So, what happened to the 11-year contract that outfielder Kyle Tucker was supposed to receive?

Chalk it up to the unpredictability of free agency.

MLBTradeRumors.com was among the sites projecting an astronomical payday for Tucker, using its formula to calculate $400 million over 11 seasons. Tucker instead agreed to a four-year $240 million contract with the Dodgers, which shattered annual average value (AAV) records. Don’t cry for him, Argentina. 

Update: The Blue Jays reportedly made a 10-year, $350 million offer to Tucker.

The Mets pivoted from Tucker yesterday and reached agreement with infielder Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126 million deal. Trade Rumors had him getting $208 million over eight years.

Every team passed on the opportunity to claim outfielder Jhonkensy Noel on waivers, which enabled the Orioles to outright him to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. A relatively small roster move that kept “Big Christmas” in the organization.

Is it a big deal?

How he’d fit on an Opening Day roster isn’t apparent. It’s downright confusing.

A corner outfielder/first baseman with a minus-1.4 bWAR last season doesn’t necessarily fill a need. It’s more about the intrigue that comes from his raw power and the organizational perception that he can be fixed after slashing .193/.242/.401 in 136 games with the Guardians and striking out 115 times.

There’s a tremendous amount of trust in the hitting philosophies and instruction, and the Orioles added two new coaches in Dustin Lind and Brady North. We also can assume that new manager Craig Albernaz put in a good word after serving as Guardians bench coach for the past two seasons.

The international signing period starts today, one of the most significant dates on baseball’s offseason calendar.

It didn't used to be that way for the Orioles.

Baseball America reports that the Orioles have agreements with shortstop Jose Luis Acevedo, who’s projected to receive approximately $2.3 million, outfielders Ariel Roque ($1.8 million) and Pedro Gomez ($1.2 million), and catcher/outfielder Gabriel Rosario ($1 million).

Acevedo, who turned 17 in November, could match or surpass the franchise record signing bonus of $2.3 million for shortstop Luis Almeyda in 2023.

Baseball America ranked Acevedo 11th on its bonus board and MLB Pipeline ranked him 14^th on its top 50 prospects list.

We’re almost to the halfway point in January and top free agents Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Framber Valdez, Cody Bellinger, Ranger Suárez and Zac Gallen remain on the market.

The Orioles are linked to the starters. Nothing seems to have changed in that regard.

Their last piece of business was outrighting outfielder Will Robertson to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers. The situation with outfielder Jhonkensy Noel hasn’t been resolved after the Orioles designated him for assignment last Wednesday.

We know more about the promotional schedule and the upcoming Birdland Caravan. Otherwise, we continue to wait for the other big offseason shoe to drop.

Here’s another batch of potential questions for players confirmed for the Caravan that begins on Jan. 22.

Tickets for all regular-season games at Camden Yards and special ticket packages go on sale to the general public on Wednesday.

Just head over to Orioles.com/Tickets for more information and to make purchases.

The club also announced some additional promotions, including Tupac and Pete Alonso bobbleheads. Because you can’t think of one without the other.

Shakur lived in Baltimore from 1984–88 and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he studied acting, poetry, jazz and ballet.

The Orioles will distribute Tupac Bobbleheads to the first 15,000 fans prior to the Friday, May 8 game against the Athletics, and the Alonso Bobblehead to the first 15,000 fans prior to the Saturday, Aug. 22 game against the Rays.

In one month, Orioles president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias will greet the media on the first day of spring training in Sarasota and recite the list of injuries and other health updates that he’s asked to provide. There’s usually a surprise or two, like Trevor Rogers’ right knee subluxation last February. Infielder Jorge Mateo wasn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day while recovering from elbow-reconstructive surgery. Optimism ran much higher with closer Félix Bautista, though his build-up would come at a slower pace.

Mateo and Bautista convinced the Orioles that they didn’t need to go on the injured list. Mateo was more of a last-minute call.

The unexpected absences really hurt. Gunnar Henderson strained his right intercostal. Andrew Kittredge had a left knee debridement. Grayson Rodriguez lost velocity, experienced discomfort in his elbow, triceps and lat, and didn’t pitch. Chayce McDermott couldn’t compete in camp due to a right lat strain. And the sky kept falling.

The Orioles didn’t make it out of Toronto without losing reliever Albert Suárez to right shoulder inflammation and outfielder Colton Cowser to a fractured left thumb. A tone was set and it shattered eardrums.

Henderson returned on April 4 and Zach Eflin was sidelined five days later with a right lat strain. That’s how it worked in 2025. Gain one and lose one. Gain one and lose two.

Gunnar Henderson won’t need to worry about innings and at-bats with the Orioles this season. He’s the everyday shortstop as long as he’s healthy.

He also won’t have any concerns about his role with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, though regular duty isn’t as readily available.

Bobby Witt Jr. also is on the roster, but manager Mark DeRosa said at the Winter Meetings that Henderson is “gonna play.”

“We did it the last time,” DeRosa said. “We had Trea (Turner), we had Tim Anderson, we had Jeff McNeil. You’ve got Brice Turang at second. I know Gunnar won’t go over to second base, but there’s a way to make all these guys happy.”

Appearing as a call-in guest Thursday on the “Orioles Hot Stove Show” on WBAL Radio, Henderson said he was told that he’d play a game at short, a game at third, maybe serve as the designated hitter.

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.

The Orioles are inviting fans to the Senator Theatre in Baltimore for a “Meet the New O’s” Q&A session with manager Craig Albernaz and first baseman Pete Alonso, which highlights this year’s Birdland Caravan event.

The caravan runs from Thursday, Jan. 22-Saturday, Jan. 24 and makes stops in multiple locations throughout the region.

Current Orioles players participating in select events also include (alphabetically) Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers, Dietrich Enns, Ryan Helsley, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jeremiah Jackson, Trevor Rogers, Adley Rutschman, Tyler Wells, Jordan Westburg and Grant Wolfram.

Locations include Baltimore, Bethesda, Ellicott City, Halethorpe, Linthicum Heights, Sykesville, White Marsh and a mystery Pop-Up Photo Op location in Prince George’s County. The Orioles say fans in Bel Air and Frederick also have the chance to meet and take photos with alumni that include former reliever Brad Brach, along with the Oriole Bird and Mr. Splash.

Tickets must be purchased for several events, including the “Meet the New O's,” breakfast with the O’s, family bingo, bowling and all happy hours. Fans are encouraged to get their tickets in advance at Orioles.com/Caravan due to limited availability.

Gunnar Henderson has a new $8.5 million contract, the largest salary for an Orioles player in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

Now, he’d like a fresh start.

Henderson strained his right intercostal muscle on Feb. 27 after making a leaping backhand catch of Bo Bichette’s line drive in the first inning. He grounded out in his only at-bat and came out of the game in the top of the second.

Henderson was held back in camp in 2024 due to soreness in his left oblique, but he had no issues making the Opening Day roster, appeared in 159 games, was selected to the All-Star team and finished fourth in the American League’s Most Valuable Player voting. However, he didn’t appear in his first game last season until April 4 and experienced a decline in most of his numbers.

Among the biggest drop-offs were his home runs, from 37 to 17, and in RBIs, from 92 to 68. His slugging percentage fell from .529 to .438 and OPS from .893 to .787.

The Orioles held at three players in DFA limbo yesterday by outrighting left-hander Josh Walker to Triple-A Norfolk and designating outfielder Jhonkensy Noel for assignment.

Noel has joined outfielder Will Robertson and reliever George Soriano in the land of uncertainty.

The club wants to retain these players to improve depth, making them non-roster invitees to camp, but one step at a time.

In an offseason defined by its hirings, trades, signings and waiver claims, the Orioles haven’t done much with their arbitration-eligible players unless there’s a frenzy of activity behind the scenes.

Today is the deadline for the sides to reach agreement on contracts or exchange salary figures. Negotiations can continue until the scheduled hearings, though the Orioles tend to live by the trial-and-go (aka trial-and-file) approach unless offering an option year.

The depth moves keep coming from the Orioles.

They aren’t solely geared toward making big splashes. Smaller transactions are trickling in, as well.

A source confirmed today that the Orioles claimed infielder Marco Luciano, 24, on waivers from the Pirates. A full 40-man roster will require a corresponding move to make him fit.

The holiday slowdown kept Luciano in limbo since the Pirates designated him for assignment on Dec. 19. They selected him on waivers from the Giants on the 5^th.

Luciano appeared in 41 major league games with San Francisco from 2023-24, batting .217/.286/.304 in 126 plate appearances. Baseball America previously had ranked him among its top 15 minor league players when he was a teenager.

A busy offseason for the Orioles feels like it’s got a lot left in the tank.

How does a team make this many moves and still project to do so much more?

They aren’t sweating the small stuff, either, with their latest depth move being yesterday’s signing of left-hander Eric Torres to a minor league deal.

He isn’t the southpaw acquisition that fans wanted to hear about, of course, but the Orioles also are stocking the Triple-A roster. He was assigned to the Norfolk Tides.

Torres, 26, was a 14^th round draft pick of the Angels in 2021 out of Kansas State. He posted a 2.31 ERA in 27 relief appearances with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2024 and struck out 55 batters in 35 innings, but he allowed seven runs and walked 11 batters in 7 1/3 innings with Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Orioles increased their total number of players in DFA limbo to three yesterday by adding reliever George Soriano. But that’s only half the story.

Not the most interesting part, either.

President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias claimed outfielder Jhonkensy Noel on waivers from the Guardians, a move that didn’t seem to be on the shopping list.

First a Polar Bear, and now “Big Christmas.”

Maybe J.T. Snow will come out of retirement.

The year 2026 has been quiet for the Orioles. No fireworks since the ball dropped.

Starter Zach Eflin is the last transaction, signing a one-year, $10 million contract on Dec. 28 with a mutual option.

The redundancy in reviewing Mike Elias’ shopping list can damage brain cells. Yes, another starting pitcher. Yes, more relievers. Yes, maybe a utility infielder and extra catcher. Yes, maybe another outfielder who can play center.

Big names and role players are on the radar.

My head is inside the mailbag which is better than where I'm often accused of burying it. Let’s tackle 12 questions as the NFL moves into its postseason and college football moves closer to crowning a national champion.

The Orioles delivered a powerful one-two prospect punch in August, selecting outfielder Dylan Beavers’ contract from Triple-A Norfolk on the 16^th and catcher Samuel Basallo’s contract the following day.

How often have two such highly anticipated promotions happened in such a short span?

MLB Pipeline ranked Beavers No. 3 in the organization and 83^rd overall. Basallo remains No. 1 in the system and seventh overall. Both players retain their rookie eligibility in 2026 by staying under the 45-day, 130 at-bat thresholds.

The announcements came while the Orioles were in Houston, on the same trip when rookie Brandon Young retired the first 23 batters in his 11^th major league start.

What a weekend.

Shane Baz is a big fan of the Orioles’ offseason moves, especially now that he’s become one of them.

The Orioles traded for Baz on Dec. 19, sending four prospects and a Competitive Balance Round A pick to the Rays. They began the month by signing closer Ryan Helsley and reached agreement with first baseman Pete Alonso at the Winter Meetings. Starter Zach Eflin was re-signed on the 28^th.

And that was just December.

Reliever Andrew Kittredge came back to the Orioles in a Nov. 4 trade with the Cubs, and outfielder Taylor Ward was acquired from the Angels two weeks later.

“The names that they're getting right now are superstar players - Alonso, you got Helsley, Ward, Eflin obviously coming back,” Baz said yesterday in a video call. “I don't know if I'm missing anybody, but those names are just really, really exciting, getting the chance to play with guys that are of that caliber and I know are really respected around the league and help teams win. And I think it speaks to how they want to play this year and what they're trying to do, and that gives you a little more motivation, I think, just to set the standard and winning is all that matters. And I really like that kind of situation.” 

Shane Baz has gone through a trade previously in his baseball life. Just never like this one.

The Pirates selected Baz with the 12^th overall pick in the 2017 draft and sent him to the Rays a year later as the player to be named in a package for Chris Archer. He hadn’t pitched above rookie ball.

The second experience lands him in the Orioles’ rotation for his fifth major league season. They sent four top 30 prospects and a Competitive Balance Round A pick to Tampa Bay. He isn’t a throw-in in the early stages of professional development.

The expectations and stakes are much higher.

“It’s always kind of surprising,” he said today in a video call with the local media. “Same kind of deal. I felt kind of the same as the first time I got traded. You’re never really expecting it. I didn’t have any inside on it or anything like that. But you know, I think the excitement took over, just being able to join such a good team and I think what the front office is doing is really exciting.

Major League Baseball rang in the New Year by knocking down one of the big starting pitcher dominos in free agency. Maybe you heard the noise.

Not quite as jarring as a snow squall emergency alert on your phone.

I had to change the sheets.

The Astros reached agreement with Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai on a three-year, $54 million deal that includes multiple opt-out clauses. MLBTradeRumors.com ranked him seventh on its top 50 list and projected a contract for $150 million over six years.

Still on the market are Framber Valdez, who seems even less likely to stay in Houston, and Ranger Suárez. The Orioles have expressed their interest in both starters and remain in the running, as far as we know. CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson predicted earlier this week that the Orioles would sign Valdez, whose 83 quality starts the past four seasons are second-most in the majors behind Logan Webb’s 85.

The ball dropped at midnight and was scored a hit because nobody touched it.

That rule probably should be changed.

Orioles business in January includes trying to get their arbitration-eligible players under contract before next Thursday’s deadline for exchanging salary figures. Hearings will begin later this month and run into February.

The two sides can continue to negotiate, but a panel will decide the salary if an agreement isn’t reached. Only the figures submitted will be considered.

Some roster moves adjusted the list of eligibles to 11: Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Ryan Mountcastle, Trevor Rogers, Tyler Wells, Adley Rutschman, Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Gunnar Henderson, Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano. Ward and Baz are the newcomers, with MLBTradeRumors.com projecting their salaries at $13.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively.