The bullpen is taking shape, free agency should speed up, and more in today’s Bird Droppings
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! I hope you had a nice weekend. The baseball world was quiet yesterday after the Shohei Ohtani shenanigans earlier in the weekend. Everyone kept saying that the free agency holdup was due to waiting on Ohtani. We’ll find out this week if that is the case.
The next big name is, of course, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Yankees want this player and are reportedly meeting with him this week. That would really stink. Maybe the Dodgers will do the AL East another solid and sign him as well.
The Orioles went into the offseason with the stated needs of a relief pitcher and a starting pitcher. They got their relief pitcher in Craig Kimbrel, but where do they go for a starting pitcher? They have already laid the groundwork for lowered expectations on that front. The argument is that Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez are good enough.
We certainly know that Yamamoto is a no-go and based on the comments from Mike Elias at the winter meetings, nearly any big-name starting pitcher is the same. Not that many of us expected that. Perhaps the Orioles will trade for another starter, they have the trade pieces to do so. Or maybe they’ll do nothing. I don’t think they’ll do nothing, but since that has been their MO for many years it wouldn’t surprise me.
Links
Orioles’ bullpen plan for 2024 season – MLB.com
Jake Rill lays out the bullpen structure with the Orioles’ new closer, Craig Kimbrel, in the fold. He names Dillon Tate as the x-factor, and a healthy and effective Tate would be a big boost indeed.
Because You Asked – Disenchanted – MASN Sports
Did you send in a question to Roch Kubatko’s mailbag? If so, maybe he answered! He talks Connor Norby, Tyler Wells, winter meetings, and more.
Heston Kjerstad, Klaire Trainor Latest in a Long Line of Razorback Power Couples – Best of Arkansas Sports
It’s a slow news day so enjoy this interview between Heston Kjerstad and the Best of Arkansas Sports website. Kjerstad attended the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Orioles in 2020.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Of all the Orioles to have ever played, only one was born on December 11th. Pitcher Hal “Skinny” Brown (b. 1924, d. 2015) played for the Orioles from 1955-62, pitching to a 3.61 ERA in 204 games. He was a veteran presence on the brand-new Orioles and functioned as a swingman and spot starter. He also threw a knuckleball, which is always fun.
On this day in 1959, the Orioles made Lee MacPhail team president. MacPhail was instrumental in building the powerhouse Orioles of the 1960s including, just before leaving the team, laying the groundwork for the Frank Robinson trade. The Orioles tried to recreate the magic by hiring Lee’s son, Andy MacPhail, in 2007. It didn’t really work out.
In 1984, Fred Lynn signed a four-year contract with the Orioles. Lynn hit .265/.337/.478 (OPS+ 122) from 1985-88 before he was traded to the Tigers for a young catcher named Chris Hoiles.
In 1992, the Orioles signed Harold Reynolds. In 1997, they signed Doug Drabek. Both players were one-and-done players for the O’s.