Friday Bird Droppings: Still waiting on the Orioles to sign the lease

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Remember Sept. 28? It was just a few weeks ago, and it seemed — at the time — like one of the most exciting days in recent Orioles history. Not only did the Orioles defeat the Red Sox to clinch the AL East for the first time since 2014, but during the game, the O’s announced to the Camden Yards crowd that the team had signed a 30-year lease to remain at Camden Yards, with club CEO John Angelos and Governor Wes Moore on hand to celebrate. Life was good.

Well, in hindsight, that night wasn’t as amazing as it first appeared. Clinching the division was fun and all, but didn’t help the Orioles win any playoff games. And it also turned out that the Orioles’ announcement about signing the lease was, uh, not exactly accurate. They’d merely signed a “memorandum of understanding,” a non-binding document that outlines components of the team’s plans but puts nothing into official action.

It’s not clear whether the MOU has led to any substantive progress toward signing the actual lease. As detailed by the Baltimore Sun, state lawmakers sent out congratulatory messages and plaudits that night but it’s basically been crickets ever since. Perhaps the sides are working furiously behind the scenes to get a new deal done before the current lease expires at the end of this year. Or perhaps they’re still far apart on some key issues and there’s no agreement in sight.

It’s going to be embarrassing when the deadline passes with no deal, and the Orioles show up at the ballpark next Opening Day to find the doors locked and the gates chained up. (That’s how it works, right? That’s totally how it works.)

Don’t worry. The Orioles will be playing baseball in Baltimore, and at Camden Yards, next year and beyond. But with every passing day that the process drags on with no new lease, O’s fans have to wonder what, exactly, the holdup is.

Links

O's offense was shaky late, but generally good through the 2023 season - Steve Melewski
True, but here’s hoping the 2024 Orioles will aim for an offense that’s a step above “generally good.”

Former Orioles manager and second baseman Davey Johnson, GM Hank Peters on Baseball Hall of Fame committee ballot
Davey Johnson is on the Hall of Fame’s manager ballot. Hooray! So is Cito Gaston. Boo!

Jon Meoli: The Orioles’ assessment of rotation will determine the course of the offseason - The Baltimore Banner
If you’re hoping the Orioles will go after one of the top-tier starting pitchers in free agency, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. As Jon Meoli writes, they might have a strong enough group that they don’t need to, anyway.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Two former Orioles were born on this day: 2019 left-hander Ty Blach (33) and 1968-70 infielder Bobby Floyd. who turns 80 today. An extra happy birthday to him.

On this date last year, the Gold Glove finalists were announced, a list that inexplicably did not include the defensively brilliant O’s shortstop Jorge Mateo, but did include center fielder Cedric Mullins and, surprisingly, third baseman Ramón Urías. Even more surprisingly, Urías ultimately won, despite playing fewer than 100 games at third base. Hey, no complaints here. We’ll take a Gold Glove any day.