Roch Kubatko

Orioles make Chavez signing official

December 20, 2011, 10:26am

Orioles

The Orioles just sent out a press release confirming that they signed outfielder Endy Chavez to a one-year deal. Chavez passed his physical after agreeing to terms over the weekend and is officially a member of the organization. Chavez, who turns 34 in February, batted .301/.323/.426 with five home runs and 27 RBIs in 83 games with the Texas Rangers this year. He's a career .274/.313/.373 hitter in 10 major league seasons. "Endy is a tremendous defender and gives us needed depth in the...

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Who else should be under rotation consideration?

December 19, 2011, 5:00pm

Orioles

Who else should be under rotation consideration?

The Washington Nationals have announced their minor league managers, coaches and instructors. Meanwhile, the Orioles might not make their final decisions for at least another week. Quick review: Ron Johnson (Triple-A Norfolk), Gary Kendall (Double-A Bowie) and Gary Allenson (short-season Single-A Aberdeen) are expected to manage at three of the affiliates. And former major league pitching coach Rick Peterson is the heavy favorite to be named minor league pitching coordinator, the job that...

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Improvements announced at Camden Yards

December 19, 2011, 6:56am

Orioles

The changes at Camden Yards in 2012 will extend beyond the roster and front office. The Orioles have announced plans to "enhance the fan experience" at the ballpark. Here's the press release: As part of a continued commitment to honor the proud history of the franchise, and in conjunction with efforts to improve the design aesthetic and functionality of the ballpark and the bullpen picnic grove in center field, the Orioles today announced plans to enhance the fan experience at Oriole Park...

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Not the Endy of the Chavez discussion

December 18, 2011, 6:32pm

Orioles

I couldn't resist. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette wanted a left-handed hitting outfielder who could back up Adam Jones in center field and at least share left field with Nolan Reimold. He found one yesterday when Endy Chavez agreed to terms on a one-year deal, which will become official after the veteran takes his physical. Every team has a fourth outfielder and a backup catcher and at least one utility infielder. Every executive signs a batch of six-year minor league free...

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Orioles reach agreement with Endy Chavez (updated)

December 18, 2011, 1:28pm

Orioles

An industry source has confirmed that the Orioles reached agreement with free agent outfielder Endy Chavez, who would give the Orioles the left-handed hitting outfielder that executive vice president Dan Duquette made a priority during the offseason. The Chavez deal will become official once he passes a physical. Chavez, 33, will be playing for his seventh team, including the Expos/Nationals. He hit .301 in 83 games with the Rangers this year. Duquette wanted a backup for Adam Jones, and...

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Shedding more tears over the crying need for depth

December 18, 2011, 6:08am

Orioles

Shedding more tears over the crying need for depth

By now, you've probably dissected yesterday's trade between the Padres and Reds, the biggest of the offseason. And you might have banged your head against the wall a few times. The Padres shipped starter Mat Latos to the Reds for starter Edwin Volquez, first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Brad Boxberger. That's quite a haul for the Padres, who now have Alonso and Triple-A first baseman Anthony Rizzo, acquired from the Red Sox in December 2010 as part of the...

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Because you asked about Aoki ...

December 17, 2011, 3:57pm

Orioles

And asked ... and asked again ... I was told by an industry source tonight that the Orioles "weren't believed" to have placed a bid on Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki. That's the closest I've come to a firm confirmation. The Brewers won the rights to negotiate with Aoki with a $2.5 million bid, according to Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun via Twitter. Aoki's team, the Yakult Swallows, accepted the bid. The Brewers have an exclusive 30-day negotiating window to work out a contract...

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Multi-tasking with Dan Duquette

December 17, 2011, 4:13am

Orioles

So I've noticed that some fans are aggravated by the Orioles' lack of impact moves this offseason. Very little gets past me. I understand why season ticket sales aren't going to spike for Matt Antonelli, Taylor Teagarden, Ryan Flaherty, Dana Eveland and Tsuyoshi Wada. But also keep in mind that the Orioles are addressing their lack of depth (and, in Teagarden's case, lack of a backup catcher, which every team needs.) That's just one of the many chores laid at the feet of executive vice...

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A little more on minor league signings

December 16, 2011, 4:45pm

Orioles

I tweeted this earlier today, but I'll mention it in the blog, as well. The Orioles have agreed to terms with outfielders Antoan Richardson and Lee Cruz on minor league deals. They also agreed to terms with reliever Jon Link, as they continue to seek depth for the upper levels of their minor league system. Richardson, 28, is an interesting acquisition because the Orioles drafted him in the 27th round in 2001 and 2002, but they failed to sign him. He signed with the Giants, who drafted him in...

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Danny Haas hired as national crosschecker

December 16, 2011, 7:22am

Orioles

Danny Haas hired as national crosschecker

So much for a slow day at Camden Yards. The Orioles just announced that they've hired Danny Haas as the club's national crosschecker. Haas spent the last 10 seasons as an amateur scout in the Boston Red Sox organization. In case anyone is confused by the term "crosschecker," here's a handy guide. Here's the rest of the Orioles' press release: Haas, 35, most recently served as Boston's Southeast Crosschecker. He was East Coast Crosschecker in 2010 and worked as the club's Upper...

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Changes made to scouting department (with quote)

December 16, 2011, 6:35am

Orioles

Changes made to scouting department (with quote)

The Orioles have brought in a new executive vice president and scouting director. It was logical to assume that more changes were coming to various departments. Dan Duquette has made a few hires and done some restructuring, and it continued yesterday. Confirming this report from FOX Sports, Duquette has reassigned pro scouts Todd Frohwirth, Jim Howard, James Keller, Ted Lekas, Lee MacPhail IV and Jim Thrift to the amateur side. Dave Engle and Bruce Kison will remain in their current...

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Cleaning out my notebook

December 15, 2011, 6:18pm

Orioles

New Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada says one of the biggest differences between baseball in Japan and the U.S. is that the game is "more power generated" here. He's referring to both the batters and the pitchers. He's not going to blow the ball past anyone, but it sounds like he's a left-handed version of Koji Uehara - excellent control and a wide assortment of pitches. Hopefully, he's got better stamina. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said he's hoping that the minor league...

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More from Duquette

December 15, 2011, 2:19pm

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette took more questions from reporters after today's press conference to introduce Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada. I say he "took" them. That doesn't mean he answered all of them. Like many baseball executives, Duquette won't show his hand and let the rest of the world know which players he's pursuing. He isn't going to offer specifics on trade talks or which free agents are mulling offers from the club. Don't bother asking whether he...

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Hearing from Duquette and Wada

December 15, 2011, 12:34pm

Orioles

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of today's press conference occurred near the beginning, when Japanese pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada gave his opening remarks in English. You had to appreciate the effort. "My name is Tsuyoshi Wada," he said. "I'm from Shimane, Japan. I played for Fukoka SoftBank Hawks. I would like to thank you, Baltimore Orioles organization to give me this opportunity. I was dreaming to play major league baseball since I was a college (pitcher), so this is a very special...

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Wada day at Camden Yards

December 14, 2011, 5:38pm

Orioles

The Orioles will introduce Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada today at a 4 p.m. press conference at Camden Yards. Here's the first thing you need to know: His name is pronounced "sue-YO-she WAH-dah" It's probably also good to know that Wada, 30, was 107-61 with a 3.13 ERA and 1,329 strikeouts in 210 career games and 1,444 2/3 innings over nine seasons with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League. In his 52 starts over the last two seasons, Wada is 33-13 with a 2.29...

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Orioles passing on Darvish, introducing Wada Thursday (updated)

December 14, 2011, 11:24am

Orioles

The Orioles are trying to become big players in the international market, but they won't pursue Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. The Orioles will let the 5 p.m. deadline pass today without posting a bid, leaving other teams to fight for his services. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports! has estimated that it could cost a team in the $30 million to $70 million range to win the rights to negotiate with the 25-year-old Darvish. Then there's the matter of getting his signature on a contract. Meanwhile,...

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Guthrie tunes out the trade talk

December 13, 2011, 7:09pm

Orioles

It must seem a little strange for Jeremy Guthrie to be greeted this way by so many people who approach him: "So, are you surprised that you're still here?" It happened again yesterday at Dave and Buster's at the Arundel Mills Mall. Reporters glided over to his table and greeted him warmly. Then it happened. Again. One guy in the group asked if Guthrie was happy that he "was still here." That's quite an opening line. Guthrie wouldn't take the bait. "Yeah, it's great to be back...

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Duquette talks about Wada, Chong, Scott and Bergesen

December 13, 2011, 1:59pm

Orioles

Duquette talks about Wada, Chong, Scott and Bergesen

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette wouldn't confirm tonight that the Orioles have reached agreement with Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada on a two-year contract. He only spoke in general terms about the Orioles wanting to "add to our pitching staff." "That's what I've been talking about all along," he said. "We also want to be active in all of the markets - in all the international markets as well as the domestic markets." Wada reportedly has agreed to a two-year deal...

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Showalter talks about pitching

December 13, 2011, 11:56am

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter stays in contact with everyone on his roster throughout the winter. Each time I bring up a name, he'll mention how he recently spoke to that individual over the phone. I'm told that he saw Alfredo Simon in the Dominican Republic over the weekend. I'm not sure if that qualifies as a random sighting, but I assumed that Simon was staying in the U.S. Showalter had a much easier time getting caught up today, since Jeremy Guthrie, Jake Arrieta, Zach Britton and Brian...

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Notes on Wada, report dates and Roberts

December 13, 2011, 8:52am

Orioles

I just arrived home from the OriolesREACH holiday party and am trying to get caught up on all the breaking news while also passing along a few notes from my morning excursion to the Arundel Mills Mall. (Surviving a trip to that mall is noteworthy in itself, but I've got more.) The Orioles have reached agreement with Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada, according to several sources, though no announcement has been made by the club. Multiple reports say the deal is for two years and $8.15...