Roch Kubatko

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...

Nothing to see here

April 02, 2010, 1:47pm

Not yet, anyway. I had a brief conversation with Adam Katz, who represents free-agent pitchers Rich Harden and Joel Pineiro. Those two names have been linked to the Orioles in various reports. Katz didn't indicate that discussions have grown serious. "It's just tire kicking at this point," he said. "It's just preliminary tire kicking." Katz also represents Sammy Sosa, which is how I first met him. I didn't bother to ask.

Quick Chapman update

April 02, 2010, 1:47pm

It's very quick. I don't Twitter, but I do blog from my BlackBerry. The Orioles still haven't met with representatives for Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman, but are scheduled to do so before leaving Indianapolis.

Sights and sounds from the lobby

April 02, 2010, 1:46pm

I should stress that I'm referring to the downtown Marriott lobby. It's pretty dead over at the Westin, which is connected by a skywalk. I just got my cardio in by making the trip back and forth. It doesn't sound like the Orioles are close to finalizing a trade with the Rangers for Kevin Millwood, but that information comes from one person who spoke to a Texas official. At this point, I wouldn't get discouraged if you're rooting for the deal, but nothing is imminent. Far from...

The madness continues

April 02, 2010, 1:45pm

I'd be amused if I wasn't so tired. It's officially Day 2 of baseball's Winter Meetings, and I counted five laptops already set up in the media workroom by 8 a.m. I would have ridiculed the reporters who arrived that early, but I was sitting inside the media workroom at 8 a.m. People who live in glass houses... The rumor mill keeps churning, and the national reporters, bloggers and tweeters keep racing each other for scoops. We counted at least three erroneous trade reports yesterday....

The Closer

April 02, 2010, 1:45pm

Atlanta Braves reliever Rafael Soriano has reportedly accepted arbitration, denying him free-agent status and leaving his employer scrambling to trade him. Had Soriano chosen to decline it, the Braves would have received a draft pick due to his Type A status. The Orioles would have surrendered a second-rounder if they signed him. The Braves can't trade him before June 15 unless he gives written permission, which is expected to happen. The Orioles need a closer, but they must decide...

A few more notes

April 02, 2010, 1:44pm

The Orioles maintain interest in first baseman Carlos Delgado, who is expected to begin playing in Puerto Rico later this week. And they also are keeping an open dialogue with Sam Levinson, who represents third baseman Pedro Feliz. If the Orioles lose a player in the Rule 5 draft, it could be Double-A Bowie second baseman Miguel Abreu, who is drawing strong interest from the San Diego Padres. At least two other teams, the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, have scouted him in Puerto...

Meeting with MacPhail

April 02, 2010, 1:43pm

Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, sat down with a few team executives and player representatives today and said he had two or three meetings lined up later tonight. He isn't close to making a deal, which means the Orioles aren't a mystery team in the Matt Lindstrom or Edwin Jackson talks. MacPhail had a brief, informal meeting with Mark Hendrickson's agent, Joe Urbon, but he hasn't met with Mark Pieper, who represents Erik Bedard. However, MacPhail and Pieper will meet soon...