Questions to be answered as Orioles approach spring training

Oriole pitchers and catchers report to the Ed Smith Stadium Complex in Sarasota on February 12^th. Between now and then, there are still questions to be answered. Some might be addressed at this week’s Birdland Caravan on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Others might wait until Sarasota.

Are the Orioles finished making offseason moves?

Last year, ace pitcher Corbin Burnes wasn’t acquired until February 1^st, and while there haven’t been any trade rumblings lately, it’s possible that executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias could make a move to trade for a starting pitcher.

Even though the Orioles have a large number of candidates for the rotation, there are still some recognizable names remaining in free agency, including former Orioles Jack Flaherty and Kyle Gibson.

There are others, too, including Nick Pivetta, whose signing would cost the Orioles a draft choice. Andrew Heaney, Lance Lynn, Cal Quantill and José Quintana remain unsigned as well.

Those names aren’t likely to excite Oriole fans, but depth moves are always possible—even after spring training begins.

The relief pitcher market was a slow-moving one this offseason, and adding another arm from a long list that includes David Robertson, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly and Scott Barlow shouldn’t be ruled out.

Four Orioles from last season — left-handers Danny Coulombe and John Means, catcher James McCann and outfielder Austin Hays — remain free agents. Except for Means, who could sign later after his recovery from June 2024 Tommy John surgery, it doesn’t seem likely that any of them will be back.

Will the Orioles go to arbitration with Jorge Mateo?

It appears they will. Mateo, who missed nearly all of the second half of last season and needed Tommy John surgery in August, is asking for $4 million in arbitration while the Orioles offered $3.1 million.

The Orioles have avoided arbitration with several players, including Coulombe, Means, Trey Mancini and Ryan O’Hearn by offering them options for an additional year. It also could happen with Mateo, whom Elias likes.

How will Morton and Sugano be used in spring training?

The Orioles’ two starting pitcher additions — 41-year-old right-hander Charlie Morton and 35-year-old Japanese import Tomoyuki Sugano — will attract curiosity.

In Morton’s case, his age might require some rest, and since Sugano pitched in a six-man rotation in Japan, he can be moved around at will during spring training.

During the season, a six-man rotation could be unwieldy, but getting Morton and Sugano the necessary work and rest won’t be a problem in Grapefruit League games.

Which players will get a minor league invitation to spring training? The Orioles have had as many as 30 non-roster players in spring training, and the announcement of those invitations should be coming soon.

The biggest name who’ll get an invite is 20-year-old catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo, who’s 13^th on the recently released MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect list.

Basallo came to camp last year but was held back because of a stress fracture in his right elbow and didn’t catch until April. Watching him catch regularly this spring will be instructive to the Orioles, who could be eyeing him for a callup later in the season.

Perhaps outfield prospects Enrique Bradfield Jr., the team’s No. 1 pick in 2023, and Dylan Beavers, the 33^rd overall selection in 2022, will get invitations.

Thaddeus Ward, who was claimed off waivers from Washington in November and later removed from the roster, should get an invitation. So should right-handed reliever Matt Bowman, who pitched in 15 games with the Orioles last season.

Others with major league experience include infielders Vimael Machin and Liván Soto, who played 12 games with the Orioles last season; outfielders Jordyn Adams, Franklin Barreto and Nick Gordon; and catcher David Bañuelos, who got one at-bat last year.

The Orioles lost two catchers in recent weeks. René Pinto was claimed off waivers by Arizona and Blake Hunt was traded to Seattle. It wouldn’t be a surprise if another catcher was signed to a minor league contract.

Maverick Handley, who was invited to the last two major league spring trainings, prospect Creed Willems, who played in the Arizona Fall League, and Silas Ardoin, who was a participant in last spring’s camps, are catching possibilities.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.