Thursday Bird Droppings: Lease done, it’s back to thinking about the Orioles rotation

The Orioles’ Opening Day in 2024 is already 98 days away. We’ve reached the double digits! We’re not quite to the point where “there’s a uniform number every day” because, while the Orioles received a #99 for the first time ever when Jess Aguilar joined the organization in 2022, no one has yet worn any of the numbers 89-98 in a game for the team.

With the official resolution of the Orioles lease for next year and beyond earlier this week, fans can now focus solely on the composition of the 2024 roster. Unless, like me, you want to worry about what’s on the renovation wish list and whether John Angelos’ ambitions would ruin what we love about Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In terms of next year’s roster, focus should be on whether it should or will be adjusted as a result of a free agent acquisition or trade.

The situation has not changed since Dean Kremer was blasted out of ALDS Game 3 and everyone’s attention could shift into next year mode as soon as they were ready to start thinking about that. The team will probably need starting pitching at least as good as what they got this year in order to have consecutive playoff appearances, and certainly better starting pitching than they got in the postseason this year to advance into the ALCS or beyond.

It is not a situation that needs to have urgency for the Orioles. Although I don’t particularly want them to do this, it’s not the craziest thing if they take a rotation of Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer, and Tyler Wells into spring training. That could work. It could also not work. Means wasn’t able to pitch in that postseason due to arm trouble and that when he was barely back from Tommy John surgery. Wells had a first half with a good ERA and mediocre FIP.

As my fellow Camden Chatter Tyler Young wrote yesterday, both the free agent and trade markets for pitching at this point are probably waiting around to see what choice is made by Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Several teams believe they might have a chance to get him.

At one time it looked like Yamamoto might decide before Christmas, but it’s been rumored to be heading towards a first days of the new year decision. Teams that don’t get Yamamoto could be bidding on other free agents or trying to swing trades. Those who are looking to trade starting pitchers want as many rejected Yamamoto suitors involved as possible. The Orioles aren’t waiting for Yamamoto’s choice themselves, but players and teams they might be talking to could be waiting to see how it shakes out.

It’s hard to resist the temptation to do a baseball team’s list for Santa Claus. The Orioles scratched off one of the two big items on their shopping list earlier this month. The other probably won’t be done by Christmas, and of course there’s no reason it has to be done by Christmas.

It’s not a wish list from Roch, but he’s also wondering whether Jackson Holliday will make the Opening Day roster, among a couple of other things in this round.

The Banner did not get a direct interview with Rubenstein but has rounded up a variety of other quotes by and about him from over the years.

One of the important things about the Orioles being able to continue to succeed is whether they can keep on rolling as people are promoted or leave for jobs in other organizations. New director of player development Anthony Villa said, “The titles are new, the working relationship is more or less the same.” That sounds encouraging enough.

There are a number of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2019-20 pitcher Asher Wojciechowski, 2012-13 catcher Taylor Teagarden, 2006 reliever LaTroy Hawkins, 1995 outfielder Andy Van Slyke, 1996 reliever Roger McDowell, and 1977 outfielder Elliott Maddox. Today is Maddox’s 76th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.