While the Orioles continue discussions with the agent for right-hander Yovani Gallardo, they're not expected to reach agreement tonight.
More works remains as the Orioles attempt to sign Gallardo to a three-year deal. They've made progress, but they're still short of the finish line.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette wouldn't comment on Gallardo or any other free agent or trade targets. However, when asked whether a move could be made later today, he replied, "I doubt it."
"We're...
Still no word on an agreement between the Orioles and pitcher Yovani Gallardo. Negotiations continue on a three-year deal and the club remains optimistic, according to a source.
My guess is the phrase "opt out" keeps coming up. Gallardo wants one in his contract and the Orioles are against it.
Meanwhile, the Orioles have released their 2016 promotion and giveaway schedule, which includes a Manny Machado garden gnome on July 9. All fans are eligible to receive it.
Will it be as popular as last...
By adding Yovani Gallardo to their rotation, the Orioles also would create a few questions that I'll pose here. It's too bad that I don't have the answers to go with them. They would be a nice accompaniment, but it's just too soon.
Let's start with the fact that the rotation would consist of five right-handed starters, with Gallardo joining Chris Tillman, Ubaldo Jimenez, Miguel Gonzalez and Kevin Gausman. Executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter agree that it's...
The Orioles no longer are committed to keeping their first pick in this year's First-Year Player Draft, showing a willingness to part with the 14th overall selection to sign pitcher Yovani Gallardo. But what about their next selection?
I've been told that the Orioles also are discussing outfielder Dexter Fowler, who would cost their compensatory pick after he turned down the Cubs' qualifying offer. FOXSports.com also confirmed the club's interest in Fowler.
The Orioles currently hold the...
The Orioles have signed right-hander Dale Thayer to a minor league deal that also includes an invitation to spring training.
Thayer is represented by O'Connell Sports Management, which tweeted the agreement this afternoon.
Thayer, 35, is 11-17 with a 3.47 ERA in seven major league seasons. He's made 264 appearances, all in relief, with the Rays, Mets and Padres.
The Orioles were in the market for another reliever and expressed recent interest in free agent right-hander Carlos Torres. They...
The Orioles' talks with the representative for free agent pitcher Yovani Gallardo have progressed to the point where they appear to be the favorites to sign him, according to an industry source.
FOXSports.com reported today that the sides were "making progress," and multiple reports have the Orioles offering three years.
The Orioles weren't comfortable going four years for Gallardo and five were never a consideration. However, his price has dropped as spring training approaches, along with...
Spring training must be getting close. The Orioles crossed off two more items from their to-do list this week by announcing their non-roster invitees and sending out season ticket invoices. What's left besides finding another starter, a left-handed bat for the outfield and maybe another reliever?
The Orioles may want to check whether they can trademark the phrase "bounceback season," because I feel as though I owe them money each time I use it.
There are starters in the rotation who need...
With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in only nine days, the Orioles are sending out their season ticket invoices this afternoon via email. It's the same arrangement as last year.
There is one change which has been anticipated for most of the winter. Fans are going to notice an increase in ticket prices.
This is the third time in the past 12 years that the cost has risen for season plan holders.
The average ticket price at Camden Yards runs about $30, an increase of $5 from...
The Orioles will learn plenty about Hyun Soo Kim after he reports to spring training. How he swings the bat against major league pitching, how much ground he covers in the outfield, his arm strength, his ability to blend with his new teammates and get acclimated to life in the United States.
The early returns are favorable.
Kim made a nice impression on manager Buck Showalter during their brief interaction after he signed his two-year, $7 million contract. Pitcher Mike Wright talked up Kim's...
The Orioles released the names of their 17 non-roster invitees to spring training, a list that includes seven pitchers, three catchers, four infielders and three outfielders.
There are no real surprises in the group except that infielder Joey Terdoslavich didn't receive an invitation after being designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.
Keep in mind that everyone on the 40-man roster also will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. They don't need invitations.
Also be...
Former Orioles outfielder Delmon Young was arrested in Miami last night and charged with battery after he allegedly choked and threatened to kill a valet attendant and used ethnic slurs, according to Andy Slater of 940 AM radio.
Young allegedly grabbed the attendant by the neck at the Viceroy hotel in Miami after being denied access to a club. Police made the arrest at Young's residence.
According to a report, Young answered the door naked from the waist down and was unsteady on his feet....
While the Orioles continue their roster construction, I'm curious how the current and future moves will impact pitcher Vance Worley and infielder Jimmy Paredes.
The Orioles claimed Worley off waivers from the Pirates and gave him $2.6 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility. He's been viewed as a candidate for the rotation and bullpen.
Worley is out of options and remains in limbo as the executive vice president Dan Duquette continues his efforts to add more pitching. I'm still...
Just when it appeared that the Orioles had no interest in surrendering their first pick in the draft, they definitely are reconsidering as right-hander Yovani Gallardo remains on the free agent market.
The latest shift in thinking apparently has occurred within the past week. They're checking medicals again and weighing the pros and cons. They haven't walked away from Gallardo.
They just can't seem to quit him.
The pros include the need to bring in an established starter for a rotation that...
And then there were none.
The Orioles avoided an arbitration hearing with closer Zach Britton, their lone unsigned player, by agreeing to a one-year, $6.75 million deal, a source has confirmed.
The left-hander's arbitration hearing had been scheduled for Feb. 17, after the sides couldn't come to an agreement. The Orioles had offered Britton $5.6 million, while Britton had countered at $7.9 million. The deal represents the midpoint between the two figures.
The 28-year-old Britton went 4-1 with...
When we last heard from Mark Trumbo, he had just been acquired in a trade with the Mariners in a deal that become official on Dec. 2. He was surprised by it, since he hadn't heard the Orioles mentioned as a possibility, and revealed his long-standing admiration for the organization.
Meanwhile, executive vice president Dan Duquette vowed to continue his search for at least one more impact bat.
"This isn't the last move the club is going to make to put our team together for 2016," Duquette...
I can't promise that the Orioles will make news again today, but executive vice president Dan Duquette continues to work the phones in an attempt to finalize the roster by the start of spring training.
If it takes a little longer, so be it.
They completed a trade with the Padres for right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne. You can spell "San Diego Padres" using the letters in his name and still have a few left over. Anyone got a Scrabble board?
They designated left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser for...
The Orioles avoided an arbitration hearing with left-hander Brian Matusz, who agreed to terms today on a $3.9 million contract, according to an industry source.
Matusz sought $4.4 million when the sides exchanged figures, and the Orioles countered at $3.5 million, so they almost met directly in the middle.
MLBTradeRumors.com projected that Matusz's salary would rise modestly from $3.2 million in 2015 to $3.4 million.
Matusz, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft out of the University of...
Outfielder L.J. Hoes has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, the latest roster move made today by the Orioles.
Hoes was designated for assignment on Jan. 26 to create room for outfielder/first baseman Efren Navarro.
The Orioles acquired Hoes from the Astros on Nov. 25 for cash considerations, bringing back a player they drafted in the third round in 2008. He batted .295/.383/.400 in 99 games with Triple-A Fresno and .267/.313/.267 in eight games with the Astros last...
The Orioles have acquired right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne from the Padres for minor league pitcher Jean Cosme, according to industry sources.
Despaigne, 28, went 9-16 with a 4.74 ERA in parts of two major league seasons. He went 5-9 with a 5.80 ERA in 34 appearances, including 18 starts, in 2015.
Despaigne is a native of Cuba. He signed as an amateur free agent in 2014.
The Orioles selected Cosme in the 17th round of the 2014 draft. A native of Puerto Rico, the right-hander was 3-5 with a 4.74...
As the Orioles attempt to figure out what they're going to do in right field, they seem more likely to go the platoon route to round out their lineup.
This isn't exactly breaking news. It's been a strong possibility for a while now, especially after Chris Davis accepted their seven-year, $161 million offer.
Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes came off the board. I'm still fielding questions about the possibility of bringing back Nick Markakis, but are the Braves willing to move him? And the...