Baltimore Sun Orioles reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer will answer fan questions every Friday during baseball season. Here are JCM’s thoughts on several questions from readers:

Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Email jameyer @baltsun.com with questions for next Friday’s mailbag

How many of the recent extensions in MLB were done with Scott Boras clients? I’m starting to think three of the big four being Boras clients (Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday) should be the common thread in why the Orioles haven’t signed any players to extensions. — @JoshGrahamShow on X

This is a good point, and one that was noted in Thursday morning’s analysis story about how the Orioles are the only MLB team to not sign a player to a four-plus-year extension since 2019.

There are plenty of valid reasons the Orioles haven’t signed their young players to extensions. Under former Orioles CEO and Chairman John Angelos, it might have been difficult for general manager Mike Elias to sign a player to a long-term contract. Most of Baltimore’s best prospects were high draft picks, meaning they signed lucrative contracts out of high school or college, and might be financially able to take more risk and wait for free agency. And some, like Henderson and Rutschman, are generational players who can be less likely to sign before reaching free agency.

As Josh noted, Henderson, Westburg and Holliday all chose Boras to represent them. Chose. That’s the key word here. Those players surveyed the market of agents and decided that Boras fit what they wanted best. It’s easy for fans to scapegoat Boras, the mega-agent who is more famous than most players he represents, for their favorite players choosing to go to free agency rather than sign extensions. But the players have a big role in this, too.

None of the extensions this week were signed by Boras clients, and those aren’t common. But they’re not impossible. Boras clients José Altuve, Xander Bogaerts, Stephen Strasburg, Elvis Andrus, Carlos Gómez and Jered Weaver are among those to sign extensions.

Could it be a hurdle that some of the Orioles’ most eligible extension candidates are Boras clients? Yes. Is it the main reason Baltimore hasn’t signed anyone to a long-term extension under Elias? No.

How long will Charlie Morton last in the Orioles’ rotation? — Dan from Monrovia

It’s a little early for this, no?

Two bad starts, including one with 10 strikeouts, and there’s already talk of replacing Morton? Let’s pump the brakes a bit.

Has there been cause for concern thus far about Morton? Sure. An 0-2 record and a 9.72 ERA through any pitcher’s first two starts in a new uniform is going to raise eyebrows. And with a 41-year-old, perhaps there’s questions about whether Morton is finally hitting the decline phase after a brilliant 18-year career.

But the underlying stuff suggests otherwise, and that’s why it’s too soon to write Morton off — or conclude signing him for $15 million this offseason was a mistake. Morton is actually throwing about half a tick harder than he did last season with the Braves, and while he struggled to get swings and misses in his first start, he struck out 10 batters in just five innings Thursday.

As cliche as it sounds: It’s a long season. Let’s not rush to conclusions.

Why didn’t the Orioles put Vimael Machín on the opening day roster after his great spring training? — Fred from Baltimore

This question is what’s great about baseball.

Before spring training, Orioles fans had no idea who Machín was. Six weeks later, some hoped to see him break camp in the major leagues.

What a weird sport.

Machín was the breakout star of Orioles camp. A former big leaguer with the Athletics, the second baseman spent the previous few seasons playing in the Mexico League. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract this offseason, and he proved his bat-to-ball skills throughout spring training with a .400 average and a 1.015 OPS.

It’s pretty simple why Machín didn’t make Baltimore’s opening day roster: There was no space. The Orioles needed a shortstop with Gunnar Henderson out, and the rest of the infield was filled with Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and others.

Still, Machín put himself on the Orioles’ radar for a potential call-up if they need a left-handed bat later this year. And he’s already off to a good start with Triple-A Norfolk: 6-for-14 with a double entering Thursday.

Who do the Orioles see as Cedric Mullins’ replacement next year? Colton Cowser? (I know the organization would never outright say they’re moving on from Mullins, but the writing is on the wall) — u/dreddnought on Reddit

This question came from a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” hosted on r/orioles last week, and it was interesting enough to bring over to the mailbag. It was a great time over on Reddit answering about 16 questions — including a strange one about cows and milkmen — for an hour.

This is an understandable way to view this considering the fates of Austin Hays and Anthony Santander. If the Orioles do let Mullins go in free agency after this season, Cowser makes the most sense as the opening day center fielder in 2026. Prospects Enrique Bradfield Jr. (Double-A) and Vance Honeycutt (High-A) could be options for late 2026 or 2027 and beyond.

But let’s push back slightly on “the writing is on the wall.”

Under Elias, the Orioles have let almost all of their free agents leave, and the odds of Mullins playing elsewhere next season are higher than him staying in Baltimore. But the chances of him remaining an Oriole after this season are higher than they were for Austin Hays and Anthony Santander.

Mullins’ defensive value as a good center fielder is far higher than his former rebuild survivor mates.

And the Orioles have more of a need in center field in 2026 than they did in the corner outfield in 2024 and 2025 when Hays and Santander departed.

Because Bradfield and Honeycutt appear more than one year away from being reliable big leaguers, the Orioles don’t have a clear replacement for Mullins. Sure, Cowser can move there, but if Tyler O’Neill opts out of his contract after 2025, that leaves the Orioles with an open outfield spot to fill.

Mullins could play his way out of Baltimore this season. If he remains healthy and plays the way he did in 2021 (his 30-homer, 30-stolen base season) or in 2023’s first half or in 2024’s second half, Mullins could receive a multiyear contract worth tens of millions of dollars.

But if he maintains his performance since 2022 — a league-average hitter with solid defense at a premium position — it’s possible he settles for a one-year deal.

A contract like that would make sense for Baltimore.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer @baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.