An adjusted schedule and anticipating a frantic rush to set roster

The failure yesterday of Major League Baseball and the Players Association to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement and the subsequent cancellation of the first two series leaves the Orioles with the possibility of opening their season at Tropicana Field on April 8. A best-case scenario that requires the two sides to resume negotiations in New York.

The Orioles most recent opener in St. Petersburg happened in 2015, a convenient drive from major league camp in Sarasota. Chris Tillman started in a 6-2 win over the Rays.

It also happened in 2010, 2011 and 2013. The Orioles hosted Tampa Bay in 1999, 2006 and 2008.

Opening day 2022 won't transpire on March 31 at Camden Yards. The Blue Jays no longer are the first opponent. The Orioles are hopeful that they can welcome fans to the April 11 game versus the Brewers.

My last memory of an opener against Milwaukee is the actual last time it occurred - which would explain it - back in 1988 at Memorial Stadium. An ugly 12-0 loss that began the historic 0-21 start.

They were division opponents. The Brewers outhit the Orioles 16-5. Mike Boddicker allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. Oswaldo Perez allowed three earned and four total in 1 2/3. Dave Schmidt was charged with four in one-third.

The Orioles traveled to Milwaukee in 1978 for opening day and lost 11-3. Eddie Murray played third base and homered. Lee May played first base and committed an error.

Not only were the Orioles swept in the three-game series, the Brewers outscored them 40-11. Murray moved to first base in the fourth game against the Royals. The Orioles didn't win until their sixth against Milwaukee in their home opener.

They just want to get back on the field in 2022.

It's going to happen. But when?

The amount of time that league executives will spend celebrating a new collective bargaining agreement must be brief. Like winning a playoff game and thinking about the next round before the champagne has dried.

There's a daunting amount of work to do just to reach opening day - if that's what we're still going to call it - most notably in the free agent market, where teams will be rushing down the aisles as if in a winter storm panic.

In this instance, the shelves will remain full of bread, milk and toilet paper. But not pitchers and position players.

Need to fix deficiencies on the roster? Do it fast or get out of the way.

If the Orioles held interest in a major league free agent, can they restore momentum lost through the lockout? Did contract parameters move? The process is going to provide wonderful theater, though the people assigned the task of reporting it could drop from exhaustion.

The Orioles finally will be able to schedule a physical for starting pitcher Jordan Lyles and obtain his signature on a contract that guarantees $7 million and likely puts him directly behind John Means in the rotation. Their agreement is the last impactful move made, at least in the immediate sense.

The Triple-A Rule 5 draft brought pitchers Nolan Hoffman, Cole Uvila and Tommy Wilson, the latter selected by the Mariners and traded to the Orioles. They can compete for jobs, but likely are minor league depth with chances to join the club later.

Catcher Anthony Bemboom signed on Dec. 16 and provides options as the Orioles figure out what they're doing with top prospect Adley Rutschman and who's backing up or serving as placeholder. He could be on the opening day roster or never make it to Baltimore.

Infielder Shed Long Jr. won't be handed a job because of the competition he faces at second base or in a utility role, and because of his questionable status after undergoing surgery on his right leg in October.

Lyles doesn't face any of these restrictions. He just needs to pass his physical. He just needs to be cleared to take it.

The Orioles could sign a veteran who immediately goes to the left side of the infield, as they did with shortstop Freddy Galvis and third baseman Maikel Franco. Or a utility player who earns the kind of deal that pretty much assures that he's heading north.

There was previous interest in infielder Donovan Solano, 34, but I don't know whether signing Rougned Odor killed it. Solano is primarily a second baseman, but also plays shortstop, third base and left field.

Solano lost his arbitration hearing with the Giants last winter and settled for $3.25 million after seeking $3.9 million. He appeared in 101 games and batted .280/.344/.404, one year after winning a Silver Slugger Award over a shortened season.

The negotiating with free agents and trade talks must mingle with other business that's been on hold, including the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft if it isn't cancelled, attempts to reach contract terms with players lined up for arbitration hearings, and the process of getting players to obtain their work visas before reporting to camp.

* Joe Drake, a writer at Prospects Live, has joined the Orioles organization as a pro scouting consultant.

Drake announced the news on his Twitter account. He dropped a strong hint six days earlier by posting the club's logo with the caption "New favorite team."