While waiting for baseball, discussing prospects and an acquisition

Let's take a look back at a few stories that made news around here this week as we wait for the lockout to end. It's good news that another negotiating session is taking place tomorrow between Major League Baseball players and owners. It's now Jan. 23 and go time for these sides to get moving with spring training camps set to open in less than a month.

The players are expected to make a proposal after the owners side did the same about a week ago. Let's see where it leads with fingers crossed.

We recently further discussed right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles in this space. Lyles went 10-13 with a 5.15 ERA for Texas last season and agreed with the Orioles on a deal for $7 million for 2022. He produced an ERA+ of 85 for last year, or 15 percent under league average. But, as I wrote then, among the seven Orioles to make 10 or more starts last season, a 5.15 ERA would have rated third-best behind John Means at 3.62 and Bruce Zimmermann at 5.04. Yes, the bar was not set too high by the starting staff last season.

The Orioles would probably consider the Lyles signing a success if he pitches to a similar level this season, but of course will hope to get a bit better than that from the right-hander. They clearly must be hoping he can cover a lot of innings in the rotation, and last year he rated 18th in MLB and sixth in the American League with 180 innings, which was a career best.

I also noted that Lyles, who gave up 38 homers last season, could be an O's pitcher to benefit in a big way from the club moving the fences back in left and left-center field at Camden Yards.

But it's the quality start stat that might be the most encouraging as the club hopes he can give them some decent outings in 2022. Lyles threw 13 quality starts last summer (that was also a career best) and Texas went 8-5 in those games. Lyles went six innings or more in 18 of his 30 starts. The Orioles, as a staff, had 34 starts of six innings or more last season. So, the Orioles produced a start of that length in 21 percent of their games, but Lyles did it in 60 percent of his games.

Prospects list unveiled: On Wednesday, Baseball America released its latest top 100 prospects list. Now MLBPipeline.com is on the clock and there was a lot of discussion about the O's getting five players on the latest list.

They have catcher Adley Rutschman ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball. He ended last year at No. 2, moving up to the top spot when Wander Franco of the Rays graduated to the majors. In the initial Baseball America release of a top 100 list, Rutschman was just the second Oriole ever to be No. 1 since their first list in 1990. Catcher Matt Wieters was No. 1 in 2009. Three times the O's had the No. 2 player with Ben McDonald in 1990, Dylan Bundy in 2013 and Rutschman last year.

Rutschman had a big season in 2021 between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, and he earned three 70 tool grades from the Baseball America staff for hit tool, power and arm strength. He's been outstanding so far as an Orioles prospect, both on offense and defense, not just producing stats, but owning some of the best walk and strikeout rates on the Baltimore farm as well.

The Orioles also on the list are right-hander Grayson Rodriguez at No. 6, lefty DL Hall No. 52, infielder Gunnar Henderson No. 57 and outfielder Colton Cowser, the club's 2021 top draft pick, at No. 98.

In fact, at No. 1 and No. 6, Rutschman and Rodriguez are the club's two highest-rated representatives ever in the initial Baseball America top 100. The previous best was in 2012, with Bundy at No. 10 and Manny Machado at No. 11.

Feel free to keep the discussion going on these stories with a question or comment today, or bring up discussion for another O's-related topic.