This, that and the other

On the same day that the Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde, they also dismissed Tim Cossins, a close friend who served as major league field coordinator and catching instructor. The title wasn’t attached to anyone else on the staff. It just disappeared like the man behind it. 

The Orioles are in the process of hiring coaches for new manager Craig Albernaz, with the only confirmed addition being Dustin Lind as hitting coach. We’ll find out whether field coordinator and catching instructor are making a return.

Hyde and bench coach Robinson Chirinos also were former catchers. Chirinos won’t return.

Albernaz caught in college and in the minors, with arm strength and accuracy that became legendary for the people close to him. Everyone’s got a story. The ink hadn’t dried on his contract with the Orioles before media and fans began wondering how he might influence the careers of Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo.

Rutschman is a two-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up whose offense has declined since the All-Star break in 2024. The two oblique injuries didn’t allow him to get on any sort of roll.

Whatever’s going on with the bat is more for the hitting coaches to tackle.

Basallo is the No. 1 prospect who debuted in August and slashed .165/.229/.330 with six doubles and four home runs in 31 games. He walked six times and struck out 30.

He’ll be fine.

The real work is behind the plate. Basallo has improved but there’s certainly room for development at age 21.

“I’m excited,” Albernaz said of his catching duo. “Adley and Basallo both have a ton of talent. Obviously, Basallo coming in, relatively not a lot of experience at the big league level, but you just see the talent jump right at you. And Adley, even before he got to the big leagues, and his pedigree behind the plate.

“That’s something that, I’m biased toward catching, having a great tandem behind the plate should help us win a lot of games in itself and with those two guys, I’m going to lean on them a lot. I’m going to give them a lot of information as far as how to help lead this team, our pitching staff, and also hold the coaches accountable. Because a high-functioning team, those catchers are involved in a lot of the process. You want to get their feedback. That’s something I’m going to really lean on throughout the course of the year.” 

* The Orioles had 14 potential arbitration cases going into the offseason but reduced the number to 12.

Outfielder Dylan Carlson cleared waivers and elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles signed him to a $975,000 contract in January and got a .203/.278/.336 line in return over 83 games.

MLBTradeRumors.com projected his raise to $1.5 million. The Orioles signed Leody Taveres, also a switch-hitting outfielder, for $2 million.

Left-hander José Castillo was projected to receive $1.7 million, which made him a non-tender candidate before the Mets claimed him on waivers. Let them deal with it.  

The remaining 12 are Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Gunnar Henderson, Keegan Akin, Trevor Rogers, Tyler Wells, Dean Kremer, Félix Bautista, Kyle Bradish, Yennier Cano, Albert Suárez and Alex Jackson. Mountcastle and Cano appear to be the most vulnerable.

Jackson is in a much better position than anticipated because the Orioles probably will carry a third catcher while often using Rutschman or Basallo as the designated hitter.

The deadline to tender contracts is Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.

* Albernaz is earning early points for his handling of the constant references to his New England accent, which also has been described as Boston and Massachusetts.

It’s the same sound.

Albernaz joked about it after his press conference earlier this week when I asked whether he’s practicing a Baltimore accent – trying to say “hon” so he can blend.

“Are there gonna be subtitles on this?” he asked about the MASN video, a line he’d repeat Friday on MLB Network.

“I’ve been away from home, honestly, since I was 17. I graduated high school at 17. I went to college in Florida, and yes, I went back home for the summer months, and then, obviously, playing professional baseball for the offseason, but the accent never left, so it’s just stuck with me.

“That’s something that, when I try to talk normal, it’s not good, it’s terrible. Yeah. If I say, like, ‘Innah Harbah,’ and if I try to say it like, ‘Inner Harbor,’ it’s so tough for me to even try to say that. To try to do a Baltimore accent, that’s not gonna turn out well for anybody.”

The accent was mentioned again to close out his interview on MLB Network. Albernaz chose which player name would be the most fun for him.

“Off the top of my head, it has to be Gunnah Hendasahn,” he said, getting huge laughs from the hosts.

“If I try to talk normal and enunciate it, it’s so bad.”

As proof, Albernaz slowly pronounced, ‘Gunnar Henderson,’ and he was right. It didn’t seem natural.

“It’s such a struggle for me."