Will Orioles be better or worse in 2025? | MAILBAG

Question: Rich, let’s be realistic. Mike Elias has constructed a 2025 team that’s not as good as 2024.  Other than Zach Eflin, he blew it at the trade deadline.  This offseason was supposed to be a big splash.  Your thoughts? From: Mark Steinhorn, Columbia

Answer: Mark, we don’t know if the 2025 team will be better or worse than last year’s. I don’t know anyone who predicted that the 2023 team with Kyle Gibson as its No. 1 starter would win 101 games.

I think it’s possible that Adley Rutschman has a bounce-back year. I think it’s also possible that Jackson Holliday has a solid season and that Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad and Tyler O’Neill make up for the offense lost by Anthony Santander.

I also think it’s possible that having Eflin for a full season and a healthy Grayson Rodriguez along with Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton could be a solid rotation, even though their best starter in years, Corbin Burnes, is gone.

And it’s possible that a healthy Félix Bautista could anchor an improved bullpen.

Of course, many things that we don’t foresee are going to happen, but I think growth from the group of young players is necessary for the team to be a contender.

Question:  I read that 13 stadiums are using the automatic ball-strike challenge system in spring training. Is it going to be used at Ed Smith? From: Allen File

Answer: Allen, the ABS system will not be used at Ed Smith Stadium this spring, but it’s possible the Orioles could experience it at road Grapefruit League games.

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.