Looks like the Bad Place algorithm has been calibrated to be even more awful after today.

Well done Toronto

Today would be a good day to recognize Luis Aparicio @orioles.com

Anyways, team Venezuela starts pool play for the WBC in Miami this March.

Watching the Terps game, and Maryland hasn't scored since the Polk administration.

I was curious on what payroll would look like as it currently stands with arbitration in future years. It looks like the Orioles are still in good shape going into next year with payroll even if they commit to another 30-35M AAV to a TOR starter. docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

I wrote a bit about the Eflin signing and the state of the O's rotation. blogs.fangraphs.com/zach-eflin-r...

...you to sign Framber Valdez

I would trade a lot for him.

With Imai not changing market, I expect Framber to be at 6/170. I’d be fine with him a 4/140 so paying for two throwaway years at 2/30 is to be expected.

If you could trade for a position player for Orioles, who would it be and who are they replacing?

Choosing to start the new year on a happy, hopeful note.

With an opt out after one year, I feel better about Eflin.

2026 is a good year for the Orioles to sign Framber Valdez and Tatsuya Imai.

Wishing all 2025 Trevor Rogers haters a happy 2026 Tyler O’Neill and Zach Eflin

Fun article on Baz and prediction of Framber to Orioles from Lance Brozdowski who does analysis for Marquee (Cubs) lancebroz.substack.com/p/orioles-sh...

Some Tyler O’Neill love

Hopefully our state does better in 2026

Imai news is gonna break right around 8 when I am watching Stranger Things

On Threads, Jeff Passan thinks the Orioles may still add a top arm.

As much as Imai would be cool and fun, getting a top 20 pitcher (like Bradish) in Framber Valdez is the move to make.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit

If Imai has to go through physicals, I wonder if we see an announcement no later then tomorrow.

Just gonna fantasize about the following for a bit: Valdez Bradish Rogers Imai Baz

Not enough people are talking about the fact that the Orioles haven't lost a game since the Leody Taveras signing. I understand the temptation to rest on laurels, in this offseason.

I also have lingering back issues for roughly 10 years.

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't nirvana, soundgarden, pearl jam, or alice in chains.

Trying to imagine what the Orioles could do to wow Imai on organization and/or Baltimore.

The 2023 Orioles ranked 6th w/ 878 IP from starters Say you project these innings totals in 2026: New #1 - 180 Bradish - 150 Rogers -160 Baz - 150 Kremer - 160 That’s about 800 IP w/ 78 to cover. A healthy Eflin gives you a higher floor for those IP than Wells, Povich, etc. It’s a math problem!

Hypothetically if Dean is included in a trade for Peralta, it makes next off-season just as weird. Only Bradish/Baz would be under contract. Peralta/Rogers would head to FA and Eflin has a weird mutual option that likely would put him in FA with either or good or bad season.

Theme for the upcoming week

So the O’s are at ~$150M payroll. Signing a TOR should take them to ~$180M.

Yeah I don’t get this move at all. It’s not good.

Harbaugh School of Time Management

Let’s not wait till January 2nd. Let’s just do the thing today.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the Ravens manage to blow this 13-point lead in the 4th quarter, to a team playing its 7th string quarterback.

good day for the orioles to sign a TOR pitcher

Only the Rockies had a worse 1st inning than the Orioles in 2025.

Good read from Aram top to bottom, but these are two of the keys to unlocking Baz that I called out last week: improving the slider locations and experimenting with a 2-seam/sinker against righties. Orioles had great success on both fronts with Kyle Bradish. www.justbaseball.com/mlb/shane-ba...

Jon Heyman is reporting that the Orioles, Mets and Giants have met with Framber Valdez. He doesn’t say they’re the only teams, but they are the three teams he called out.

If the Phillies sign Imai, I wonder if Luzardo would be available via trade. I know Phillies fans have proposed Westburg, but I think Mayo/Povich/Bateman makes more sense with inherent injury risk.

It’s December 26th. Turn the Hot Stove back on and sign a Pitcher.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you Birdland. We have enjoyed moving over here from the Bad Place to bring our own but of silliness and shtick to our conversations together. Thanks for following, engaging, and maybe smiling as we start our 15th season of podcasting this Spring.

Fairbanks getting $13M and incentives is something the Orioles aren’t going to do now, but maybe at the trade deadline.

Saving you a Google for your “It’s a Wonderful Life” watch this year:

My take on the Orioles as we head into the holidays: Clearly improved in the near term, though maybe not enough, and they overpaid for those gains in money & prospect depth. But they needed to be bold, and it looks like the spending baseline has increased. Absolutely can’t stop now, need a TOR SP.

Give me Framber over Suárez if the deals are structured this way.