Roch Kubatko

Latest look at the lineup

February 06, 2015, 8:22pm

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette told me yesterday that he's still working on the spring training roster with manager Buck Showalter. The club is expected to add at least one more player to a minor league deal before heading south. Former hitting coach Jim Presley remains under contract with the Orioles after being reassigned following the 2014 season, but it hasn't been determined whether he's going to work for them in some capacity. There were early talks of giving him a...

Tags:

Duquette on De Aza negotiations

February 06, 2015, 11:46am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today that the club is headed to an arbitration hearing with outfielder Alejandro De Aza on Feb. 20 in St. Petersburg, Fla. The sides exchanged figures last month, at which point the Orioles decided to "file to go" rather than make a serious attempt to negotiate a settlement. De Aza submitted $5.65 million and the Orioles countered at $5 million. He made $4.25 million last season. I've heard that talks were limited despite a modest...

Tags:

orioles alejandro de aza dan duquette featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Coolbaugh's potential influence on Jones and others

February 05, 2015, 12:13pm

Orioles

Coolbaugh's potential influence on Jones and others

The Orioles continue to piece together their camp roster, which apparently won't exceed 59 players. They've settled on their invites from inside the organization and may add someone else from outside. I'm told that the current head count includes outfielder Nolan Reimold, though he may not sign his contract until arriving in Sarasota. The more I check, the more I'm certain that the Orioles are headed to an arbitration hearing with outfielder Alejandro De Aza. I keep getting confirmation....

Tags:

orioles adam jones featured_sidebar jonathan schoop scott coolbaugh alejandro de aza frontstory_orioles2

Britton settles on contract for 2015

February 04, 2015, 1:27pm

Orioles

The Orioles have reached agreement on a 2015 contract with closer Zach Britton, according to a source, leaving them with only one unsigned player as spring training approaches. Britton will receive $3.2 million guaranteed and he could earn another $300,000 in incentives based on games finished. He submitted $4.2 million when the sides exchanged figures last month and the Orioles countered at $2.2 million. He made $521,500 last season. Notice how these things usually are resolved at the...

Tags:

orioles alejandro de aza featured_sidebar zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Hearing from Wallace, Navarro and Joseph

February 04, 2015, 12:14pm

Orioles

Hearing from Wallace, Navarro and Joseph

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has stated on multiple occasions this winter that right-hander Dylan Bundy will be treated like everyone else at spring training. The top pitching prospect in the system won't be brought along slowly or placed in a separate group. He's completely healthy. The governor is off, as Showalter likes to say. Pitching coach Dave Wallace is eager to get a better look at Bundy, 22, who underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on June 27, 2013. "I...

Tags:

orioles caleb joseph dave wallace dylan bundy featured_sidebar rey navarro frontstory_orioles2

More on Orioles arbitration and minor league staff

February 03, 2015, 7:19pm

Orioles

Considering that the Orioles began the offseason with 11 players who were eligible for arbitration, they should view it as a victory that they've shaved the list to two. Only Zach Britton and Alejandro De Aza remain unsigned as spring training approaches. Everyone gets a raise, which is sort of like every kid getting a trophy. The Orioles' payroll has increased again this year despite the absence of a big-ticket item in their free agent shopping cart. Reliever Tommy Hunter got the ball...

Tags:

orioles alejandro de aza featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles zach britton

Gonzalez signs for 2015

February 03, 2015, 2:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles have gone from 11 unsigned arbitration-eligible players to only two. Miguel Gonzalez agreed to a $3.275 million deal tonight, according to sources, which leaves closer Zach Britton and outfielder Alejandro De Aza without contracts for the upcoming season. Gonzalez, 30, submitted $3.95 million when the sides exchanged figures last month and the Orioles countered at $2.5 million. He made $529,000 last season. Though he's often overlooked in discussions regarding the rotation,...

Tags:

orioles alejandro de aza featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1 miguel gonzalez zach britton

Orioles trade Lombardozzi to Pirates

February 03, 2015, 1:20pm

Orioles

The Orioles are having a busy day. The club just announced that it traded minor league infielder Steve Lombardozzi, a graduate of Atholton High School, to the Pirates for cash considerations. Earlier today, the Orioles sent minor league catcher Michael Ohlman to the Cardinals in another cash transaction. Lombardozzi isn't the player to be named in the Travis Snider trade. This is a separate transaction with the Pirates. The PTBNL will be announced in spring training. Lombardozzi, 26,...

Tags:

orioles steve lombardozzi frontstory_orioles3

Ohlman traded to Cardinals

February 03, 2015, 11:45am

Orioles

A week after being designated for assignment, catcher Michael Ohlman is changing organizations. The Orioles announced today that they traded Ohlman, 24, to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations. They removed him from the 40-man roster on Jan. 27 to create room for outfielder Travis Snider. Ohlman batted .236/.310/.318 with two home runs and 33 RBIs in 113 games last season with Double-A Bowie. He won the Carolina League batting title in 2013 after hitting .313/.410/.524 with 29...

Tags:

orioles michael ohlman featured_sidebar

A case of he said, he said

February 02, 2015, 6:14pm

Orioles

Over the past few days, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has singled out Logan Verrett when discussing the Rule 5 pitchers who will report to spring training later this month. Nothing against Jason Garcia. Duquette has tossed praise his way, as well. But he's been bringing up Verrett's name first, including last night on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan after I asked about the probability that at least one of the right-handers will make the club. Verrett, 24, is the more...

Tags:

orioles brad brach brian matusz dan duquete fanfest featured_sidebar jason garcia logan verrett mike wright ryan flaherty scott coolbaugh steve pearce travis snider wayne kirby zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Leftovers from O'Day at FanFest

February 02, 2015, 9:01am

Orioles

I'm a huge fan of sarcasm unless it's coming from my doctor, and Orioles reliever Darren O'Day brought it strong at Saturday's FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. Meeting with the media behind the main stage, O'Day was asked what ran through his mind during the week that the Orioles lost free agents Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller to free agency and reports surfaced in early December that the Blue Jays were courting executive vice president Dan Duquette. "How are we...

Tags:

orioles darren o'day featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

More from Davis at FanFest

February 01, 2015, 8:04am

Orioles

One of the lasting images for me at FanFest on Saturday was first baseman Chris Davis sporting his usual winter beard and a smile that hadn't been seen by reporters in almost five months. We also hadn't heard from him since the Game 4 loss to the Royals in the American League Championship Series, when he politely declined comment. He sat silently on a couch as we filed in, staring at one of the televisions, and later hugged a few teammates before heading for the exit. That was it. Davis was...

Tags:

orioles chris davis fanfest featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Britton on his contract, last season and 2015

January 31, 2015, 5:04pm

Orioles

Britton on his contract, last season and 2015

We've flipped the page on the calendar and the Orioles need to pick up the pace and get closer Zach Britton signed for the 2015 season. A hearing will take place later this month if the sides don't reach agreement. Britton submitted at $4.2 million and the Orioles countered at $2.2 million. He made $521,500 last season. Asked at FanFest if he had any updates, Britton replied, "No. We're still in the negotiation process. We have some time up until the hearing. We're just in the process. Not...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Hearing from Wieters and Young as another FanFest ends

January 31, 2015, 1:01pm

Orioles

Hearing from Wieters and Young as another FanFest ends

Fans are filing out of the Baltimore Convention Center, marking the end of another FanFest. The attendance exceeded 16,000 despite all the griping about how the Orioles aren't trying to improve following their division title and that they're likely to finish in last place. Maybe folks were just trying to get warm. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters remains optimistic that he'll be ready on opening day. So far so good. However, he won't really know until he starts playing in exhibition...

Tags:

orioles delmon young featured_sidebar matt wieters frontstory_orioles2

Jones: "I still think we're going to have a very, very strong and formidable team"

January 31, 2015, 11:43am

Orioles

Jones: "I still think we're going to have a very, very strong and formidable team"

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones talked to reporters for about six minutes today, enough time to comment on predictions that the club will finish in last place, free agent losses and the Dan Duquette saga. Here's a sampling: On being picked to finish last: "Cool. Weren't we supposed to finish last the last 4-5 years? Keep it that way. I think we like that. It's not bothering me. I know we've had a slow offseason due to (Nick) Markakis' departure, (Nelson) Cruz's departure, (Andrew)...

Tags:

adam jones fanfest featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Jimenez on last season and looking ahead to 2015

January 31, 2015, 10:16am

Orioles

Jimenez on last season and looking ahead to 2015

The Orioles announced that today's FanFest event has attracted more than 16,000 fans. The record is 18,000 in 2013. Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that left-hander Mark Hendrickson will receive an invitation to major league camp. Hendrickson threw at the minicamp earlier this month. Ubaldo Jimenez already is set to report with the pitchers and catchers. He's hoping that a mechanical adjustment in September will bring better results after going 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA and 1.516...

Tags:

orioles fanfest featured_sidebar mark hendrickson ubaldo jimenez frontstory_orioles2

Hearing from Davis, Norris and Wright

January 31, 2015, 8:27am

Orioles

The Baltimore Convention Center is packed today with fans attending the annual FanFest event. Enthusiasm is running high despite the free agent losses and national projections that the team won't return to the playoffs. "They're picking us last again, which is beautiful," said manager Buck Showalter. First baseman Chris Davis confirmed that he received an exemption to take Adderall after being denied in 2013. He's annoyed by the perception that his 53 home runs in 2012 were fueled by...

Tags:

brady anderson buck showalter bud norris chris davis fanfest featured_sidebar wesley wright frontstory_orioles3

Duquette and Davis at FanFest

January 31, 2015, 6:50am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette received a nice ovation today, with many fans rising to their feet as he was introduced at FanFest for the Q&A forum for season ticket holders. Manager Buck Showalter received a prolonged standing ovation, as expected. The reception for Duquette was the real curiosity following reports all winter that he might leave for Toronto. "Sometimes there is substance to them and sometimes there isn't," Duquette said. "There was substance to it, but I...

Tags:

orioles brady anderson chris davis dan duquette fanfest featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Now and then

January 30, 2015, 7:21pm

Orioles

The Orioles are holding their annual FanFest today at the Baltimore Convention Center, which figures to keep me busy for approximately 12 hours. I tend to arrive early and stay late. Players, former players, executives and coaches will meet with reporters throughout the day behind the main stage, giving us 10-15 minutes to interview each one. We may need more time with Chris Davis, who joins Manny Machado, Tommy Hunter and Chris Tillman in the first wave around 11 a.m. I talked to Machado,...

Tags:

orioles chris davis dan duquette dave wallace fanfest featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles jason garcia logan verrett ubaldo jimenez

Orioles sign Steve Pearce, minor leaguer Austin Anderson suspended

January 30, 2015, 11:24am

Orioles

The Orioles are down to three unsigned arbitration players after agreeing to terms today with Steve Pearce on a contract for the 2015 season. Pearce will receive $3.7 million, exactly at the midpoint after the sides exchanged figures. Pearce submitted $5.4 million and the Orioles countered at $2 million. He made $850,000 last season. It was a breakout year for Pearce after the Orioles released him on April 25 and re-signed him four days later. He set career highs in games (102), plate...