Jon Meoli

Before joining the Orioles' organization before the 2020 season, Ryan Fuller, the team's new co-hitting coach, was making a name for himself as a hitting guru on social media.

Matt Borgschulte broke into Division I baseball on a progressive coaching staff that elevated his path to one that led, at age 31, to his selection as co-hitting coach for the Orioles as they look to help turn around their long rebuilding project.

Many of the questions lobbed Buck Showalter’s way early in his introductory news conference as manager of the New York Mets centered around how he’s grown and changed from his time with the Orioles.

Orioles assistant general manager Sig Mejdal has remade the team's analytical department, which has shown no signs of slowing down as the team continues to push forward in an area that had long been neglected.

The minor league Rule 5 draft is all about depth, but in selecting Nolan Hoffman and Cole Uvila and trading for Tommy Wilson, the Orioles continued on the path back to respectability and, eventually, competitiveness.

Just because Buck Showalter, as former star outfielder Adam Jones noted, is a level-raiser and can quickly bring a high standard to an organization doesn’t mean it will be a tidy fit should he end up back in New York.

Perhaps because even the third and fourth tiers of the Orioles’ farm system can be more fascinating than watching the major league team at times, some of the names the Orioles brought in via that avenue in recent years might be familiar.

What the Orioles did in this portion of the offseason before the lockout seemed different from how they’ve operated in the past. Perhaps if change is forced on them when the game resumes, they’ll be ready.

Jordan Lyles, 31, spent 2021 with the Texas Rangers and made 30 starts with a 5.15 ERA in a career-high 180 innings, though he led baseball with 38 home runs allowed.

Rougned Odor’s signing might be underwhelming considering other teams that have been living at the bottom of the league in recent years like the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers are shelling out nine-figure deals to shortstops, but the Orioles signed a hard-contact specialist who could make an impact.

A career .234 hitter with a lifetime .722 OPS, Odor had a .665 OPS and 15 home runs last season in 102 games with the New York Yankees. He has a long track record of consistent hard contact when he connects, but also uncomfortably high strikeout rates.

The Orioles agreed to 2022 contracts with three of their arbitration-eligible players — outfielder Anthony Santander ($3.15 million), right-hander Jorge López ($1.5 million), and left-hander Paul Fry ($850,000) — while tendering contracts to proceed through the arbitration process with first baseman Trey Mancini and left-handers John Means and Tanner Scott.

Dating back to the beginning of the Mike Elias era, this time of year has been one in which Orioles fans have seen their team move on from players they grew to enjoy watching.

Here are the Orioles’ "DFAll-Star" pitchers — a full team of players GM Mike Elias claimed on waivers or traded for after they were designated for assignment, and what they contributed while they were here.

Here are the Orioles’ "DFAll-Stars" — a full team of players GM Mike Elias claimed on waivers or traded for after they were designated for assignment, and what they contributed while they were here.