The Baltimore Orioles today announced that MARK FINE will join the organization as the Chief Marketing Officer, and KAMAAL JONES as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. Fine will lead the marketing, communications, and creative content departments, while Jones will lead all in-house legal and compliance operations for the club.

“We are thrilled to have Mark and Kamaal join our organization as we continue to expand and elevate our front office,” shared CATIE GRIGGS, Orioles President of Business Operations. “Both Mark and Kamaal are proven leaders who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will provide our organization with tremendous guidance, innovative ideas, and a passion for the opportunities ahead.”

"I am deeply honored to be joining the Orioles, a team that has always held a special place in my heart as a Baltimore native,” shared Fine. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with one of the most passionate fan bases in sports, build on the Orioles' rich legacy, and create innovative, fan-first experiences that bring our community closer to the game we all love."

“As a lifelong Marylander, I have vivid childhood memories of Orioles games at Memorial Stadium and the iconic Camden Yards. I couldn’t be more thrilled to now join such a legendary organization,” shared Jones. “This is an exciting time for the team and its passionate fans, with terrific play on the field and a potentially transformative vision for Camden Yards and its Baltimore home.”

Fine has served as the Chief Marketing Officer for Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the largest bull riding organization in the world, since August 2023. There he oversaw all aspects of marketing including live events, content, and digital, and was a contributor to parent company Endeavor’s broader network of sports and entertainment properties, working out of UFC’s corporate headquarters in Las Vegas.

Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets, not only leaving the Orioles' division, but their league too. Corbin Burnes signed with Arizona and Roki Sasaki is a Los Angeles Dodger.

But the O’s on Monday saw one of their own sign with another club and also stay in the American League East when outfielder Anthony Santander agreed to a five-year deal worth $92.5 million with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Jays didn’t sign but tried to get Shohei Ohtani, Sasaki, Soto, Burnes and Max Fried. But they finally did get one, with Santander coming off a 44-homer season that ranked third-best in the majors.

He also drove in 102 runs last year – the first Oriole with 100 or more since Jonathan Schoop with 105 in 2017 – and produced an OPS of .814 and OPS+ of 134. Santander, who turned 30 in October, finished 2024 ninth in the AL in RBIs, 11^th in slugging and 13^th in OPS.

And his payday came Monday. I guess all that talk of his on-base percentage and defense didn’t keep him from getting some big dollars.

The Orioles got their last look at Anthony Santander in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series as he stood in their clubhouse and soaked in another painful scene. A quick playoff ouster, similar to the previous October’s sweep in Texas. The consoling hugs, the realization that many teammates wouldn’t be back.

He stood at his locker, motionless, and scanned the room, as if taking mental snapshots.

Santander will get to experience a reunion with who’s left in a couple of months.

The Blue Jays reportedly have reached agreement with Santander on a five-year deal for more than $90 million. The contract includes a club option.

Update: The New York Post's Jon Heyman says the deal is worth $92.5 million.

Hey at least they didn’t get Juan Soto. Somehow the Los Angeles Dodgers, who did get pitchers Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott in their latest star additions, will have to try and repeat their World Series title without Soto. He went to the New York Mets.

But the Dodgers still had a pretty good weekend, getting Sasaki Friday and Scott, the former Oriole reliever, on Sunday. They were pretty quiet on Saturday.

But even when it came time to get a player who could only sign as an international amateur and would not necessarily go to the highest bidder and was, theoretically available to all 30 teams, the Dodgers got him too in adding Sasaki.

And keep this in mind. Sasaki, who is rookie eligible, could very likely bring the Dodgers a draft pick by winning National League Rookie of the Year or with a top three MVP finish. He is expected to be a Prospect Performance Incentive eligible player.

For this now great team, this all seemed to truly start rolling in December of 2023 when the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani for $700 million. And then we found out about $680 million was deferred. Say what?

The big free agent reliever name fell off the board yesterday. In predictable fashion, it landed in the Dodgers organization.

Former Orioles left-hander Tanner Scott received a four-year, $72 million contract that reportedly will include a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million deferred. The Dodgers already are paying starters Blake Snell $182 million for five years and Roki Sasaki $6.5 million in an international free agent signing bonus, Teoscar Hernández $66 million for three years, reliever Blake Treinen $22 million for two years and outfielder Michael Conforto $17 million this season.

No team has repeated as World Series champion since the 2000 Yankees. The Giants kept trying by winning in 2010, ’12 and ’14. The Dodgers are really trying.

The Orioles tried to bring back Scott. They were engaged in talks, but the Dodgers pulled away at four/$72 million.

My first thought: Again, it’s amazing how Scott’s career has turned after the Orioles traded him to the Marlins, along with reliever Cole Sulser, for three minor leaguers on April 3, 2022. Outfielder Kevin Guerrero batted .205/.258/.295 last summer in 76 games with Single-A Delmarva. Left-hander Antonio Velez pitched in the independent American Association. Reliever Yaqui Rivera, the player to be named later, went 7-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 37 relief appearances with High-A Aberdeen and struck out 59 batters 54 1/3 innings.

It's getting closer and closer with each day that goes by. The start of the 2025 baseball season. We can now say spring training begins next month. The first spring game is set for Feb. 22 and Opening Day is March 27 at 3:07 p.m. at Rogers Centre, where the O's will play the Toronto Blue Jays. 

With the Blue Jays for now projecting an all right-handed rotation and the O's possibly to face Kevin Gausman or José Berríos in that opener, I took a look recently in this space at a possible O's lineup for Game 1.

This is what I came up with:

SS – Gunnar Henderson
3B – Jordan Westburg
DH – Ryan O’Hearn
RF – Tyler O’Neill
1B – Ryan Mountcastle
LF – Colton Cowser
C – Adley Rutschman
CF – Cedric Mullins
2B – Jackson Holliday

For now I don't see anyone better to put in the top spot than Henderson. At some point in his career he will probably move more into the middle of the order. But I don't think we are there yet. Readers, many of you, seemed to like Westburg being moved up to the No. 2 spot. He batted mostly fifth last year and could hit just about anywhere. He had an .808 OPS last season versus righty pitching.

The Orioles emerging international program, a program that can now boast of 13 ranked players on the MLBPipeline.com Orioles’ top 30 prospects list, added more talent this week.

On Wednesday, the first day to sign international amateurs this signing period – a period that runs through Dec. 15, 2025 – the O’s added 22 players.

By signing bonus, the most prominent of the group signed was shortstop José Peña, who got a $1 million bonus. He was ranked No. 42 by Baseball America (which ranks players by bonus amounts) and No. 47 by MLBPipeline.

He gives the Orioles now six players signed to bonuses of $1 million or more since 2021.

He is now added to this group of players:

The only news to pass through the Orioles organization yesterday was Livan Soto clearing outright waivers and being assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

The previous times being designated for assignment gave Soto the freedom to refuse it. He also knows about the crowded infield that makes it harder to infiltrate the major league roster. But he stays.

Having Soto in the fold but off the 40-man roster doesn’t qualify as a surprise to me. I thought about five that I’ll post here.

Signing Tomoyuki Sugano.

It makes sense now, finding a veteran starter on a one-year deal in the international free agent market who’s had tremendous success in Japan and is viewed as capable of adapting to major league hitters with a six-pitch mix, strong work ethic and open mind. The cost is reasonable by today’s standards at $13 million. It comes across as a low-risk, high-reward type of situation.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• INF Livan Soto has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Whether you know him from his broadcasting work in Major League Baseball, through his appearances back in the day on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as a television actor, for his role in Miller Lite commercials or as Harry Doyle from the movie Major League, you probably know about Bob Uecker.

A former player, a Ford C. Frick winner in the Hall of Fame as broadcaster, accomplished funny man and actor, he was all of that and yet so much more.

One of the wonderful all-time characters in the game, Uecker led a full and amazing life. A life that ended when he passed away yesterday at age 90.

Carson once held up a picture of Uecker drinking out of a bottle during what looked like a victory celebration and ask about what they were celebrating then?

“No, that was me getting ready for a game,” Uecker deadpanned and Carson, as usual, was rolling with laughter. When he first appeared on his show, Carson once asked sidekick Ed McMahon, “did that guy really play?”

So, anything going on today?

We’re still waiting for an outcome with infielder Livan Soto, who was designated for assignment on Jan. 10 when the Orioles claimed right-hander Roansy Contreras on waivers from the Reds.

A week has passed, which could bring an announcement later today. Catcher René Pinto was designated on Jan. 3 and the Diamondbacks claimed him on the 10^th. But catcher Blake Hunt was designated Monday, and the Orioles traded him to the Mariners Wednesday for cash considerations.

In one of those baseball twists, the Orioles designated Contreras for assignment yesterday while claiming infielder Jacob Amaya, a former top 30 prospect, on waivers from the White Sox.

There will be a quiz later.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Claimed INF Jacob Amaya off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
• Designated RHP Roansy Contreras for assignment.

The offseason roster churn continued today for the Orioles and pitcher Roansy Contreras.

The club claimed infielder Jacob Amaya on waivers from the White Sox and designated Contreras for assignment. The 40-man roster remains full.

Amaya, 26, was designated for assignment on Jan. 8 to create a spot for Jose Rojas. The White Sox claimed him on waivers from the Astros in August.

The right-handed hitting Amaya was a Dodgers 11-round pick in the 2017 draft out of South Hills High School in California. He appeared in four games with the Marlins in 2023, one with the Astros last year and 23 with Chicago, batting a combined .182/.222/.195. He went 12-for-67 (.179) for the White Sox.

Amaya has experience at second base, shortstop and third base. He could report to spring training and vie for a utility job if he remains in the organization.

With Cedric Mullins set as the O’s center fielder, what do the outfield corners look like? Tyler O’Neill, who signed a free agent deal for three years for $49.5 million that included an opt out after one season, is expected to get many of the starts in right field. Young Heston Kjerstad is also part of that right-field mix no doubt with Colton Cowser, who finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, mostly in left field.

O’Neill, who turns 30 on June 22, last year for Boston made 56 starts in left field, 34 in right field and 17 as the DH. He was named the Red Sox Comeback Player of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America's Boston chapter. O’Neill missed 27 games due to three stints on the injured list.

But over 113 games and 473 plate appearances with Boston, he hit .241/.336/.511/.847 with a 132 OPS+ that was just below Anthony Santander’s 134. Santander is still available in free agency.

O’Neill was a prolific batter versus lefty pitching last season, hitting .313/.430/.750/1.180 with a wRC+ of 215 off southpaws. Against right-handers he batted .209/.290/.403/.693 for a wRC+ of 91. Now he can take aim at the closer fences in left-field and left-center at Oriole Park. 

A Gold Glover in the outfield in 2020 and 2021, O’Neill has made 36 career starts in center field and could spell Mullins there at times as Mullins hit just .196 with a .506 OPS in 2024 versus left-handed pitching.

Before I crank out another mailbag, let’s turn the tables again with me supplying a couple of questions. Give me your feedback.

We’ve pondered whether Zach Eflin or Grayson Rodriguez would be the No. 1 starter as the roster’s currently set, who’s the No. 5 starter, the chances that Jackson Holliday platoons, how much Heston Kjerstad plays, whether the Orioles trade for Luis Castillo, if the Orioles are done making moves for position players, whether Nick Gordon make the team, should Albert Suárez start or relieve, who’s a dark horse candidate, how Tomoyuki Sugano will adapt, which starters go to the bullpen, and whether the Orioles can count on Jorge Mateo on Opening Day.

Here are two more for you to ponder.

Would the Orioles trade Ryan Mountcastle?

Pretty much anything is possible, and here’s one reason why the Orioles could be motivated to do it: They don’t have room for another infielder.

Let’s say, for example, that the Orioles want to carry Coby Mayo or Emmanuel Rivera on Opening Day, or a position player is available who intrigues them. I’d expect Heston Kjerstad to make the club as a fourth outfielder and designated hitter. They’d need to tackle the infield.

Mateo has to prove that he can be ready for Opening Day after his elbow reconstructive surgery. A move to the injured list would solve the problem. Otherwise, Ramón Urías could get bumped, but he’s a valuable utility player and he’s out of options. Perhaps he’s the trade candidate if Mateo is fully recovered and gets sufficient at-bats.

Holliday has two options, but he’s supposed to be a regular presence at second base, with Jordan Westburg the primary starter at third. Holliday would have to play his way off the roster in spring training. I don’t see the Orioles trading him.

Teams inquired about Mountcastle at the trade deadline and the Orioles were willing to listen, but they’d have to trust Mayo to share first with Ryan O’Hearn or give Rivera, who signed for $1 million to avoid arbitration and is out of options, a more regular role. Mountcastle received a $6.787 million contract last Thursday in his second year of arbitration eligibility.

Now, here are a few reasons why the Orioles might not be motivated to trade him:

They slanted too far left offensively, which led to the signings of right-handed hitting outfielder Tyler O’Neill and backup catcher Gary Sánchez. Mountcastle provides power from the right side and the wall is moving in, which should increase his home run total. He was robbed 11 times after the Orioles pushed it back, the most in the majors.

Also, Mountcastle is a back-to-back Gold Glove finalist and the Orioles put a lot of emphasis on their defense. This isn’t a minor consideration.

To get a No. 1 starter in a trade could require peeling a player off the major league roster rather than just moving a few prospects. The Mariners look like a match. They have the pitching and could use a corner infielder.

Outfielder Anthony Santander reportedly would be willing to accept a shorter-term free-agent contract after initially wanting five years, but the Orioles intend to play O’Neill on a regular basis, they want to give Kjerstad more consistent at-bats, and roster space currently is lacking. The Orioles would need to switch to five outfielders and six infielders.

How good is this bullpen?

It may not be finished, but the current group looks impressive.

Andrew Kittredge signed a one-year deal that guarantees $10 million and really strengthens the bridge to Félix Bautista. He also gives the Orioles another reliever with some closing experience, which is important with Bautista returning from Tommy John surgery and missing the 2024 season.

Kittredge made a career-high 74 appearances last season with the Cardinals and posted a 2.80 ERA. His 1.5 bWAR was the second-best of his career. He’s a swing-and-miss guy – an example is his 41.3 percent whiff rate with his slider – and he doesn’t walk many hitters. He has extensive experience pitching in the division. And the Orioles hold a $9 million option on his contract if they want to keep him.

This signing covers for Jacob Webb being non-tendered. The ‘pen also is without left-hander Danny Coulombe, and the Orioles could make another move before Opening Day. Otherwise, Bautista and Kittredge could be joined by Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez, Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto, Keegan Akin and Suárez, who looks like he will be squeezed from the rotation.

Suárez is out of options. What happens to him if another reliever receives a major league deal with every intention of breaking camp with the team and the Orioles resist a six-man rotation?

The questions just don't stop.

Orioles' relievers ranked 23rd in the majors last season with a 4.22 ERA after being fifth in 2023 at 3.55. Adding Bautista and Kittredge, along with full seasons from Domínguez and Soto, could get them closer to

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Traded C Blake Hunt to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations.

The Orioles today announced that they opened the 2024-25 International Signing Period with 22 contract agreements. Highlighting the Orioles’ 2024-25 international signing class are: shortstop JOSÉ LUIS PEÑA, outfielder JOHANSE GÓMEZ, shortstop MEYKEL BARO, shortstop RONALD TERRERO, catcher YEISON ACOSTA, outfielder LISANDRO SANCHEZ, left-handed pitcher KELVIN ZAPATA, and catcher JOSE FLORES. Of the 22 total agreements, 11 are from the Dominican Republic, six are from Venezuela, four are from Cuba, and one is from St. Thomas. The signing class includes eight pitchers, five infielders, five catchers, and four outfielders.

"I am very ecstatic to welcome these remarkable individuals and their families to Birdland,” said KOBY PEREZ, Orioles Vice President, International Scouting and Operations. “We believe that we were able to introduce a new wave of exciting, young players this signing period. These efforts continue to be made possible only through the hard work and commitment of our staff, as well as the continued support of our international operations from Mike Elias and the partnership group.”

Peña, 16, was born in Bani, Dominican Republic. He is ranked as the No. 42 international prospect by Baseball America and No. 47 by MLB Pipeline. He has the chance to be a solid, everyday type of player with a plus hit and power combo, who projects to stay at shortstop long term. Peña possesses a large frame and athletic build, showing great body projection in the future. He has plus-plus bat speed and a short swing that stays through the zone, resulting in baseballs jumping off the bat. He has the hands and feet of a good defender with a plus arm.

Gómez, 17, an outfielder from St. Thomas, is an excellent athlete with a lot of tools. He has the ability to impact the game with his power and speed, projecting as a power hitter and a plus runner. Offensively, he drives the ball to all fields, generates loft, and shows raw power. He profiles as a corner outfielder with great range and a plus arm.

Baro, 16, a native of Havana, Cuba, is an athletic shortstop with speed and power. An excellent athlete, he has the type of speed that makes the defense rush. Baro carries plus bat speed and makes a lot of hard contact, with strength and leverage that can lead to plus power in the future. An alert defender with a quick first step, he displays loose defensive actions and has good lateral mobility. He projects as a five-tool player.

As the Orioles wonder what their 2025 season might look like, they may also ponder what a full year with Jordan Westburg in the lineup could look like?

Westburg played 68 games in 2023 with an OPS of .715 and played 107 last season with an OPS of .792 when he was an American League All-Star.

If we combine those two years he has played in 175 games as an Oriole, taking 675 plate appearances. That is about a full season’s worth, for instance Gunnar Henderson took 719 plate appearances in 2024.

So over those 675 PAs, Westburg has hit .263/.312/.455/.767 and all four seem easily within reach for him or better during a full and healthy year. In those PAs he has hit 43 doubles, seven triples, 21 homers, scored 83 runs, stole 10 bases and drove in 86 runs.

All those numbers also seem within reach and maybe better for Westburg over a full year. It could be production to really help an already good lineup. 

Here is one man’s hope that the projected chaos with pitcher Roki Sasaki signing with a big league club as soon as this week could be minimal. 

Because he has to be signed as an international amateur, he can sign officially with any of the 30 clubs starting on Wednesday. But he won’t be getting the big free agent money like Corbin Burnes or Max Fried got as he signs as an international amateur. The new signing period begins this Wednesday.

Each team gets a limited pool amount to sign these players and it’s essentially a hard salary cap. A team could trade for up to 60 percent of its original pool. The teams with the largest pools, as of this Wednesday at $7.555 million are Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Oakland, Seattle and Tampa Bay.

There are six teams in the next tier with $6.9 million available in their pools and that group includes the Orioles along with Arizona, Cleveland, Colorado, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.

The Orioles have not been linked by any report I have seen in any way to Sasaki. And to likely confirm that he is not signing with the Orioles, or one of 26 other teams, ESPN last night reported that he has a final group of three teams - the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher ANDREW KITTREDGE on a one-year contract for the 2025 season with a club option for 2026.

Kittredge, 34, was 5-5 with one save and a 2.80 ERA (22 ER/70.2 IP) with 60 hits (10 HR), 26 total runs, 20 walks (2 IBB), and 67 strikeouts in a career-high 74 appearances, all in relief, with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024. His 37 holds set the Cardinals single-season record and led the National League, one behind Houston’s Bryan Abreu for the MLB high. Kittredge’s 74 games ranked fifth in the NL. Last season was his first full year since 2021 after undergoing right elbow UCL surgery (Tommy John) in June of 2022 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kittredge is 23-12 with 16 saves, 52 holds, and a 3.44 ERA (109 ER/285.1 IP) with 268 hits (38 HR), 123 total runs, seven hit batters, 76 walks (13 IBB), and 273 strikeouts in 255 career games (15 starts) over eight seasons between the Cardinals and Rays. He’s posted a 2.48 ERA (48 ER/174.0 IP) since 2021, tied for the seventh-best ERA in the majors among players with at least 150 appearances during that time. He was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Washington on August 25, 2011. Tampa Bay acquired him along with two players from Seattle in exchange for Taylor Motter and Richie Shaffer on November 18, 2016. He elected free agency following the 2020 season before signing back with the Rays on a minor league deal on December 16, 2020. Kittredge made Tampa Bay’s Opening Day roster in 2021 and was an American League All-Star after posting a 1.47 ERA (7 ER/43.0 IP) through the break that season. St. Louis acquired him from Tampa Bay in exchange for Richie Palacios on January 5, 2024.

To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher BLAKE HUNT has been designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.