The Birdland Caravan wrapped up on Friday, a winter storm dumped copious amounts of snow and ice on the region, and we're still waiting to find out whether the Orioles can secure one of the top remaining starters on the market, who's getting spring training invitations, what's the composition of the minor league staffs, and whether pitchers Kyle Bradish and Keegan Akin are going to arbitration hearings.

Spring training isn't that far away. Temperatures in Sarasota are dipping into the 30s at night this week.

That needs to stop. 

Here are five leftovers from the Caravan:  

Gunnar Henderson didn’t bite on a contract-extension question.

Henderson is under team control through the 2028 season. He agreed to an $8.5 million contract earlier this month to avoid an arbitration hearing. New ownership and a willingness to dig into deep pockets have improved the odds of a lucrative extension before Henderson reaches free agency.

The Orioles don’t share any information on these discussions and whether they’ve advanced beyond the expression of interest in keeping him.

Has the spending this offseason made Henderson contemplate is long-term future with the club?

“They’ve done a great job this offseason,” Henderson replied. “Really happy that they’re starting to put some money into us, and not only the players, but even the stadium. You see how the renovations are going on right now. It’s a super good time for Orioles fans and they should be excited.”

And you?

“Yeah,” he said, “I’m pumped up about it, as well.”

That’ll have to do for now.

Henderson has impressive power but also is born to run.

Henderson’s offseason workouts have include speed training at Tinsley Performance in Alabama. And it isn’t just for the basepaths.

“Big thing for me is staying somewhat fast,” he said. “Being a bigger guy, that’s what I feel like I need to work on is just continuing to stay athletic side-to-side and then keeping the speed when I get going. But just ultimately, since I’m a little bit on the taller end of shortstop, being able to do that and keep the athleticism.”

Henderson’s home run total dropped from 37 to 17, perhaps due to the shoulder impingement that he played with for most of the season. But he swiped a career-high 30 bags.

At 24 years and 89 days old, Henderson became the youngest player in club history to steal at least 30 bases. Twenty came after the break, second-most in the American League behind the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. (21) and fourth in the majors.

“I felt like once I just got comfortable out there and was able to learn on my own out there with the green light whenever I wanted it,” Henderson said, “I was able to just figure out what I’m good at when I’m on the bases and kind of how or what makes me go, and I can steal a lot of bags that way.”

Don’t talk about platoon’s around manager Craig Albernaz.

A member of the media used the word while phrasing a question about Albernaz’s willingness to let Samuel Basallo and Jackson Holliday face tough left-handed pitching.

“I didn’t say that,” Albernaz said.

OK, let’s reset.

Holliday batted .200/.263/.309 against left-handers last season, compared to .259/.334/.401 versus right-handers. Basallo was 3-for-21 with a home run against lefties in limited action and 16-for-83 with Triple-A Norfolk.

“It all depends on them,” Albernaz said. “I’ve been saying that for a while, where the players make the moves for you. If a player has, and this is an example, a tough time hitting lefties, it’s, what are you doing to get better to hit lefties. And you’re putting the work in.

“We’re going to find definitely opportunities for them to hit lefties, but also, if there’s a guy on the bench who has a .900 OPS versus a left-handed pitcher and the game’s on the line, it’s very tough to just have that guy sit there.

“So for us, it’s just challenging our guys to get better. There are going to be decision moments in a game and we have to do what’s best for the team, and sometimes that’s leaving a player in to face lefties, sometimes that’s making a pinch-hit move, sometimes that’s pinch-running, sometimes that’s defensive replacement, sometimes that’s going to the bullpen. There’s all decisions and points in the game, so it’s up to us as staff members to make the right decisions.”

Tyler Wells doesn’t want to be coddled.

Wells made four starts in September after returning from ligament-reconstructive surgery and totaled 21 2/3 innings. His 2024 season consisted of only three starts and 15 1/3 innings before the injury.

The Orioles haven’t decided how to use Wells, but he feels capable of piling up innings.

“It’s not really up to me to say,” he said. “If I’m a starter, then I would expect to hopefully not have any sort of like massive limitation. I think it’s just important for me to be able to go in with a clear head. Make sure that I stay healthy, No. 1. I think that that’s where my value needs to be this is to really just make sure I stay healthy.

“I don’t really necessarily want an innings limitation. I just want to be able to go out there and compete.”

Wells reached out to John Means after his friend’s latest medical setback.

Means ruptured his Achilles tendon last month during a training session, on the same day that he was prepared to sign with a team and be available for Opening Day.

Wells felt the pain.

Both pitchers have undergone multiple elbow-reconstructive surgeries, which bonds them for life. But they also became good friends during their time with the Orioles, whether in the clubhouse, on the road or while rehabbing, and Wells contacted Means after hearing the news.

“If there’s anything I know about John, it’s resiliency,” Wells said. “I was heartbroken whenever I saw it, whenever I heard about it. Having a long conversation with him on the phone and kind of hearing how he’s going to approach it, I think it was very encouraging.

“I would never count him out of the fight, but it was really, really hard to hear, to say the least.”

Notes: Five Orioles have made The Athletic’s Top 100 prospects list: Basallo (No. 8), Wehiwa Aloy (No. 73), Nate George (No. 78), Ike Irish (No. 85) and Enrique Bradfield Jr. (No. 97).

MLB Pipeline ranked Basallo eighth, Dylan Beavers 69^th and George 93^rd. Baseball America ranked Basallo ninth, Beavers 21^st, Trey Gibson 72^nd, George 86^th and Luis De León 95^th.

* The Braves claimed left-hander José Suarez on waivers from the Orioles.

Suarez was designated for assignment last week when the Orioles claimed Weston Wilson on waivers from the Phillies.

* Former Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini signed a minor league deal with the Angels, as first reported by The Athletic. He’s reuniting with new Angels hitting coach Brady Anderson.

Mancini  hasn’t played in the majors since 2023 with the Cubs. He appeared in 74 games with Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks organization last year and batted .308/.373/.522 with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 62 RBIs.

* Former Orioles outfielder Dylan Carlson has agreed to a minor league deal with the Cubs.

Carlson signed a $975,000 contract with the Orioles in January 2025, and he hit .203/.278/.336 in 83 games. He cleared outright waivers in November and elected free agency.