Roch Kubatko

Elias on virtual meetings, shortstop, starting pitching, more

December 08, 2020, 1:48pm

Orioles

Elias on virtual meetings, shortstop, starting pitching, more

The virtual Winter Meetings are making Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias yearn for the standard setup, which couldn't exist in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Elias couldn't meet with beat writers in his hotel suite this afternoon, instead dispersing the usual nuggets of information via a Zoom conference call. "It's not the same," Elias said. "I think all of us take the Winter Meetings for granted and we groan about some of the repetition of it, but I think...

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Iglesias: "Baltimore was special for me"

December 08, 2020, 8:32am

Orioles

Iglesias: "Baltimore was special for me"

JosÃ© Iglesias didn't expect his phone to ring Wednesday night with news that would shake up the professional side of his life and spark emotions on the personal side. He didn't expect to hear from Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias or to be told that he was traded again. He fell in love with the Orioles and felt the sting of a sudden breakup. Elias informed Iglesias that the veteran shortstop was going to the Angels in exchange for minor league pitchers Garrett...

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Orioles select Goudeau off waivers and outright Wynns

December 07, 2020, 9:52am

Orioles

The Orioles made their first virtual Winter Meetings move this afternoon by claiming right-hander Ashton Goudeau off waivers from the Pirates and outrighting catcher Austin Wynns to Triple-A Norfolk. The 40-man roster still holds 38 players heading into Thursday's Rule 5 draft. Goudeau, 28, made his major league debut this summer with the Rockies. He allowed seven runs and 15 hits in four relief appearances covering 8 1/3 innings. The Royals selected Goudeau in the 27th round of the 2012...

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Remembering how the Orioles landed a shortstop in 2010

December 07, 2020, 5:00am

Orioles

The Orioles aren't expected to be nearly as busy retooling the roster this week, which has been advertised as some sort of virtual Winter Meetings, as they were in 2010. Still a tough act to follow. They're in a different place, and I don't just mean home compared to Lake Buena Vista, Fla. They needed a shortstop, as they do now, and traded for J.J. Hardy after almost finalizing a deal for Jason Bartlett - one of the best decisions in franchise history. They also were linked to Cardinals...

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Adjusting to home version of Winter Meetings

December 06, 2020, 7:27am

Orioles

Adjusting to home version of Winter Meetings

The elimination of in-person Winter Meetings reduces one longstanding debate. Do they technically begin on Sunday or Monday? This isn't a heated discussion and it's more likely to be confined to my own head. I considered Sunday to be a travel day, though news could break - such as the Blue Jays targeting executive Dan Duquette for their president position, which we learned while on the same flight, or the Orioles nearing an agreement with veteran reliever Darren O'Day - and on occasion the...

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Because You Asked - Final Cut

December 03, 2020, 11:06am

Orioles

The mailbag is getting full again, which sends me scurrying to find answers and a new sequel title. You know the drill. You ask, I respond, you ask again, I respond again and our relationship grows stronger. Curiosity killed the cat, but it keeps this blog alive through the dog days of winter. Any surprises at the non-tender deadline? Such a negative person. You could have referred to it as the "tender deadline." Anyway, catcher Pedro Severino went from vulnerable to recipient of a $1.825...

How will the Orioles fill in their infield?

December 03, 2020, 10:33am

Orioles

Who's on first. What's on second. I don't know is on third. The Orioles can round out their infield by making us wonder who or what is at shortstop. I don't know. They don't know. We've come a long way from the days of Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Chris Davis - with Ryan Flaherty the primary backup. JosÃ© Iglesias won't be the shortstop in 2021 because the Orioles traded him and the $3.5 million on his contract to the Angels for two minor league pitchers. They're...

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Eshelman elects free agency

December 03, 2020, 7:44am

Orioles

The free-agent market has gained a former Orioles starter. Thomas Eshelman cleared waivers yesterday and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles announced this morning that he elected free agency rather than remain in their system. Eshelman, 26, has a previous outright assignment, which gives him veto power. The Orioles designated him for assignment on Sept. 2, 2019 while activating Mark Trumbo from the 60-day injured list. The willingness of the Orioles to part with Eshelman this week...

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This, that and the other (with salary update)

December 02, 2020, 5:30pm

Orioles

This, that and the other (with salary update)

Last night's trade of shortstop JosÃ© Iglesias was the shocker among a series of moves made by the Orioles. The one transaction that dropped jaws after they picked up his $3.5 million option a month ago. Hanser Alberto was a strong non-tender candidate and the Orioles sent him into the free agent market. They were more inclined to hold onto infielders Yolmer SÃ¡nchez and Pat Valaika and reliever Shawn Armstrong. They had no intention of non-tendering outfielders Trey Mancini and Anthony...

Elias discusses today's activity

December 02, 2020, 4:58pm

Orioles

The Orioles are interested in negotiating a new contract with infielder Hanser Alberto, who has been non-tendered and allowed to enter the free agent market. The cost in arbitration was too rich for the club, but they'd like to bring him back on a friendlier deal and expect to maintain contact with his agent. They're also going to be busy finding a replacement for JosÃ© Iglesias, who was traded tonight to the Angels for minor league pitchers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto. Executive vice...

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Orioles trade Iglesias to Angels (updated again)

December 02, 2020, 2:40pm

Orioles

The Orioles did more today than decide the contract status of their remaining arbitration-eligible players. They also traded shortstop JosÃ© Iglesias to the Angels after picking up the $3.5 million option on his contract a month ago. An industry source confirmed the trade. The return for Iglesias is unknown, but it marks the second deal between the teams around the non-tender deadline. The Orioles sent pitcher Dylan Bundy to the Angels a year ago for four minor league pitchers, including...

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Orioles sign SÃ¡nchez

December 02, 2020, 7:11am

Orioles

The Orioles whittled their list of unsigned arbitration-eligible players to five this morning by reaching agreement with infielder Yolmer SÃ¡nchez on a 2021 contract, according to an industry source. SÃ¡nchez is signed for $1 million and waiting to learn whether he's a candidate to start at second or third base. He could land in the utility mix, with his arrival perhaps having a domino effect on the roster. Hanser Alberto could be impacted. Pat Valaika could be impacted. They're also...

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Wells wondered whether O's would put him on 40-man roster

December 01, 2020, 1:10pm

Orioles

Wells wondered whether O's would put him on 40-man roster

The Orioles didn't need to remove pitcher Alexander Wells from his home in Australia and dump him into the 60-man player pool over the summer. They were fine with excluding him from the fall instructional league. As executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said a few weeks ago, Wells had "a really good setup" that enabled the team to avoid the hassles of international travel during a pandemic. Wells, a native of Newcastle, was placed on the 40-man roster to protect him from the...

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Latest review of arbitration-eligible O's (Severino update)

November 30, 2020, 9:02am

Orioles

Latest review of arbitration-eligible O's (Severino update)

The baseball offseason wouldn't feel complete unless the names of arbitration-eligible players and projected raises were recited weekly until the deadline, which mercifully is arriving on Wednesday. There were seven Orioles on the original list. Yolmer SÃ¡nchez increased it to eight, but Renato NÃºÃ±ez came off after being designated for assignment and granted his release. Trades are possible in the coming days, just as the Orioles dealt infielder Jonathan Villar and starter Dylan Bundy...

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Sharing some questions and curiosities

November 30, 2020, 6:16am

Orioles

I have questions. The issue is how none of them can be answered and I'm not known for my patience. Pitchers and catchers are supposed to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Feb. 16, but booking travel now seems like wasted energy with the possibility of a COVID-related delay. Not only am I unsure about the chances of spring training starting on the time, I have no idea whether media will be granted access. The whole production could be done again over Zoom. If allowed inside the gates,...

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Sorting through some super-utility candidates

November 28, 2020, 10:58am

Orioles

Sorting through some super-utility candidates

Utility competitions in spring training usually elicit as much excitement as a Perry Como concert. There's a better chance of finding an olive pit than a mosh pit. (We interrupt this blog entry to bring you a link to one of the funniest skits of all time from the '80s. Eugene Levy at his finest. You'll thank me later.) The importance of having versatile players shouldn't be minimized. Guys who can handle assignments at multiple positions in the infield and outfield are increasing in value,...

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Trying to make sense of the Puig report

November 26, 2020, 6:35am

Orioles

The hot stove doesn't have much cooking with the Orioles. Rebuilding teams tend to sit on the national media's back burner. And clubs that tend to do some of their heaviest lifting in spring training are going to get lighter coverage in November and December. The Orioles finally are tied to a free agent, with MLB.com reporting again per sources that there's interest in veteran outfielder Yasiel Puig. Makes even less sense to me now than earlier in the year. Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith...

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Orioles release NÃºÃ±ez, claim Shaw and DFA Eshelman

November 25, 2020, 11:08am

Orioles

With the Orioles unable to negotiate a trade prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, Renato NÃºÃ±ez has moved into the next phase of his offseason. NÃºÃ±ez cleared unconditional waivers and was given his release this afternoon, enabling him to enter free agency as a power bat with experience at the infield corners. The Orioles had no plans to tender NÃºÃ±ez a contract with a projected arbitration raise of more than $2 million. They designated him for assignment on Friday while setting...

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chris shaw mike elias orioles renato nunez thomas eshelman featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Searching for reasons to be thankful

November 25, 2020, 5:17am

Orioles

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us and traditions are being shut down like a spring training camp. Large family gatherings and out-of-state travel are discouraged due to health concerns rather than the bickering and your weird uncle's inappropriate comments. The two football games today interest me about as much as month-old sweet potato casserole, but I'll still watch them. They were supposed to be pigskin appetizers before Ravens-Steelers, which is going to be as satisfying as month-old...

Mattson takes big step with placement on 40-man roster

November 23, 2020, 11:49am

Orioles

Mattson takes big step with placement on 40-man roster

Isaac Mattson could have competed for a spot in the Orioles bullpen as an invite to spring training, with his contract selected later. Breaking camp with the team would have remained a goal and a possibility. Now he gets to try it as a member of the 40-man roster. Protected from the Rule 5 draft next month. The organization's commitment to him more clearly defined. Mattson was included among the six players added to the roster at Friday's deadline. He's been working out and wondering since...