At next week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Orioles beat reporters will get an opportunity to get to know the team’s new manager, Craig Albernaz. Other than his introductory news conference on November 4th,  when he made a favorable impression, Albernaz is an unknown quantity.

He’s been busy assembling his coaching staff, which has 11 confirmed members — four holdovers and seven newcomers — but it’s not yet been declared complete.

Since he was named the Orioles manager on October 27th, Albernaz has presumably watched tape of many of his new team’s games from last season and talked with players about his hopes and expectations.

Knowing that there are moves that can be made in the next several days, and that the team he’ll take to spring training two months later won’t be the same one it is now, there are questions to be asked.

Here are some things we might like to hear:

What’s your impression of your new team?

Albernaz won’t get a real look at the 2026 Orioles until February when the players report to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota for spring training.

In watching tape, what strengths and weaknesses stood out? What does he think can be improved?

Presumably, most of the 2025 Orioles will return for 2026, so what difference does Albernaz think he’ll be able to make?

Do you think Jackson Holliday is a leadoff hitter?

Albernaz’s predecessor, Tony Mansolino, who served as interim manager for the final 119 games of the 2025 season, predicted that Holliday would be the Orioles’ leadoff hitter for the next five years.

Holliday, who batted leadoff in 113 of his 149 games, hit .242 with a .690 OPS overall. He hit .236 with a .677 OPS overall, and just .200 against left-handed pitching.

Is that good enough to be a leadoff hitter? Does Albernaz have someone else in mind?

What do you think of the team’s outfield alignment?

The acquisition of Taylor Ward for starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez gives the Orioles another power threat. He’s also played left field exclusively for the last three seasons.

Would an outfield of Ward in left, Colton Cowser in center and Dylan Beavers in right, with Tyler O’Neill and Leody Taveras in reserve, be an acceptable one?

The Orioles still might acquire another outfielder, preferably a centerfielder, to make Albernaz’s choices easier.

What role do you see for Tyler Wells?

Wells has started and relieved for the Orioles and has been successful at both.

Because of right elbow surgery in June 2024, Wells has started just seven times in the past two seasons.

If you remove Wells from the starting rotation, there are two big holes. There’s Kyle Bradish, who started just six times after Tommy John surgery in June 2024, Trevor Rogers, who had a fantastic 1.81 ERA in 18 starts, and Dean Kremer.

President of baseball operations Mike Elias is searching for additional starting options and, at least for now, Wells has to be in the rotation.

How will you find playing time for Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle?

One of the most surprising moves of the offseason so far was the decision to retain Ryan Mountcastle, who started only seven games at first base in the final two months of the season. Mountcastle missed more than two months with a hamstring injury.

Mayo got the playing time instead, but it might be hard having both right-handed hitters on the roster and getting enough playing time.

There’s a chance that Mayo or Mountcastle could be included in a trade for pitching.

Do you think the Orioles need to bunt and steal more often in 2026?

The Orioles had just four sacrifice bunts in 2025, fewest in the major leagues, and they have three returning players with good speed.

Gunnar Henderson, who had a disappointing 2025, stole 30 bases in 35 attempts. From August 8th through season’s end, Henderson stole 16 bases and was thrown out only once.

Holliday, who was encouraged by former manager Brandon Hyde to steal more often, was 17-for-28, and that’s not a high enough percentage to justify his aggressiveness.

Colton Cowser stole 14 bases without being thrown out. That was perhaps the only positive in a year when he hit only .196 and struck out 128 times while playing just 92 games because of injuries.

Orioles sign Magno: The Orioles signed left-handed pitcher Andrew Magno to a minor league contract.

Magno, who’s 27, was 8-1 with a 2.31 ERA and four saves for Double-A Erie in the Detroit organization in 2025. He allowed just six hits per nine innings and only two home runs in 66 1/3 innings while striking out 76 and walking 31.

The Orioles have three left-handed relievers on their 40-man roster — Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns and Grant Wolfram, and Magno is the only left-hander signed to a minor league contract this offseason.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected].

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