a hot dog isn't a sandwich. I like the automatic runner in extra innings in the regular season but understand why it annoys some fans and media. I despise the analytics that tell NFL teams to go for it on fourth down inside the opponent's 5-yard line, even if the score is tied with under two minutes to play. 

Yeah, I'm looking at you, Commanders-Dolphins. Take the freakin' points and the lead.

My Super Bowl prediction hasn't changed since the preseason: Bills and Eagles. No team is dominant this season. And yeah, I'm looking at you, Patriots and Broncos. Nice records. You won't be playing in February.

Do not ask for a World Series prediction in November. Do not dismiss the Orioles' chances because they finished in last place this year. Do not pass Go or collect $200.

I'll give you a spring training dark horse after the Orioles announce the roster. Again, it's only November. 

What's going on in my bathroom sink drain that an entire bottle of Drano didn't unclog it? Are any of my neighbors missing a guinea pig? 

Smart move by the Orioles to hold onto Buck Britton. No reason to clean house. Maybe they could clean out my drain.

Which team will be smart enough to get Brandon Hyde back into baseball in some capacity? 

Ohio State is winning another national championship. 

I don't care who's winning an NBA title. Wake me when the Wizards aren't putrid. A 20-year nap would be refreshing. 

Anything else?