Will Gunnar Henderson re-sign with Orioles? | MAILBAG

Question: Is it a foregone conclusion that Gunnar Henderson will be gone from the Orioles at the end of his contract? From: Timothy Fowler

Answer: Tim, it’s not a foregone conclusion that shortstop Gunnar Henderson won’t re-sign with the Orioles. However, it would take a very large contract to keep him with the Orioles. They are very interested in having Henderson remain in Baltimore, but Henderson’s agent, Scott Boras, generally advises his clients not to sign extensions, though he has made exceptions.

The guess here is that it’s unlikely that Henderson remains with the Orioles beyond free agency, but it could happen.

Question: I’m also a fan of the Nationals, and what I think had a great impact on their season, winning the World Series in 2019, was not all of the stars on the team but was the joy that happened in their dugout after home runs, after other big hits. A huge part of that, even though statistically he may not have been the most productive player, was Gerardo Parra.

As much as the Orioles need strong hitters and consistent pitching, we need someone like that on the team. We need someone to bring the group together, and even though I know they seem to have good rapport with each other, they really need to focus on that and on having fun. What do you think about this idea? From: Henry Lefkowitz

Answer: Henry, I think that’s a nice idea, but I think that happens organically. The Orioles have a guy with a great upbeat attitude in Blaze Alexander, but I’m not sure that just having a player like that really contributes to winning unless they’re producing on the field.

I think Pete Alonso and Chris Bassitt have great leadership skills, and if they produce consistently, I think that would contribute the fun element.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.