Will Orioles’ new GM make early moves? | MAILBAG

Question: With the Orioles getting a GM, do you think he will be active either with a trade or signing someone before the lockout December 1^st? From: Rob Jefferson

Answer: Rob, I think the Orioles will be active in the month between the end of the World Series and the inevitable lockout.

We’ll learn more at next week’s introduction of general manager Jarred Banner, but I think when it comes to major trades and signings, Banner will contribute, but Mike Elias will have a lot to say about them.

In organizations that have presidents of baseball operations and general managers, it seems that the general managers don’t handle the major transactions.

It will be a crash course for Banner to learn the organization over the next six weeks, and I’m sure his opinions will matter, but Elias’ will matter more.

Question: Since MLB now seeds playoff teams, why in the AL Divisional Series did the number one seed, Rays, have to play the number four seed, Yankees, while the number two seed, Guardians, got to play the number six seed, White Sox? Unless I’ve recently fallen and hit my head this wouldn’t happen in the NFL this way. From: Craig Askins

Answer: Craig, the way MLB has seeded teams, the two division winners with the best records get byes and don’t have to play in the wild-card round.

The Yankees were the top-seeded wild-card team and played Boston, which was the fifth seed while Houson, which won the AL West, played Chicago, which beat the Astros.

MLB has proposed re-seeding teams after the wild-card round, and it’s something that has to be negotiated in the ongoing labor talks.

The NFL does give higher seeding to division winners with worse records than wild-card teams, but the lowest remaining seed after the first weekend plays the No. 1 seed.

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.