Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! If you’re looking for Orioles news, there isn’t much. They ended last week with a pair of waiver claims. Will Robertson joins the team from the Pirates, and Drew Romo from the Rockies.

Romo is a 24-year-old catcher who should only see time on the Orioles if the catastrophic catcher injuries of 2025 repeat themselves. Robertson turns 28 the day after Christmas and appeared in 27 games in 2025 with the White Sox and Blue Jays. The MLB Trade Rumors article discussing the claims makes it sound like Robertson has promise, but it’s hard for me to imagine him making an appearance in 2026.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles DFA’d Ryan Noda. Bad news for all your Noda-heads out there.

The big news around MLB is the start of the Winter Meetings. Execs from around baseball arrived in Orlando yesterday to kick off the week. Now we wait to see how much wheeling and dealing goes on and if the Orioles are involved in any of it. Maybe they’ll sign a pitcher or two! Or maybe they don’t sign anybody. That would be a disappointment, but I’ve been told that the meetings are also intended to lay groundwork for signings later in the offseason.

Later today, you can check out our in-depth look at the Winter Meetings and what the Orioles hope to achieve there. But until then, I’ll run down a few key dates.

Tomorrow, the 2026 draft order will be set. MLB’s draft now follows a lottery system that takes into account team record, revenue-sharing status, and other more. The bottom line is that the Orioles have a 9.24% chance of nabbing the first draft pick. It’s not a great chance, but it’s the fourth-highest odds. 15 teams have a chance to get the top pick, but it’ll likely be the White Sox or Twins.

On Wednesday, the Rule 5 draft is scheduled to take place. Most Rule 5 picks don’t make much of a difference, but you never know. Today happens to be the ninth anniversary of the Orioles selecting Anthony Santander in the Rule 5 draft. Santander, of course, had some successful seasons in Baltimore and made quite an impact on the Orioles. Upon becoming a free agent, Santander was good enough to turn down a qualifying offer. The Orioles used the draft pick they received to sign Wehiwa Aloy with the 31st pick.

The Orioles have been busier than a lot of teams so far this offseason and it has still felt slow. I am crossing my fingers that the Winter Meetings changed that up. I need some action!

4 free-agent left-handed starting pitchers the Orioles could land this winter – The Baltimore Banner
This is the follow-up to Paul Mancano’s story about nine right-handed pitchers. That’s a lot of pitchers.

Getting ready for the start of baseball’s Winter Meetings – MASN Sports
Roch Kubatko runs down the Winter Meetings itinerary and speculates on what could happen.

Orioles preparing for Winter Meetings – Baltimore Baseball
Rich Dubroff offers his own take, including some past Winter Meetings

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies, including Mike Mussina (57). Mussina spent the first 10 years of his 18-year career with the Orioles and is one of the greatest pitchers in team history. He ranks third in pitcher wins with 147, second in win%, second in strikeouts, seventh in innings pitched, and fifth in games started. His ERA with the Orioles was 3.53 (130 ERA+). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019 and should have a statue at Camden Yards.

Also born on this day are former Orioles José León (49) and Hank Thompson (b. 1925, d. 1969).

On this day in 1996, the Orioles signed pitcher Jimmy Key to a two-year contract. Key had already pitched 14 years in the majors with the Blue Jays and Yankees and finished his career with the Orioles.

In 2011, the Orioles drafted Ryan Flaherty in the Rule 5 draft from the Cubs. Flaherty managed to stay with the team from 2012 through 2017 despite never having much offensive success.

In 2016, the Orioles selected Anthony Santander from Cleveland in the Rule 5 draft. Santander took a while to get going, but ended up being one of the most successful Rule 5 picks in Orioles history. His best year with the Orioles was his last, 2024. I miss him.