Roch Kubatko

Updates on Guerrero, Duchscherer and Beimel

January 27, 2011, 11:10am

Orioles

Updates on Guerrero, Duchscherer and Beimel

After making another round of calls today, I can pass along the following nuggets on a few of your favorite free agents: The Orioles have, indeed, made an offer to Vladimir Guerrero this week, and it falls in the $3 million to $5 million range. They most certainly did not exceed $5 million. I'd say it's a lot closer to $3 million. Also, team officials don't expect a FanFest announcement similar to what transpired with Miguel Tejada last winter. In fact, while they understand that the...

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Your incremental Vladimir Guerrero update

January 27, 2011, 9:09am

Orioles

Your incremental Vladimir Guerrero update

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, citing a major league source, says the Orioles have made an offer to free-agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero. Rosenthal estimates that the offer falls in the $3 million to $5 million range. If this is true, the offer must have come this week, because the two sides hadn't been in negotiations. The Orioles always left open the possibility of signing Guerrero, but only at a discount price. Guerrero has sought a multi-year deal, but he can forget it. And...

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Remembering the Jackson-Dempsey collision

January 27, 2011, 5:20am

Orioles

Remembering the Jackson-Dempsey collision

I was watching the MLB Network's "Top 50 Most Incredible Collisions" last night, and No. 8 was Bo Jackson plowing into Rick Dempsey and almost sending the former Orioles catcher flying into the dugout. I counted three backward somersaults. When I texted Dempsey, he replied, "Well, I've got that going for me." Which is nice. Dempsey, in his only season with the Cleveland Indians in 1987, missed the last six weeks with a broken left thumb. And get this: A proctologist in Kansas City set...

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More on Rapada

January 26, 2011, 11:56am

Orioles

Clay Rapada will compete for a left-handed relief role with the Orioles, but the Triple-A Norfolk Tides will gladly welcome him to Harbor Park if he's reassigned. Rapada, 29, is a Portsmouth, Va., native who pitched at Virginia State University. He won't hurt attendance. Rapada posted a 4.00 ERA in 13 games with the Texas Rangers in 2010, his third team since the Chicago Cubs signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2002. The Tides put out a release with more information on Rapada, in...

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This and that (and more)

January 25, 2011, 6:31pm

Orioles

Welcome to another morning of "What the heck am I going to write about?" I really need a sponsor. And some news. I had a brief conversation with a team official last night, and we discussed left-hander Clay Rapada, who agreed to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Rapada will be given a chance to win a spot in the bullpen as the second southpaw, joining Michael Gonzalez, but here's my guess: He'll be Mike Hinckley, who lost out to Will Ohman last spring and pitched at...

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Revisiting the market for Vladimir Guerrero

January 25, 2011, 11:15am

Orioles

Revisiting the market for Vladimir Guerrero

Mike Napoli was traded to the Blue Jays. Then he was traded to the Rangers. I believe 12 minutes passed between deals. When the music stops, grab a team. The Blue Jays appeared to be out of the running for free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero after sending Vernon Wells to the Angels for Napoli and Juan Rivera. Now they might have an opening after sending Napoli to the Rangers earlier today for reliever Frank Francisco. Rangers president Nolan Ryan stated yesterday that he retained interest...

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Orioles

Ripken going into Hall of Fame - again

January 25, 2011, 8:58am

Orioles

I was getting my hair cut this afternoon when I received an e-mail from the International League, announcing its Hall of Fame class. I opened it when I got home and discovered that former Rochester Red Wings third baseman Cal Ripken is being honored. The accolades just keep pouring in for baseball's Iron Man. And you really should try his Power Shred jerky. Ripken will join Steve Balboni and Wade Boggs as members of the Class of 2011. All three players starred in the International League...

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Leadoff item: Brian Roberts needs to stay healthy

January 25, 2011, 2:49am

Orioles

Leadoff item: Brian Roberts needs to stay healthy

Jorge Cantu is off the board after reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal with the Padres. I'll stop pitching him now. It's not a certainty that the Orioles will bring in another utility candidate, but they could ink somebody to a minor league deal and toss him into the mix with Brendan Harris and Robert Andino. As it currently stands, Cesar Izturis is the backup at second base if Brian Roberts is injured. He was re-signed to be the utility middle infielder. I'm fine with Izturis on...

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Troy Patton arrested on DWI

January 24, 2011, 10:48am

Orioles

Another Orioles pitcher is dealing with legal issues, though the severity doesn't match what's transpiring in the Dominican Republic with Alfredo Simon. According to this report from a Houston television station, left-hander Troy Patton was arrested Saturday night and charged with a DWI after police officers reported that the pitcher's car sped over a curb. Officers said he failed a Breathalyzer test, blowing a 0.14. The legal blood alcohol content limit in Texas is 0.08. Patton posted a...

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Three weeks and counting until the first workout

January 24, 2011, 3:15am

Orioles

Three weeks and counting until the first workout

So here we are, exactly three weeks from the day when pitchers and catchers hold their first workout at the spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla. The roster won't be set until the Orioles secure another starting pitcher and left-handed reliever. They could add another bat, perhaps for the bench, though Vladimir Guerrero will continue to cast a large shadow until he finds a home. You would expect more interest in a guy who hit .300 with 29 homers and 115 RBIs last season. Is he still...

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Still pitching for Cantu, wondering about a lefty reliever

January 23, 2011, 4:24am

Orioles

Still pitching for Cantu, wondering about a lefty reliever

We can't let the morning escape without another Vladimir Guerrero update. This one barely qualifies, but SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted that the Orioles and Guerrero haven't talked in two weeks. Again, the Orioles could end up with Guerrero simply because he's lounging in the bargain bin and the discount is too good to ignore, but nothing appears to be imminent. Perhaps that one phone call that changes everything is made this week, but it won't mean that the Orioles were "close" a few...

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Did things change? (updated twice)

January 22, 2011, 3:30am

Orioles

I went to bed a little less confident that the Orioles were passing on Vladimir Guerrero as the day's events unfolded. Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez signed with the Rays as part of a unique Scott Boras package deal, and the Blue Jays traded Vernon Wells to the Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera. The Rays and Blue Jays became the latest teams to eliminate Guerrero. At first glance, the Angels would still appear to have room for the veteran designated hitter, since Wells is an outfielder,...

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Don't book any plans with Vladimir Guerrero

January 21, 2011, 5:02am

Orioles

Don't book any plans with Vladimir Guerrero

So I'm back in the Carroll County Public Library this morning, not far from the Military History section. I also see a Graphic Novels section. I just wonder how graphic we're talking here. My laptop worked for a few hours last night. Like brand new, actually. But sure enough, it's back to its old tricks today. It's playing dead. I shot down the Vladimir Guerrero rumor last night, which might put my entry in the Military History section. However, I expect to field more questions about...

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Quick Vlady update

January 20, 2011, 1:40pm

Orioles

Before my time runs out on this library computer - 19 minutes and counting - I wanted to address the report that the Orioles have the inside track on signing free-agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero. I just checked with a team official to see whether something had changed since I was told recently that the Orioles didn't expect to add a designated hitter, and certainly not Guerrero unless his price came tumbling down. I received a text back saying "nope." At this point, it doesn't sound...

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Reminder about spring training tickets

January 20, 2011, 1:05pm

Orioles

I'm having serious laptop issues. And by "serious," I mean that it stopped working. It does make a neat grinding sound once in a while, but that's about it. So do I, but it depends on the meal. I'm currently using a computer at the Carroll County Public Library. Just seemed easier than blogging on my Blackberry. And yes, it took a busted laptop to get me inside a library. Ewwww, what are all these books doing here? Anyway, I'm getting assistance from the Web studio in moving...

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Orioles

Ticket increase and FanFest reminder

January 20, 2011, 8:41am

Orioles

Yes, it's true that the Orioles are raising non-prime single-game ticket prices at Camden Yards for the second time since 2003. You can go to www.orioles.com and get the breakdown of the prices. Though math isn't my strong suit, the average increase for 2011 works out to $3 a ticket. The left field upper-reserve seats still can be purchased for $9, and the cost for season-tickets remains the same. Otherwise, you'll have to dig a little deeper. The average price for non-prime,...

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How will the 2011 bullpen stack up?

January 20, 2011, 3:12am

Orioles

Going back to last night's entry, the 1970 Orioles were voted the fourth-best team on the "MLB Network Countdown." The 1998 Yankees, 1975 Reds and 1961 Yankees made the top three. Perhaps it's the fan in me, but I still regard the 1969-1971 stretch as a dynasty despite only one championship. We can include 1966 and make it two. Since we've spent so many days talking about the bullpen and how it shapes up as the strength of the 2011 team, and since we're also going back in time, it seems...

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Where does the 1970 team rank?

January 19, 2011, 3:15pm

Orioles

The "MLB Network Countdown" will rank the top 40 greatest teams in baseball history at 9 p.m. It probably comes as no surprise that the 1970 Orioles made the final cut. The 1984 Detroit Tigers, 1998 New York Yankees and 1995 Atlanta Braves also will be featured. Teams are ranked from 1961 to the present, and the 1970 Orioles made the Top 10. Meanwhile, the NFL Network is currently showing a replay of last weekend's Ravens-Steelers game. I think I'll pass, so to speak. By the way,...

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Kevin Millwood: "I don't think the door is closed"

January 19, 2011, 10:34am

Orioles

Kevin Millwood: "I don't think the door is closed"

I just got off the phone with Kevin Millwood, who doesn't sense that he's close to signing with another team. Millwood has been linked to the Royals, Indians and Yankees at various times, and he indicated that all three teams remain in play. He's confident that he'll secure a major league deal rather than having to settle for a minor league contract with a spring training invite. So what about the Orioles? Millwood said his agent, Scott Boras, mentioned the Orioles among the teams that...

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Orioles still searching for a starter

January 19, 2011, 4:56am

Orioles

I'll start with some alumni news: Former Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to this tweet from Baseball America's Matt Eddy. The Cubs made Montanez the third overall pick in the 2000 draft. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez was taken first by the Florida Marlins. The Minnesota Twins used the second pick on right-hander Adam Johnson. You must remember that the Orioles used the 14th pick on University of Texas pitcher Beau Hale. See how...