The next big move for the Orioles remains on hold since they traded for Rays starter Shane Baz. They might not strike again until 2026.

What else is in store before Opening Day is the most popular question among fans and media. Rank it No. 1, like the starter who could walk through the door.

We’ve addressed several topics, including how the Orioles will jam five starters into the rotation with multiple newcomers expected, who’s the leadoff hitter, whether Tyler O’Neill can extend his record for most Opening Day home runs in a row, will there be innings limits on some starters coming back from surgery (this one was asked before the Grayson Rodriguez trade), whether Albert Suárez would re-sign (he did), which starters could move to the bullpen, whether Trevor Rogers can match his 2025 dominance, which starter will lead the staff in innings, what’s next for Heston Kjerstad, who gets protected in the Rule 5 draft (Anthony Nunez, Cameron Foster and Reed Trimble), how the Orioles round out the rest of their coaching staff, will Coby Mayo play other positions besides first base, and whether Leody Taveras makes the Opening Day roster.

Among the quicker hits from a few days ago were the following:

Who is the next starting pitcher acquired by Mike Elias and will he come via free agency or trade, what’s the order in the rotation, does another new starter bump Tyler Wells to a relief role, what other moves will be made, with the expectation that Elias isn’t done with the bullpen or finding some role players, are a utility infielder and third catcher necessities, will Elias trade from the major league roster, who’s vulnerable to come off the 40-man roster, is Colton Cowser the center fielder on Opening Day, does Tyler Ward remain a middle-of-the-order bat, which non-roster players receive invites to spring training, and which ones have a real shot to make the club, and will the payroll exceed the approximately $164.6 million from Opening Day.

FanGraphs estimates the current 2026 payroll at $140 million, including the projected raises in arbitration. Elias isn’t done making moves, so stay tuned.

Unsigned arbitration-eligible players and the Orioles must submit their salary figures on Jan. 8. The list is at 11 with Rogers, Ward, Wells, Baz, Keegan Akin, Ryan Mountcastle, Adley Rutschman, Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Gunnar Henderson and Yennier Cano.

Answers don’t come easily with any of the above questions.

The Orioles don’t have an obvious leadoff hitter. Jackson Holliday filled the role in 113 games, with Gunnar Henderson next among returnees with 13. A new manager makes it harder to predict, but Ward is a candidate with 169 starts at leadoff, second-most behind his 179 at cleanup.

The chances of bumping up Ward probably improved after the Orioles signed first baseman Pete Alonso, but they still could view him more as a middle-of-the-order bat. That’s how Elias described him after the trade with the Angels.

Cowser would be the center fielder in most mock lineups, with Ward, O’Neill and Dylan Beavers in the corners. Who else would fill that role? Taveras is viewed more as a versatile backup with solid defensive and baserunning skills. Beavers made 70 starts in center field in the minors and could rotate into that spot on occasion.

Opinions vary on rotation order but for now I’m going with Bradish, Rogers, Baz, Kremer and Wells. And this leads into the Wells question. Adding another starter, and he’d likely be slotted high, probably puts Wells in relief.

A utility infielder in my opinion is more important than a third catcher, even with Rutschman and Samuel Basallo in the same lineups. Doesn’t every team carry a utility guy? But I’ll say again that fitting him on the roster seems impossible without a trade or the Orioles deciding to carry only four outfielders.

I’d be surprised if Mayo gets many, if any, starts at third base. I think he’d be surprised, too. But it’s more likely to happen if the Orioles don’t have a utility infielder and if they aren’t comfortable playing him in right. He’d obviously get more at-bats as the designated hitter if Mountcastle is gone. Otherwise, manager Craig Albernaz will just have to figure out how to keep everyone engaged.

Will Elias trade from the major league roster? He didn’t want to do it for Baz, and the Rays accepted four Top 30 prospects and a Competitive Balance Round A pick. However, I can see Elias relenting in different negotiations.

The only expectation with Kjerstad is that he’ll report to spring training and try to win a job. The assumption is that he’ll have to work his way back up from Triple-A Norfolk unless he has a really impressive camp and an injury creates a spot for him.

Let’s take it one step at a time. Be healthy. Stay healthy.

Anyone who’s at risk of leaving the 40-man roster probably comes from the pitching side. The Orioles have 23, though Félix Bautista eventually will move to the 60-day injured list.

Yaramil Hiraldo made 18 appearances as a rookie and posted a 4.58 ERA in 19 2/3 innings. José Espada posted a 5.94 ERA in 16 games with Norfolk but tossed three scoreless innings in his only appearance with the Orioles on Sept. 20 against the Yankees. The Orioles claimed George Soriano on waivers in November after he registered an 8.35 ERA and 1.773 WHIP in 24 games with the Marlins. He owns a 5.95 ERA and 1.475 WHIP in 72 games over the past three seasons.

Note: Former Orioles pitcher Thomas Eshelman has returned to the organization as a coordinator in the minor league system, according to his X account. (h/t to @TheVergePod for mentioning it yesterday.)

Eshelman spent the past three seasons as a pitching coach in the Padres’ system. All 31 of his major league appearances came with the Orioles from 2019-21.Â