The Orioles' short-term winter additions mean more time for their player development promises to come good

A front office that has never been shy about its player development acumen seems to be giving itself one more year to fill a playoff roster with its own players

At his very first Winter Meetings in charge of the Orioles over four years ago, Mike Elias said something that came to mind when considering just how this offseason has played out for his club.

James McCann’s acquisition in a salary dump from the New York Mets, who will be paying all but $5 million of his salary for the next two years, joins the additions of Kyle Gibson, Adam Frazier, and Mychal Givens as one’s meant to reinforce the club’s floor for 2023 by hopefully upgrading some areas of need. 

That’s not going to be what gets them the half-dozen or so more wins that will put them into the postseason in 2023, though. If they’re better next season, it will have very little to do with all of them and a lot more to do with the litany of players who have either solidified themselves as major leaguers on Elias’ watch or is going to be given the chance to do so next summer.

Which is why it’s at least a little interesting, as this team continues to operate on a limited budget that has to come down to ownership, to remember one of the first things Elias said in this job, way back in December 2018.