Roch Kubatko

Leftovers for breakfast

January 15, 2015, 1:33pm

Orioles

We've reached the point today where arbitration-eligible players and their teams exchange salary figures for 2015 and hope to avoid a hearing next month. You know the dance. They usually split the difference. It's only interesting to me if there's a huge discrepancy. Wake me if the Orioles offer Ryan Flaherty $1 million and he counters at $200 million. Reliever Tommy Hunter settled for $4.65 million earlier this week, leaving 10 Orioles who are eligible for arbitration. Here's another look...

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Orioles officially denied 2016 All-Star Game

January 15, 2015, 9:31am

Orioles

The Orioles knew last month that they wouldn't host the 2016 All-Star Game. It became official today at the conclusion of Major League Baseball's quarterly owners meetings. Commissioner Bud Selig announced that San Diego will host the Mid-Summer Classic despite insisting last year that he wanted to continue alternating leagues. The Reds will host the 2015 All-Star Game. The National League could make it three in a row, with the Nationals a possible host in 2017. I've heard that they're...

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More on Machado, Garcia and Duquette

January 14, 2015, 7:30pm

Orioles

Another minicamp is in the books and the idea of organizing it seems more brilliant every year. Pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti get to check out another collection of arms. New players get acclimated to the coaches and the facility, giving them a head start on spring training next month. The Orioles can check on players coming off injuries and surgeries. Everyone in the organization eases back into baseball mode after shutting off that part of their brains and...

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A few thoughts on Duquette before heading home (with Angelos quote)

January 14, 2015, 1:34pm

Orioles

A few thoughts on Duquette before heading home (with Angelos quote)

TAMPA - The Winter Meetings last month in San Diego began with reports that the Blue Jays wanted to hire Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette as their president/CEO. The minicamp this week in Sarasota concluded today with reports that the Jays were nearing a deal to acquire Duquette. This story needs to reach its conclusion. The Orioles and Jays have discussed compensation, as FOXSports.com confirmed this afternooon. You can be certain that the Orioles have studied Toronto's farm...

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Showalter on Machado, minicamp and more

January 14, 2015, 9:30am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Ed Smith Stadium complex looks deserted now, with Orioles players and coaches heading to the airport after the three-day minicamp. Third baseman Manny Machado sat at his locker as manager Buck Showalter concluded his final media session. Machado is returning to Miami to continue his workouts "Manny looked good today," Showalter said. "Glad he came over. Didn't have to. Appreciated him making the trek. "Richie (Bancells) followed him around. He looked good. He's got...

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Machado: "It's been a while since I felt this healthy and good"

January 14, 2015, 8:28am

Orioles

Machado: "It's been a while since I felt this healthy and good"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado said he's been doing full baseball activities for a couple of weeks, with the exception of moving laterally to field ground balls, and today's minicamp provided a demonstration. Machado hit in the indoor cage and took batting practice outside, shagged fly balls and did agility drills with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, sprinting up the first base line and simulating going from home plate to second on a double. The surgically...

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Notes on Machado, Tillman, Scott and Murphy

January 14, 2015, 5:36am

Orioles

Notes on Machado, Tillman, Scott and Murphy

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado arrived in the clubhouse at 9:15 a.m. this morning and currently is having his right knee checked. He's expected to meet with the media - it's a small contingent - before leaving the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Reliever Tommy Hunter called out Machado's name, walked across the room and gave him a big hug. Machado later made his way down the rows of lockers to embrace teammates, including Dylan Bundy, Parker Bridwell and Ryan Webb. Webb and...

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The final day of minicamp and quotes from Verrett

January 13, 2015, 6:12pm

Orioles

The final day of minicamp and quotes from Verrett

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've reached the final day of the Orioles' minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Players will bolt around noon. I'll try to find my way to the Tampa airport for a 7 p.m. flight home after filing more notes and meeting one last time with manager Buck Showalter. My daughter got engaged last night. My head's still spinning. Manny Machado's arrival figures to be the highlight of the morning. The Orioles want to check his right knee. The media wants to hound him about...

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Hearing from Showalter after Day Two of minicamp

January 13, 2015, 11:52am

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter after Day Two of minicamp

SARASOTA, Fla. - The most interesting nugget of news today involved South Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon, who won't be invited to major league camp next month, according to manager Buck Showalter. Yoon was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 30 after going 4-8 with a 5.74 ERA in 23 games, including 18 starts, with the Tides. He's set to make $1.75 million this season as part of his three-year deal that's worth a guaranteed $5.575 million. "Maybe he'll...

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Coolbaugh on Davis: "I look for great things from Chris this year"

January 13, 2015, 10:11am

Orioles

Coolbaugh on Davis: "I look for great things from Chris this year"

SARASOTA, Fla. - New Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh was scheduled to fly back home this afternoon, but he's staying an extra day at the minicamp to meet third baseman Manny Machado. Coolbaugh didn't have much work to do today beyond getting acclimated to his new surroundings and checking out a few position players who took their cuts in the batting cage. "Get around some of the kids that are here for the minicamp, introduce myself and start building that rapport, relationships with...

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Hunter calls signing extension with Orioles "something you'd like to see happen" (plus pics)

January 13, 2015, 7:26am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles held their second minicamp workout today under a bright blue sky. Yesterday's rain gave way to gorgeous sunshine, allowing eight pitchers to throw off mounds. Hunter Harvey and Parker Bridwell were in the first group, followed by Mychal Givens and Brian Gonzalez, Jon Keller and Pat McCoy, and Eddie Gamboa and Mike Wright. Calvert Hall graduate Alex Murphy drew the short straw and had to catch Gamboa's knuckleball. He survived the experience. A small group of...

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Minicamp leftovers for breakfast (updated)

January 12, 2015, 4:44pm

Orioles

Minicamp leftovers for breakfast (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ryan Webb's had a busy offseason, undergoing surgery on his non-throwing shoulder and getting married. For many people, marriage is far more painful than anything that happens on an operating table, but Webb is an exception. Good for him. Webb, who signed a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Orioles in December 2013, had a procedure done to tighten the shoulder capsule. "I feel great," he said yesterday after the first day of minicamp. "Should be 100 percent ready to go...

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Hendrickson: "This is me taking my career by the horns" (Hunter note)

January 12, 2015, 2:02pm

Orioles

Hendrickson: "This is me taking my career by the horns" (Hunter note)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Hendrickson isn't ready to retire. He isn't ready to move into the next phase of his professional life. He's throwing better than he has in years, a lower arm slot raising his confidence that he can make it back to the majors for the first time in four years. This isn't a repeat, though the story is familiar. Hendrickson is receiving his second tryout in three years with the Orioles, who also invited him to the 2013 minicamp at Camden Yards. He received a minor...

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Updating Wieters and more notes from minicamp

January 12, 2015, 11:18am

Orioles

Updating Wieters and more notes from minicamp

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters increased his throwing to 120 feet today, the fourth distance he's covered since starting his program in late November. "In the whole progression of step things, it's not a big day, but this is a step day," said manager Buck Showalter. Wieters started a light throwing program immediately after Thanksgiving, heading outdoors every other day to play catch with physical therapist Lloyd Van Pamelen in Atlanta. The distance started at 45 feet and...

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Orioles return to 105.7 The Fan

January 12, 2015, 9:37am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have announced a new multi-year deal naming CBS Radio's 105.7 The Fan (WJZ-FM) the flagship station of the Orioles Radio Network. Starting with the 2015 season, fans will be able to hear all 162 regular season games, select spring training games and other Orioles programming on 105.7 The Fan and across the seven-state, 34-station Orioles Radio Network. Joe Angel and Fred Manfra, returning for their 12th season together, will continue to call the games. 105.7...

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Notes from first day of Orioles minicamp (with photos)

January 12, 2015, 6:21am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rain began to fall about an hour into today's Orioles workout at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Pitchers have moved inside the batting cage to continue throwing. Here are some early notes from Day One: * Reliever Ryan Webb reported to minicamp as an unexpected visitor. * Tommy Hunter said he won't throw while he's here. He's at the facility because he bought a condo in Sarasota. There's no need to rush back to a mound after pitching in Japan in November. * Chris Tillman,...

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Notes on catchers, Santana, Zobrist, Rasmus and more

January 11, 2015, 11:03am

Orioles

Notes on catchers, Santana, Zobrist, Rasmus and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles' minicamp begins today, it seems like an appropriate time to also talk about spring training. It's only a month away and the fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex are in superb condition. The Orioles will bring at least six catchers to spring training. They would like to keep Ryan Lavarnway as a non-roster invitee if he clears waivers. Inviting Brian Ward also is a possibility. Ward is a defensive specialist who intrigues the Orioles despite his offensive...

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Gamboa included on minicamp roster

January 11, 2015, 8:05am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa has been added to the list of Orioles attending this week's minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles extended the invitation and were waiting to hear back from him. Gamboa signed a major league deal on Dec. 3, putting him back on the 40-man roster. The Orioles removed him last year at the non-tender deadline and re-signed him to a minor league deal, and he drew interest from other teams this winter due to his success pitching in...

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This and that

January 10, 2015, 5:25pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Ravens are done playing and more attention now falls upon the Orioles. No more distractions unless you're really into college hoops. The Orioles won't announce their minor league staffs until they hire a field coach at Single-A Frederick. If it's keeping you awake nights, we need to talk. Nothing new to report on Colby Rasmus. If he wants to sign with the Orioles so badly and use a one-year deal as a platform, what exactly is preventing the sides from reaching an...

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Some thoughts on Tillman, Hunter and Young

January 09, 2015, 6:06pm

Orioles

Some thoughts on Tillman, Hunter and Young

SARASOTA, Fla. - My rental car is a maroon Camaro. My "suite" is so small, there's no floor or closet space for my suitcase and I need to step out of the room to change my mind. You take the good with the bad at Orioles minicamp. My interest level has increased with the news that Chris Tillman and Tommy Hunter are in Sarasota. Tillman was expected to meet with pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti later this week in California. What does it say about Tillman and Hunter,...