Questions linger for the Orioles beyond their managerial search and whether they hire a general manager this winter.

Should they have matched the Dodgers’ 10-year, $700 million offer for Shohei Ohtani?

OK, maybe not that one.

Here are three randomly chosen inquiries, with many more to come.

How will the Orioles jam their starters into a five-man rotation?

The failures didn’t break Tyler O’Neill, but everything else seemed to try.

O’Neill joined the Orioles over the winter and couldn’t stay away from the injured list, making three trips due to neck inflammation, a left shoulder impingement and right wrist inflammation. He couldn’t get any momentum going in his first season of the three-year, $49.5 million contract signed on Dec. 10.

The opt-out clause isn’t worth mentioning anymore. O’Neill must rebuild his value, and the Orioles are counting on him being a presence in the heart of their lineup and in their clubhouse.

The 54 games played are four more than O'Neill's career low set in the pandemic 2020 season, and he finished with a .199 average, six doubles, nine home runs, 26 RBIs, a .684 OPS and a minus-0.6 bWAR.

Everything suffered, including the defense of a two-time Gold Glove winner. His minus-1.1 dWAR also was the worst of his career, and Statcast calculated his outs above average (OAA) at minus-4.

NEW YORK – The latest bullpen change for the Orioles came this morning with left-hander Grant Wolfram recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Dietrich Enns going on the paternity list.

Wolfram has a 4.85 ERA and 1.769 WHIP in 20 appearances.

Ryan Mountcastle is out of the lineup again today. Coby Mayo is playing first base and Tyler O’Neill is the designated hitter.

Dylan Beavers is playing left field and Jeremiah Jackson is in right. Samuel Basallo is catching, which puts Adley Rutschman on the bench after he was behind the plate last night.

Tomoyuki Sugano makes the final start of his U.S. rookie season after posting a 4.54 ERA and 1.336 WHIP in 29 games. He avoided the injured list, which made him an exception on the 2025 Orioles.

NEW YORK – Orioles reliever Rico Garcia can inherit a mess or create his own. The outcome is the same.

The man wanders into a buzz saw and walks away without a scratch.

Garcia has kept opponents hitless in 10 at-bats this season with the bases loaded, including 0-for-1 with the Mets. It’s a neat escape act that shouldn’t be attempted by just anyone.

The Orioles beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 11 innings on Aug. 19 at Fenway Park after Garcia struck out Jarren Duran, Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida in the eighth to strand three of Kade Strowd’s runners. The Rays led 5-2 in the eighth inning Thursday at Camden Yards when Garcia replaced Strowd and allowed three consecutive singles. He struck out the next two batters, retired another on a line drive, and home runs from Coby Mayo and Dylan Beavers ignited a 6-5 walk-off win.

What’s the magic?

NEW YORK – The exit meetings that are held with players at this time in the year are a custom fit for each individual. The talks don’t come off the rack.

There is, however, one central message that applies to everyone, the veterans and the core that’s much shorter on experience.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino wants something specific to resonate with this group.

“That this needs to never happen again,” he said. “That we need to solve the issues that we have and we need to fix it. And it’s up to the staff and the front office to set the path forward to fix it individually and holistically for the team.”

The Orioles are two games behind the Rays for fourth place in the division, but it’s an unappetizing consolation prize. They’d like to escape the basement but won’t celebrate it, not after back-to-back playoff appearances.

The smartest warning to be issued for the 2025 season was to expect the unexpected from the Orioles.

They weren’t supposed to land in last place or fire manager Brandon Hyde, let alone in May. They weren’t supposed to tie the Marlins for most players used with 70 or post a run differential of minus-98. They weren't supposed to use the injured list 39 times with 29 different players.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg that they crashed into this year.

The season will go on … until Sunday’s finale in the Bronx. Near, far, wherever they are, it’s one for the books. They can’t wait to close it and regroup for 2026.

Did you ever imagine that …

Dylan Beavers moves up to second in the Orioles’ lineup today, the first time he’s hit higher than fifth in the majors. He’s in right field, with Jeremiah Jackson on the bench.

Tyler O’Neill is the designated hitter again and is batting cleanup. Coby Mayo returns to the lineup at first base and is batting ninth.

Samuel Basallo is catching. Dylan Carlson is in left field and Emmanuel Rivera is at third base again.

Tomoyuki Sugano takes his turn today after leaving his last start with a sore right foot. He was hit by a sharp one-hopper and limped to the dugout.

Two of his first three starts in the U.S. came against the Blue Jays. He allowed two runs in four innings in his debut in Toronto and three runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 at Camden Yards.

TORONTO – On Aug. 1, the Orioles’ outfield no longer included Cedric Mullins, a mainstay in center field since his breakout 2021 campaign. The next day, right-fielder Tyler O’Neill was a late scratch from the lineup due to illness. And a few days later, after a collision with the wall, O’Neill hit the injured list with wrist inflammation. 

On Aug, 1, Jeremiah Jackson was called up to the big leagues after hitting a staggering .377 in 40 games with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. Most anticipated that Jackson, who played 35 of those 40 games in the infield, would fill the role vacated by Ramón Urías. 

Instead, through 35 games with the Orioles, Jackson has spent 27 days in the depleted outfield and has mostly been patrolling right field, a position that he had played on just seven occasions as a minor leaguer. 

Today, Baltimore’s primary right fielder, O’Neill, returns from a rehab assignment. But don’t expect Jackson and his .829 OPS to just hit the bench. 

“We’ll see kind of where it goes,” Tony Mansolino said of his lineup upon O’Neill’s return. “It’ll be very day-to-day, and we’ll do the best we can with the lineup and get people in the right spots.”

Tyler O’Neill will give it another try and hope to make it through the rest of the month.

The Orioles reinstated O’Neill from the 10-day injured list this afternoon and optioned outfielder Daniel Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk. O’Neill hasn’t played since Aug. 5 in Philadelphia due to right wrist inflammation. He just finished a rehab assignment that ended with Triple-A Norfolk.

O'Neill has made three stops on the injured list this season. He's appeared in 43 games in his first season with the Orioles and slashed .210/.293/.434 with six doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 23 RBIs. He homered and went 3-for-3 with three RBIs on Opening Day at Rogers Centre. He also homered against the Blue Jays on April 13 in Baltimore.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers makes his 16^th start after posting a 1.51 ERA and 0.868 WHIP in 95 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Dodgers in his last outing, the first time that he surrendered more than one since July 20 in Tampa.

Rogers’ 1.51 ERA through 15 starts is an all-time low among Orioles pitchers.

Catcher Samuel Basallo has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight after being struck on the right hand by a bunted ball Saturday night against the Dodgers.

Jeremiah Jackson is in right field again and batting second. Emmanuel Rivera stays at third base, Dylan Beavers is in left field and Coby Mayo is the first baseman.

Ryan Mountcastle serves again as designated hitter and is batting fourth.

Tomoyuki Sugano and Dean Kremer played catch today and are expected to stay on the active roster. Sugano was hit on the right foot by a one-hopper Sunday afternoon and Kremer exited his start Friday night with right forearm discomfort. Kremer’s start will be skipped, but Sugano could proceed uninterrupted.

“It didn’t get as swollen as much as I expected, and I’m ready for my next start,” Sugano said via interpreter Yuto Sakurai. “We’ll see how I move around today, but as of now, I don’t think it’ll have any affect.”

Orioles rookie catcher Samuel Basallo has avoided a serious injury after taking a bunted ball off his right hand last night and exiting the game.

Basallo is out of today’s lineup, but he would have been on the bench anyway against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

“It feels good, feeling much better today,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones.

“I got a bit scared, I think a few of us were scared. But thankfully nothing came out bad, so thank God I’m pretty healthy.”

Basallo was a spectator for the remarkable comeback, when the Orioles were no-hit for 8 2/3 innings and won 4-3 on Emmanuel Rivera’s two-run, walk-off single.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino was heading back indoors around 3:30 p.m. when he found out that the Dodgers weren’t starting Tyler Glasnow tonight at Camden Yards.

“My watch just buzzed me when I was walking in from early BP,” he said.

“I thought somebody was messing with me, but apparently not.”

No, it was true. The Dodgers scratched Glasnow with back tightness and are pushing him to early next week.

Mansolino kept the same lineup as the Orioles suddenly had to prepare for Shohei Ohtani. He was scheduled for Monday at home against the Rockies after working a season-high five innings on Aug. 27.

SAN DIEGO – A couple of injured Orioles are nearing their returns to the active roster this month. The injured list holds 10 players and can get down to single digits.

Consider it an accomplishment in 2025.

Infielder Jordan Westburg (ankle) is doing full baseball activities and should go on a rehab assignment next week.

Westburg hasn’t played since Aug. 18 in Boston.

“Everything is getting closer and closer,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.

SAN FRANCISCO – The mailbag didn’t empty on my first attempt, so let’s try again.

Here are some leftover questions as we await the second game of the series against the Giants, with a starting time of 4:15 p.m. on the West Coast.

Which prospects recently brought up are you most surprised by with their performance, whether good or bad?
So we’re not counting Jeremiah Jackson, right? You said “prospects.” But he’s definitely a surprise. I didn’t put much stock in his Triple-A numbers. Dylan Beavers is an on-base machine, which isn’t to be confused with Vimael Machín. I just assumed that he’d start slowly like so many others, but he’s worthy of an elevated spot in the lineup – next season after he retains rookie status.

Should Ryan Mountcastle change positions, since first base is crowded with Samuel Basallo on the roster?
Mountcastle already has played four since the Orioles drafted him – shortstop, third base, left field and first base. I don’t think there are plans to put him in the five-timers club and give him a special jacket. He’s also a two-time Gold Glove finalist at first. He’s fine. The bigger question is whether the Orioles give him another raise in arbitration in his final year before free agency, and if so, how they work the lineups with Basallo, Adley Rutschman and Coby Mayo.

Do you have any preferences for any of the rumored expansion cities? Guess one has to be on the West Coast?
Not sure I’m caught up on the rumors. Salt Lake City and Nashville? I saw the USA Today report last month that those cities are targeted. Bring back Montreal so I can finally make a trip. The Expos had the undisputed worst ballpark in the majors and every beat writer circled those dates on the calendar. Had nothing to do with Olympic Stadium. It was all about the city, which, as the backup on the beat, I never got to experience. Delmarva would be ideal because I could stay with my mom.

SAN FRANCISCO – The six-man rotation will be complete next week with Tyler Wells’ reinstatement from the injured list.

Wells will start in San Diego in his first major league appearance since April 12, 2024. He underwent elbow ligament reconstructive surgery two months later and just completed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.

Because he pitched on Wednesday, Wells won’t be available to the Orioles during their series in San Francisco. He could start Monday or wait until Tuesday with extra rest.

The Orioles will finalize their starters by Sunday.

“Which day, I don’t know,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “You guys can probably do the math, take a look and have a good estimate. But it will be one of those three games.”

BOSTON – Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill started baseball activities today at Fenway Park as he works toward a return from a right wrist injury.

O’Neill went on the injured list retroactive to Aug. 6 due to the inflammation.

“Threw the baseball for the first time today,” he said while standing at his locker in the visiting clubhouse. “So now it’s buildup and baseball progression, and hopefully it goes quick.”

Rosters expand on Sept. 1, but O’Neill might be able to return later this month.

“I haven’t had a specific date set in mind,” he said. “I could see that being reasonable. Hopefully, things progress quickly and I’m back before that, but you never know during the buildup. It might be a little longer. But what I know right now is I’m feeling good, I’m pretty much pain-free. It’s just getting back to baseball shape now.”

PHILADELPHIA – Tyler O’Neill is wearing a soft brace on his right wrist after leaving last night’s game in the sixth inning. He’s out of today’s lineup.

O’Neill sustained the injury while leaping at the right field wall for Max Kepler’s home run ball. He stayed in the game for four more innings and underwent X-rays that came back negative.

The testing isn’t done.

“Just sore this morning,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “He’ll get some imaging tomorrow, and after we go through the imaging tomorrow we’ll have a better idea of what it looks like. I does sound like, talking to Scott (Barringer), our trainer, that there’s a little bit of progress and he’s feeling a tick better. But he’ll be out today.”

O'Neill has made two trips to the injured list this season with neck inflammation and a left shoulder impingement.

PHILADELPHIA – Vimael Machín has joined the Orioles on the medical taxi squad with Tyler O’Neill’s status uncertain.

O’Neill exited last night’s game in the sixth inning with right wrist soreness. X-rays were negative.

Machín can stay with the Orioles for 24 hours without having his contract selected. He hasn’t played in the majors since 2022 with the Athletics.

Machín was removed from last night’s game at Triple-A Norfolk after one at-bat. He’s hitting .294 with an .835 OPS, 22 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 69 RBIs in 97 games with the Tides.

Neither team has posted its lineup for today’s series finales. The Orioles are 1-4 since the trade deadline and have lost five of six games overall.

PHILADELPHIA – Games over the next two months that can’t get the Orioles back into a playoff chase have the power to elevate a young pitcher in the eyes of his bosses. For as long as he’s allowed to stay on the mound.

Left-hander Cade Povich returned from the injured list today to make his first appearance in almost two months, and he came within an infield hit of his third quality start of the season and first since April 24.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino removed Povich after 5 2/3 innings, choosing to let Corbin Martin face Nick Castellanos with the score tied. The matchup mattered more than determining whether Povich could work out of his own jam.

Martin saw six batters and retired none. Harrison Bader hit a three-run homer, Kyle Schwarber greeted Yaramil Hiraldo with a grand slam and the eight-run inning propelled the Phillies to a 13-3 victory before an announced crowd of 41,099 at Citizens Bank Park.

Elvin Rodríguez worked the eighth, becoming the 56^th player used by the Orioles, and Edmundo Sosa and Weston Wilson hit back-to-back home runs. When a game unravels for this team, it leaves a huge mess.

PHILADELPHIA – Grayson Rodriguez won’t pitch in 2025. The last flicker of hope is doused.

The elbow discomfort that shut down Rodriguez again will lead to a debridement procedure next week to clean out some bone fragments. The surgery is expected to happen a week from today.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias stated Friday in a video call that surgery was “back on the table," so today's news was more of a confirmation. The timing of it should make Rodriguez available in spring training.

Rodriguez hasn’t appeared in a regular season game since July 31, 2024 against the Blue Jays. He went on the injured list with another lat strain that kept him off the Wild Card roster, and he didn’t pitch in spring training after a March 5 outing against the Twins in Fort Myers.

A drastic decline in velocity that day led to speculation about an injury. Rodriguez said he felt “sluggish,” and the Orioles put him on the injured list before breaking camp with elbow inflammation. Rodriguez also felt soreness in his triceps, but the first setback in his recovery was caused by another lat strain that prevented him from engaging in an April bullpen session.