Roch Kubatko

More on Silver Sluggers and the outrighted Orioles

October 25, 2021, 3:53pm

Orioles

Did anyone really predict before the season that Cedric Mullins would be a finalist for a Silver Slugger Award? If you were told that one Oriole would be honored, would you have chosen Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander or Ryan Mountcastle ahead of Mullins? I don't know what's left to say about the guy who decided to bat only from the left side. Mullins was the easy choice as Most Valuable Oriole and no one in the media ventured outside the box and denied him a first-place vote. He's going to...

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Mullins chosen as Silver Slugger finalist

October 25, 2021, 1:06pm

Orioles

Mullins chosen as Silver Slugger finalist

No Orioles player has won a Silver Slugger Award since Mark Trumbo in 2016. Cedric Mullins will attempt to break the streak. Mullins is among eight American League outfielders nominated for the honor, which recognizes the top offensive players at every position. Three are chosen for the outfield, whether in left, center or right. Recognition keeps coming to Mullins, the first player in Orioles history with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. He's also a finalist for the Major...

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Lukewarm takes on a few Orioles topics

October 24, 2021, 4:46pm

Orioles

The Orioles could break camp with firm plans to play Ryan Mountcastle at first base and use Trey Mancini as their designated hitter, which is how they routinely appeared in the lineup over the second half. Mountcastle is making steady progress as a defender, going back to his third position while the Orioles are covered in the outfield corners. They'd prefer to keep a player that young from pulling regular DH duty. But there's a complication to an otherwise solid plan when Adley Rutschman...

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More on Orioles' 40-man moves, plus Stowers note

October 23, 2021, 3:29pm

Orioles

As the participants in the World Series begin to come into focus, the Orioles are busy doing their own heavy lifting with moves to clear room on their 40-man roster. They needed a big broom. The season concluded with a full 40-man. Putting reliever Zack Burdi on waivers, and he was claimed by the Diamondbacks, was just the first attempt. They're down to 35 after outrighting catcher Austin Wynns, infielder Pat Valaika, and pitchers Thomas Eshelman and Konner Wade. That leaves space for the five...

Orioles outright Valaika, Eshelman and Wade

October 23, 2021, 6:16am

Orioles

The Orioles outrighted four players off their 40-man roster yesterday to reduce the total to 35, as they continue to perform one of the more important offseason tasks leading into the Rule 5 draft in December. In addition to catcher Austin Wynns, whose disposition was reported yesterday, the Orioles also outrighted pitchers Thomas Eshelman and Konner Wade and infielder Pat Valaika, per the transactions page at MLB.com. The club hasn't announced the moves. Valaika was eligible again for...

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Leftovers for breakfast

October 22, 2021, 4:09pm

Orioles

Different reasons exist for candidates to qualify for Comeback Player of the Year in the majors. It can be a productive return from a down season. It can be a return from a serious injury. Trey Mancini is a finalist in the Major League Baseball Players Association's Players Choice Awards after missing the 2020 season with Stage 3 colon cancer. Just typing that sentence makes him feel like the favorite over teammate Cedric Mullins and the Mariners' Mitch Haniger, but we'll find out Thursday...

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Orioles outright Austin Wynns

October 22, 2021, 10:07am

Orioles

The Orioles performed more work on their 40-man roster this afternoon, outrighting catcher Austin Wynns after he cleared waivers, according to sources. Wynns can become a free agent. The 40-man is down to 38 players, the most recent move before today coming last week when the Diamondbacks claimed reliever Zack Burdi off waivers. Wynns, 30, batted .185/.232/.308 in 45 games, with four doubles, four home runs and 14 RBIs in 139 plate appearances. He threw out 11 of 29 runners attempting to steal...

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A little more on Mateo

October 21, 2021, 5:19pm

Orioles

No one is handing a job in 2022 to the batch of Orioles in-house infield candidates beyond first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, which pretty much makes for a typical offseason in the rebuild. I'm confident that they'll sign at least one free agent, and perhaps to a major league deal. They could make another waiver claim, as they did with second baseman Yolmer SÃ¡nchez. Perhaps this time they'll keep him beyond spring training. I've made RamÃ³n UrÃas a heavy favorite to stay with the...

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Another look at players in the fall instructional league camp

October 20, 2021, 1:34pm

Orioles

Another look at players in the fall instructional league camp

The fall instructional league camp is entering its fourth day down in Sarasota, Fla., more activity at the Ed Smith Stadium complex before pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 15. Here are a few more participants who caught my eye when the Orioles shared their list with the media: * They loaded up their camp roster with 17 of the 2021 draft picks, and they included outfielder/first baseman Billy Cook, a 10th-rounder out of Pepperdine University. Cook, 22, led the West Coast...

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Catching up on the Orioles' plans behind the plate

October 19, 2021, 11:23am

Orioles

The clock keeps ticking on Adley Rutschman, and the sound of it can drown out a 747. A one-one makes more noise. Rutschman is going to play in the majors in 2022, but Orioles fans want to know whether he breaks camp with the team or returns to Triple-A Norfolk, where he appeared in 43 games last summer and batted .312/.405/.490 with nine doubles, two triples, five home runs and 20 RBIs. He threw out runners attempting to steal second and third base. He handled the pitching staff with a maturity...

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More on the Orioles' fall instructional camp

October 18, 2021, 4:20pm

Orioles

The Orioles released the names of the 50 players invited to their fall instructional league camp in Sarasota, Fla. An interesting mix that highlights the organization's commitment to the amateur draft and international market - two of the most powerful fuels to get the rebuild moving in the right direction. What did we learn from the names on the roster and accompanying information? * Players recovering from injuries or surgeries are progressing to the point where they can be participants in...

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anthony servideo anthony villa billy cook buck britton carlos bavera carter baumler coby mayo collin burns colton cowser connor norby connor pavolony creed willems dave schmidt donta' williams dylan heid felix bautista garrett stallings heston kjerstad hudson haskin jacob teter jean pinto joey ortiz john rhodes jordan westburg justin armbruester keagan gillies kyle brnovich mike elias orioles peter van loon reed trimble ryan fuller ryan higgins trendon craig zach peek fall instructional league orioles farm report frontstory_orioles3

Orioles open fall instructional camp in Sarasota

October 18, 2021, 6:46am

Orioles

The Orioles begin their fall instructional league camp this morning in Sarasota, Fla., and players gathering at the Ed Smith Stadium complex include 19 that MLBPipeline.com ranks among the top 30 prospects in the organization. One of the headliners is outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the second-overall pick in the 2020 draft who hasn't been able to play since his diagnosis of myocarditis following his selection. He's been taking batting practice and is now cleared for an increase in baseball...

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Defense doesn't deserve diminished attention in offseason

October 17, 2021, 10:38am

Orioles

Defense doesn't deserve diminished attention in offseason

Many of the Orioles' 2021 statistics won't be shocking when plucked from the team's season summary, but finishing with the third-highest fielding percentage in the American League at .987 and the sixth-highest in the majors is an unexpected nugget. Upgrading the defense must remain a priority, as it's been in past winters. The Orioles claimed former Gold Glove winner Yolmer SÃ¡nchez off waivers Oct. 30 to play second base, but he didn't make it out of camp and they decided to experiment...

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Orioles facing many more 40-man moves

October 16, 2021, 7:39am

Orioles

The early work on the Orioles' 40-man roster consisted of one move that probably didn't require hours of study, deliberation and angst. The team likes Travis Lakins Sr. Manager Brandon Hyde talked about the reliever's recovery from elbow surgery and the likelihood that he'd be ready for spring training. But it made no sense to move Lakins from the 60-day injured list to a 40-man roster that requires heavy cuts. A chain saw rather than a pocket knife. Teams figured to pass on Lakins after he...

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This, that and the other

October 15, 2021, 2:02pm

Orioles

Becoming the first Orioles player with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season should be the most impressive achievement for Cedric Mullins in 2021, but discussions on his breakout year inevitably circle back to how he abandoned switch-hitting and experienced left-on-left success. It blows away everyone who talks about it. I've had scouts, in the middle of a chat, bring up what Mullins did against left-handed pitching and how unusual it was to make that decision. To choose one side...

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Orioles lose Burdi on waivers and outright Lakins

October 14, 2021, 1:59pm

Orioles

The Orioles began work this afternoon on a 40-man roster that must undergo significant changes to accommodate injured players and prospects eligible for the Rule 5 draft. One spot opened up when reliever Zack Burdi was put on waivers and claimed today by the Diamondbacks. The 40-man now holds 39 players. Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 30 and made his lone appearance with the Orioles on Sept. 6, tossing a scoreless inning against the Royals. He was optioned the next day. The...

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Three more injuries ruin another season for Hunter Harvey

October 14, 2021, 6:51am

Orioles

Three more injuries ruin another season for Hunter Harvey

The latest injury appeared like so many others in Hunter Harvey's professional life. Without warning and with total disregard for what he's endured since the Orioles drafted him in the first round and predicted greatness. Harvey was working through his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk after recovering from a strained right latissimus dorsi. The Orioles transferred him to the 60-day injured list on Sept. 7, a paper move to create space on the 40-man roster. He was eligible to return any...

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Harvey on Rutschman: "Ain't no joke with him. He's got everything"

October 13, 2021, 10:11am

Orioles

Harvey on Rutschman: "Ain't no joke with him. He's got everything"

In December 2020, the Orioles signed Nick Ciuffo to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training as their annual move to improve their catching depth and increase competition for the backup job. Only, in this instance, they didn't target the typical veteran experience. They signed Bryan Holaday and Taylor Davis to minor league deals on the same day in January 2020. They broke camp with JesÃºs Sucre and Pedro Severino in 2019. Austin Wynns was on the injured list. He could be...

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adley rutschman austin wynns gary kendall hunter harvey kennie steenstra nick ciuffo orioles paul fry pedro severino kyle stowers featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Fry on struggles, confidence, why Rays had his number, more

October 12, 2021, 3:56pm

Orioles

Fry on struggles, confidence, why Rays had his number, more

The truest reset for Paul Fry didn't start until he returned to his Michigan home. Fry never got back to Camden Yards after the Orioles optioned him following another disastrous outing against the Rays on Aug. 29. He figured to make a pit stop at Triple-A Norfolk, with a few scoreless appearances leading to his recall, but his command remained an issue until time ran out. The left-hander registered a 1.78 ERA in his first 26 appearances and briefly served as closer, but he had a 11.05 ERA over...

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Another look at arbitration-eligible Orioles

October 11, 2021, 11:48am

Orioles

The Orioles must tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players by Dec. 2, assuming they can conduct business on that date. The collective bargaining agreement expires the previous day. I yearn for the days when CBA made me think "Continental Basketball Association." Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias has decisions pending on eight players - Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander, John Means, Jorge LÃ³pez, Pedro Severino, Pat Valaika, Paul Fry and Tanner Scott....