Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today that the club has extended contract offers to every coach on the staff for the 2016 season.
Duquette added that he hopes to "get it resolved this week."
Agreements need to be reached with bench coach John Russell, first base coach Wayne Kirby, third base coach Bobby Dickerson, pitching coach Dave Wallace, bullpen coach Dom Chiti, hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh and extra coach Einar Diaz.
"We've been talking to the coaches and...
As you may have noticed, I don't own the stereotypical mailbag, where I take original questions from fans. That would be boring. Much better to heap on the sarcasm while constantly repeating myself.
Nothing wrong with having a little fun, especially during a lull in the activity.
You know the drill. You ask, I answer, you ask again, I answer again. And I blame the repetition for my alcohol consumption.
Got a favorite sequel? I may be running out of names. Heck, I may have used the same one in...
As the Orioles were closing out their season, winning five straight to finish at .500 for only the second time in franchise history, they already were plotting for ways to improve in 2016.
Various lists were compiled as team executives gathered with manager Buck Showalter. Pending major league, minor league and international free agents were discussed, debated and either kept on the club's radar or discarded.
Baseball America has revealed the first wave of minor league players who elected free...
It's apparently safe for me to resurrect my visions of an epic Royals-Blue Jays matchup in the American League Championship Series.
Reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated.
Love 'em or hate 'em - and I know where most of you stand on the topic - these are two special teams. It's hard to imagine the series ending in fewer than seven games.
Which opponent is more challenged to bounce back on the road in Game 5 - the one that blew a four-run lead in the eighth inning (Astros) or the...
Unable to reach an agreement on a new lease, the Sports Legends Museum is closing its doors immediately and formulating plans to relocate.
Following several weeks of negotiations, the board of directors of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation today unanimously voted not to accept a counter offer from the Maryland Stadium Authority to renew its Sports Legends Museum lease at Camden Station. The museum has been a primary tenant since 2005.
The board will begin "an immediate search" for a new...
The Astros won yesterday and are one victory away from advancing to the American League Championship Series.
The Rangers lost last night, but they're still one victory away from advancing to the ALCS.
I spent most of September talking about an epic ALCS between the Blue Jays and Royals, unable to decide on a favorite. It may happen anyway, but the odds remain stacked against it.
Meanwhile, Chase Utley is starting a new business venture for his post-baseball days. If your friends introduce you...
Cal Ripken Jr. is attending today's Browns-Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium. However, he won't be coaching either team next season. He may answer the phone if they call, but he's not actively searching for a job.
I've decided to start killing rumors before they gain steam.
As I've written numerous times, the Orioles still must decide whether to make catcher Matt Wieters the $15.8 million qualifying offer in order to obtain a compensatory draft pick if he signs with another team....
The qualifying offer for free agents this winter reportedly has risen from $15.3 to $15.8 million, which is the amount that the Orioles will dangle in front of first baseman Chris Davis and left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. They haven't decided what to do about catcher Matt Wieters.
No player has accepted the qualifying offer, which sets his salary for the upcoming season. Teams receive a compensation pick in the next draft if the player signs with another team.
A qualifying offer can't be made to a...
Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy threw another 20-pitch bullpen session today in Sarasota and continued to make significant progress.
Bundy also threw 20 pitches on Wednesday, his first time on a mound since May in Trenton. The Orioles are limiting him to only fastballs before mixing in the changeup and breaking ball.
Dr. James Andrews cleared Bundy last month to start a throwing program after he was shut down with discomfort caused by calcification in the Teres minor muscle behind his...
The Orioles will be searching for a starting pitcher this winter who fits at the top of their rotation. They don't figure to stay in the bidding for left-hander David Price, however, since he's going to break the bank into millions and millions of pieces.
Yes, there seems to be mutual interest here, with Price liking the idea of pitching for the Orioles, from what I've heard. They're not bothered by his postseason record, but let's take a quick look at it.
Price lost again yesterday in...
Jake Arrieta threw a complete-game shutout last night to lead the Cubs to a 4-0 win over the Pirates in the National League wild card game.
Of course he did.
This guy can do no wrong. His stuff is nasty and he's got confidence oozing out of his pores.
Arrieta always had his chest puffed out with the Orioles, but as one official noted, he came across as a guy trying too hard to mask his insecurities. He'd run into trouble in the first inning and the confidence melted away. You could see it...
Jake Arrieta takes the mound tonight and the knife turns.
Orioles fans must cringe as Arrieta gets the assignment for the Cubs in the National League wild card game in Pittsburgh. He's 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 33 starts, with four complete games, three shutouts and a no-hitter. He's exactly what the Orioles thought he would become after drafting him in the fifth round in 2007 out of TCU.
(Side note: The Orioles took right-hander Tim Bascom in the fourth round out of Central Florida because...
As Colby Rasmus was rounding the bases last night following his home run for the Astros in the American League wild card game, did anyone reflect back on his negotiations with the Orioles over the winter?
Rasmus came very close to signing with the Orioles, who thought they had an agreement on a one-year deal that guaranteed around $7 million. Then, agent Casey Close decided to keep looking and landed a deal with the Astros for $8 million.
Close threw a better curve than anyone on the Orioles...
Orioles reliever Brian Matusz underwent a successful medical procedure yesterday on his right shoulder and has returned home to Arizona.
Matusz stayed back in Baltimore and had arthroscopic surgery to repair the AC joint, allowing him to get a head start on his recovery.
Ravens physician Dr. Leigh Ann Curl also cleaned out about a centimeter worth of arthritic bone in the shoulder.
"Everything went great and just as planned. On the road to recovery," Matusz said in a text message.
"From my...
I'm happy to report that the end of the 2015 season hasn't diluted the passion here. Executive vice president Dan Duquette's comments yesterday at an exit press conference stirred the masses.
A few of you were shaken.
Here's what I took out of the 30-minute session with Duquette and manager Buck Showalter:
* The Orioles want to re-sign Chris Davis. Duquette said it, Showalter said it, managing partner Peter G. Angelos said it. But stating the intention isn't the same as offering a...
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter met with the media today for about 30 minutes to recap the 2015 season and share some thoughts on improvements needed to get back into the playoffs. It's done every year after the final game.
The topics also included the six pending free agents, the coaching staff and the possibility of negotiating an extension with third baseman Manny Machado.
Here are some comments from Duquette. Check Steve Melewski's blog for...
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter stated today that they want to remain in their current roles in 2016 and downplayed reports of friction between them, laughing at various points when asked about it.
"It's a great honor to manage the Baltimore Orioles and I don't plan to do anything else," Showalter said, adding that this will be his "last rodeo."
"It's healthy when you have different styles of leadership," Duquette said.
I'll post more comments...
While the Orioles clubhouse may undergo signficant changes with six pending free agents set to hit the market, executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter are expected to remain in their current roles in 2016.
Managing partner Peter G. Angelos attempted today to squelch rumors that changes may be on the horizon.
Asked whether Duquette will stay in the front office and Showalter in the dugout following a .500 season, Angelos replied, "Absolutely yes."
Duquette and...
It wasn't all bad.
I don't suggest that the Orioles adopt this line as their slogan. Nor would I go with "It could have been worse." But honestly, there was plenty to like about this season and lots more to lament.
Manny Machado played in all 162 games. That alone was cause for celebration following two knee surgeries and the scrutiny that accompanied his every move at minicamp and spring training. But he took his game to a whole new level by batting .286/.359/.502 with 30 doubles, 35 home...
Players walked off the field in a straight line today as they do after every victory, except each one stopped in front of the dugout to embrace manager Buck Showalter. Pitching coach Dave Wallace hugged the guys in his rotation and bullpen, pausing to pat Wei-Yin Chen on the face and say a few words to him.
Fans chanted "We want Chris" as Davis did a postgame interview on MASN following a 9-4 win over the Yankees that guaranteed the Orioles a third-place finish in the division and a .500...