Roch Kubatko

Mark Quinn talks about his new position with Orioles

January 07, 2016, 10:17am

Orioles

On the day that Mark Quinn is introduced as the Orioles' new assistant hitting coach, it's important to spin back the dial to 2000, his rookie season with the Royals and a conversation with Brady Anderson that changed his life. Anderson was playing his next-to-last season with the Orioles. Quinn was headed to a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year balloting in the American League. In baseball's small world, they briefly were teammates in 2003 with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in...

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More thoughts on free agency and the Hall of Fame (Quinn hiring official)

January 06, 2016, 4:33pm

Orioles

More thoughts on free agency and the Hall of Fame (Quinn hiring official)

With Alex Gordon off the board, it's fair to wonder whether he truly was on the Orioles' radar. They want another left-handed bat. They'd gladly take a four-time Gold Glove outfielder. They'd build a shrine to a hitter with a career .348 on-base percentage over nine seasons. Gordon made sense on many levels, but he came with health concerns that tempered the Orioles' enthusiasm. Where have we heard this before? Gordon missed two months with a groin injury, limiting him to only 104 games....

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Mark Quinn to be named Orioles assistant hitting coach (plus Hall of Fame ballot)

January 06, 2016, 7:47am

Orioles

The Orioles have chosen former major league outfielder Mark Quinn as their new assistant hitting coach, with multiple sources confirming the hire. The club is expected to make the announcement on Thursday if the paperwork is completed. Quinn and Milt Thompson were two of the finalists for the job. Thompson is expected to remain in his current role as Royals minor league outfield/baserunning/bunting coordinator. Quinn, 41, wasn't working for an organization. He owns a baseball academy in...

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Taking a closer look at Matusz versus Bastardo (with Gordon note)

January 05, 2016, 11:16am

Orioles

Taking a closer look at Matusz versus Bastardo (with Gordon note)

While we wait for the Orioles to reveal their new assistant hitting coach on Thursday, I've heard that former major league outfielders Milt Thompson and Mark Quinn were finalists for the job. Five candidates were interviewed. Thompson is a career .274/.335/.372 hitter in 13 major league seasons with six teams. He was the Phillies hitting coach during their 2008 championship season and again when they returned to the World Series in 2009. He was fired in July 2010, served as the Astros minor...

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This, that and the other (updated)

January 04, 2016, 4:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles haven't named a replacement for Ned Rice, formerly their director of major league administration who accepted a job as assistant general manager in Philadelphia. It appears that they will stay inside the organization, though nothing is final. Rice's loss is a big one for the front office. What are the chances that free agent outfielder/first baseman Steve Pearce follows Rice to Philadelphia? The Orioles could reach out to Pearce later in the month, since he's a favorite of...

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Taking a look at the minicamp roster (updated)

January 04, 2016, 11:55am

Orioles

Taking a look at the minicamp roster (updated)

Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey are two of the more intriguing names among the Orioles minor league pitchers attending next week's minicamp in Sarasota. Manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti want to check on the organization's top prospects. Bundy was shut down in the Arizona Fall League due to tightness in his right forearm. Harvey was shut down in the fall instructional league with discomfort in his right elbow. Bundy is out of minor league options...

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Urrutia eager to prove he belongs in the majors

January 03, 2016, 4:12pm

Orioles

Urrutia eager to prove he belongs in the majors

Any discussion about the options at first base if Chris Davis doesn't re-sign always include Triple-A Norfolk's Christian Walker and Double-A Bowie's Trey Mancini. They're the in-house candidates - both expected to start out in the minors, but potential fits depending on what happens before opening day. The current in-house options in right field include L.J. Hoes, Nolan Reimold, Dariel Alvarez, Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard and maybe Mark Trumbo, if he isn't needed at first base or as the...

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What Davis' delayed decision is doing to Orioles

January 02, 2016, 5:07pm

Orioles

The subject keeps coming up and I feel the need to continue my attempts to provide some clarity. New year, old topic. The Orioles aren't closed for business despite how Chris Davis remains on the free agent market and their $150 million offer is being treated like those jelly-filled chocolates that you spit out as a kid. They traded for Mark Trumbo and signed Hyun Soo Kim. They gave $31 million to setup man Darren O'Day. They're pursuing another left-handed bat and a starting pitcher. It...

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Thoughts on Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson as starters

January 01, 2016, 8:41am

Orioles

Thoughts on Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson as starters

If the Orioles are going to upgrade their rotation, they need to find a veteran with a track record, someone who can slot near the top and give them innings and a chance to win every five days. Yovani Gallardo and Doug Fister remain on the market. Fister is a prime candidate for a bounce-back season and he makes a lot of sense for the Orioles, who don't routinely dangle four- and five-year deals in front of free agent starters. Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright are two of the in-house candidates,...

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Orioles have same old needs in a new year

December 31, 2015, 5:17am

Orioles

We've entered a brand-spanking new year with the Orioles' roster still a construction zone. Slow down while going through it. On one hand, they've gotten more done this winter than in 2014 with the additions of Vance Worley, L.J. Hoes, Mark Trumbo, Hyun Soo Kim and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard, along with retaining Matt Wieters via the qualifying offer and re-signing Darren O'Day to a four-year, $31 million deal. There's also a batch of minor league signings intended to improve organizational...

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Scott Kazmir no longer an option for Orioles

December 30, 2015, 10:38am

Orioles

Left-hander Scott Kazmir is off the board, and he's not on the Orioles' 40-man roster. The Dodgers announced today that they've signed Kazmir to a three-year deal. Various reports have the total value at $48 million, and the contract includes an opt-out clause after the first year. Maybe the Orioles will get another shot at him next winter. The Orioles apparently were willing to go three years with Kazmir, but he sought a fourth year in the earlier stages of free agency - a deal-breaker for...

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More on Orioles' interest in Denard Span

December 30, 2015, 10:10am

Orioles

With the Orioles in the market for another left-handed bat and searching for one more outfielder, it's natural to link them to Denard Span as we approach 2016. Span also would fill their need for a leadoff hitter, allowing them to lower Manny Machado in the order. They place a great deal of emphasis on defense, and Span isn't suited for New Year's Eve celebrations because he rarely lets a ball drop. I confirmed in November that the Orioles held interest in Span and his name came up at the...

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Notes on Cespedes, Kim, Davis and ballparks

December 29, 2015, 4:53pm

Orioles

Notes on Cespedes, Kim, Davis and ballparks

If the Orioles really are a finalist for free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, his price tag must be plummeting. I checked around yesterday and didn't get the sense that the Orioles are remotely close to a deal. I'm told by one source that a contract proposal hasn't even been presented to ownership. They most certainly aren't going to pay Cespedes $140 million, which MLBTradeRumors.com predicted for him at the start of free agency. That idea was shot down with gusto when I ran it past one...

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Orioles executive Ned Rice accepts job with Phillies (updated)

December 29, 2015, 3:13pm

Orioles

The Orioles learned today that they're losing a key member of their front office. Ned Rice, the club's director of major league administration, has accepted a position in the Phillies' front office, according to multiple sources. He will be reunited with Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, and Matt Klentak, named general manager in late October. The Phillies also employ former Orioles executives Scott Proefrock and Joe Jordan. I've heard that Rice is taking a position as an...

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Paul Janish is returning to Orioles on minor league deal

December 29, 2015, 8:56am

Orioles

The Orioles have reached agreement with infielder Paul Janish on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, bringing back the defensive specialist who made a favorable impression this summer. Janish was non-tendered on Dec. 3, but the Orioles wanted to keep him in the organization. I've heard from multiple people that a deal is in place. There may be some paperwork remaining, but Janish will arrive in camp in February. The Astros also were a finalist for Janish,...

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Givens not assuming he's in bullpen in 2016

December 28, 2015, 1:32pm

Orioles

Givens not assuming he's in bullpen in 2016

Dominant bullpens are all the rage. Load up the back end and hope your starters can work into the sixth inning. The Yankees are taking that path with yesterday's trade for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, who joins left-hander Andrew Miller and right-hander Dellin Betances. They could deal Miller, but general manager Brian Cashman told reporters yesterday that the plan calls for a three-headed relief monster, with the closer to be determined at a later date. The Orioles' decision to offer Darren...

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Remembering a friend, colleague and mentor

December 27, 2015, 7:48am

Orioles

Remembering a friend, colleague and mentor

My introduction to Joe Strauss came in 1997 on the workout day before the Orioles' opener at Camden Yards. We joined the beat at The Baltimore Sun around the same time - Strauss coming from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, me moving up from the small colleges. Joe extended his hand and praised my work from my first spring training, saying he never would have known that I hadn't been "a ball writer." It wasn't until much later that I'd understand and appreciate the magnitude of that...

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Christian Walker staying in shape and sizing up his chances with Orioles

December 25, 2015, 8:11am

Orioles

While the rest of us are gorging on holiday treats and digging out our stretchy pants from the bottom of the closet, first baseman Christian Walker is probably counting his calories along with his blessings. Walker, 24, showed up at FanFest declaring himself to be in the best shape of his life, a statement normally reserved for the first few days of spring training. He's never appeared soft, but now he's never felt better. "Just really cleaning up what I've been eating," Walker said. "I...

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Leftovers for breakfast

December 24, 2015, 6:26pm

Orioles

As we move closer to 2016, the Orioles still aren't sure who's batting leadoff for them on opening day, a game that marks the major league debuts of Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim and first baseman Byung Ho Park. How convenient that the Twins visit Camden Yards for the first series. Manny Machado hit atop the order in 111 games this year, but the Orioles would like to move him down and take better advantage of his run-producing skills. Kim, signed to a two-year, $7 million deal on Wednesday,...

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The "Vanimal" wants to attack hitters in Orioles' rotation

December 24, 2015, 11:08am

Orioles

Vance Worley said he's just looking for a fresh start. I guess he's keeping the hairstyle, black-rimmed glasses and funny nickname. Worley is a bit of a character. We don't know yet whether he's going to be part of the rotation or bullpen. His status could be determined by other moves made before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. The Orioles claimed Worley off waivers from the Pirates knowing that he'd started and pitched out of the bullpen, offering them choices if he...