Roch Kubatko

Left-handed relief a priority for Orioles

November 06, 2014, 5:21pm

Orioles

As the Orioles monitor the free agent market and check on potential trade partners, they're placing heavy emphasis on finding a left-hander reliever this winter. It's their primary focus at the moment. This could be viewed as a sign that they're not optimistic about re-signing Andrew Miller, a free agent with numerous suitors who may command a four-year deal for closer-type money. The projected bullpen next season includes left-handers Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland. Britton...

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Notes on FanFest and Silver Slugger Awards

November 06, 2014, 1:57pm

Orioles

Notes on FanFest and Silver Slugger Awards

The Orioles announced today that their annual FanFest will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Convention Center. More information will become available later. For now, you'll need to be satisfied with the date. Save it. The Silver Slugger Awards were handed out tonight, the selections revealed on MLB Network, and the Orioles were shut out after winning three of them in 2013. Nelson Cruz lost out to the Tigers' Victor Martinez among finalists at designated hitter. Cruz led the majors with 40...

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Hunter on MLB team touring Japan, Showalter on MLB Network

November 06, 2014, 5:44am

Orioles

Hunter on MLB team touring Japan, Showalter on MLB Network

Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter received a phone call from an official with the Major League Baseball Players Association about two weeks ago asking whether he'd be interested in participating in All-Star Series 2014 in Japan later this month. The answer came without hesitation. "It was pretty much a no-brainer," Hunter said. A collection of major leaguers will play a five-game series against Japan's national team, known as Samurai Japan. Three games will be held in Tokyo from Nov. 14-16, and...

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Next up: The Silver Slugger Award

November 05, 2014, 3:04pm

Orioles

One night after winning three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, the Orioles were shut out in the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards. The Wilson Award, founded in 2012, doesn't separate the winners by leagues. They're determined by using a formula that relies heavily on scouting information, sabermetric analysis and traditional statistics. The Braves' Andrelton Simmons was named top shortstop instead of J.J. Hardy. The Royals' Lorenzo Cain was named top center fielder over Adam Jones, and...

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Cruz talks Orioles on MLB Network Radio, Patton suspended again

November 05, 2014, 12:17pm

Orioles

Nelson Cruz, interviewed today on MLB Network Radio, stated again that his first choice in free agency is to remain with the Orioles. Winning is his first priority when deciding on a team, and that's why he signed a one-year deal with the Orioles in spring training. It all sounds so good, but Cruz initially sought a five-year deal and the most recent reports have him geared toward a minimum of four. That's not good for the Orioles. Cruz has until Monday to turn down their $15.3 million...

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This, that and the other

November 04, 2014, 5:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles have three Gold Glove winners in 2014. However, I wouldn't expect the team to bring home the Platinum Glove for a second consecutive season. Third baseman Manny Machado won it in 2013. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, center fielder Adam Jones and right fielder Nick Markakis are eligible this year. It would be an upset if Royals left fielder Alex Gordon didn't win it. The announcement will come on Nov. 7 during the Gold Glove ceremony. Hardy, Jones and Markakis deflected credit in their...

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Hardy, Jones and Markakis win Gold Glove Awards

November 04, 2014, 2:10pm

Orioles

Hardy, Jones and Markakis win Gold Glove Awards

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy maintained his streak of winning Rawlings Gold Gloves, capturing the award tonight for the third consecutive season. The announcement was made on ESPN2. Hardy finished ahead of the Royals' Alcides Escobar and the White Sox's Alexei Ramirez. The ceremony will be held on Nov. 7 in New York. As you probably know, the selection process is approximately 75 percent votes submitted by managers and coaches - up to seven total votes per team - and 25 percent from the...

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Showalter finalist for BBWAA Manager of the Year Award (updated)

November 04, 2014, 1:19pm

Orioles

Showalter finalist for BBWAA Manager of the Year Award (updated)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is included among the finalists named tonight for the annual Baseball Writers Association of America awards. The candidates were revealed on MLB Network. Showalter joins the Angels' Mike Scioscia and the Royals' Ned Yost as the three American League finalists after leading the Orioles to 96 wins in the regular season and their first division title and appearance in the Championship Series since 1997. He won the award with the Yankees in 1994 and the Rangers in...

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Meek chooses free agency

November 04, 2014, 9:17am

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that reliever Evan Meek refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected free agency. Meek, 31, went 0-4 with a 5.79 ERA in 23 1/3 innings over 23 games with the Orioles and 2-0 with a 1.94 ERA and 16 saves in 41 2/3 innings over 39 games with Norfolk. He signed a minor league deal in February following a tryout at Camden Yards the previous month, and he made the club out of spring training after allowing one run and two hits, with no walks and 10...

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More on qualifying offers, BBWAA awards and Rawlings Gold Gloves

November 03, 2014, 6:42pm

Orioles

More on qualifying offers, BBWAA awards and Rawlings Gold Gloves

The Orioles have taken care of the obvious pieces of business over the past few days, picking up the options on pitchers Wei-Yin Chen and Darren O'Day, declining the options on right fielder Nick Markakis and catcher Nick Hundley, making a qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz, and reinstating catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado from the 60-day disabled list. The only drama centered on when the club would send out the tweets and press releases. Twenty-two players were...

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Cruz receives qualifying offer

November 03, 2014, 12:04pm

Orioles

The Orioles made the expected move this afternoon and extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz. The deadline was 5 p.m. Cruz will turn it down, of course, and continue to seek a four- or five-year deal in free agency. The Orioles will continue to negotiate with his agent, Diego Bentz of Relativity Sports, but so can every other team. The Orioles will receive a compensatory draft pick at the end of the first round if Cruz signs with another club. The qualifying offer...

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Will Orioles try to add another starter?

November 02, 2014, 6:14pm

Orioles

The Orioles were determined to sign a starting pitcher last winter and ended up with three after reporting to spring training, reaching agreements with Suk-min Yoon, Ubaldo Jimenez and Johan Santana. They also kept checking on Ervin Santana before the Braves struck a deal. They previously made offers to A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo and Gavin Floyd, rotation depth being a priority in the warehouse. Yoon and Johan Santana never made it to Baltimore. Yoon went 4-8 with a 5.74 ERA in 23 games at...

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Catching up on Hundley and Markakis

November 01, 2014, 6:04pm

Orioles

The Orioles are determined to make some sort of a move each day until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. They may slow down on Thanksgiving, probably from the tryptophan in the turkey. Otherwise ... With Nick Hundley becoming a free agent over the weekend, the Orioles are left with four catchers on their 40-man roster. I'm including Matt Wieters, who will come off the 60-day disabled list to join Caleb Joseph, Steve Clevenger and Michael Ohlman. Ohlman batted .236/.310/.318 in...

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Orioles announce decision on Hundley option

November 01, 2014, 2:36pm

Orioles

The other shoe dropped tonight. The Orioles just confirmed that they declined the $5 million option on Nick Hundley's contract, making the veteran catcher a free agent. Hundley made $4 million this season while batting .233/.273/.352 with four doubles, five home runs and 19 RBIs in 50 games with the Orioles. He threw out 5 of 27 (19 percent) runners attempting to steal after going 0-for-9 with the Padres. I've heard that the Orioles would like to re-sign Hundley at a lesser cost, though they...

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Taking another look at Orioles' arbitration-eligible players

October 31, 2014, 8:47pm

Orioles

Pitcher Max Scherzer, the 2013 Cy Young Award winner, is a free agent after turning down the Tigers' offer of a six-year, $144 million extension in March. They made a qualifying offer to him yesterday, which he's also going to toss away like circus peanuts in a Halloween bag. I mention it only as a pre-emptive strike against fans and media who try to connect the Orioles to him. They're not going to spend that kind of money. They're not in his neighborhood. They won't try to talk their way...

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Orioles make Markakis decision official

October 31, 2014, 5:01pm

Orioles

The Orioles sent out a release tonight confirming that they declined their portion of the mutual option on right fielder Nick Markakis' contract. The club will pay a $2 million buyout rather than the $17.5 million option. The Orioles now have 32 players on their 40-man roster. They still haven't confirmed that they're also declining the $5 million option on catcher Nick Hundley's contract. Markakis, the seventh overall pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, batted .276/.342/.386 with...

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Orioles claim McCoy off waivers

October 31, 2014, 10:38am

Orioles

The Orioles claimed left-handed reliever Patrick McCoy off waivers from the Tigers earlier today. McCoy, 26, appeared in 14 games with the Tigers as a rookie this season and allowed six runs and 21 hits in 14 innings for a 3.86 ERA. He walked 13 batters and struck out 11. His walk-to-strikeout ratio was much better in the minors, where he went 1-0 with a 3.95 ERA in nine games at Double-A Erie and 2-0 with a 2.59 ERA in 21 games at Triple-A Toledo. McCoy walked nine and struck out 34 over 45...

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Candy, bad pizza and more baseball for breakfast

October 30, 2014, 5:22pm

Orioles

Candy, bad pizza and more baseball for breakfast

If you're wondering how you'll recognize me tonight on Halloween, I'll be dressed again as a guy sitting on his front steps handing out candy. The cigar and cocktail are only props. I'm not big on sweets, but it's a photo finish between Almond Joy and Snickers for my favorite candy bar. I also can be enticed by peanut M&Ms if the mood strikes me. Do parents still hand out apples and popcorn balls, or am I showing my age? The world's a dangerous place now and they'd end up in the...

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Orioles pick up options on Chen and O'Day (updated)

October 30, 2014, 2:05pm

Orioles

The Orioles didn't pull any surprises today while determining which options would be picked up for the 2015 season. The club will exercise the $4.75 million option on left-hander Wei-Yin Chen's contract and the $4.25 million option on reliever Darren O'Day's contract. It declined the $17.5 million option on right fielder Nick Markakis and the $5 million option on catcher Nick Hundley, making both players free agents. Markakis receives a $2 million buyout. Meanwhile, the Orioles are...

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Seven Orioles included on list of current free agents

October 30, 2014, 8:40am

Orioles

Free agency officially began this morning with 121 players becoming eligible to hit the market. They may negotiate with other teams beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 4. This is only a partial list. Another 32 players may be eligible for free agency pending the option provisions in their contracts. For example, the Royals aren't expected to pick up the $12.5 million option on Billy Butler's contract. If you don't mind a full-time designated hitter, he's your guy. The Orioles currently have...