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.
Question: If Ryan O’Hearn doesn’t come back, do you think Coby Mayo gets reps at first base. Regardless of what happens with O’Hearn (I think he’s a good influence and I’d love to have him back), what do you think happens with Mayo? From: Dan Klein
Answer: Dan, I think Ryan O’Hearn will be back, and I think Mayo could play some first base and perhaps the Orioles try him in the outfield next season. After several years of a surplus of outfielders, there’s now a definite need there, especially if Anthony Santander departs.
We’ll have to see if Mayo can become an adequate outfielder, but there’s certainly a place for him there in 2025.
Question: Considering all the injuries that the Orioles’ pitching has dealt with this year, did they consider re-signing Jorge Lopez when he was released by the Mets? And if he was considered, why wasn’t he signed? From: Ricky Templeton
Answer: Ricky, Jorge López did have a second chance with the Orioles in September 2023 when he had a 5.25 ERA in 12 games. I was thinking that they might have given him a third chance. As of Saturday, he had a 2.19 ERA in 22 games with the Cubs.
When I was asked about it then, I thought that the Orioles’ environment could be a good one for him. Chicago has Darren Holmes, a former Orioles assistant pitching coach who’s familiar with López, and that seems to have worked for him.