The Orioles, who won on Sunday in Texas to avoid a sweep, are enjoying a day off in Florida before beginning a three-game set with the Rays to cap a three-city road trip. It's a perfect time to take a look at some of your most pressing O's questions.
Do you see the Orioles being able to shed more money this offseason? Mark Trumbo?
-- Jeff D.
I absolutely think they'll look to shed salary this offseason as the plan is to lower the Major League payroll over the next few years and re-allocate that money to scouting, analytics and international prospects. Don't forget there's also the potential for August trades, which the Orioles will almost certainly be involved in as they continue to try to kick-start their rebuild.
Trumbo is certainly a guy they could explore dealing to shed salary this offseason as they look to keep players they envision as part of the plan three years down the road.
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Have not heard from the club why outfield prospect Cedric Mullins is not here. Is it a thing where they don't want his clock to start? Or is it as simple as they just don't think he's ready?
-- D.J., Baltimore
I don't think it's either, honestly. Mullins is knocking on the door, and there's people in the organization who think he should already be up with the big league club now that the Orioles are in full rebuild mode. Still, it seems they're content to let the smoke settle following a whirlwind of July trades that saw the O's overhaul their Major League roster.
Mullins will be in Baltimore this season -- it will be a major upset if he isn't -- and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's with the Orioles before the month is over. It's time to see what Baltimore has with these young guys.
Does the team plan on competing next year? Or do they see themselves still in "rebuild" phase? If not competing, what's a rough estimate?
-- Steve G.
Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette mentioned a three-year plan when approaching this rebuild, so safe to say they are not going to be in it to win it in 2019. That said, we've seen rebuilds go more quickly than expected -- like the Yankees' youth movement -- and the O's have also endured long stretches of rebuilds that didn't pan out.
By 2021, you'd have to start seeing some positive signs -- whether it's a solid second half or a group of young players to be excited about. Until then, Orioles fans just have to hope this rebuilding effort goes smoothly.
Early impressions of the trades for Jonathan Schoop and Kevin Gausman?
-- Tim R., Columbus, Ohio
Gausman, to me, looks like a prime Jacob Arrieta case. Maybe he would have figured it out with Baltimore, but maybe not. But I've got a feeling that Gausman's best years are going to be with Atlanta. So I wasn't a huge fan of that deal as it seemed more about cutting salary -- the Braves also took on Darren O'Day's contract -- than getting a solid return. However, if the Orioles invest that $2.5 million in international funds wisely and hit it big, it could end up being not quite as lopsided as it looks.
The haul for Schoop from the Brewers looks better, on paper at least, although to really assess a trade like this, you have to wait a couple years.
Do you have an update on pitcher Gabriel Ynoa? Will he pitch this season?
-- Doug B., Baltimore
Ynoa is unlikely to see the mound the season. He has dealt with rotator cuff inflammation and multiple bouts of shin splints that have hampered him since Spring Training. He had a brief rehab assignment in June that re-aggravated his shin so he's looking at another couple weeks before resuming baseball activities.
I'm curious what the last two weeks of July were like for you?
-- B.J., Baltimore
Chaotic. Really the entire month of July was, when you factor in Manny Machado's trade and how that was front and center during all of the All-Star festivities. This is my ninth season with the Orioles, and last month had to be one of the craziest. It was certainly one of the most stressful.
A lot of really good players (and people) that I saw every day in the clubhouse aren't wearing O's uniforms anymore. The pair of trades in New York last week (Schoop, Gausman and O'Day) marked the end of an era for Orioles baseball. Ultimately, those trades had to happen, but dismantling a group that was essentially together for six years makes for a wild ride for a beat reporter. Now to start to learn all of the new players.