Roch Kubatko

Rule 5 results

April 02, 2010, 2:06pm

The Orioles used the third pick in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft to select left-hander Benjamin Snyder from the San Francisco Giants' system, who will be flipped to the Texas Rangers as the PTBNL in the Kevin Millwood trade. That's why you were advised not to get too attached to him. More to come.

Getting caught in the draft

April 02, 2010, 2:06pm

The Rule 5 draft is about one hour away, and you can feel the electricity in the air. Actually, that's just static from the carpet. More than a few reporters here wonder why the draft isn't conducted online. Do we really need to gather in a conference room and listen to team reps bark out names or pass on their selections? This one's taking place at the Westin instead of the downtown Marriott, which is convenient for guests like myself. I can just roll out of bed and stumble to the...

More from MacPhail (w/ more video)

April 02, 2010, 2:04pm

On not making an injured pitcher the first acquisition: "I don't think the first move we could make to improve our rotation would be somebody that really had some medical concerns and took a higher than customary risk on the medicals. You needed somebody that you felt was going to be pretty solid and provide you that base of innings. Now, we have some latitude to take a flyer." Andy MacPhail announces the Kevin Millwood trade from the media room at the Winter Meetings On whether Kevin...

Millwood's Place

April 02, 2010, 2:03pm

Orioles

Pitcher Kevin Millwood heard the rumors about a pending trade to the Orioles. He wasn't exactly blindsided by the news. "I'm a little surprised," he said. "I can say that, but it wasn't a total shock." Winter Meetings Audio: Kevin Millwood calls in to talk about being traded to the O's It became a reality late this afternoon, as reporters gathered at an elevator that would take us to Andy MacPhail's suite at the Westin. Millwood was placed on a conference call after we interviewed...

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Orioles winter meetings

Random quotes (w/ Trembley video)

April 02, 2010, 2:02pm

Andy MacPhail on how the trade unfolded: "This is something we were aware of a couple days before we got here. We got some prep work done, and the more we looked at it, the more we liked it. We went through give and take with names for really a couple days. There were names going back and forth to try to work this out. Money was also an issue, quite honestly. There was, 'All right, I put in this much cash, I get this player. I take this cash out, I get this player.' There was that balance...

Quick hits (with video added)

April 02, 2010, 2:01pm

I'll send along transcription later from interviews with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, manager Dave Trembley and newly acquired pitcher Kevin Millwood. But first... * MacPhail said Millwood wasn't on the club's original "target sheet," but talks heated up in frigid Indianapolis. Andy MacPhail talks with Roch Kubatko about the Kevin Millwood trade * The Orioles are still interested in adding a few more pitchers, including one starter. "Absolutely," MacPhail said....

PTBNL included

April 02, 2010, 2:00pm

Along with Chris Ray, the Orioles also will send an undisclosed player to the Rangers for pitcher Kevin Millwood. It will not be a significant player off the major league roster or from the farm system.

One reason for delay

April 02, 2010, 1:59pm

Multiple sources are reporting that free-agent pitcher Rich Harden is on the verge of signing with the Texas Rangers. This could explain why we're still awaiting official word on the Kevin Millwood deal, beyond the exchange of medical records. I noted yesterday that the Rangers wanted to obtain another pitcher before relinquishing Millwood, with Harden being a prime candidate. This makes sense. The media's 6 p.m. meeting with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has been pushed...

Killing time before meeting with MacPhail

April 02, 2010, 1:58pm

I asked one of the Texas baseball writers, a veteran scribe, if Kevin Millwood is a good guy. "No," he replied. "He's a great guy. Maybe my all-time favorite. Definitely in the top three." MASN's Buck Martinez mentioned yesterday that Millwood is the type who will sit down with the young pitchers and counsel them. He gave the right-hander strong reviews. Now go out there and win 18 games. Millwood wore No. 33 in Texas. Will that be a problem in Baltimore? If the trade isn't...

Boras on Millwood

April 02, 2010, 1:57pm

Agent Scott Boras drew the usual crowd of reporters today for his annual winter meetings session, meaning he was completely surrounded and anyone stuck in the back needed to read his lips. And you get to know the person in front and behind you real fast. I might be legally married to a Seattle photographer in five states. Boras represents pitcher Kevin Millwood, who reportedly is on the verge of joining the Orioles. Asked about the trade, he replied: "That is not done, but I'm sure there...

Debating the deal

April 02, 2010, 1:56pm

I know we have plenty of anti-Kevin Millwood fans reading this blog, but you wanted the Orioles to accomplish something at these meetings, and obtaining a frontline starter qualifies. Millwood went 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA last year. He's made at least 29 starts in 10 of his 12 full seasons. He's topped 200 innings five times and logged 198 2/3 this summer. And while the Orioles will have to absorb more than $3 million of Millwood's $12 million contract, they won't lose a young starter...

How many starters will be added?

April 02, 2010, 1:56pm

If the Orioles can nail down this Kevin Millwood trade, which The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec learned earlier today might involve reliever Chris Ray, they still could be in the market for another starting pitcher. Don't assume that the Orioles would immediately lose interest in Erik Bedard if they acquire Millwood. They still like him and could continue negotiations, though that might become more clear later today when we meet with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Dave Trembley gave...

Just thinking out loud

April 02, 2010, 1:55pm

Trading for Kevin Millwood would give the Orioles a top-of-the-rotation starter for 2010. But for how long? If you're pondering which pitching prospect (say that three times fast) should be sent to Texas in the deal, you must also consider that the Orioles could flip Millwood to another team at the non-waiver trade deadline, making him a half-year rental. The hope, of course, is he would bring prospects in return. The bigger hope is the Orioles are contending and they need him for the...

Another morning in Indy

April 02, 2010, 1:55pm

Two days down, 1 Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â½ to go. The annual managers luncheon takes place at noon. None of the conversation is on the record - notepads are left in back pockets, tape recorders are turned off - but it can provide insight into potential moves down the road. You also learn everybody's favorite salad dressing, but it's not worth reporting. At least one team official is optimistic that the Orioles could make a deal before the winter meetings conclude. If it doesn't happen, he's...

MacPhail on third base

April 02, 2010, 1:54pm

The Orioles' brass made their first road trip during these meetings, heading over to the downtown Marriott tonight after previously hosting agents and team executives in their suite at the Westin. I'm assuming they wore the gray jerseys with "Baltimore" stitched across the chest. The group consisted of president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, director of baseball operations Matt Klentak, director of professional scouting Lee MacPhail IV, manager Dave Trembley and major league scout...

More MacPhail

April 02, 2010, 1:53pm

The Orioles retain interest in Texas Rangers pitcher Kevin Millwood as they seek a No. 1 starter to anchor a young staff. But it seems pretty clear that they're not close to finalizing a deal unless something changes overnight. We didn't dig up much news from Andy MacPhail's media session beyond the confirmed meetings with agents that I wrote about in my previous entry. If a blog had presses, we wouldn't be stopping them. "No late-breaking developments," he said. "What about any...

Meeting with MacPhail - II (w/ video)

April 02, 2010, 1:52pm

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed tonight that he met with the SFX group, which represents former Orioles left-hander Erik Bedard. MacPhail hasn't seen the medical reports on Bedard, but the club seems confident that he'll be available soon enough after undergoing a second shoulder surgery that it's worth holding discussions. Andy MacPhail and Roch Kubatko recap Day Two of the Winter Meetings MacPhail also met with Alan and Randy Hendricks, who represent Cuban...

Another slice of Pie

April 02, 2010, 1:50pm

Remember when most fans in Baltimore wanted to run Felix Pie out of town? Now his name keeps popping up - much like he did during his first two months with the Orioles - in trade discussions. Bob Dutton writes, via Twitter, that the Royals are the latest team to inquire about Pie. You can read it here. Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, isn't looking to unload Pie and wants as much outfield insurance as he can get after running disturbingly thin at the position late last...

As long as we're talking about Millwood (w/ video added)

April 02, 2010, 1:50pm

I've received confirmation that there's absolutely no truth to the rumor that the Orioles offered outfielder Felix Pie to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Kevin Millwood. The two sides are talking. The Rangers want a pitching prospect and salary relief. Pie doesn't fit into that equation, and the Orioles never put him on the table as part of a deal. No sense debating it any longer. Buck Martinez and Roch Kubatko discuss rumors around the O's at the Winter Meetings

Gammons will be gone

April 02, 2010, 1:48pm

Peter Gammons is leaving ESPN after the Winter Meetings. The only explanation provided in a press release is that he decided to pursue new endeavors. As I continue to pick the brains of people close to the Rangers, it sounds like the club wants a significant prospect in return for Kevin Millwood, along with the chance to escape most of their $12 million obligation for next season. Also, the Rangers would need to have a deal in place for another veteran pitcher such as Rich Harden or Ben...