Orioles lose Andreoli on waiver claim
By Roch Kubatko, October 31, 2018 3:21 PM |
The Orioles' 40-man roster was full on Sunday, contained an opening on Monday, was filled again yesterday and has more space on it today. The lack of front office hires, still on hold following the World Series, hasn't shut down business. The Mariners claimed outfielder John Andreoli off waivers from the Orioles, who now have 39 players on the roster. Both clubs made the announcement
Hays moving in right direction with surgically repaired ankle
By Roch Kubatko, October 31, 2018 4:59 AM |
Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays started a running program on Monday as part of his rehabilitation. An important ... wait for it ... step in his quest to compete for a job with the Orioles next season. Hays underwent surgery on Sept. 13 to repair a stress fracture and some cartilage defects in his left ankle. Dr. Robert Anderson, a specialist based in Green Bay,
Orioles place Branden Kline on 40-man roster
Pitcher Branden Kline's return from Tommy John surgery and multiple setbacks has taken him all the way to the Orioles' 40-man roster, with the possibility of further advancement in the coming months. It's been quite a journey. Kline, a Frederick native and second-round pick in the 2012 draft out of the University of Virginia, missed almost three full seasons before making a major breakthrough in
Orioles add J'Rudjeanon Isenia to list of international signings
The Orioles announced their latest international signing this afternoon, 16-year-old outfielder J'Rudjeanon Isenia out of Curaçao. The agreement on a $125,000 bonus was reported back in late August, but now it's official. The club provided the following statement from director of player development Brian Graham, who's handling the day-to-day duties in baseball operations on an interim basis: "Isenia is a right-handed-hitting outfielder with above average
The free agent market is open for business
The end of the World Series opened the gates yesterday to free agency and Orioles outfielder Adam Jones is included among the 145 players initially on the market. Outfielder Colby Rasmus also is listed with the Orioles, but it's a technicality. Rasmus left the team on July 3 and was placed on the restricted list, removing him from the 40-man roster. Rasmus made the same
McKenna omitted from AFL Fall Stars Game roster
A .378 average and 1.149 OPS apparently aren't deemed worthy of inclusion in the upcoming Arizona Fall League's 13th annual Fall Stars Game unless a fan vote rectifies the situation. Double-A Bowie outfielder Ryan McKenna is conspicuously absent from the West Division roster, which has been released this afternoon. No one in the Orioles organization is represented. McKenna has crafted a .378/.500/.649 slash line in
The Orioles' list of arbitration-eligible players will be reduced with the decision to place infielder Jace Peterson on outright waivers. Peterson made $900,000 this season and MLBTradeRumors.com projects a raise to $1.3 million. The Orioles will look to carry a utility infielder at a reduced cost and it could be Peterson under a restructured deal. This is partly about money and partly about the need
This, that and the other
A last-place finish isn't keeping the Orioles idle as the Red Sox and Dodgers play in the World Series. Beyond the interviews that will lead to the hiring of a president of baseball operations, general manager and manager, the Orioles are making changes in their scouting department and minor league staff and working to create space on a 40-man roster that currently is filled. I've
Ron Johnson won't return as Norfolk manager (updated)
By Roch Kubatko, October 27, 2018 11:38 AM |
The changes coming to the Orioles organization will affect the minor league system, including the decision to bring in a new Triple-A manager. Ron Johnson won't return for an eighth season with the Norfolk Tides, with multiple sources confirming the Orioles' decision to move in another direction. Johnson is free to accept any offer that appeals to him. Also, special assistant Matt Haas, East Coast
Lingering thoughts on international intentions
The level of agitation among Orioles fans spiked again with the failure to sign any of the Cuban "big three," though most are relying on published scouting reports and projections and otherwise know nothing about Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr. and Sandy Gastón,. We've heard good things. It comes across as small consolation, but the Orioles made offers for all three players and were
Gold Glove exclusion, Álvarez and AFL updates
The Orioles will be shut out in Rawlings Gold Glove voting for a third consecutive year. The lack of a finalist in 2018 sealed their fate. Manny Machado made the final three last year at third base, but was denied his third Gold Glove. He isn't a finalist after a change in positions and teams, but the World Series provides a nice distraction for him.
Orioles announce signings of four international players
Unable to sign any of the high-profile Cuban prospects featured at a showcase earlier this month, the Orioles announced today that they've reached agreement with four international players while reallocating a portion of the $6.5 million they held in bonus slots. Joining the organization are 19-year-old Dominican right-hander Kelvin LaRoche, 18-year-old Cuban outfielder Kevin Infante, 17-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Angel Gomez and 17-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Gilbert
Rickard among Orioles with uncertain futures
Contracts are on the verge of expiring for a multitude of individuals in the Orioles organization, including the coaching staff that served under former manager Buck Showalter. Meanwhile, there are players wondering if they're included in any future plans, unsure of Showalter's replacement and how they fit into the rebuild. A fresh set of eyes could inject life into a career or deflate it. Joey
Memories of managerial searches
The process of hiring a manager in the offseason hasn't played out in Baltimore since Lee Mazzilli got the job back in November 2003. An organization that otherwise tends to wait and re-evaluate has fired Mazzilli, Sam Perlozzo and Dave Trembley prior to the final game. The Orioles also replaced interim manager Juan Samuel with Buck Showalter in August 2010. Showalter's contract runs out on
Gastón latest international prospect to elude Orioles
The Orioles will take more swings at the international market after whiffing on three of the top remaining prospects. They went 0-for-3 against the highly touted Cuban trio of Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr. and Sandy Gastón, and are left holding $6.5 million in signing bonus slots. It won't evaporate until June 2019, with a reset the following month, but it's burning a hole
Orioles continue to conduct business despite vacancies
While the Marlins were showing off Victor Victor Mesa and younger brother Victor Mesa Jr. yesterday to their local media, making the international signings official at a press conference, Orioles fans wondered if the lack of top front office executives sabotaged the club's efforts. Don't get the impression that no one is minding the store. Director of player development Brian Graham has been assigned the
Orioles geared toward signing Gastón (and other notes)
The Orioles made an undisclosed offer to Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa and couldn't keep him from signing with the Marlins, who also are introducing younger brother Victor Mesa Jr. at this morning's press conference in Miami. However, pitcher Sandy Gastón remains in play and the Orioles have regained a sizeable advantage in international signing bonus money. They can't match Little Havana and other geographical
Updating Hunter Harvey's elbow issue and throwing schedule
Hunter Harvey is slated to begin another throwing program in December after being shut down again with soreness in his right elbow. The latest MRI last month in Baltimore didn't reveal any structural damage, the diagnosis being a mild case of tendinitis, and he's feeling good again. He was prescribed rest after the Orioles shut him down Sept. 18 from throwing on flat ground at
Orioles won't sign the Mesa brothers
The Orioles are conceding that they won't be able to sign brothers Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr., a harsh blow to an organization that is trying to upgrade its presence in the international market as an important facet of its rebuilding project. Multiple reports have the Cuban outfielders preparing to sign with the Marlins, who scheduled a press conference for Monday morning that
Recalling past playoff series and pitchers posting big innings
Watching David Price plow through the Astros lineup Thursday night in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, the clincher for the Red Sox, brought reminders of the 2014 Division Series and how the Orioles bested the veteran left-hander to complete their sweep of the Tigers. They didn't dominate him, winning 2-1 and advancing to the ALCS, but they defeated three former Cy Young
More roster talk, Lee update and former Orioles in October
Setting the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft won't necessarily be the first order of business for the Orioles' reconstructed front office, with the non-tender deadline set for Nov. 30, but it's going to involve more heavy lifting. The roster is full and the Orioles need to create room for pitchers Dillon Tate and Branden Kline, who are assured of making it. Catcher
Lamenting loss of Bleier and finding silver linings among lefties
Perhaps it's because the timing of the injury and surgery came a month before the All-Star break and there were so many other issues with the club that it got lost in the pile. Check with former manager Buck Showalter and players inside the clubhouse and they'll point to Richard Bleier's absence from the bullpen as one of the most devastating hits delivered to the
The latest non-update update on Orioles
I was asked again yesterday about candidates to manage the Orioles next season. Whether a particular name is in the mix. Whether I can place odds on a veteran such as Joe Girardi or Dusty Baker versus a newbie such as MLB Network analyst and former player Mark DeRosa. We must go back to my previous statement that the new president of baseball operations will
Some early roster rumblings and Rule 5 questions
I've warned in the past that it's much too early to project how the Orioles will fill out their 25-man roster. It's only October and no one has been hired in the front office and as the new manager. There are so many steps ahead that it would fry a Fitbit. Players will be added via trades and/or free agency, fitting into whatever budget has
Ripken isn't currently under consideration for front office job
The offseason calendar for the Orioles has flipped to a new week with no news about front office hires, managerial candidates or the impact on the coaching staff and in player development and scouting. It shouldn't be much longer before the Orioles decide on a president of baseball operations. They likely have someone in mind, but any further delays could be tied to whether they
Orioles remaining quiet in their pursuit of three Cuban prospects
I'd love to provide a meaty update on the Orioles' interest in Cuban outfielders Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. and pitcher Sandy Gastón. However, there isn't much more to write beyond the presence of five representatives at the workout in Miami, the meeting that transpired the following day with the players, their families and agent Barry Praver, and the likelihood that an offer
More arbitration-eligible talk and catching concerns
I wrote earlier in the week about decisions pending on the arbitration-eligible players. MLBTradeRumors.com came out with their annual projections on raises, which will be referenced here multiple times in the coming months. Jonathan Villar is expected to have his salary bumped from $2.55 million to $4.4 million after batting a combined .260/.325/.384 with 14 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 35
Whittling down the walks would work wonders for Orioles
A new manager for the Orioles likely will bring in his own pitching coach rather than inherit Roger McDowell. It's the usual outcome. Few coaches carry over to the next skipper. The ones that do should receive an award bearing Elrod Hendricks' name. Manager Mike Hargrove inherited Eddie Murray on his 2000 staff, giving him an extra coach and forcing Brian Graham, formerly on the
New hire will want to know commitment to Davis beyond salary
Let's push aside for a minute the uncertainty within the front office and in the manager's chair, and how the impact could echo throughout the organization. Anyone who's interviewing to become president of baseball operations is going to wonder how Chris Davis and the $110 million remaining on the richest contract in franchise history can fit into the rebuilding process. How a square peg fits
Wondering how Orioles approach rebuild as they continue interviews
The individual who replaces Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette or is given a different title already will have relayed his or her vision of the rebuilding process to John and Louis Angelos. There won't be a more important point in discussions. It starts right there. Interviews are underway and it's possible that the Orioles make two hires, including a president of baseball operations. The
Orioles won't leave their tender moments alone
By Roch Kubatko, October 9, 2018 4:09 AM |
As the organization undergoes its makeover, decisions must be made regarding arbitration-eligible players and whether to extend contracts for 2019. The non-tender deadline is Nov. 30, giving the Orioles plenty of time to figure it out. A new high-ranking executive should be in place to handle it. Starter Dylan Bundy, reliever Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar are the no-brainers to receive contract offers. The
The Orioles wouldn't consider trading reliever Mychal Givens at the Winter Meetings, valuing his potential as a future closer and contract status that kept him under team control through 2021. They steered rival executives toward pending free agents Zach Britton and Brad Brach and came as close to hanging an untouchable tag on Givens as they could have without actually tying the string behind his
More on the showcase and floating another name
If you happen to be craving incremental updates on the showcase in Miami, you've again come to the right place. The Orioles' five-man contingent met yesterday with Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr. and pitcher Sandy Gastón, their families and representatives from Magnus Sports, which arranged for the workouts to be closed to the media. Bits and pieces have flowed out of them - the
We already know that the Orioles will undergo significant changes beyond their roster after moving away from executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. There will be ripple effects, the only question how far-reaching. The press release noted how vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson, director of player development Brian Graham and director of scouting Gary Rajsich are "currently" under contract, and
More on the process of finding a new manager
If you've been trying to pry a list of Orioles managerial candidates from family, friends or beat writers, do yourself a favor and forget about it. There's an order here and it begins with the hiring of a replacement for executive vice president Dan Duquette, with the title to be determined. I've heard more than once that the new hire will compile the list of
Showalter, Duquette and the end of another era
There were four scenarios that could play out regarding executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. Yesterday's outcome was one of them, but also a bit of a stunner. Under no circumstances was Showalter staying and Duquette leaving because I heard the Orioles didn't want a manager in place without a general manager, or whatever title that person would hold. It became increasingly
Orioles announce departures of Duquette, Showalter (updated)
By Roch Kubatko, October 3, 2018 8:39 PM |
The Orioles announced tonight that they won't retain executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter beyond contracts that run out at the end of the month. They also laid out the plan moving forward. The club will hire an executive from outside of the organization to lead the baseball operations department, an important distinction following today's moves. The Orioles stated in a release
Duquette won't return as Orioles executive vice president
The Orioles will become busier as they move through the offseason with today's news that they also won't bring back executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette. The contracts of Duquette and manager Buck Showalter expired at the end of the month and they aren't going to be part of the rebuild moving forward, according to numerous sources. No announcement has been made by
Showalter won't return as Orioles manager
The Orioles will move forward with their plans to rebuild while leaving behind the man who has managed them since August 2010. Buck Showalter won't return for the 2019 season, according to multiple sources, with the club allowing his contract to run out at the end of the month. The offseason will include a search for his successor. Showalter won't remain in the organization in
Valera hopes he's in consideration for next year
A player trying to impress in the final month of the season and convince his new team that he deserves a roster spot in 2019 needs to do more than hit and field his position. He has to stay healthy. Breyvic Valera provided a reminder to manager Buck Showalter that he owned a career .299 average in the minors. Not that Showalter needed it. One
Lingering thoughts on Davis
The Orioles' season ended on Sunday after a full 162 games, the tormenting weather forcing delays, postponements and doubleheaders but unable to leave them short. The curtain on Chris Davis' season closed on Sept. 22 after an 0-for-5 day at Yankee Stadium that included three more strikeouts. The last pitch he saw, from reliever Jonathan Holder in the 10th inning, was lined to first baseman
Another look at yesterday's finale and the dominant themes
Not to make it about myself on the first day of the Orioles offseason, but I can't remember a final game before yesterday that was less about the outcome and recapping what went right and wrong over the summer. So I did sort of make it about myself. Hang with me. The Orioles defeated the Astros 4-0 for their seventh shutout of the season against
Branden Kline's impressive comeback continues with ascension to 40-man