Jul 30, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles majority owner David Rubenstein behind home plate during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Question: Do you believe Orioles ownership truly wants to build a winner for ’26 and beyond? From: Jim Turner
Answer: Jim, yes, I believe that they truly want to build a winner for 2026 and beyond. I know a lot of fans, despite the Samuel Basallo extension, are skeptical, but I think they will spend significant money this offseason. They spent significant money last offseason, but the money wasn’t well spent.
Other than Dylan Cease, there aren’t any top-shelf starters who will be free agents, and I don’t see them offering him five or six years, but I do think they’ll be in the market for free-agent starters they could sign for three years at market value.
It may be difficult for them to sign Gunnar Henderson, or Jordan Westburg to extensions, not because they don’t want to, but because their agent, Scott Boras, is reluctant to advise his players to sign extensions without testing the free-agent market.
I think they’ll look to sign outfielders to free-agent contracts, too.
Question: The Orioles seem almost never to promote a pitcher from within the organization when a relief pitcher goes down, but rather than claim pitchers who have been designated for assignment. Is it really that a guy with a 6.00 ERA is a better bet than every pitcher in the system? From: Kevin Whitaker
Answer: Kevin, I think that’s not the case. They promoted Kade Strowd from within, and he’s been perhaps their most effective reliever the last two months.
They signed Yaramil Hiraldo over the winter, and he’s had some effective outings recently.
Dietrich Enns, who’s done well at times, was acquired at the trade deadline. While they claimed Rico Garcia on waivers, he’s done fairly well, too.
Yes, they’ve claimed pitchers off waivers with high ERAs because they often think they can be good relievers with some adjustments, and it doesn’t always work.
They would prefer to promote from within, but they don’t have as many good relief candidates at Norfolk as they’d like.
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.
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