Because You Asked - The New Empire

A month has passed since the last big mailbag reveal, when blue smoke told us that the Orioles would make a trade with the Royals.

Welcome to the Orioles world, Jonathan Heasley.

The deadline to sign arbitration-eligible players or exchange salary figures was last night, followed by the start of the international signing period on Monday. The three-day Birdland Caravan begins Jan. 25. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training by the middle of February.

Heasley could make another new friend before reporting to camp. The Orioles still haven’t acquired a starting pitcher.

I won’t wait until it happens to respond to your questions. Let’s do it now, with a second batch held for later.

This is another sequel to the beloved original from 2008. We have more wrinkles and gray hairs, but I don’t edit those, either.

Also, my mailbag pays to stream every network and yours wraps aluminum foil on the rabbit ears.

We know that Mike Elias keeps things buttoned up when it comes to transactions. Are you getting the sense, though, that a trade for another rotation piece may not happen because of what other teams are asking for?
Efforts continue to find that pitcher, but yes, it’s conceivable that the asking price proves prohibitive and the Orioles settle for in-house candidates to round out the rotation. I think they get a pitcher. I think a trade is more likely if it’s a higher-impact arm. But Elias isn’t letting rival execs tear through the farm system like it’s a bin at Goodwill.

Who should MLB Network have listed as the Orioles' nominee for best shortstop in baseball right now? They listed Jackson Holliday, but he obviously isn't even on the 40-man roster yet. And besides "your mom," that is.
They’d never! I think it’s Gunnar Henderson. You know, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year. But how nice that the Orioles have multiple candidates.

Is the Birdland Caravan going to be a permanent thing or will they switch it up next year or in the future?
There are no immediate plans to go back to the old FanFest. The idea with the Caravan is to cover a much broader area, as other clubs are doing. Come to the fans who can’t come downtown. Try to make it more interactive.

What is the actual level of interest in a trade for Dylan Cease?
From the Orioles? I’d say it’s quite high. From me, also high. And hopeful that if it happens, I'm not driving on 95 or 50. Those seem to be the hot spots for breaking news.

If you were not doing this work, with the following you have, what other type of work could you see yourself doing?
Yard.

Since there’s no Adam Frazier-like signing so far, it’s obvious that Jackson Holliday opens the season as the second baseman, right?
Way to put it in question form! I know that’s what fans want. And it’s nice to give the people what they want. Good for business. Good for the heart. However, I think we’re falling short of “obvious” here. But "possible" is on the table.

Do you expect the O’s to trade for a starter for the top half of the rotation? Or for the fourth or fifth spot? Or any trade at all? And if not, will Tyler Wells be the 5th starter?
You ask a lot of questions for a guy from New Jersey. (RIP Gilda). I expect a trade. An “ace” is gonna cost more prospects and it’s harder to find a match. This isn’t a popular stance, but I think you can do a lot worse than Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez being 1 and 2, respectively. Or moving up John Means from third. You don’t think a healthy Means could have made a difference in the Division Series? But I also believe that a top starter makes the Orioles a more legitimate World Series pick. They must think so, too, because they aren’t vowing to stand pat. So, here we are. And yeah, Wells is the favorite to become the fifth starter, if he isn’t fourth and Dean Kremer slots lower, unless the Orioles bring in a new pitcher.

Any rumored MLB rule changes about plays at and blocking home plate? What would O’s catchers like them to be?
I didn’t see anything regarding home plate in the last article detailing proposed changes and tweaks. O’s catchers, just like any team’s catchers, would love to be granted permission to field a throw directly in front of the plate like the old days. Set up a cot.  

The Orioles didn't sign five arbitration guys. Do you know the salary figures exchanged?
You got this one just under the wire. Austin Hays: $6.3 million vs. $5.85 million. Ryan O'Hearn: $3.8 million vs. $3.2 million. Danny Coulombe: $2.4 million vs. $2.2 million. Cionel Pérez: $1.4 million vs. $1.1 million. Jacob Webb: $1 million vs. 925,000.

Will Kevin Brown return as MASN broadcaster? Will Big Ben?
The Orioles haven’t revealed any plans for their broadcasters, and I haven’t heard of any changes. But as I’ve said, I’m not in the loop.

Who will get more starts in the majors this year, Heston Kjerstad or Coby Mayo?
Kjerstad, assuming he stays healthy. He should break camp with the team. Mayo has to wait.

Now that the lease has been signed, are there any improvements to Camden Yards that will be implemented before the start of the season?
There’s still some work to do with the lease related to developing the area around the ballpark. And as far as I know, significant improvements like opening up the concourse, creating more social spaces by removing upper deck seats and building a field level restaurant won’t be done this quickly. But there could be some smaller ones.

Do you ever play fantasy baseball?
My fantasy is a game that lasts 2:15. I’ve never played fantasy baseball. Have been in a few football pools, whether fantasy or just picking every game against the spread. Baseball sounds like too much work in a 162-game season. The NFL pools made me grouchy every weekend. As my wife said, I couldn’t enjoy watching a game anymore. She was right.

Have the Orioles said any prospect is "untouchable"?
Mike Elias said he could name at least one when asked at the Winter Meetings. Of course, he meant Jackson Holliday. Names aren’t shared, but we know. And they seem super-reluctant to part with guys like Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo.

Do they need to trade Basallo because he’s blocked by Adley Rutschman?
No. Basallo isn’t likely to make his debut this summer. MLB Pipeline projects 2025. He has another season to get more comfortable playing first base. And the Orioles aren’t timid about using their catchers as the designated hitter. Basallo is a special talent and he’s only 19. He can co-exist with Rutschman.

Do you make an appearance in "101: The Story of the 2023 Orioles?"
They didn’t interview me for it, which seems like a gross oversight. Then again, my critics think it’s gross to put me on the air. I respect all opinions.

Who are the spring training guest coaches?
The Orioles haven’t announced any spring training details, including rosters and guest coaches. Ben McDonald would certainly make sense since he works for MASN.

Would you eat a 30-year-old Cal Bar?
I own one, and no. Just like I won’t eat the Albert Belle commemorative cereal that’s also displayed in my “Zoom room.” I’d rather gnaw on the Buck Showalter snow globe.

In your astute, professional opinion, why have the free agent and trade markets played out so slowly? Or has it played out normally and it just seems painstakingly slow because the Orioles should be involved this year?
Could be a little bit of that. I also think teams are jammed up waiting for the big ticket items to move. And the expanded playoff field makes more teams think they can contend, increasing the number of suitors and slowing decisions.

Are the Orioles prioritizing winning back-to-back Triple-A national championships?
Not a priority but they believe that winning is important during the development process. It serves a purpose.

Does it make you a feel a little better that ‘Bama lost to the eventual national champions?
You’d think so, and yet …

Is Dylan Cease a difference-maker or media hype?
There’s no hype. His body of work speaks for itself. A workhorse with impressive strikeout numbers who was runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award in 2022. He would make a difference with the Orioles. I think they could lure a bounce back season out of him with their pitching program. And it’s not like 2023 was a disaster.

Seemingly everyone involved in pro baseball is on the Orioles bandwagon right now. That's different. I couldn't find a way to make that into a question, but you can still use it.
Thanks.

As you enter from outside, why do people ask, “Is it still raining outside?” Isn’t the word “outside” superfluous?
It seems unnecessary. Like “rise up” when you can’t rise down. And this seems like a good place to stop.

If it's true that the East Coast is sinking at .08 inches a year and sea levels are rising at .4 inches per year, at what point in the new 30-year lease at OPACY will most seats be considered in the "Splash Zone?”
This is definitely a good place to stop.