Roch Kubatko

More trends to track in Orioles spring training

December 21, 2021, 4:29am

Orioles

I took an early look over the weekend at some possible spring training storylines. The rotation setup behind John Means and Jordan Lyles, catcher Adley Rutschman's chances of breaking camp with the team, second baseman Rougned Odor's chances of avoiding the Yolmer SÃ¡nchez treatment,and the composition of the infield's left side. Just scratching the surface, of course, and I've been itching to share more ideas. Let's get to it, with four more to consider. How does Yusniel Diaz look in...

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Some early assumptions on Orioles

December 20, 2021, 4:44am

Orioles

Has this bizarre and stalled offseason taught us anything about the 2022 Orioles? Their direction, their mindset, their priorities, their plan? Your time is better spent reading a novel. There's more coming from a winter story that had to be bookmarked. In the meantime, here are a few observations on another slow morning: A willingness to spend on pitching We won't get a comment from executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias on the negotiating process that led to Jordan Lyles' $7...

Is there a starter ready to lower Lyles from No. 2 in rotation?

December 18, 2021, 8:32am

Orioles

Is there a starter ready to lower Lyles from No. 2 in rotation?

My question in Saturday's spring training storyline post about the starters who follow John Means and Jordan Lyles in the rotation was met with some online resistance. As in, why is Lyles the No. 2 starter with a career 54-79 record, 5.21 ERA and 1.435 WHIP in 11 seasons? I can offer seven million reasons - his guaranteed salary for 2022. Also, there isn't a proven top of the rotation starter that I'm ignoring. Or one of the prospects who was so overwhelmingly good this summer that he's...

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Bemboom braced for competition and Rutschman's arrival

December 18, 2021, 7:15am

Orioles

Bemboom braced for competition and Rutschman's arrival

Anthony Bemboom can read the room. Any catcher who has an agent negotiating with the Orioles doesn't go into it blindly. An organization that advertises itself as a land of opportunity has its limits. For the Orioles, it's offering competition in camp for a group of catchers, with the understanding that someone eventually must step aside. Bemboom hasn't met Adley Rutschman or watched him play, but he knows what's coming. He signed a minor league deal last week, following Jacob Nottingham,...

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Making another move into the mailbag

December 17, 2021, 5:41am

Orioles

If it's Sunday, it must be time to rummage through the ol' mailbag instead of letting it overflow and risking a few questions sticking to the bottom. I'll never forgive myself for taking 22 years to offer my opinion on the Orioles selecting Mike Paradis in the first round. And I wasn't ... wait for it ... Stahling before commenting on their next pick. (Look it up if you must and then forgive me.) Let's get to some of the fresher inquiries this morning, unedited in all their glory. I will...

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Leftovers for breakfast

December 16, 2021, 8:17am

Orioles

One of the offseason activities that is conducted every year and can't be influenced by the status of the collective bargaining agreement involves minor league signings aimed at improving depth at the lower levels or just taking a low-risk chance on a player. A favorable scouting report can lead to an opportunity. So can a team executive doing a favor for an agent that might pay dividends down the road with another client. I've seen that one done more than once in the past, though not in...

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Anticipating some Orioles camp competitions

December 15, 2021, 12:45pm

Orioles

Is it too early to start plucking favorite storylines from the spring training tree? I'll reach for some of the low-hanging ideas that may come to fruition. (Let's pause here and fully appreciate that last sentence.) This is a topic worth revisiting in a month or two. Perhaps after the locks are removed from the free agent market. In the meantime, here are four: Who's in the rotation behind John Means and Jordan Lyles? This feels like a mailbag question. Tracking the competition is a yearly...

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adley rutschman alexander wells bruce zimmermann dean kremer jahmai jones john means jordan lyles jorge lopez jorge mateo keegan akin kelvin gutierrez mike baumann orioles ramon urias richie martin rougned odor zac lowther featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Taking another look at Orioles' hires and promotions

December 14, 2021, 11:08am

Orioles

One of the most important tasks of the offseason is done. The Orioles set their major league coaching staff for 2022. Business that the lockout couldn't touch. Upon review, there isn't anything unexpected in the composition beyond a new title for Fredi GonzÃ¡lez, who becomes the first bench coach under manager Brandon Hyde after serving as major league coach for two seasons. There won't be a dramatic shift in his duties. He pretty much handled the responsibilities in the past. Major league...

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Tommy Wilson back in a team's future plans after Orioles trade

December 14, 2021, 6:56am

Orioles

Tommy Wilson's interest in the Triple-A Rule 5 draft hovered at such a low level that it kept him away from the online broadcast and couldn't interrupt his daily workouts at Cal State-Fullerton. He grabbed his phone and checked social media on a couple of occasions, wondering whether he'd leave the Mets organization. Much closer to curiosity than obsessing. "I didn't know if I was protected or not, so I was kind of waiting to see or waiting to hear," he said. "Then I found out on...

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Orioles announce 2022 coaching staff

December 14, 2021, 5:03am

Orioles

The Orioles have completed their 2022 staff under manager Brandon Hyde, going with co-hitting coaches and changing titles for Fredi GonzÃ¡lez and JosÃ© HernÃ¡ndez. Some of the moves were previously reported, including the promotion of Double-A Bowie hitting coach Ryan Fuller, who also served as the full-season hitting coordinator, and hiring of Matt Borgschulte from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints in the Twins organization. They replace hitting coach Don Long, who wasn't retained after...

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Orioles pull off a few surprising moves since final game

December 13, 2021, 9:45am

Orioles

The Orioles can be predictable in many aspects of the operation, especially after years of covering the team, but they also possess the skills to go left when I'm shaded toward the right. Stay bent at the knees and be prepared to pivot. I've been burned in offseason coverage a few times. Here are a half-dozen 2021 examples off the top of my head: Pitcher Chris Ellis outrighted Pretty much every early bullpen projection for 2022 had Ellis in a bulk relief role if he wasn't starting. Which, of...

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Some reasons why Nottingham netted a minor league deal

December 12, 2021, 11:22am

Orioles

Some reasons why Nottingham netted a minor league deal

The Orioles had a quiet weekend, at least on the transactions wire. They could have been working on their minor league coaching staffs or engaging in negotiations with representatives for minor league free agents. But nothing public to digest. Their work isn't done behind the plate, but Jacob Nottingham is a heavy favorite to make up half the catching duo on opening day because he's under contract. It doesn't take much more than that. The 40-man roster is lacking a backstop and that won't...

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More from the mailbag

December 10, 2021, 12:00pm

Orioles

Another week has passed since my last shallow dive into my mailbag. And if anyone is well-versed in being shallow, it's this guy. As usual, you're getting the raw and untampered version. The only editing is done if I catch the wrong punctuation in a sentence or change my mind about using profanity. Also, my mailbag strips down to its underwear, slaps on a coat of oil and wins every posedown. Are players chosen in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft required to stay on the team the entire...

Leftovers for breakfast

December 09, 2021, 1:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles signed five more pitchers this week to minor league deals, according to Major League Baseball's transactions page: Right-handers Bryan Bautista, Raynel Duran, Wilton Rondon and Darwin Caballero, and left-hander Noelin Cuevas. They also signed right-hander Jarlin Guerrero on Monday, which I noted a few days later. I didn't think the page was incorrect, but I checked anyway for confirmation. You're safe to run with it. These are the signings that don't garner much attention....

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How does Odor's signing impact Jones?

December 09, 2021, 7:07am

Orioles

The signing of Rougned Odor for the 2022 season fit the usual description of a placeholder for the Orioles until their top middle infield prospects are ready to hold down full-time jobs in the majors. Until the club decides where to spread out its shortstops, including Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg. The Orioles waited until Aug. 24 to recall Jahmai Jones from Triple-A Norfolk, after his bat had cooled and he appeared to grow a little more comfortable in his reintroduction to second base....

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Wondering whether Orioles acquire another outfielder

December 08, 2021, 1:12pm

Orioles

Areas that the Orioles must address during the offseason, when they're able to function normally again post-lockout, may or may not include the outfield. How's that for a definitive statement? The Orioles signed catcher Jacob Nottingham to a minor league contract last week, but they still don't have a backstop on the 40-man roster. They aren't done and could offer a major league deal after a new collective bargaining agreement allows it, along with at least one more minor league pact. The...

Orioles add two relievers in Triple-A Rule 5 draft (updated again)

December 08, 2021, 9:53am

Orioles

The Orioles made two selections in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft to bring the roster to a full 38, again relying on analytic data to improve their relief depth. They had the first overall pick and used it on sidearming right-hander Nolan Hoffman of the Mariners organization. They also chose right-hander Cole Uvila from the Rangers in the second round. Hoffman, 24, was a fifth round draft pick in 2018 out of Texas A&M. He hasn't pitched above high Single-A. Hoffman has posted a...

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Orioles sign Nottingham to minor league deal (and notes)

December 08, 2021, 7:49am

Orioles

The Orioles will begin announcing their selections in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft today after making a much-needed move to address their catching deficiency. Jacob Nottingham has signed a minor league deal that likely includes an invitation to spring training. The team revealed the transaction this morning, but it's listed in Baseball-Reference.com as happening on Dec. 1. Nottingham, 26, can provide an option at a position that's lost Pedro Severino, Austin Wynns and Nick Ciuffo...

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Time for Orioles to choose in Triple-A phase of Rule 5 draft

December 07, 2021, 8:39am

Orioles

Baseball's lockout and the slamming of brakes on offseason business only impacts the major league side. The minors are proceeding as usual, with their Winter Meetings in Orlando going along uninterrupted. And largely in silence. If an event is held and no one is there, does it make a sound? It used to be for the minor league people anyway. The majors crashed the party and took over, with media descending upon the hotel site and crowding the lobby area while team executives worked trades,...

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Mancini endorses Trumbo as coach, news on Trimble injury

December 06, 2021, 10:35am

Orioles

Mancini endorses Trumbo as coach, news on Trimble injury

The hitting voices in Trey Mancini's head are changing again. The Orioles didn't retain coach Don Long after three seasons. Long had replaced Scott Coolbaugh, who was hired in December 2014 and lasted four seasons. Assistant hitting coach JosÃ© HernÃ¡ndez is moving into a new role on manager Brandon Hyde's staff. The shuffling has led to the Orioles hiring co-hitting coaches, bringing Ryan Fuller from Double-A Bowie and going outside the organization for Matt Borgschulte. Mancini has...