Roch Kubatko

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...

When the going gets tough, the Trembley gets tougher

April 02, 2010, 1:43pm

One of the heavy points of emphasis in spring training will be reducing the amount of "careless giveaways" on the bases, according to manager Dave Trembley. Players should beware if they don't get the message. Dave Trembley on the emphasis on baserunning and how he'll change as a manager Trembley already suggested late in the season that he'll be more inclined to drop the hammer in 2010. Mistakes won't be as easily forgiven. And he said earlier today that some guys could be "on the...

Trembley talk

April 02, 2010, 1:42pm

Outfielder Felix Pie is supposed to start playing in the Dominican next month. Asked whether he foresees Pie getting the bulk of the playing time in left field next season, with Nolan Reimold serving as the designated hitter, manager Dave Trembley hesitated before replying: "I think it's a nice thing to be able to sort out, especially the way Pie played the second half of the season. I know there's a lot of interest in Pie. You've got to like what Reimold did. You've still got Luke...

Quick hits from Trembley

April 02, 2010, 1:39pm

I'll go more in-depth later, but I wanted to take a few seconds to review some highlights from manager Dave Trembley's session with the media. Dave Trembley talks with Roch Kubatko from the MLB Winter Meetings - Trembley's priorities for the team remain, in no particular order, a starting pitcher, closer, first baseman and third baseman. - He still believes the Orioles can obtain a big bat for the middle of the lineup (and he prefers a right-handed one), despite the weak free-agent...

Let's all go to the lobby

April 02, 2010, 1:38pm

Orioles

The small lobby area at the Marriott is packed with reporters, baseball executives and managers. The Christmas tree in the middle is taking up valuable space, and I've almost run into it twice. Members of the print and electronic media are constantly checking their BlackBerry's for the latest updates and contradictions. For instance, the New York Post reported that left-hander Andy Pettitte has turned down a one-year offer from the Yankees. The Daily News shot back that no offer has been...

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Orioles winter meetings

Chapman update

April 02, 2010, 1:37pm

The Orioles will meet with the representatives for Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman before leaving Indianapolis. They've had discussions with Alan Hendricks over the past few weeks in sort of a start-over process after Chapman switched agents. The Orioles aren't expected to sign Chapman, but they haven't closed any doors. Here's where it gets complicated: Owner Peter Angelos recently confirmed interest via an AP story in playing another exhibition game in Cuba. It would be difficult to...

Heading to Cooperstown

April 02, 2010, 1:36pm

Not me. You couldn't pry me out of Indianapolis with a crowbar. Manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey have been elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Herzog, who led the Kansas City Royals to three straight American League West titles from 1976-78 before leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title and the 1985 and 1987 NL pennants, received 14 of 16 votes. Harvey, who worked National League games for 31 seasons and was named to six All-Star...

Good morning from Indy

April 02, 2010, 1:36pm

I ran into manager Dave Trembley last night as he was coming up the escalator of the Westin hotel with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Well, not literally. He didn't take a charge. But it was an unexpected meeting. Trembley looks tanned and rested - and we assume he's ready. He's lost about 17 pounds and is looking to shed a few more. According to the New York Post, plenty of baseball executives expect the Orioles and Mariners to be big spenders this winter. I believe...

Koji update

April 02, 2010, 1:35pm

Koji Uehara received permission from doctors to begin playing catch back home in Japan. Uehara is recovering from a torn tendon in his right elbow that ended his season early. It might not sound like much, but we're still two months away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Uehara told one of the Japanese reporters here that he'll do whatever the Orioles want - start, close, set-up. The Orioles don't appear to have any plans to insert Uehara in the rotation....

And so it continues...

April 02, 2010, 1:35pm

My Southwest flight was booked, and it seemed like most of the passengers were headed to the Winter Meetings. Andy MacPhail is already here, and Matt Klentak, John Stockstill and David Stockstill arrived today. MASNsports.com's Phil Wood and Dan Kolko, The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec and Peter Schmuck, FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, The Washington Post's Dave Sheinin and USA Today's Mel Antonen made up the media contingent. A scout from another organization was pushing for the Orioles to dip into...

And so it begins...

April 02, 2010, 1:34pm

Arriving at your gate at 9:30 a.m. for an 11:45 a.m. flight isn't recommended, but I'm a people-watcher and this is the ideal place for it. It also gives me a chance to gripe about the lousy internet service. I've been disconnected four times already and No. 5 is on the way. A man working security at the Southwest terminal asked if I was heading to "the game." I had no idea what he meant until he referenced the Ravens and Packers. "Don't you do TV stuff?" he asked. Yes, but I'd...