Roch Kubatko

Jake Arrieta: "I'm healed up and ready to go"

December 13, 2011, 5:49am

Orioles

Jake Arrieta: "I'm healed up and ready to go"

Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta says he's thrown on flat ground several times since undergoing surgery Aug. 12 to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. He's had "zero complications," and remains ahead of schedule and optimistic about being fully recovered long before spring training. "I'm healed up and ready to go," he said this morning at Dave and Buster's at the Arundel Mills Mall, where the Orioles are hosting 90 third- and fourth-graders from City Springs Elementary School in...

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Chong staying in Korea

December 13, 2011, 2:56am

Orioles

If the Orioles are going to open the door to the Korean market, they'll have to choose a different item from the shelves. According to a tweet from MyKBO, which I began to follow last month, pitcher Chong Tae-Hyon has decided to stay in Korea rather than come to the U.S. Chong has signed a four-year, $3.1 million contract with the Lotte Giants. The Orioles reportedly offered the submarining right-hander a two-year deal worth $3 million. Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed during...

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Bergesen tendered contract, Reyes and Eyre non-tendered (updated)

December 12, 2011, 7:08pm

Orioles

Bergesen tendered contract, Reyes and Eyre non-tendered (updated)

The Orioles just announced that they've non-tendered pitchers Jo-Jo Reyes and Willie Eyre, and outfielder Luke Scott. Brad Bergesen was offered a contract shortly before the midnight deadline. Scott, Reyes and Eyre have become free agents, but they could re-sign with the Orioles. Scott is a possibility to remain in the organization. Both sides are open to working out a new contract. Reyes went 5-8 with a 5.40 ERA in 20 starts with the Blue Jays and 2-3 with a 6.16 ERA in nine games (five...

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Orioles non-tender Luke Scott (updated)

December 12, 2011, 1:55pm

Orioles

As expected, the Orioles have decided not to offer a 2012 contract to outfielder Luke Scott, making him a free agent. Both sides are open to negotiating a new deal, so it's not necessarily the end of Scott's career as an Oriole. But he can sign with any club. Scott made $6.4 million this year, and his season was cut short because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. Scott has received encouraging reports from Dr. James Andrews, and the outfielder says he'll be a beast in spring...

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Orioles approach another deadline (updated twice)

December 11, 2011, 6:20pm

Orioles

At some point today, we'll find out whether the Orioles have tendered contracts to the following arbitration-eligible players: pitchers Jeremy Guthrie, Jim Johnson, Brad Bergesen and Jo-Jo Reyes, infielder Robert Andino, and outfielders Adam Jones and Luke Scott. Update: I omitted left-hander Dana Eveland, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time. Players who are non-tendered become free agents, but they can sign with their former teams. It's not necessarily a divorce. It could be...

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Quick Cespedes update

December 11, 2011, 9:55am

Orioles

The Orioles aren't saying much about the two days spent in the Dominican Republic this weekend to scout Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, but here's what I've been able to piece together about his workouts: Cespedes showed impressive power during a batting practice session. Short-season Single-A Aberdeen right-hander Jose Mota threw about 35 balls to him so the Orioles could watch him hit live pitching. Also, Cespedes shagged fly balls and threw from center field. However, he chose not to...

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This, that and the other

December 10, 2011, 4:52pm

Orioles

So how would you like to be a Brewers fan these days? Sure, you made the playoffs, but you've probably lost Prince Fielder forever and you might have lost MVP Ryan Braun for the first 50 games next season. OK, it's still not bad being a Brewers fan, but that's got to sting. Braun reportedly learned of his failed test for PEDs back in late October. Imagine having that weight on your shoulders every day. Imagine taking MVP questions from reporters while knowing that this story was going to...

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Bergesen waits to learn his fate

December 09, 2011, 6:18pm

Orioles

If anyone asks which one of my blog entries has attracted the most comments, I'll just refer back to yesterday. The total has climbed to a dizzying 592, which shatters the previous record of ... I have no idea. But I know that it's destroyed. The Orioles must decide Monday whether to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players. One name fell off the list when they designated reliever Willie Eyre for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster for new pitcher Dana Eveland. Brad...

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A small stack of trade chips

December 08, 2011, 7:08pm

Orioles

It's nice to begin a blog entry without typing in a dateline. There's no place like home. I won't lie. I feel a little dumb clicking my heels together. I didn't shop for souvenirs in Dallas - I worried that the bottle of barbecue sauce would shatter in my luggage - but I returned to Sykesville with dirty clothes and a reminder that executive vice president Dan Duquette really does have his work cut out for him. He doesn't have much to offer in trades if he isn't going to part with...

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For what it's worth ...

December 08, 2011, 11:52am

Orioles

DALLAS - This will be my final blog entry from the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, where the sun has finally come out as I prepare to climb into a cab for my ride to the airport. I was told that it's snowing back home, but my daughter shot down that rumor via a text message. I should have brought her here. She could have saved me a lot of work. I made one last stroll through the hotel lobby and ran into agent Scott Boras. Not literally. But I did stop him, shake hands and immediately bring up

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Duquette and Eveland discuss the trade

December 08, 2011, 8:36am

Orioles

DALLAS - Executive vice president Dan Duquette doesn't anticipate making any more trades before he boards a flight for Boston this afternoon. He'll return to Baltimore over the weekend and hopes to complete a few more deals that were advanced at the Winter Meetings. Duquette didn't make a big splash at the Hilton Anatole, unless you count the number of times he dumped cold water on speculation that he'd pursue a big-ticket item in free agency. The Orioles were busy today, if not dynamic....

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Orioles acquire Eveland from Dodgers for Martin (and Henson)

December 08, 2011, 6:25am

Orioles

DALLAS - The Orioles completed their first trade of the Winter Meetings today, acquiring left-hander Dana Eveland from the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league pitcher Jarret Martin and outfielder Tyler Henson. The Orioles designated reliever Willie Eyre for assignment to make room for Eveland on the 40-man roster. Eyre was a non-tender candidate. Eveland was 12-8 with a 4.38 ERA in 25 games at Triple-A Albuquerque this year. He made five starts with the Dodgers, going 3-2 with a 3.03...

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Trade to be announced shortly (Eveland is involved)

December 08, 2011, 5:53am

Orioles

Trade to be announced shortly (Eveland is involved)

DALLAS - The Rule 5 draft is over, but the Orioles remain open for business. The club is expected to announce details of a trade within the next hour. And that's all the information I've got at the moment. Otherwise, I'd be more expansive. Also, we're still waiting to learn the identity of the player to be named later in the Taylor Teagarden trade. I've mentioned twice that infielder Greg Miclat's name came up before the deal was completed, and it wouldn't be a big surprise if he...

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Orioles select infielder Flaherty in Rule 5 (updated twice)

December 08, 2011, 5:16am

Orioles

DALLAS - As expected, the Orioles made a selection today in the Rule 5 draft. But it wasn't a pitcher. Picking fourth, the Orioles took infielder Ryan Flaherty, 25, from the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A roster. He was a sandwich pick in 2008 out of Vanderbilt. Flaherty batted .305 with 20 doubles, two triples, 14 homers, 66 RBIs and a .907 OPS in 83 games at Double-A Tennessee, and .237 with 11 doubles, one triple, five homers and 22 RBIs in 49 games at Triple-A Iowa. He's a utility infielder,...

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Day Four in Dallas

December 08, 2011, 4:04am

Orioles

DALLAS - And down the stretch they come ... I'm expecting a stampede to the airport today as the Winter Meetings break up. The last order of business for most teams is the Rule 5 draft - and we've been threatened with bodily harm here if we write Rule V - which begins at 9 a.m. Central time. The Orioles might not be finished, however. Executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated yesterday that he could make a trade or two, so the local beat reporters are on high alert. I'd just...

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DeMarlo Hale talks about joining the Orioles

December 07, 2011, 4:20pm

Orioles

The Orioles didn't make any trades today, but they completed their coaching staff. That's another item to cross off the list. The holdup involved DeMarlo Hale, who had a year remaining on his contract with the Red Sox. He was invited to remain on manager Bobby Valentine's staff, but he wasn't sure in what capacity. And his longstanding relationship with Orioles manager Buck Showalter swayed him to leave the perennial contenders. Hale will coach third base for the Orioles after serving as...

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Trade talks, Zumaya, Cespedes, budget, Marlins and more

December 07, 2011, 2:44pm

Orioles

Trade talks, Zumaya, Cespedes, budget, Marlins and more

DALLAS - The Orioles don't give the outward appearance that they're busy at the Winter Meetings. They haven't gone to the podium, though the Marlins are boxing out everyone like Karl Malone, and they haven't been featured in the hottest rumors unless you count the Prince Fielder stuff that is based on speculation and assumptions. But executive vice president Dan Duquette met with more executives and agents today and is convinced that a trade or two could go down before he boards his flight...

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Duquette hoping to make one or two trades Thursday

December 07, 2011, 1:57pm

Orioles

Duquette hoping to make one or two trades Thursday

DALLAS - Unless something drastic happens, the Orioles won't complete any deals tonight. However, executive vice president Dan Duquette says he's made "good progress" in trade talks today and hopes to finalize one or two after Thursday's Rule 5 draft. Duquette is staying in Dallas until late in the day, which makes me glad that I booked my flight back to Baltimore at 6:20 p.m. Any trades would involve pitching, which has been Duquette's main priority since he arrived at the Hilton...

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Buehrle off the board, Orioles never on him (and more)

December 07, 2011, 12:12pm

Orioles

DALLAS - Another huge domino fell today when the Marlins agreed to terms with left-hander Mark Buehrle on a four-year, $58 million contract. The Orioles were in no danger of having their toes crushed. They weren't anywhere near Buehrle. New executive vice president Dan Duquette says he won't go more than three years for a free-agent starting pitcher. Never has, never will. I wanted the Orioles to jump into the Buehrle bidding, but he held out for a fourth year and got it from a team...

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Hale and Castro added to coaching staff (updated)

December 07, 2011, 10:01am

Orioles

Hale and Castro added to coaching staff (updated)

DALLAS - It's finally official. The Orioles have hired DeMarlo Hale as their third base coach and Bill Castro as their bullpen coach. "The additions of DeMarlo Hale and Bill Castro add winning experience and diversity to our coaching staff," executive vice president Dan Duquette said in a statement. The Red Sox let Hale out of his contract last night with one year remaining so he could join manager Buck Showalter's staff. He had the option of remaining with Boston under new manager Bobby...