Hey Birdland, a new video for my Substack readers and subscribers to watch and react to.
It’s been a minute since I posted a video or produced a live video, but both are returning in full force this winter and this is the start.
Today the topic - Is there pressure on the O’s to make a big signing this winter? The obvious answer is yes. Could they win without one? Yes. They had a $71 million dollar payroll and won 101 games and the AL East in 2023.
But the division is so strong again and Toronto was two outs away from winning the World Series. In keeping up with Jonses in the AL East, a team has to spend some dollars.
It’s time for the Orioles.
Elias comments at the General Manager meetings
At the GM meetings in Las Vegas Wednesday, the O’s Mike Elias discussed his club’s ability to pursue players and spend some of those dollars this winter.
“We’re still down from where our 2025 payroll was. We’ve got quite a bit to go just to get back to 2025 levels, and I think that’s definitely a possibility if we want to go there, and we’ll assess opportunities beyond that,” Elias told reporters, including MLB.com Wednesday. “I think we’re just going to look at things on a case-by-case basis. The ownership group has a lot of willingness to invest, but also wants to win. ...
“This is a group that’s really enabling us to invest. We’re going to go out in the market, see what we’re able to do to improve the team. But we’ll definitely be behaving as buyers this season, whether it’s free agency or trade.”
In this article, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand asks - “Will this be the offseason that Baltimore goes all-in?
“Industry sources believe the Orioles will be aggressive in free agency as they look to return to the postseason following a disappointing 75-win season and last-place finish in the American League East.”
New coaches
The local media has now reported on and confirmed three additions to the coaching staff of new manager Craig Albernaz.
Yesterday, the Baltimore Sun was first to report that Donnie Ecker will be hired as bench coach. He was the Texas Rangers bench coach and offensive coordinator from 2022 through 2024. He was not their bench coach last year and, in fact, was fired May 4 with the Rangers at 17-18.
He was on the Rangers staff as the team beat the Orioles in the 2023 playoffs on their way to a World Series championship.
He has an extensive background as a hitting coach in the majors and minors and worked with Albernaz in San Francisco for a couple of seasons.
Earlier, BaltimoreBaseball.com was first to report the O’s addition of Dustin Lind from the Phillies to serve as lead hitting coach. And the Baltimore Banner was first to report the additon of Jason Bourgeois from the White Sox as O’s first base coach and outfield instructor.
Albernaz is building a staff he is quite familiar with and obviously has a lot of belief and trust in. He coached with Ecker and Lind on the Giants staff and played Triple-A ball with Bourgeois. That should make for a close-knit staff with this group already quite familiar with each other.
Also last night, MLB.com and the Baltimore Banner were first to report that Buck Britton, Drew French and Ryan Klimek are expected to return and remain with the Orioles. They were on the 2025 coaching staff, but in which exact roles they return is not yet clear.
MASNSports.com reported that Grant Anders won’t return as major league development coach.
Please leave some comments on my video today here if you are so inclined.
