The Orioles have picked up 2025 contract options on first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn, lefty reliever Cionel Pérez and righty reliever Seranthony Domínguez. But in a surprise move, they declined the $4 million 2025 contract option on lefty reliever Danny Coulombe.

The club today also made the procedural move of reinstating pitchers Félix Bautista, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells and infielder Jorge Mateo from the 60-day injured list. 

Coulombe has been a dependable reliever for the club since they acquired him just ahead of Opening Day 2023 from the Twins for cash considerations. But now he officially becomes a free agent where he could re-sign with the Orioles or sign with any other club. 

Perhaps the team has injury concerns here as Coulombe was on the injured list last year from June 11-Sept. 20 as he underwent a procedure to remove bone chips from his left elbow.

But he finished the year throwing 3 2/3 scoreless over four games and pitched 0.2 innings scoreless in the playoffs.

Reliever Burch Smith doesn’t rate as one of the bigger decisions awaiting the Orioles. However, he’s on their agenda.

Smith is eligible for arbitration despite his name being missing from some lists. He made $1 million this year, with the Orioles paying the prorated minimum salary after selecting his contract on July 11.

The Rays signed Smith as a free agent on Jan. 2. The Marlins acquired him on March 27 in a cash transaction and released him on June 20. The Orioles signed him a week later.

The Orioles optioned Dillon Tate on the day that they brought Smith to the majors. As if you’d forget.

Smith appeared in 25 games and posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.050 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings. He started out with four scoreless appearances, allowing one hit, walking none and striking out six, but he endured some rough patches, including five home runs over seven outings.  

When the Orioles swapped out pitchers late in the regular season to cover innings and allow manager Brandon Hyde to set up his bullpen for the postseason, they selected left-hander Tucker Davidson’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk, designated him for assignment a day later and recalled Colin Selby. When they set their Wild Card roster, they kept Selby and Cade Povich over Matt Bowman and Albert Suárez.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers didn’t get another chance with the Orioles.

He gets a fresh start next spring training. He needs it.

Rogers was optioned on Aug. 22, less than a month after the Orioles acquired him from the Marlins at the deadline for infielder Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers. He went 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA and 1.842 WHIP in four games and didn’t last more than five innings in any start.

Five appearances with Triple-A Norfolk produced a 5.65 ERA and 1.221 WHIP in 28 2/3 innings, but he strung together three quality starts in a row after allowing 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings in his Tides debut. It’s hard to bring down your numbers after that disaster.

Mike Elias’ annual season-ending press conference lasted 36 minutes today at Camden Yards. The time wasn’t an issue.

It was the date.

The Orioles thought they’d be playing games instead of packing and heading home. The sixth-year executive vice president/general manager didn’t want to reflect only a few days into October.

The Royals swept the best-of-three Wild Card series and traveled to New York for the Division Series. Some Orioles players and coaches returned to the ballpark today, including major league field coordinator Tim Cossins, pitchers Dean Kremer and Seranthony Domínguez and infielder Jorge Mateo, to grab the rest of their belongings. Everyone believed they had a chance to hoist a World Series trophy, but they didn’t get close to it.

“Clearly a very disappointing, bitter ending, whatever word you want to use. I think a lot of those words were used last night by the players and those of us in the organization that spoke publicly,” Elias said.

Gunnar Henderson got hot again at the plate.

His .234/.303/.405 August was followed by nine hits in 19 at-bats prior to yesterday, with a double, three home runs, seven RBIs and four walks. The tater total is two shy of last month’s output in 28 games and one more than he hit in 24 games in July. And he was robbed of a three-run shot yesterday on Jose Siri’s leaping catch at the center field fence, keeping him at 36, a franchise record for shortstops.

The fielding fluctuates from fabulous to frustrating.

Henderson made two more errors Friday night to raise his team-leading total to 23. His fielding percentage was .959 before yesterday.

The first miscue originally was scored a hit for Jonathan Aranda with two outs in the eighth inning. Henderson ranged to his right and didn’t appear to get his glove turned in the proper position before the ball deflected off it. Aranda later was awarded a single.

Much of today’s pregame talk with the Orioles centered on their bullpen and the gains made by injured relievers.

Jacob Webb said he’s experiencing improvement in his right elbow and is encouraged with his progress since his placement on the 15-day injured list with inflammation.

Webb will begin playing catch this weekend.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I feel like it’s getting there. It’s toned down, which is definitely helpful.”

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias referred to the discomfort over the weekend as the elbow “barking.”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The number of injuries to hit the Orioles this season has reached a point where yesterday’s media session with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias came across as largely positive.

Grayson Rodriguez should return to the rotation in the later portion of September after his diagnosis of a mild strain of the teres major muscle – or the shoulder region. It isn’t identical to the 2022 lat/teres strain that cost him exactly three months at Triple-A Norfolk.

Three months with the Orioles in 2024 would have kept him from pitching until next year.

That’s positive news. It’s certainly above the worst-case scenario that we braced for earlier in the afternoon.

The challenge now is stay in the division race with projected starters Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells missing from the rotation. Only Rodriguez is able to return and it’s gonna be a while with a minimum 10-day shutdown period and a re-imaging of the shoulder in about three weeks.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn’t wait to field the first question in yesterday’s pregame media session in the visiting dugout at Tropicana Field. He beat reporters to the punch, sharing Kyle Bradish’s status and the rest of his starters for the Rays series in one quick quote.

Bradish threw a bullpen session earlier in the day, which seemed to eliminate him from consideration for this afternoon. But that was incorrect.

It was light work, he felt good and he’s pitching later today.

Everyone exhale in unison.

Get rid of the injury theories and paranoia. The Orioles just wanted to give Bradish extra rest after last Saturday’s outing. They’re protecting the elbow and also trying to provide breathers for everyone in the rotation.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Kyle Bradish threw a light bullpen session this afternoon and he’s starting Saturday afternoon against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Bradish is working on six days’ rest after starting last Saturday against the Rays at Camden Yards and allowing five runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked his last three batters.

The rest of the rotation is also confirmed. Grayson Rodriguez starts Sunday afternoon and Corbin Burnes starts Monday night, giving them an extra day with the Orioles in the midst of a brutal stretch that includes only one break in the schedule this month.

The Orioles host the Braves next week in a three-game series at Camden Yards. Albert Suárez and Cade Povich are lined up to start Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. However, the club could choose to move Suárez to the bullpen and give Povich the ball on regular rest following yesterday’s major league debut.

X-rays on Austin Hays’ rib cage came back negative but he’s out of tonight’s lineup.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Félix Bautista won’t give up on 2024.

The closer remains open to pitching late this season if the Orioles need him, but they won’t let it happen.

They just want him available for the first game next season.

Bautista said via interpreter Brandon Quinones that his right elbow feels good after a recent follow-up procedure to remove scar tissue and improve range of motion.

“Honestly, it really does feel a lot better,” Bautista said.

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles used the day that they could begin moving players to the 60-day injured list by deepening an outfield that wasn’t lacking in players.

Peyton Burdick was acquired from the Marlins this afternoon for cash considerations. The 40-man roster remains full after closer Félix Bautista, recovering from Tommy John surgery, was placed on the 60-day IL.

Burdick, who turns 27 in a few weeks, is a former third-round draft pick in 2019 out of Wright State University who’s batted .200/.281/.368 over parts of two seasons with the Marlins totaling 46 games. He has six doubles, five home runs, 13 RBIs and 53 strikeouts in 139 plate appearances.

Burdick appeared in 14 games last season and went 6-for-33 with two doubles and a homer. He’s a career .235/.353/.457 hitter in 396 minor league games who can play anywhere in the outfield.

The raw power, graded plus-plus by scouts, produced 24 home runs last summer in 114 games with Triple-A Jacksonville.

SAN ANTONIO de GUERRA, Dominican Republic – Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias recited some of his club’s accomplishments earlier today – the best record in the American League and the top farm system in baseball getting their proper due – before redirecting his attention to the reason for the enormous gathering. The grand opening of their state-of-the-art training academy that attracted several of the country’s dignitaries and the club’s top officials.

“But,” Elias said with impeccable timing, “this is the most important achievement our group has made in these five years.”

The 22.5-acre complex is home to the Orioles’ regional facility for Caribbean, Central and South American player development operations, and includes three full fields, a sports turf agility field, batting and pitching tunnels, administrative buildings, dormitories and educational facilities. It can hold more than 100 players, coaches and staff, compared to 60-70 at the old facility in Boca Chica.

The project was led by landowner and developer Brian Mejia of Brison SRL, who choked up several times today and wiped away tears as he shared his mother’s wish to see the completion of the academy. She passed away last month.

Spectators applauded and encouraged Mejia during his emotional speech. He’d pause, try to regroup and push ahead.

Mike Elias expressed confidence on Feb. 3, the first day of the Birdland Caravan, that the Orioles would concentrate on contending. The rebuild “is behind us,” he said. They were set up to be “a very competitive team for years.”

Then, they exceeded expectations by country miles.

They’d love to stick with the old script in the new year, with deletions made in the postseason chapter. Not another one-and-done scenario, swept out of the Division Series and sent back to Baltimore in crushed packaging.

The ball dropping in Times Square won't create the same thud as the ending to the Orioles’ season. However, those 101 victories and the many awards that followed allowed 2023 to rank among the best in franchise history.

Some people might say it all began on the first day of spring training, when Elias, now entering his sixth season as executive vice president/general manager, surprised the media by revealing that reliever Dillon Tate would go on the injured list with a strained flexor/forearm that could keep him out until May, and closer Félix Bautista would be slow-played while doing exercises to strengthen his left knee and right shoulder. No promises that he'd be ready for Opening Day.

Craig Kimbrel needed a full minute to unmute himself on this afternoon’s video call with local media, smiling as he worked to solve the issue, the same composure he exhibits with runners on base but minus the stare and distinctive pitching posture.

“There we go,” he finally said. “Perfect start.”

The Orioles are more interested in how he closes.

The pursuit of Kimbrel in free agency was immediate. His representative, David Meter, was the first person by Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias at the general managers meetings in Arizona.  

The cost of doing business was $13 million guaranteed, including the buyout on a $13 million option in 2025. Worth every penny for a team that needed a stopgap while Félix Bautista recovers from Tommy John surgery.

The Winter Meetings are a week away, but I can’t fly into Nashville until I’ve trudged through a few more awards nights.

Roll up the pant legs and wear old shoes.

Major League Baseball’s Comeback Player of the Year will be announced Tuesday evening on MLB Network. White Sox closer Liam Hendriks was honored in the American League in the Players Choice voting, finishing ahead of Orioles first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

Hendriks returned to the White Sox’s active roster in May and appeared in five games after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I don’t see any reason to consider someone else.

Former Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini was the AL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2021.

Closer Félix Bautista won’t pitch for the Orioles in the upcoming playoffs.

He won’t pitch in 2024, either.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed this afternoon that Bautista will undergo surgery next month to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Dr. Keith Meister will handle the procedure in Dallas.

The club delayed its decision until allowing Bautista to rehab the injury and begin throwing again, first on flat ground and most recently against minor leaguer Ramón Rodríguez on Tuesday at Camden Yards. He threw 25 pitches in his first action against a hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle hit on the field today for the first time since he went on the 10-day injured list with left AC joint inflammation, making hard contact on many of his swings.

Mountcastle is eligible to be reinstated on Wednesday. He’s been working out at first base.

“We’ll see how that goes, see how he feels,” manager Brandon Hyde said this afternoon, before Mountcastle stepped in the cage. “There’s a chance tomorrow, but I would think if all goes well, more than likely in a couple days.”

The Orioles want to see how he responds to another round of batting practice.

“Hopefully next couple days,” Hyde said.

Félix Bautista threw 25 pitches this afternoon to minor league catcher Ramón Rodríguez in his first time facing a hitter. And he didn’t go strictly with fastballs.

Bautista has had a few bullpen sessions and today was another step in the right direction.

The Orioles begin their final homestand of the regular season with their magic number at three to clinch their first division title since 2014.

A win tonight would be the 98^th of the season, the most since 1997.

Gunnar Henderson is the shortstop. He needs one more triple to become the eighth player in major league history with at least 25 home runs and 10 triples in their age 22 or younger season, per STATS. The others are Jimmie Fox, Joe DiMaggio (twice), Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Al Kaline and Dick Allen.

Orioles closer Félix Bautista, on the injured list with a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, took a potentially significant step today.

He threw off a mound in the Orioles bullpen before the series finale with Tampa Bay.

“He just threw a side this morning,” manager Brandon Hyde said in his pregame press conference. “Sounds like it went pretty well. That was kind of the next step in his throwing progression. So, see how he feels tomorrow. We’re just kind of day-to-day with him right now.”

Hyde was asked if he is pleased with this progress for Bautista, who has not pitched since Aug. 25.

“Yeah. I just ran into him and (head athletic trainer) Brian (Ebel) after the side session and it sounds like it went pretty well. That’s always encouraging," he said.

Ryan Mountcastle’s health is trending in the right direction, and he could be nearing a return to the Orioles lineup.

Mountcastle exited Wednesday’s game with left shoulder discomfort but didn’t go on the injured list. He’s out of the lineup again tonight.

“Feeling even better today,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He’s going to take some swings here coming up, so hopefully he’s available, but it’s a lot better.”

Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base again tonight and Heston Kjerstad is making his first major league start as the designated hitter.

Closer Félix Bautista also has avoided the injured list after suffering a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow exactly three weeks ago.