How aggressive will Orioles be for free-agent pitchers? | MAILBAG

Question: Do you think the O’s brass will spend the money for a quality front-line starter and a top-tier free-agent closer? My worry is being outbid and not offering enough. If the O’s truly want to bounce back, the closer position is as big a need as a starter in my opinion. What are your thoughts? From: Jeremy Cole

Answer: Jeremy, I think the Orioles will be aggressive in the free-agent market. I’m not sure how aggressive, but I think they’ll spend more money and offer longer contracts than they have in the past to pitchers.

It will be interesting to see if they’ll offer four- or five-year contracts to starters. I’m not sure that offering a contract of more than three years for a closer is wise, but I think they’ll be more competitive for free agents than they have been in the past.

Question: Recognizing that next season is the 60th anniversary of the Orioles’ 1966 World Series championship, do you know if any special ceremonies are planned? Secondly, would you know who are the surviving members of that team? From: Joe Rees

Answer: Joe, I don’t know if there will be a ceremony for the 60^th anniversary of the 1966 team.

There are five surviving players who played in the 1966 World Series — shortstop Luis Aparicio, starting pitchers Wally Bunker and Jim Palmer, first baseman Boog Powell and outfielder Russ Snyder. Catcher Larry Haney and relief pitcher Eddie Watt are alive but did not play in the World Series. First baseman Mike Epstein, who’s also alive, played for the 1966 team but wasn’t on the World Series roster.

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.