Monday Bird Droppings: Wondering what 2021 will bring for the Orioles

Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! I hope you had a nice weekend. Here in central Maryland, the weather on Saturday was nice enough that I was able to get outside for several hours, which was very nice. I hope you were also able to take advantage! We might not have many more days like that this year.

In baseball news...there isn’t much baseball news. Other than the DFA of Renato Núñez, it’s been very quiet in Birdland. And with this being Thanksgiving week, don’t expect things to warm up anytime soon.

Next week will bring us to the non-tender deadline on December 2nd, followed virtual winter meetings from December 6-10th. And the last day of the winter meetings brings with it former GM Dan Duquette’s favorite day: the rule 5 draft. Maybe something big will happen with the Orioles over these dates, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

We don’t expect anything big from the Orioles this off season, but if you care about what the 2021 team will look like, we could see some shape taking as early as mid-December. If the Orioles choose to non-tender any players, or if they take an interesting player in the rule 5 draft pick, that could change the team composition.

Links

An O's streak could end in a few weeks - Steve Melewski
You can tell it's a slow off season when Melewski writes 700 words on how the Orioles probably won't make a rule 5 pick.

Orioles’ Chris Davis, wife Jill donate $1 million to ‘Fill the Stadium’ effort to fight child hunger amid pandemic - Baltimore Sun
Despite all of his on-field troubles, we can at least appreciate the fact that Chris Davis is a good dude.

Orioles' Elias explains why Núñez was designated for assignment in roster moves - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Many were either confused or upset that the Orioles DFA'd 2020 HR leader Renato Núñez. Mike Elias had some explanation.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have quite a number of Orioles birthday buddies but you might not recognize many of their names.

As a fan of baseball in general, you surely recognize Justin Turner, who turns 36 years old today. Most people don’t remember when Turner was an Oriole for 17 games between 2009 and 2010, but he was! I am an Orioles fan and going forward he’ll be to me the guy who tested positive for COVID-19 during game six of the World Series and then came back onto the field to celebrate with his teammates after they won.

Other former Orioles born on this date are 2005 first round draft pick Brandon Snyder, 2009 pitching disaster Adam Eaton, someone named Ryan McGuire who played for the Orioles in 2002, 1983-84 part-time infielder Todd Cruz, and John Anderson, who appeared in four games for the O’s in 1960.