PLAYER REVIEW: LANE THOMAS Age on opening day 2023: 27 How acquired: Traded from Cardinals for Jon Lester, July 2021 MLB service time: 3 years, 14 days 2022 salary: $723,600 Contract status: Arbitration-eligible, free agent in 2026 2022 stats: 146 G, 548 PA, 498 AB, 62 R, 120 H, 26 2B, 2 3B, 17 HR, 52 RBI, 8 SB, 4 CS, 41 BB, 132 SO, .241 AVG, .301

The first offseason mailbag is here. I just wish the delivery guy hadn’t left it by my garage instead of walking up the steps and knocking on the front door. This is the latest sequel to the beloved original. You ask, I answer, you ask again, I begin to doubt myself. And then I conduct a frantic search for a movie title that I haven’t already used.

Sometimes our fine readers ask me questions in the comments section, and I enjoy trying to answer most of them or form an opinion to pass along. Today is one of those days I ask the questions and seek answers and opinions from the readers. Welcome to our first offseason edition of “A few questions for O’s fans.” Feel free to answer all the question

PLAYER REVIEW: CÉSAR HERNÁNDEZ Age on opening day 2023: 32 How acquired: Signed as free agent, November 2021 MLB service time: 8 years, 154 days 2022 salary: $4 million Contract status: Free agent 2022 stats: 147 G, 617 PA, 560 AB, 64 R, 139 H, 28 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 34 RBI, 10 SB, 4 CS, 45 BB, 114 SO, .248 AVG, .311 OBP, .318 SLG, .629 OPS, 84 OPS+, -

The Orioles won’t stay quiet during the postseason. They haven’t shut down other than games no longer played. Same here. Let’s do a little more reflecting on 2022, a season that brought so many unexpected highs and unavoidable lows. I tend to zero in on anticipated story angles that didn’t develop, or energy wasted on certain topics because they se

PLAYER REVIEW: ILDEMARO VARGAS Age on opening day 2023: 31 How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, May 2022 MLB service time: 3 years, 7 days 2022 salary: $700,000 Contract status: Arbitration-eligible, free agent in 2026 2022 stats (CHC/WSH): 63 G, 222 PA, 209 AB, 19 R, 55 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 3 SB, 1 CS, 8 BB, 23 SO, .263 AVG, .

The cold and hard math from the 2022 season tells us this: The Orioles had a below-average offense this year. But not by a large amount. Still, it was enough to have Birdland’s concern meter on the rise as the year ended. The O’s offense stumbled badly at the end, and for some, that is the lasting memory of how they did with the bats this year. Win

Austin Hays doesn’t believe that the Orioles spent the entire 2022 season or even the bulk of it sneaking up on opponents. He’s convinced that teams knew much earlier just how good the Orioles had become simply by paying attention. The results were spread out in front of them. Many more wins, much tighter games. The late comebacks, whether complete

The Orioles are stockpiling catchers in the early days of their offseason. Two more arrived today, with the Orioles claiming Aramis Garcia and Mark Kolozsvary off waivers from the Reds. A full 40-man roster required two corresponding moves, and the Orioles designated relievers Louis Head and Beau Sulser for assignment. Garcia, who turns 30 in Janua

The Orioles have made the following roster moves: Claimed C Aramis Garcia off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.Claimed C Mark Kolozsvary (COLES-very) off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.Designated RHP Louis Head for assignment.Designated RHP Beau Sulser for assignment.  The 40-man roster remains at 40 players.