This, that and the other

New closer Ryan Helsley passed his physical with the Orioles, signed his two-year, $28 million contract and awaits the opportunity to field questions from the media.

Half the league reportedly had expressed some level of interest in Helsley. What made him decide on the Orioles?

How much did the opt-out clause sway him? I wouldn’t expect him to go into too much detail on the money offered by other clubs.

How aggressive were the Orioles in their pursuit? Were they among the first teams to contact his agent?

Was he intrigued by the teams that viewed him as a potential starter, something he’s never done in the majors? Sixty-nine of his 87 minor league appearances came as a starter. He was in the rotation for 21 of his 26 college games.

Why did Helsley struggle after the Cardinals traded him to the Mets at the deadline, and was it as simple as tipping his pitches? How did he correct it?

How much does he tip at restaurants?

Does Helsley have a relationship with any of his new teammates?

Helsley’s velocity was outstanding again this year, with his fastball averaging 99.3 mph, but can he explain why opponents batted .422 and slugged .667 against it?

How did Helsley feel about pitching at Camden Yards, where he made four scoreless appearances over four innings?

Is he keeping “Hells Bells” as his entrance song? Most likely, since his nickname remains “Hellz Bellz.”

Helsley is a member of Cherokee Nation and can speak the language. I don’t really have a question relating to this, but I find it interesting.

* Finishing in last place has its privileges.

The Orioles will be involved in the draft lottery next Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in Orlando to determine where they select in the first round. They haven’t really needed to pay attention during those playoff years.

According to the posted odds, the Orioles have a 9.24 percent chance of getting the first overall pick, after the White Sox (27.73), Twins (22.18) and Pirates (16.81). The Athletics are behind the Orioles at 6.55 percent.

All of the non-playoff teams are entered in the lottery for the top six picks.

The Guardians won the 2024 lottery despite having the ninth-best odds. The Nationals leapfrogged three teams with better odds to won it for 2025.

Major League Baseball implemented its draft lottery in 2022 as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Orioles had the first-overall selection in 1989 (Ben McDonald) 2019 (Adley Rutschman) and 2022 (Jackson Holliday) by reverse order of the standings.

The Orioles receive the fifth selection in the Competitive Balance A round, which comes between the first-round compensation pick and second round. Teams are allowed to trade these picks.

* The minor league deal with left-handed reliever Andrew Magno became official yesterday. The Orioles announced the signing, which is expected to include an invitation to spring training.

Magno, 27, has spent the past seven years in the Tigers’ system after they drafted him in the 15^th round in 2019 out of Ohio State University. He was assigned to Double-A Erie this summer went 8-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.131 WHIP in 42 games (one start). He averaged 10.7 strikeouts and 0.4 home runs per nine innings but also 5.4 walks.

The previous three seasons got him as far as Triple-A Toledo, including 35 relief appearances in 2024, when he registered a 6.62 ERA and 1.828 WHIP in 50 1/3 innings.

* Baseball America updated its Top 10 Orioles prospects list, which begins with catcher Samuel Basallo and ends with shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. In between are outfielder Dylan Beavers, pitcher Trey Gibson, outfielder Nate George, left-hander Luis De Leon, outfielder/catcher Ike Irish, pitcher Esteban Mejia, pitcher Michael Forret and outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr.

MLB Pipeline also has Basallo first in it’s Top 10 but follows with Beavers, Irish, Bradfield, Aloy, outfielder Slater de Brun, Mejia, George, pitcher Boston Bateman and catcher Caden Bodine.

Forret is 11^th and Gibson is 12^th.

Baseball America also shared its projected 2029 lineup:

Catcher: Adley Rutschman
First base: Coby Mayo
Second base: Jackson Holliday
Third base: Jordan Westburg
Shortstop: Gunnar Henderson
Left field: Dylan Beavers
Center field: Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Right field: Colton Cowser
Designated hitter: Samuel Basallo
Starter: Kyle Bradish
Starter: Trevor Rogers
Starter: Tyler Wells
Starter: Trey Gibson
Starter: Luis De Leon
Closer: Félix Bautista

Of course, this is heavy on guesses and speculation. We can’t predict the Opening Day lineup in 2026, let alone make projections three years later. There are trades, free agent signings, draft picks. Way too many variables.

* Still able to stomach some leftovers? Here you go.

Do you speculatively foresee any team realignment in the future for any reason?
Yes. The reason is expansion, which must be done to further water down the product. An article published in Baseball America in 2017 said four divisions could be created for 32 teams. The Orioles would be in the East with the Nationals, Braves, Marlins, Phillies, Pirates, Rays and Reds. The schedule would be reduced from 162 to 156 games and each team would receive one off-day per week. Everyone’s got their own ideas, but they’re all tied to expansion.

If the Dodgers win the next five straight World Series, will MLB finally get a reasonable salary cap? If they "only" win the next three? Only next year?
I “only” think we’ll see a salary cap if the news is delivered by flying pigs.

Who, if it were to happen, do you see being a major free agent signing by the Orioles? And don’t say “your mom.”
I’d never! This question was submitted before closer Ryan Helsley received a two-year, $28 million contract with an opt-out. He might count, but you’re thinking bigger, right? OK, let’s say one of the top starters on the market. Let’s get crazy and say Framber Valdez. That sounds more realistic than 11 years and $400 million for Kyle Tucker.

Are there any pending players to be named later?
The closest I could find was the Alex Jackson trade. The first one, when the Orioles got him from the Yankees for international signing bonus pool money, a player to be named later and cash. That’s how the transaction read. But we were never told about a PTBNL Maybe it was the more common player “or” cash. Otherwise, it’s just the Chad Bradford trade (kidding!)

How much credit does Mike Elias take in scouting Framber Valdez in 2016? Does he know about his elite groundball rates, and if not, can you text him to let him know? And I believe MLB-leading 83 quality starts over the last four seasons.
Logan Webb has 85. That’s two more. Valdez signed with the Astros as an amateur free agent in March 2015. Elias was scouting director. He knows everything about Valdez.

Who is the best Wednesday Addams: Lisa Loring, Christina Ricci, or Jenna Ortega?
Give me the original. And this seems like a good place to stop. Have a nice Wednesday.