Roch Kubatko

Graham won't remain with Orioles in 2019 (with statement)

November 30, 2018, 5:22am

Orioles

The Orioles are continuing to make dramatic changes throughout the organization, removing director of player development Brian Graham this morning, according to a source. Graham returned to the organization in October 2007 after serving as the Pirates' interim general manager and was named director of player development six years later. He had been handling the GM duties for the Orioles on an interim basis after they decided to part ways with executive vice president Dan Duquette. During his...

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More on tonight's deadline and Elias' radio interview

November 29, 2018, 5:10pm

Orioles

More on tonight's deadline and Elias' radio interview

The latest deadline in baseball's offseason has arrived tonight with teams needing to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players by 8 p.m. I've hit this subject harder than a Chinese food buffet, but hey, let's review it anyway: The Orioles have three obvious decisions regarding Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens and Jonathan Villar. They aren't candidates to be non-tendered and we'll find out later if executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias is willing to trade them...

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Elias addresses managerial search and other topics

November 29, 2018, 3:42pm

Orioles

Elias addresses managerial search and other topics

The search for a new Orioles manager remains the top priority for executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. No other task at the moment supersedes it. And while Elias is hesitant to offer too many specifics, he spoke tonight of progress made through the narrowing of his list. Elias, a call-in guest to the "Orioles Hot Stove" radio show on 105.7 The Fan, said the staff has sifted through an impressive number of possibilities. He noted the input from assistant Sig Mejdal and...

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Orioles ink Josh Lucas to minor league deal

November 28, 2018, 1:39pm

Orioles

Mike Elias has tapped into his Cardinals past to find pitching for the Orioles. The Orioles announced this evening that they've signed right-hander Josh Lucas to a minor league contract. The Cardinals drafted him in the 21st round in 2010 and he spent seven seasons in the organization. Elias, hired earlier this month as the Orioles' executive vice president and general manager, worked in the scouting department in St. Louis before joining the Astros in 2012. Lucas, 28, appeared in five game...

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Sig Mejdal talks about his arrival in Baltimore and work that awaits

November 28, 2018, 9:14am

Orioles

Sig Mejdal talks about his arrival in Baltimore and work that awaits

Sig Mejdal had no idea that he'd eventually be working in the Orioles front office when deciding to let his contract with the Astros run out in order to pursue other opportunities. It wasn't part of some grand scheme to get inside the B&O Warehouse. He can be described as a visionary of sorts, but not in this way. A perfect storm carried Mejdal to Baltimore. The organization surrendering to a full teardown and rebuild. The hiring of former Astros assistant Mike Elias as executive vice...

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Considering challenges of constructing a coaching staff

November 27, 2018, 3:46pm

Orioles

Considering challenges of constructing a coaching staff

The Orioles haven't laid out a time frame for hiring a new manager, with Mike Elias offering confirmation last week during his introduction as executive vice president and general manager. A process too important to be rushed. A list too long to be chopped in hasty fashion. To quote Elias: "It's not something to rush for the sake of meeting artificial dates in the wintertime." Meanwhile, contracts for the entire coaching staff expired on Oct. 31. No one has landed a new job, from what I can...

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Rajsich won't return to Orioles in 2019

November 27, 2018, 8:37am

Orioles

The sweeping changes within the Orioles organization have impacted director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Rajsich won't return to the Orioles next season, according to multiple sources. The decision was made before his contract expired on Friday. New executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias is in charge of making hires within each department, and scouting is undergoing a major overhaul. Former executive vice president Dan Duquette hired Rajsich in November 2011 as one of his first...

Orioles outright Vielma

November 27, 2018, 7:15am

Orioles

Elgelb Vielma might actually stick with one organization before spring training. The Orioles outrighted Vielma to Triple-A Norfolk this morning after designating him for assignment on Tuesday to create an opening for pitcher Dillon Tate on the 40-man roster. Tate's contract was purchased from Double-A Bowie to protect him in the Rule 5 draft that's going to be held on Dec. 13 at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Engelb cleared waivers, a departure from his odyssey last offseason. The Giants...

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Important offseasons for Ortiz, Harvey and Hays

November 26, 2018, 12:58pm

Orioles

Important offseasons for Ortiz, Harvey and Hays

The Winter Meetings in Las Vegas get underway in less than two weeks, which will give the local media a chance to begin forging a relationship with new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. You can really get to know a person when congregating daily inside his suite and engaging in formal and casual conversations. Learn more about his tactics to construct a roster and his personality. The Orioles also could have a new manager, which is a top priority as we move closer to...

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Some leftovers from the Adam Jones tailgate

November 25, 2018, 2:08pm

Orioles

Some leftovers from the Adam Jones tailgate

Orioles reliever Donnie Hart arrived at yesterday morning's #StayHungry Purple Tailgate with a box of donuts in his hands. He was definitely in the right place. Adam Jones walked up to Hart, reached inside the box and pulled out one of his favorite treats. Glazed are his preference. Nothing too fancy. Jones and his sweet tooth were back in Baltimore because there's always more charitable work to be done. On this day, he managed to raise more than $125,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of...

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Jones hosts another successful tailgate while uncertain about future

November 25, 2018, 10:40am

Orioles

Jones hosts another successful tailgate while uncertain about future

Adam Jones has no idea whether his annual #StayHungry Purple Tailgate will extend to a seventh year in 2019. He doesn't know where he'll be playing and whether it will be convenient to get back to Baltimore. Free agency tends to drape a person in uncertainty. Here's a fact: Today's event raised a record amount of $125,010 for the Boys and Girls Club of Baltimore and the Living Classrooms Foundation. Food, drinks, live music and temperatures that climbed into the 60s created the perfect...

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Decisions still pending on Rajsich and others

November 24, 2018, 10:29am

Orioles

Decisions still pending on Rajsich and others

The Orioles have less than a week to make a decision on director of scouting Gary Rajsich before his contract expires. While the contracts of other employees ended on Oct. 31, Rajsich continues to be paid through November and is awaiting a decision. There have been numerous changes in the baseball operations department, player development and scouting since the Orioles concluded a 115-loss season and began their search for a replacement for executive vice president Dan Duquette. And more are on...

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Questions about Beckham, Joseph, Villar, pitching and 40-man

November 23, 2018, 1:47pm

Orioles

Questions about Beckham, Joseph, Villar, pitching and 40-man

The Orioles have moved back into the slow lane while navigating through the Thanksgiving holiday. They hired Sig Mejdal as an assistant to executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, which shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. They selected pitcher Dillon Tate's contract from Double-A Bowie, which shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. They signed four players to minor league contracts, including infielder Jace Peterson, which might have surprised some people. I...

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Revisiting Elias' comments on Davis

November 22, 2018, 4:39pm

Orioles

The Orioles hire a top executive for their baseball operations department and fans wonder how it might impact Chris Davis. Mike Elias brings in Sig Mejdal as an assistant in charge of analytics and fans wonder how it might impact Chris Davis. The managerial search is underway, with Elias already doing background work and tapping into his vast network, and fans wonder how it might impact Chris Davis. A new hitting coach? A true commitment to rebuilding? The chance for snow next month? Fans...

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Separating fact from fiction

November 21, 2018, 2:23pm

Orioles

Before accepting the yearly challenge of consuming as much food as possible without losing consciousness, please take a moment and try to separate Orioles fact from fiction. You won't need a carving knife. Sig Mejdal ranks among the most, yes, significant hires in recent memory. Fact. And the hire, wait for it, signifies that the Orioles are dead serious about incorporating analytics and taking a vastly different approach moving forward. It isn't just lip service. The former NASA...

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Mejdal joining Orioles front office (note on minor league signings)

November 21, 2018, 7:02am

Orioles

The Orioles' commitment to analytics as a significant aspect of their rebuild has led to Mike Elias' first hire since being chosen to head the baseball operations department. Sig Mejdal is joining the organization as assistant general manager, analytics, a move that had been anticipated since news broke last week that Elias was the choice as executive vice president and general manager. Only the title had to be determined. The press release issued today by the Orioles stated that Mejdal...

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Peterson returns to Orioles on minor league deal

November 21, 2018, 4:17am

Orioles

The utility competition in Orioles camp next spring is going to include veteran Jace Peterson. The Orioles have re-signed Peterson to a minor league deal, according to an industry source, and he's likely to receive an invitation to spring training. Peterson was arbitration-eligible, cleared outright waivers earlier this month and elected free agency. The club has wanted to keep him in the organization, though there was an element of uncertainty attached due to the pending hire of a head of...

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More leftovers before Thanksgiving

November 20, 2018, 5:20pm

Orioles

While new Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias gets more acquainted with the players on the 40-man roster and throughout the minor league system, he offered his approval of the trades that predecessor Dan Duquette orchestrated to begin the teardown. "Those were the right moves,'' Elias said at his introduction held Monday morning inside the home clubhouse at Camden Yards. "The team had left a period of competitiveness. That was clear by the trade deadline. A lot...

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Orioles put Tate on 40-man roster and DFA Vielma

November 20, 2018, 12:55pm

Orioles

The Orioles have adjusted their 40-man roster in preparation for the Rule 5 draft, which will be held on Dec. 13 on the final day of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Pitcher Dillon Tate was placed on the 40-man today, his contract selected from Double-A Bowie, to prohibit teams from taking him. With the roster already full, the Orioles created room by designating infielder Engelb Vielma for assignment. Another spot must be opened later to allow the Orioles to make a selection, which is...

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Leftovers on Mike Elias and his plunge into the rebuild

November 19, 2018, 3:34pm

Orioles

Leftovers on Mike Elias and his plunge into the rebuild

The most impressive trait that Mike Elias exhibited yesterday during his introduction as Orioles executive vice president and general manager was the ability to convey his thoughts on the rebuild, the process that brought him to Baltimore, his knowledge of the city and roster, and the appeal of the job at hand while his head continued to spin. Elias is bound to come across as more relaxed and personable once he's done being pulled in every direction. He sat through a 40-minute session with the...