Still more mailbag questions

We've moved past the deadline for teams to sign their arbitration-eligible players before exchanging salary figures and risk a hearing. The next important offseason date is next Thursday with the opening of the international signing period.

In between could be the acquisition of another starting pitcher, reliever or position player. Or absolutely nothing.

Something happened yesterday but it might not impact the 2026 season. Outfielder Will Robertson cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk, and the Braves claimed reliever George Soriano.

The Orioles took a depth hit with the bullpen but deepened their outfield options.

Let’s do another dozen-question mailbag dump.

I am totally ignorant to understanding the use of acquiring and then DFAing players almost as soon as they acquire them. To me, it sure effects players' families, as they don't know what is happening. Could you explain?
This question must be a reference to outfielder Jhonkensy Noel. The Orioles claimed him Monday and designated him for assignment two days later. Yeah, it can be a tough business, but it’s still a business and rapid turnover happens. Teams try to pass players through waivers. Didn’t work with the Guardians. Maybe it does with the Orioles. Noel comes off the 40-man roster but could stay in the organization and receive an invitation to spring training. I’m old enough to remember when the Orioles designated Ryan O’Hearn two days after acquiring him from the Royals. That one turned out pretty good.

Roch, do you think the Orioles will spend on a utility guy, even though there is not a whole lot of playing time that is obviously available?
“Spend” is an iffy term. It suggests a higher price than I’d anticipate for a utility player. They traded for Payton Eeles and claimed Marco Luciano. They could attempt to increase the competition if there’s an actual spot, and if they aren’t totally sold on Jeremiah Jackson being able to fill it. I don’t know whether they’d make much of a financial commitment for a player who might not fit on the roster.

Framber Valdez or Ranger Suárez? Or someone else? Likely signing date?
I’m gonna pretend that I didn’t see the last one. Then again, I also don’t have answers for the others. The best I can do is say again that the Orioles are “in on” Valdez, Suárez and Zac Gallen. They’re all possibilities and I wouldn’t be surprised by any of them. I’d hate to guess and make it appear like I’m offering a prediction. Reports that the Mets now prefer the trade market work in the Orioles’ favor. It means one less suitor. Valdez or Suárez could fall in their laps, weighed down by the amount of cash in their pockets. OK, I’ll say Valdez, but Suárez would be my other pick. Does that help? No? My apologies.

Who would you consider our “ace” at this moment and how do you see the 2-5 slots playing out?
Kyle Bradish is my Opening Day starter. The guy finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2023 and had a 2.75 ERA in eight starts in 2024 before his Tommy John surgery. He was ready to take the next step before his elbow blew out. He allowed nine runs and struck out 47 batters in 32 innings in his six starts last year after reinstatement from the injured list. He’s the guy. Trevor Rogers is the undisputed No. 2 in this scenario, and I’d go with Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells if Zach Eflin begins the season on the IL. Otherwise, Eflin can slot fourth or fifth. Let them fight it out in spring training and let manager Craig Albernaz and his pitching people come up with the right formula when factoring in early opponents.

Saw a report that Kevin Brown might do NBC games. Would that be a Jon Miller scenario or would it be a full-time gig?
I missed the report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, who calls Brown “another potential candidate.” All I can add is that Brown is under contract with MASN and I’m not privy to the details, such as whether he could work for NBC Sunday nights. He’s handled college football, basketball and softball assignments for ESPN.

Have you been asked more questions about broadcaster Kevin Brown or former Orioles pitcher Kevin Brown?
The broadcasting Brown. I didn’t cover the team in 1995. The broadcasting Brown is more media-friendly, so I caught a break.

Can you explain the logic, after the way injuries destroyed the team last season, that there are so many people here who advocate for acquiring other usually injured players (i.e. Buxton)?
Tools win out over frailty. And to be fair, some players have become more durable after early health issues. But the Orioles signed Pete Alonso, who has played in 162 games in each of the past two seasons and averaged 158.5 in his six full major league seasons, and traded for Taylor Ward, who played in 156 and 157 games the past two seasons after injuries held him back. They valued players who play.

Why is every single waiver wire transaction met with so many overreactions?
Start printing the World Series tickets! Yeah, every team makes depth moves. I guess the sarcasm runs hotter when you haven’t won a title since 1983.

Obviously locker room limitations/capacities would put some limit on a team-to-team basis, but does MLB put any limits on how many players can be given “invitations” to the major league camp in spring training above and beyond the 40-man roster?
You can stack them like firewood unless there’s a pandemic that forces MLB to create specific protocols. The Orioles have a second clubhouse where extra players dress, and some of them move across the hall to the main area after the team makes roster cuts. It doesn’t make much sense to invite a huge number of players and not have sufficient innings and at-bats for them. It’s more beneficial to let them work out at Twin Lakes Park.

Which team you rooting for in the playoffs?
College football? I don’t have a dog in the fight, but Indiana is an easy team to cheer for because … you know … Indiana. I also was pulling to Ole Miss after Lane Kiffin bailed.

How concerned are you about the Orioles' defense? They look average at best, so they may be counting on out-slugging most of their opponents.
Let me begin my response by saying that I have some concerns in my life and this isn’t one of them. However, a team that places so much emphasis on defense and fundamentals has taken a few steps backward and fallen on its butt. Or is that butts? Anyway, there was regression, and improving in these areas will be a priority in camp. They ranked 24th in the majors with minus-32 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 23rd with minus-23 Outs Above Average (OAA), and Alonso and Ward don’t bring the kind of numbers that fix the problem. Colton Cowser is better in left than center, though he’s hardly a liability in the middle. Tyler O’Neill didn’t play like a two-time Gold Glove winner, but he didn’t play much, period. Let’s give him another chance here. Jackson Holliday is learning to play second base. Jordan Westburg is settling in as the primary third baseman. I understand if fans have some concerns heading into spring training.

What is the land speed velocity of an unladen polar bear?
This seems like a good place to stop.