Roch Kubatko

The search isn't over

November 01, 2011, 8:09pm

Orioles

I opened yesterday's entry by saying that we might have an announcement on a new president of baseball operations, and I came close to being right. An offer was made to Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava. He turned it down yesterday. Otherwise... LaCava returned home, huddled with his family and broke the news to the Orioles that he wasn't leaving the Blue Jays. I'm sick of this topic, but it won't go away. Dodgers executive De Jon Watson is waiting to find out whether...

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A few words from Tony LaCava

November 01, 2011, 5:35pm

Orioles

I just got off the phone with Tony LaCava, who earlier today turned down the Orioles' offer to become their president of baseball operations. LaCava insisted that, in the end, he didn't want to leave Toronto. And he understands that most people will think he's crazy. "I really enjoy my job in Toronto, and I have a GM that I work with (Alex Anthopoulos) who's like a brother to me," LaCava said. "We're very, very close. We have a really good dynamic between us. I wasn't looking to...

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LaCava staying with Blue Jays (updated twice)

November 01, 2011, 1:58pm

Orioles

LaCava staying with Blue Jays (updated twice)

Tony LaCava has decided to remain with the Toronto Blue Jays as assistant general manager, and the Orioles are discussing the possibility of bringing in more outside candidates. Apparently, LaCava was ready to accept an offer from the Orioles until flying back into Baltimore yesterday for a second meeting. I'm told the issues that cropped up for LaCava didn't involve ownership or manager Buck Showalter. However, a deal couldn't be reached. The Orioles have interviewed four candidates,...

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Wieters and Markakis: A Gold Glove story (Hardy denied)

November 01, 2011, 10:35am

Orioles

Wieters and Markakis: A Gold Glove story (Hardy denied)

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters can add "Gold Glove winner" to his expanding resume. Named to his first All-Star team over the summer, Wieters just learned that he's also won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Wieters beat out American League finalists A.J. Pierzynski and Alex Avila for the award, which was announced on ESPN2. He's the first catcher to win the award in club history. Nick Markakis also won his first Gold Glove in right field, beating out the Angels' Torii Hunter and the...

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Who will be good as gold?

October 31, 2011, 6:59pm

Orioles

Maybe the Orioles will hire their president of baseball operations today or tomorrow. I can't see this process dragging out much longer, but you've heard that one already. As you know, Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava met with owner Peter Angelos yesterday. You can read plenty into LaCava's return trip to Baltimore, though it's important to note that Angelos wasn't present for LaCava's first interview. He met with Dodgers executive De Jon Watson, so it's not like he's...

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Markakis, Hardy and Wieters nominated for Gold Gloves, more GM stuff

October 31, 2011, 12:48pm

Orioles

Markakis, Hardy and Wieters nominated for Gold Gloves, more GM stuff

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Matt Wieters are finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. Markakis, the Angels' Torii Hunter and the Royals' Jeff Francoeur are the finalists among American League right fielders. Ichiro, a 10-time winner, didn't make the cut. Hardy, the Angels' Erick Aybar and the Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera are the league's finalists among shortstops. Wieters, the White Sox's A.J. Pierzynksi and the Tigers' Alex Avila are the...

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LaCava back in Baltimore today

October 31, 2011, 10:31am

Orioles

Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava is back in Baltimore today, meeting with owner Peter Angelos as the club draws closer to naming a new president of baseball operations. LaCava already has interviewed once for the job, along with Jerry Dipoto, De Jon Watson and John Stockstill. Dipoto dropped off the list after being named the Angels general manager. LaCava was the second candidate to interview for the job after Dipoto, and he's been viewed as the most likely hire. Today's...

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Show them the money

October 30, 2011, 7:08pm

Orioles

Former Orioles Jerry Hairston Jr. and Willie Harris filed for free agency yesterday. Any interest? What if Robert Andino winds up as the everyday second baseman and the Orioles need a super-utility player? Teams have five days after the World Series to negotiate with their free agents before they hit the open market. The Cesar Izturis train has left the station. Manager Buck Showalter has stated more than once that he expects Vladimir Guerrero to receive another one-year deal over the winter,...

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Quick Jakubauskas update

October 30, 2011, 11:16am

Orioles

It took longer to type his last name. Pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, who cleared waivers last week, has refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected to become a free agent. Jakubauskas was outrighted previously, which allowed him to refuse the assignment. He also would have qualified as a minor league free agent later this week. Jakubauskas, 32, was 2-2 with a 5.72 ERA in 33 games (six starts) and 72 1/3 innings for the Orioles this season. He wasn't invited to spring...

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More morning musings (with note)

October 29, 2011, 4:35pm

Orioles

Tony LaCava. De Jon Watson. John Stockstill. No more Jerry Dipoto. LaCava the likely hire at this point. Should know soon. There's your incremental non-update update on the Orioles' GM situation. The Pirates released their spring training schedule, which includes four games against the Orioles: March 5 and 14 in Sarasota, and March 25 (7:05 p.m.) and 31 (split-squad) in Bradenton. The Yankees exercised their $14 million option on Robinson Cano's contract, so you can remove his name from...

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A few morning notes

October 28, 2011, 9:33pm

Orioles

While wondering if there's a way to turn ignored calls and text messages into cash ... The Rangers failed last night to become the first road team to win Game 7 of the World Series since the Pirates in 1979. Sorry for the reminder. Also sorry to see Michael Gonzalez limp off the mound with an injury. He won't win many popularity contests in Baltimore, but he's a standup guy who truly feels bad that he didn't pitch better with the Orioles, and that fans didn't get to see him at his best...

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With Tatum claimed, backup catcher also needed (more moves)

October 28, 2011, 11:56am

Orioles

With Tatum claimed, backup catcher also needed (more moves)

The Orioles lost their backup catcher when the Houston Astros claimed Craig Tatum off waivers. Tatum began the season at Triple-A Norfolk and batted .195 in 31 games with the Orioles. He had three doubles and seven RBIs. Tatum beat out Chad Moeller for the backup job in 2010 and batted .281 in 43 games, with four doubles and nine RBIs, but the Orioles made Jake Fox the backup coming out of spring training this year. Tatum made it back to Baltimore during the summer because he was a defensive...

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Changes coming to O's cap and jersey

October 28, 2011, 8:32am

Orioles

Since so many fans have been asking, I wanted to pass along news that the Orioles' caps for next season will include a variation of the cartoon bird, which will replace the "ornithologically correct" version presently worn. According to a source, the logo won't replicate the birds from the 1970 and 1983 caps, but it will be a variation of the two, taking certain qualities of both to create the new cartoon image. These caps will be worn as part of the regular uniform, rather than being an...

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Dipoto off the board?

October 28, 2011, 8:02am

Orioles

Diamondbacks executive Jerry Dipoto reportedly will become the next general manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Hopefully, his first order of business will be to shorten the team's name. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweeted the following a few minutes ago: "Sources: DiPoto to be named #Angels GM" SI.com's Jon Heyman followed that tweet with a confirmation of his own. Heyman also is hearing that Tony LaCava is "very likely" to be named the Orioles' president of baseball...

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This, that and the other (and more)

October 27, 2011, 7:23pm

Orioles

I predicted that the Rangers would win the World Series in six games. I twice came within a strike last night of finally getting something right in the postseason. Was last night's game, won by the Cardinals in 11 innings on David Freese's walkoff home run, the greatest in World Series history? Did it top Carlton Fisk? Bill Mazeroski? Kirk Gibson? BIll Buckner? The Jack Morris/John Smoltz scoreless duel? Am I missing a more obvious choice? As long as I'm firing questions at you, does...

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Stockstill interviewing Friday for GM job

October 27, 2011, 12:29pm

Orioles

Stockstill interviewing Friday for GM job

In a surprising twist, Orioles director of player development John Stockstill will interview Friday for the position of president of baseball operations. An industry source confirmed the news a few minutes ago. Stockstill will be the fourth candidate interviewed, and the first from within the organization, following Jerry Dipoto, Tony LaCava and De Jon Watson. It's possible that Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine is contacted after the World Series. Stockstill, 51, has been with the Orioles...

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Two names to consider for scouting director

October 26, 2011, 11:58am

Orioles

Two names to consider for scouting director

Repeating the intended order of hires, the Orioles are expected to introduce their new president of baseball operations before announcing Joe Jordan's replacement as scouting director and Brian Graham's expected promotion to director of player development, and revealing which two coaches will complete manager Buck Showalter's staff. If Diamondbacks executive Jerry Dipoto is chosen as Andy MacPhail's replacement, a possible hire as scouting director could be Indians national crosschecker...

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Radison among minor league hires

October 26, 2011, 8:49am

Orioles

I wrote a few days ago that the Orioles have hired a few minor league coaches for next season. I've heard that one new addition will be former Nationals first base coach Dan Radison. Though assignments haven't been made official, Radison could serve as hitting instructor at Double-A Bowie, with Denny Hocking perhaps moving up to Triple-A Norfolk. Radison was fired by the Nationals on July 1 after Davey Johnson replaced Jim Riggleman as manager. Trent Jewett replaced Radison, who is close...

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Second (or third) look at second base

October 25, 2011, 2:16pm

Orioles

We've debated which starting pitchers are realistic targets for the Orioles. We've kicked around the idea of the Orioles making a run at Prince Fielder or Michael Cuddyer or any hitter with a pulse and a productive bat. We've argued whether Adam Jones should be traded while his value is high and his free agent year is still a little ways in the distance. With yesterday being devoid of GM news - and non-update updates give me a full body rash - I figured to revisit the potential vacancy at...

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Orioles and Angels take different paths in GM search

October 24, 2011, 6:13pm

Orioles

As you know, the Orioles will interview Dodgers executive De Jon Watson tomorrow morning, making him the third candidate to fly into Baltimore. Jerry Dipoto and Tony LaCava beat him here. The Angels also are in the midst of a GM search, but I don't see many similarities in the two lists. The Angels also have targeted Dipoto, and both teams could contact Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine once the World Series ends. Andrew Friedman (Rays) and Damon Oppenheimer (Yankees) already have met with...