The playoffs chug along, the Orioles are mulling roster changes, and Machado keeps on grabbing headlines.
Good Morning, Birdland,
The playoffs are rolling right along. On Tuesday we saw two wild card underdogs take series leads against their division rivals. This feels apropos in a season without any one true juggernaut (although the Dodgers and Phillies were probably the closest thing to it). It’s possible for both NL series to wrap up later today with the lower-seeded teams on home turf. That would be neat for them!
The AL series will continue past today as they both come in tied at a game apiece. But the venues will change as Detroit and Kansas City both get their first shot at hosting postseason baseball this year.
Meanwhile the Orioles are just waiting for the offseason to arrive. Of course, they are probably doing some important prep work, or at least we would hope so. Maybe they are talking to Gunnar Henderson about a contract extension? That shouldn’t be too complicated since the Bobby Witt Jr. extension from February is sitting right there as a guidepost. We shouldn’t expect anything like that in the fall, but it would be nice to get together on a deal before spring training.
Other than that, the next calendar milestone for the Orioles surrounds player options and qualifying offers. The team has just a few days after the conclusion of the World Series to make those decisions.
For the most part, those decisions will be simple. Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander are expected to get (and reject) the qualifying offer. The players with team options are Eloy Jiménez, Seranthony Domínguez, Ryan O’Hearn, Danny Coulombe, and Cionel Pérez. Everyone but Jiménez will probably be back, or at least have their option picked up.
After that is when the offseason truly starts, although baseball tends to twiddle their collective thumbs for a full month, only picking up steam for the Winter Meetings in December. It sure sounds like the new ownership group, led by David Rubenstein, is ready to provide Mike Elias with the most resources of his time as GM. But what that looks like in practice could be different from what many of us are imagining in our heads.
Links
Three more pending decisions for Orioles impacting roster and payroll | Roch Kubatko
With Félix Bautista returning for 2025, Domínguez (potentially) coming back in a set-up role, and guys like Coulombe in the middle innings, the O’s bullpen is looking rather solid for next season. Major league bullpens never go according to plan, so some contingencies will need to be built in, but it’s a good start.
Orioles and chief revenue officer agree to part ways, source says | The Baltimore Banner
The article talks about this change in reference to the future renovations to Camden Yards. The team has already unlocked the $600 million to renovate the park, but it looks like they will search for different vision in terms of implementing those changes.
Long gone from Orioles, Machado still controversial figure | Baltimore Baseball
“Controversial” seems a bit harsh. The guy is a hot head, but it has always been reserved for the playing field. To my knowledge, there have never been off-field issues, and he has been a consistent performer since the day he debuted in Baltimore right on through his big contract in San Diego.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Chaz Roe turns 38 today. He appeared in 45 games out of the bullpen for the 2015-16 Orioles, accumulating a 4.06 ERA over 51 innings.
- Jason Pridie is 41 today. The outfielder got into four games for the 2013 Orioles.
- Brian Roberts is 47 years old. A bright spot on some bad Orioles teams, Roberts was a mainstay in Baltimore from 2001 through 2013. He made two all-star teams (2005 and ‘07), led the league in doubles twice (‘04 and ‘09) and led the league steals in 2007. He was enshrined in the team Hall of Fame in 2018 and has been an occasional contributor to Orioles broadcasts the last few seasons.
This day in O’s history
1966 – The Orioles wrap up a World Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dave McNally tosses a four-hit shutout, and Frank Robinson cranks a solo home run to give the O’s a 1-0 win. The Orioles also finish with 33 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, a World Series record.
1971 – Dave McNally tosses a three-hit complete game to lead the Orioles to a 5-3 win in Game 1 of the World Series over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Merv Rettenmund smacks a three-run homer in support.
1996 – The Jeffrey Maier incident. The Orioles lose Game 1 of the ALCS to the Yankees, 5-4.
2014 – The Orioles announce a three-year extension for shortstop J.J. Hardy, one day before beginning play against the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.