Nearly 30 games into the 2026 season, the Baltimore Orioles’ “Fly Different” slogan has taken on real meaning — just not always in the way they envisioned.
The club has struggled to sync its pitching, defense and offense, rarely clicking at the same time. Even so, Baltimore has hovered around .500 and shown signs of stabilizing.
The offense is beginning to wake up just as the rotation has had trouble working deep into games, though improved defense has helped prevent things from unraveling.
Luckily, the mailman has reached an agreement and stopped holding out, so we have a mailbag overflowing with questions from Birdland that we can finally get to answering.
Welcome to the first edition of Battery Mailbag.
If Sig Mejdal’s computer gets smashed and thrown in the woods, does it make a sound? – @Kyle67881458 via X
I would refer you to the movie Office Space and implore you to watch the scene with the printer. That should explain all you need to know if Sig’s computer was smashed.
Thoughts on the Jackson Holliday injury. Will he be sidelined for the season or not? – Justin Watson via Facebook
Jackson Holliday’s recovery has been slower than expected, but there is little indication that it is a season-ending issue.
Recent imaging showed the wrist is healing properly. The discomfort that paused his rehab stems largely from grip-strength compensation, while additional irritation is tied to normal tendon movement during recovery.
A reasonable expectation is a return in mid-May or early June at the latest.
Where does Jeremiah Jackson fit in when Jackson Holliday returns? – Sean Gilliam via Facebook
Right now, getting Jackson Holliday to even complete a rehab assignment is playing tricky. He has had his rehab halted twice due wrist discomfort.
The good news is that Jeremiah Jackson has the ability to play five positions, like Blaze Alexander, which means the Orioles will have the ability to rotate and keep everyone fresh.
Jackson has earned himself a spot on the big-league roster and should be there a while, especially with Jordan Westburg not returning until June at the earliest.
Do the Orioles extend Taylor Ward, and if so, how many years should and would you believe it to be? – Tommy Starr via Facebook
Taylor Ward has become an explosive presence in the O’s lineup, collecting three four-hit games in the first month of the season, whereas having no such games prior to coming to Baltimore.
The question, however, is less about performance and more about timeline. Ward turns 33 in August, which naturally limits the length of any potential deal. A short-term commitment — likely two years, potentially with a club or mutual option — aligns with both his age and the Orioles’ broader roster outlook.
As long as he continues the way he has started the season, it becomes a real possibility that the front office considers re-signing Ward or tendering him the qualifying offer this offseason.
Will the Orioles continue to attempt to sign Gunnar Henderson to a long-term extension, or is it a done deal that he is gone via free agency? – George Fantocone via Facebook
Gunnar Henderson’s situation is both straightforward and complex.
On one hand, the Orioles control his rights through the 2028 season, eliminating any immediate urgency. On the other, the longer-term financial landscape — both for the player and the sport — adds layers of uncertainty.
Henderson has expressed openness to staying in Baltimore, but his representation, the Boras Corporation, has historically favored maximizing value through free agency. That reality, combined with Henderson entering his prime years, suggests any extension would require a significant financial commitment.
Industry projections already push into the $400 million range, and it would not be surprising to see that figure climb higher given continued market inflation for elite talent.
The Orioles ownership group, led by David Rubenstein, has the financial capacity to do it, but the decision ultimately hinges on timing, risk tolerance and how the broader labor environment evolves in the coming years.
What do you think Gunnar Henderson’s slump is a result of? – Brian Valor via Facebook
Henderson’s struggles at the plate stand out, even as his defense and situational contributions have helped mask the overall impact.
His slash line definitely shows the struggle (.200/.273/.461). Henderson is on a current pace of 237 strikeouts for the season, which is 14 more than the MLB record set in 2009.
I think the issue with Henderson right now is that he is adjusting for not compensating for the shoulder injury he played with last season, which sapped his power and saw him set career-low marks in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Hopefully, he corrects himself sooner rather than later. One more thing I will point out is that in Henderson’s first full season, he was slashing .199/.331/.370 as of May 29, before he went on an absolute tear to cement himself as the future of the organization.
Are the Orioles really that bad against the bottom of the order, or are we, as fans, overstating the issue? – @joelskeetsos via Bluesky
I think when you take a look at the highs and lows of the season, we are seeing exactly that.
The perception is understandable, but likely exaggerated. Lineups are constructed with far more balance than in previous eras, reducing the gap between top and bottom hitters.
The other thing to pay attention to is how lineups are built based on trends, metrics, opposing pitchers and even expected pitchers to follow. Teams are also utilizing the entirety of their benches based on how the opposing team utilizes its bullpen.
I think as the season progresses and we start to see teams finding their identities, we will start to see a lot of the skewed numbers balance themselves out.
Going into the season, the consensus was the bullpen being the biggest liability. Is it fair to call it the biggest strength so far? Is Nunez for real? Is Cano back? – @TroyPurinton via X
It is fair to say that the bullpen flipped from a concern to a clear asset so far this season.
The group has stabilized games the rotation has not finished and, more importantly, has shown great depth rather than relying on just one or two arms.
As for individuals, Yennier Cano looks much closer to his dominant 2023 form again. The command has sharpened, and the weak contact profile is back, which is usually the biggest indicator that he is right.
Anthony Nunez is more of a “let’s see more” situation. The stuff is legit, and the early results are encouraging. But consistency over a larger sample will determine if he is truly a back-end, high-leverage option or more of a solid middle-inning piece.
Bottom line: the bullpen has been one of the team’s biggest positives.
When will the Orioles actually sign an ace? – Shane Itnyre via Facebook
The Orioles’ front office did actually try to sign a front-line starter this past off-season, as the they did the year prior as well.
In 2024, the Orioles offered Corbin Burnes a four-year, $180 million deal, but he ultimately wanted to be closer to home in Arizona. His contract with Diamondbacks allows for him to do that, as his family lives in Phoenix.
This offseason, the Orioles pursued top tier free agents such as Framber Valdez, Michael King and Ranger Suárez, while also checking into names like Edward Cabrera and MacKenzie Gore via the trade market.
That said, the absence of a traditional “ace” does not necessarily equate to a lack of front-line potential. Kyle Bradish has demonstrated the ability to pitch at that level, and the organization remains optimistic about the development of its current rotation
Shane Baz has the arsenal and make-up to be a front-line starter, which is why the Orioles signed him to a five-year, $68 million deal.
If Baz continues his development, Bradish continues to return to form and Trevor Rogers figures out his recent issues, the Orioles have a trio that will make any opponent have a difficult time.
The player (minor league) options part of the MLB seems confusing to most fans. Please explain the system, how options are acquired and lost and how players’ salaries change during this process. – Rich Thorpe via Facebook
In simplest terms, players on a team’s 40-man roster are typically granted three option years, during which they can be moved between the major and minor leagues.
An option year is used if a player spends at least 20 days in the minors during a season, regardless of how many times he is sent up or down. Once those option years are exhausted, a player must clear waivers before being assigned to the minors.
There are additional nuances, such as eligibility for a fourth option year in certain cases, but the core structure revolves around roster flexibility balanced against player rights.
Financially, most players operate under split contracts, earning a prorated major-league salary while on the active roster and a reduced rate in the minors. The primary exception comes during rehab assignments, when players continue to receive their major-league pay.
What do you like most about Camden Yards? – Quinten Colquhoun via Facebook
For this writer, my favorite thing about Camden Yards is the actual look of the ballpark.
I am an old-fashioned kind of guy, so I like the nostalgic feel and look of the park, but I also admire how it has a modern feel as well.
It remains one of the clearest examples of how a venue can honor the game’s history without feeling outdated.
That concludes the first edition of Battery Mailbag. As the season unfolds and clarity replaces early ambiguity, the questions — and the answers — will only become more compelling.
I am still waiting to see if Sig Mejdal’s computer gets smashed. But something tells me he has more back ups than many of us know. I might have to send the mailman on a mission, that is if he continues to bring us the mail next week.
We hope that you continue to send us your questions, and we look forward to answering them in next week’s edition.
What are your thoughts on our responses? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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