More details on the Camden Yards lease, heat check in the East, and twiddling our thumbs until a move is made.
Good morning, Birdland!
The waiting continues. In case you haven’t heard, Yoshinobu Yamamoto still hasn’t picked a team. Whenever he does pick a team it won’t be the Orioles. But his delay has drawn the entire pitching market to a halt.
The latest information came from reporter Bob Klapisch. He says that teams feel that the process is likely to extend beyond Christmas and could even drag into the new year. This comes after Yamamoto has already reportedly met in-person with the all of the league’s biggest teams, including the Yankees and Red Sox. It would seem that formal offers should materialize from there, all of which are expected to exceed $250 million before factoring in the posting fee. As Yamamoto mulls, the rest of us stand by.
Teams that don’t get Yamamoto may turn to free agents like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, so those two are standing pat. Many of the winter’s biggest trade chips are also pitchers, specifically Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes, and Shane Bieber. Their current teams will want to get top dollar, and that means waiting for the deep-pocketed teams in on Yamamoto to be fully engaged in trade talks.
The Orioles’ most likely avenue to acquire a front-half starter remains via trade. That’s been true since the season ended, and nothing that has happened since has pushed them away from that reality. But they don’t seem to be in the driver’s seat here. The pace at which a trade happens is up to the team holding the desired big leaguer, and none of them seem inclined to jump Yamamoto in line.
Links
What’s noteworthy in Orioles lease? Wish list includes removing ballpark seats to create social spaces and more. | The Baltimore Sun
Camden Yards is about to get a lot more social, it appears. Many of the desired renovation projects around the park seem aimed at allowing patrons to enjoy the game from somewhere other than a traditional ballpark seat. But there is more practical stuff included, like eventual updates to video and audio systems in the park. As far as I can tell, there is no timeline just yet on these updates.
Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday is USA TODAY Sports’ 2023 Minor League Player of the Year | USA Today
Had I ever heard of this award before today? Come on. Of course not. But I’m still proud of our guy Jackson.
Julio Rodríguez Tops 2023 Pre-Arb Bonus Pool | MLB Trade Rumors
Four Orioles were in the top 10 of recipients for this bonus pool: Adley Rutschman, Kyle Bradish, Félix Bautista, and Gunnar Henderson.
AL East heat check: Which teams are rising and falling? | The Athletic
The Yankees are the only team in the division to make a splashy addition this offseason, trading for Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo. The Rays have done the inverse, dealing away Tyler Glasnow. But each of these teams likely has a trick or two up their sleeve still to come. There’s still oodles of talent out there, and you have to think at least some of it ends up in the AL East.
The Orioles have a new lease! | Ep. 121 | The Warehouse Podcast
Now featuring: my face! You can look at me while I talk about Orioles topics. It’s everything you ever wanted, and right before Christmas too. A miracle in every sense of the word.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Joey Krehbiel turns 31 today. The righty has spent at least part of the last three seasons in the Orioles bullpen, and is currently a free agent.
- Aubrey Huff turns 47. From 2007 through 2009 he played both corner infield positions for the Orioles. He was dealt to the Tigers in August of 2009 for prospect Brett Jacobson.
This day in O’s history
1995 – B.J. Surhoff signs a three-year deal with the Orioles.
2000 – The Orioles re-sign shortstop Mike Bordick just months after trading him to the New York Mets. He reclaims his starting role on the infield, pushing Melvin Mora—the player acquired in that deal—to the outfield for the time being.
2013 – Troy Patton, a lefty in the O’s bullpen, is suspended 25 games to begin the 2014 season for amphetamine use.