Roch Kubatko

More Orioles notes and quotes from today's minicamp

January 11, 2016, 10:40am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter spoke briefly today with the players attending minicamp before turning it over to pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. "I talked to them for about five minutes before Wally and Dom did their thing, congratulated them on being invited and appreciate them coming," Showalter said this afternoon while sitting in his office at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "They didn't have to come. This is completely voluntary, but the...

Tags:

Orioles again expressing interest in Gavin Floyd (plus other notes)

January 11, 2016, 9:37am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles are discussing whether to invite pitcher Gavin Floyd to minicamp and give him a tryout. Injuries have limited Floyd, a Severna Park native, to five starts with the White Sox in 2013, nine starts with the Braves in 2014 and seven relief appearances with the Indians last season. He's currently a free agent. Floyd, who turns 33 later this month, was teammates with Mark Teixeira at Mount St. Joseph High School. Floyd's appearances with the...

Tags:

minicamp orioles buck showalter dylan bundy gavin floyd jason garcia jeff beliveau paul janish steve tolleson featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Bridwell healthy and eager for spring training

January 11, 2016, 7:21am

Orioles

Bridwell healthy and eager for spring training

SARASOTA, Fla. - Not only did right-hander Parker Bridwell refuse to stress over the possibility of being added to the Orioles' 40-man roster, he had no idea when teams were required to protect players from the Rule 5 draft. The deadline could have been hours or months away for all he knew. The Orioles shocked Bridwell on Nov. 20 by including him on the roster, along with pitchers Andrew Triggs and Chris Lee. "I was very surprised," said Bridwell, 24, who's in Sarasota to attend minicamp....

Tags:

minicamp orioles chris tillman cj riefenhauser joe gunkel miguel gonzalez parker bridwell frontstory_orioles1

Updates on Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy

January 11, 2016, 5:32am

Orioles

Updates on Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are holding their first minicamp meeting after opening the clubhouse to the media at 9 a.m. Players will take the field later this morning. Chris Tillman,and Zach Britton are here, sporting full beards. Miguel Gonzalez is at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and also bearded. Henry Urrutia also reported despite not being included on the roster. The health updates are positive on young pitchers Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy. Harvey said he's been throwing for the last 1...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman dylan bundy featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles henry urrutia hunter harvey miguel gonzalez minicamp zach britton

Orioles open their latest minicamp

January 10, 2016, 4:38pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles begin their latest minicamp this morning, the third year in a row that it's being held at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. How time flies. In January 2015, Mark Hendrickson talked about his latest comeback attempt while attending his second minicamp in three years. "I'm a grandfather, for goodness sake, and that was two months ago," Hendrickson said. "Now there's extra motivation. How many active grandfathers have been in the big leagues? Well, that right there...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter dylan bundy hunter harvey jason garcia manny machado minicamp mychal givens frontstory_orioles3

Do the Orioles need to keep the 14th pick?

January 09, 2016, 5:11pm

Orioles

I can't make it through another day if I have to read or hear the latest non-update update on Chris Davis. Same holds if I write it. I've reached my quota. The Orioles offered $150 million over seven years if you factor in deferred money. Agent Scott Boras is seeking a better deal. No team has stepped up with a more lucrative proposal, as far as we know. The Orioles aren't going to bid against themselves, and they believe $150 million is quite generous. Please stop me if you've heard it....

Tags:

orioles chris davis featured_sidebar howie clark keith bodie frontstory_orioles3

Notes on Justin Upton and Miguel Gonzalez

January 08, 2016, 5:48pm

Orioles

Notes on Justin Upton and Miguel Gonzalez

If Justin Upton is willing to accept a one-year deal and re-enter the free agent market next winter, it's certainly news to his representative. Agent Larry Reynolds told MLB Network's Jon Heyman that he continues to seek a multi-year deal for Upton, one of the few high-profile outfielders who remains unemployed. "We are not considering shorter-term deals at this time," Reynolds said. "The goal has been and will continue to be a long-term contract for Justin Upton." It makes sense, of...

Tags:

orioles chris davis chris tillman dave wallace featured_sidebar joey terdoslavich justin upton kevin gausman miguel gonzalez mike wright tyler wilson yoenis cespedes frontstory_orioles2

Orioles claim Joey Terdoslavich off waivers (updated)

January 08, 2016, 10:19am

Orioles

The Orioles claimed infielder/outfielder Joey Terdoslavich off waivers today from the Braves, occupying the final open spot on their 40-man roster. Terdoslavich, a switch-hitter who attended Sarasota High School near the Ed Smith Stadium complex, is a career .280/.345/.451 hitter in 604 career minor league games. He's batted .221/.296/.324 in 92 games with the Braves over the past three seasons. Terdoslavich, 27, batted .281/.391/.452 (41-for-146) with 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar joey terdoslavich frontstory_orioles2

Notes on Denard Span, Miguel Gonzalez and the assistant hitting coach candidates

January 07, 2016, 6:43pm

Orioles

Notes on Denard Span, Miguel Gonzalez and the assistant hitting coach candidates

Another outfielder came off the board yesterday when Denard Span agreed to terms on a three-year, $31 million contract with the Giants that also includes a possible $5 million in incentives. The Orioles liked Span as a right fielder and leadoff hitter, but they weren't offering more than one season. The deal would have been loaded with incentives. I figured that Span would get two years from another team. I never imagined a third guaranteed year. The Orioles never gave it a thought due to...

Tags:

orioles brady anderson buck showalter denard span featured_sidebar mark quinn miguel gonzalez scott coolbaugh frontstory_orioles1

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...

Tags:

orioles brady anderson featured_sidebar mark quinn frontstory_orioles3

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....

Tags:

orioles alex gordon chris davis featured_sidebar hall of fame hall of fame ballot justin upton miguel gonzalez yoenis cespedes frontstory_orioles2

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...

Tags:

orioles hall of fame ballot mark quinn milt thompson scott coolbaugh frontstory_orioles2

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...

Tags:

orioles antonio bastardo brian matusz featured_sidebar tj mcfarland vance worley zach britton frontstory_orioles2

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...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar jeff beliveau keith bodie steve pearce xavier avery frontstory_orioles3

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...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter cj riefenhauser dave wallace dom chiti dylan bundy featured_sidebar hunter harvey vance worley frontstory_orioles1

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...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar henry urrutia frontstory_orioles3

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...

Tags:

orioles chris davis featured_sidebar hyun soo kim mark trumbo pedro alvarez frontstory_orioles3

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,...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar mike wright tyler wilson frontstory_orioles2

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...

Tags:

orioles chris davis dan duquette featured_sidebar scott boras steve pearce frontstory_orioles2

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...