Roch Kubatko

Orioles claim Fox, add six players to 40-man roster

November 19, 2021, 1:41pm

Orioles

The Orioles are protecting six players again in the Rule 5 draft that's scheduled for next month in Orlando, Fla., placing pitchers DL Hall, Kyle Bradish, Kevin Smith, FÃ©lix Bautista and Logan Gillaspie, and infielder Terrin Vavra on the 40-man roster at tonight's deadline. The day began with 32 openings, heavy subtractions made since the last game. The most recent transaction impacting the roster before today was the claiming of pitcher Bryan Baker off waivers from the Blue Jays on Nov....

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Trying to come up with a few answers to Orioles questions

November 18, 2021, 4:30am

Orioles

My mailbag hasn't reached a level that tempts me to empty it, your questions scattered all over the floor, but I don't mind a light sifting this morning. Extremely light. Like, Engelb Vielma light. Here are four questions that I'm tackling, being careful to not lead with my helmet: Julio Iglesias is a free agent after winding up with the Red Sox after the Orioles traded him to the Angels. Does Mike Elias bring him back? You meant JosÃ© and won't lose points or my respect. The Orioles need...

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Updating Orioles in the Arizona Fall League (and notes)

November 18, 2021, 4:12am

Orioles

The Mesa Solar Sox will represent the East Division in Saturday's Arizona Fall League championship game. The team that includes Orioles minor leaguers on its roster. Rings can be won in November, even for an organization that's rebuilding. They do receive rings, right? Anyway, the AFL season began with eight Orioles representatives on Mesa's roster, including catcher Ramon Rodriguez, who was listed as being on the taxi squad. There have been three subtractions, though outfielder Yusniel Diaz...

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Taking a last look at possible protections in Rule 5 draft

November 16, 2021, 11:37am

Orioles

Taking a last look at possible protections in Rule 5 draft

The Orioles' 40-man roster is holding at 32 players and must be set by Friday, before a Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings that remains in limbo, as well as Orlando, with the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias will complete the task of protecting players, which follows the many transactions that cleared room for them. There will be the obvious calls and probably at least one that seems possible but falls a little short of a...

How will Fuller and Borgschulte mesh on Orioles coaching staff?

November 16, 2021, 8:32am

Orioles

The decision by the Orioles to make two hires for the position of hitting coach, splitting them between someone outside the organization and a young instructor in their minor league system, had been anticipated for weeks. As well as the arrangement, growing in popularity in the industry, to abandon the assistant role and go with co-hitting coaches. I wrote about it here. What I didn't know is exactly how it would work. How would Ryan Fuller, formerly the hitting coach at Double-A Bowie and the...

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More of this, that and the other

November 15, 2021, 3:27pm

Orioles

Ryan Mountcastle is inching up the Rookie of the Year voting. Just in time to no longer qualify for the award next season. Mountcastle finished sixth in the American League, receiving two second-place votes and four third place. His 10 points left him one behind Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase. The Rays' Randy Arozarena was first with 124 points, followed by the Astros' Luis Garcia (63), the Rays' Wander Franco (30) and the Rangers' Adolis GarcÃa (27). The Rays' Shane McClanahan was...

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Orioles promote Fuller and hire Borgschulte as hitting coaches

November 15, 2021, 12:20pm

Orioles

The Orioles made two hires this afternoon to fill out their coaching staff in 2022. Ryan Fuller has been promoted from Double-A and joins Matt Borgschulte, summoned from the Twins organization, to serve as co-hitting coaches. Fuller was the Baysox's hitting coach and full-season hitting coordinator. Borgschulte worked as hitting coach with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. The duo replaces Don Long, who was informed after the season that he wouldn't return. As reported earlier this month,...

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This, that and the other

November 14, 2021, 12:29pm

Orioles

The results of the Baseball Writers' Association of America Rookie of the Year voting will be announced tonight beginning at 6 p.m. on MLB Network. The National League winner will go first. Ryan Mountcastle isn't among the three finalists in the American League, but we'll find out where he's slotted behind the group. Mountcastle can't do better than fourth after trailing Tampa Bay's Randy Arozarena and Wander Franco and Houston's Luis Garcia. Critics of Franco, formerly the No. 1...

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Watkins on re-signing with Orioles and new training plan

November 13, 2021, 3:33pm

Orioles

Spenser Watkins didn't have a pre-arranged agreement to stay with the Orioles after they outrighted him to Triple-A Norfolk earlier this month. He was a free agent with the right to join any team that offered him a contract. He never wanted to leave, and the Orioles made certain that he stayed in the organization. Watkins agreed to a minor league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, where he'll attempt to again crack the 40-man roster. "Before this happened, there...

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Orioles agree to contract terms with Rico Garcia

November 10, 2021, 7:30am

Orioles

The desire for more pitching depth has led the Orioles to right-hander Rico Garcia. The Orioles have agreed to terms with Garcia, 27, on a minor league deal pending a physical, according to a source. He didn't pitch this summer and went on the 60-day injured list with Double-A Richmond on May 17 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March. Garcia became a minor league free agent this month. The Rockies selected Garcia in the 30th round of the 2016 draft out of Hawaii Pacific University. The...

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Wondering whether a winter Orioles report resurfaces

November 09, 2021, 11:01am

Orioles

The sorting of fact from fiction, of rumor from real, is one of the most taxing but necessary activities of the baseball offseason. A winter wonder which. I discovered that the Marlins had interest in Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander prior to the 2021 season, but it didn't go anywhere. Santander was the reigning Most Valuable Oriole and despite losing his arbitration hearing, his salary jumped from $572,500 to $2.1 million. It made sense to keep Santander and it made sense to check the...

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Taking a closer look at some minor league free agents (updated)

November 09, 2021, 8:03am

Orioles

Taking a closer look at some minor league free agents (updated)

No matter if baseball's Winter Meetings proceed as planned next month in Orlando, Fla., or are shelved while a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias will be keeping both eyes on the major and minor league free agent markets. Large sums of cash won't be spent, but there are ways to upgrade the roster and depth at the highest levels of the farm system. Venturing to the minor league side allows the Orioles to increase camp...

Can Stewart solidify his spot on 40-man roster?

November 09, 2021, 5:24am

Orioles

Can Stewart solidify his spot on 40-man roster?

Earlier this week, I wrote about outfielder Yusniel Diaz and the importance of staying healthy in 2022 and putting up the kind of numbers that finally get him to the majors - and at least keep him on the 40-man roster. Then there's DJ Stewart, also an outfielder who brought big-time expectations into the organization. Diaz after being the central figure in the Manny Machado trade with the Dodgers. Stewart after being the 25th overall selection in the 2015 draft out of Florida State...

Mayo on professional experience and moving up

November 08, 2021, 3:39pm

Orioles

Mayo on professional experience and moving up

One year after participating in the Orioles' fall instructional league camp, young third baseman Coby Mayo is in Sarasota, Fla., again and feeling more comfortable after his first season of professional baseball. Mayo couldn't play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season. He reported to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League this year, a common starting point for draft picks and especially high school players, and moved up to Single-A Delmarva after 26 games and 91 plate...

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Thoughts on acquiring Baker and latest version of 40-man roster

November 08, 2021, 3:33pm

Orioles

Thoughts on acquiring Baker and latest version of 40-man roster

With yesterday's waiver claim of reliever Bryan Baker, the Orioles are carrying 17 pitchers on a 40-man roster that is unrecognizable since the final game on Oct. 3. Baker's arrival leaves the Orioles with 32 players on it, still plenty of space to protect minor league prospects in the Rule 5 draft and perhaps to claim two - again, if the Winter Meetings aren't nixed after the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement. I did my share of speculating on the bubble pitchers and...

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Orioles claim Bryan Baker off waivers (with Mountcastle note)

November 08, 2021, 11:53am

Orioles

The Orioles claimed reliever Bryan Baker off waivers from the Blue Jays this afternoon, increasing their 40-man roster to 32 players. Baker, who turns 27 next month, made his major league debut with a scoreless inning against the Athletics on Sept. 5. He allowed a hit and struck out a batter in his lone appearance. An 11th-round pick of the Rockies in 2016 out of the University of North Florida, Baker went 6-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 0.847 WHIP this summer in 39 relief appearances with Triple-A...

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Learning more about Mountcastle, Mullins' chances at awards

November 07, 2021, 11:10am

Orioles

Learning more about Mountcastle, Mullins' chances at awards

The finalists for 2021 Baseball Writers' Association of America awards will be announced tonight at 6 p.m. on MLB Network. When Ryan Mountcastle finds out whether he's in the top three in voting for Rookie of the Year in the American League. Mountcastle was chosen Rookie of the Year by his peers in the Major League Baseball Players Association's Players Choice Awards, finishing ahead of the Rays' Randy Arozarena and the Rangers' Adolis GarcÃa. They could be finalists for the BBWAA...

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This, that and the other

November 05, 2021, 2:27pm

Orioles

The Orioles began their offseason with eight players eligible for arbitration, but the class has been whittled to six. Infielder Pat Valaika and catcher Pedro Severino passed through waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, setting up their plunges into free agency. MLBTradeRumors.com projected that Valaika would earn $1.3 million next season and Severino $3.1 million. For a team needing to clear substantial space on the 40-man roster, these were easy calls to make. Left among the...

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Orioles lose Hunter Harvey on waiver claim (updated)

November 05, 2021, 12:09pm

Orioles

The Orioles made another roster move this afternoon and it eliminated a former first-round draft pick whose attempts at becoming a high-leverage reliever in the back end of the bullpen will continue in another organization. Multiple sources confirmed that the Giants claimed Hunter Harvey off waivers. He was on the 60-day injured list, which didn't count against a 40-man roster that holds at 30, but the Orioles were approaching the date to reinstate him. Harvey was the 22nd overall pick in the...

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Westburg, Henderson and Mayo staying on course toward majors

November 05, 2021, 10:51am

Orioles

Westburg, Henderson and Mayo staying on course toward majors

The Orioles' fall instructional league camp is an interesting mix of top prospects, ballyhooed international signings and trade acquisitions, and players who began to get noticed and want to keep improving their stock. What's missing are the intrasquad games. It's more about workouts, conditioning and strength, education and bonding. Infield prospect Jordan Westburg describes it as "a good foundation for all of us guys that are young in this organization, just building...