Roch Kubatko

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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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...

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McKenna: "Whenever that opportunity arrives, I'm ready for it"

November 23, 2020, 4:46am

Orioles

McKenna: "Whenever that opportunity arrives, I'm ready for it"

The improved outfield depth in the Orioles system sets up some interesting competitions next spring. Presents some tricky roster decisions. Makes some players viewed as outsiders motivated to kill the narrative. Ryan McKenna hasn't played above Double-A, with the cancellation of the minor league season preventing an introduction to the International League. He's expected to begin 2021 at Triple-A Norfolk if permitted, but won't be penning his concession speech before arriving at the Ed Smith...

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Remembering the ruined relationship with Rochester

November 21, 2020, 2:50pm

Orioles

Remembering the ruined relationship with Rochester

The news last week that the Nationals were adopting Rochester as their Triple-A affiliate - so much for the gag order intended to withhold announcements until a later date - immediately took me back to the day that the Red Wings severed ties with the Orioles. This was a huge deal. They had been affiliated since 1961 - a span of 42 years that represented the longest relationship between major league and Triple-A teams. So many future stars began to shine in Rochester. It was hard to imagine the...

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McKenna relates to and rates newest 40-man members

November 21, 2020, 2:31pm

Orioles

McKenna relates to and rates newest 40-man members

Ryan McKenna grabbed his phone Friday evening after the Orioles announced which players were given spots on the 40-man roster to protect them in the Rule 5 draft. He had some calls to make. And some memories to share. McKenna enjoyed the same experience last year with his placement on the 40-man. Less of a certainty than outfielder/first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and pitchers Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer, but allowed to shed invite status in spring training. It would be the highlight for McKenna,...

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More thoughts on the NÃºÃ±ez DFA

November 20, 2020, 4:49pm

Orioles

As the 6 p.m. deadline approached and passed yesterday without an announcement from the Orioles on setting their 40-man roster, it became apparent that something was in the works beyond just choosing which prospects to protect in the Rule 5 draft. The Orioles were going to also choose a player to be designated for assignment. With the many additions would come a subtraction. Call it a hunch. Renato NÃºÃ±ez went from non-tender candidate to a DFA, which shook up some fans on Twitter who...

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Orioles protect six players and DFA NÃºÃ±ez (updated)

November 20, 2020, 1:19pm

Orioles

The Orioles reached the maximum on their 40-man roster this afternoon with the additions of outfielder Yusniel Diaz, infielder Rylan Bannon, and pitchers Michael Baumann, Zac Lowther, Isaac Mattson and Alexander Wells. To create a spot, the Orioles have designated Renato NÃºÃ±ez for assignment. He led the club in home runs the past two seasons and is eligible for arbitration. The deadline to set the roster was 6 p.m. The six players are now protected from the Rule 5 draft, which is held on...

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Reviewing past Rule 5 risks

November 19, 2020, 5:44am

Orioles

Leaving players unprotected in the Rule 5 draft comes with varying levels of risk, though they usually wind up back in their organizations as teams give up trying to carry them through an entire major league season. There's the occasional waiver claim, which is how the Orioles acquired shortstop JosÃ© Morban on March 28, 2003. The Twins would have offered him back to the Rangers, but the Orioles intervened and utility player Jeff Reboulet was pulled off the field and told that he actually...

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Looking at leadership on the Orioles

November 19, 2020, 5:30am

Orioles

As I watch the National Football League and college teams try to make it through their seasons with the COVID-19 interruptions and rescheduling - Maryland's games against Ohio State and Michigan State have been canceled, for example, as the Terrapins pause all activities - I'm still amazed that Major League Baseball reached the finish line. I didn't like the chances at the outset and lost the last ounces of faith after the Marlins debacle. The biggest win recorded at Camden Yards was the...

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Checking the 40-man roster again before it inflates

November 18, 2020, 5:43am

Orioles

Checking the 40-man roster again before it inflates

With the Orioles on the verge of adjusting their 40-man roster, this seems like an opportune time for a final scroll of the current edition. There are 35 players listed and at least three prospects are expected to join them by today's deadline. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is likely to make further subtractions later as he attempts to plug holes or increase depth via the free agent and trade markets - though minor league deals would delay the process. Here are the 15...

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Iglesias glad to be an Oriole and expecting to win in 2021

November 17, 2020, 3:17pm

Orioles

Iglesias glad to be an Oriole and expecting to win in 2021

JosÃ© Iglesias was driving to one of the happy places in his life. His ranch about an hour outside of Miami. Twice described by the shortstop as "beautiful" before his arrival yesterday afternoon. Iglesias seems to be on a nice roll whether or not his vehicle is in motion. He's remaining with the Orioles, who picked up the $3.5 million option on his contract rather than paying the $500,000 buyout and tossing him into the free agent pool. He's back with the organization that he never...

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Will Orioles protect Isaac Mattson from Rule 5 draft?

November 17, 2020, 4:40am

Orioles

The internal discussions in the Orioles organization related to Friday's deadline for setting the 40-man roster expand beyond the prospect lists that are blooming in the fall. You won't find reliever Isaac Mattson in the top 30 published by MLBPipeline.com. You could find him among the protected players. There's room on the bubble for Mattson and, without any inside information, I'm predicting that he goes on the 40-man along with outfielder Yusniel Diaz and pitchers Michael Baumann and Zac...

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O's acquire Padilla from Astros (plus Hall of Fame ballot note)

November 16, 2020, 8:27am

Orioles

O's acquire Padilla from Astros (plus Hall of Fame ballot note)

The Orioles have acquired 18-year-old right-hander Miguel Padilla from the Astros as the player to be named later in the Hector VelÃ¡zquez trade on July 29. Padilla signed as an international free agent on Nov. 26, 2018, out of Carora, Venezuela. He appeared in 19 games for the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Astros in 2019, going 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. Padilla allowed six earned runs and 20 hits and surrendered only two home runs in 26 innings. He walked 16...

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How it looks to get O's prospects back into minor league season

November 16, 2020, 5:52am

Orioles

How it looks to get O's prospects back into minor league season

I wasn't aware of the term "coronavirus pandemic expansion" until reading it last week in an article detailing how Southwest Airlines is adding Sarasota, Fla., to its growing list of destinations. Finally, the official airline of the Baltimore Orioles is providing flights to the team's spring training home. Always made sense to me. This is big news to beat writers who have been flying into Tampa and driving an hour. Trying to avoid the traffic jam heading back to Tampa International Airport...

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Orioles nearing completion of VelÃ¡zquez deal

November 15, 2020, 11:57am

Orioles

The business conducted this week by Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias isn't confined to setting the 40-man roster for the Rule 5 draft. It's more than figuring out which free agents could fit on the active roster for opening day. It's more than compiling a list of candidates for third base coach and infield instructor. There's a trade that needs to be completed. The first trade that's now become the last one to be finalized. The Orioles are working out the...

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This, that and the other

November 12, 2020, 7:55am

Orioles

By the end of the week, the Orioles will be required to make further adjustments to their 40-man roster in order to protect players in the Rule 5 draft. Teams now pay $100,000 to select a player in the major league phase, and he can be offered back to his former organization for half the fee. I remember when it was $50,000 and $25,000, but the last collective bargaining agreement upped the cost. Could also explain my increased alcohol consumption, unless that's COVID related. The Orioles have...

A word on the awards

November 11, 2020, 8:42am

Orioles

We've made it past the awards portion of the offseason. Someone pump the brakes before we slam into the New Year. Ryan Mountcastle was the only member of the Orioles to receive a vote in the four major awards. For third place in Rookie of the Year. One point for one of the most important players in the rebuild. If you have an affinity for early projections, Mountcastle will rank among the favorites for the honor in 2021. He's going to be on the opening day roster. No "late arrival" excuses...

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Mancini's latest health and baseball updates

November 11, 2020, 7:58am

Orioles

Mancini's latest health and baseball updates

The workouts and positive feelings remain a staple of Trey Mancini's offseason routine. No doubts in his mind whether he'll be ready for spring training. The full expectation of playing on opening day. The building confidence that he's beaten Stage 3 colon cancer and his body can handle the rigors of his conditioning program and preparation for the regular season. The Orioles made Mancini available this morning on a Zoom conference call with the media. Here's a sampling, beginning with his...