Ryan Ripken

I was asked about what's going to take the step for the Orioles for people to consider them to be serious contenders moving forward.

Well, one is proving to free agents or the perspective around the league is this isn't a one-year thing.

So like in 2023 when they got hot, when no one expected them to jump from, okay, maybe it's a nice story to be a playoff contender to being the one seed in the AL East,

People still had some questions.

They thought they were on the right track, but what Orioles organization, what were they going to be moving forward?

And last year, they didn't spend a lot, and people went out.

They're going back to some of their old ways.

So you have to prove it.

The Yankees have proved it.

And also, I think Boone gets a bad rep.

They're always in it.

They are a well-run organization.

They haven't won in 16 years.

Don't tell Yankees fans that.

They haven't won in 16 years, but a really good organization.

Boston, expectations, but same thing.

They cycle back to being contenders.

They make big moves.

The Garrett Crochet move in extended...

That was the deal of the offseason last year for me.