Roch Kubatko

Orioles hire Matt Trate as minor league hitting coach

February 06, 2019, 6:03am

Orioles

One of the offseason trends for the Orioles involves the hiring of college coaches to minor league positions, and the announcements coming via their Twitter accounts. Social media working its magic again. The latest confirmation arrived Tuesday night, with Matt Trate tweeting that "my family and I are looking forward to the next chapter with @Orioles as I have accepted a position as a MiLB hitting coach." Trate had been working as associate head baseball coach/recruiting coordinator at...

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Eyeing a few of the spring competitions at Orioles camp

February 05, 2019, 12:27pm

Orioles

The inviting storylines awaiting the media at spring training, less than a week before it begins, include the competitions at third base and right field and behind the plate. Other candidates can be tossed into the mix as executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias attempts to swing a few trades and/or snatches up a couple of free agents lingering on another sluggish market. One-year deals become more attractive to players as we move through February. Manager Brandon Hyde can figure...

More on minor league staffs and an international note

February 04, 2019, 1:19pm

Orioles

More on minor league staffs and an international note

With exactly one week remaining before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Orioles are applying the finishing touches to the construction of their minor league staffs and an announcement is coming within the next few days. Certainly before I board my Monday flight to Sarasota. What do we know? Well, let's start with Gary Kendall, who's replacing Ron Johnson as manager at Triple-A Norfolk. Mike Griffin returns as Tides pitching coach. Buck Britton moves up from low Single-A...

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Brice claimed off waivers by Marlins

February 04, 2019, 11:09am

Orioles

The Austin Brice era with the Orioles was fleeting. It lasted about a month. The Marlins have claimed Brice off waivers after the Orioles designated him for assignment on Jan. 28 to create a spot for infielder Jack Reinheimer on the 40-man roster. Reinheimer was claimed off waivers from the Rangers. The Orioles claimed Brice from the Angels on Jan. 4 and designated infielder Breyvic Valera for assignment. They traded Valera to the Giants the following day for cash considerations. Brice, 26, is...

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Hearing more from Richard Bleier following FanFest

February 01, 2019, 11:52am

Orioles

Hearing more from Richard Bleier following FanFest

The media at FanFest was treated to the availability of 27 players and six coaches for interviews in the workroom on the third level of the Baltimore Convention Center, along with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles PR staff spoiled us again, making it easy to gather notes and quotes in a comfortable setting. The only unexpected absences were due to scheduling conflicts that couldn't be avoided, with Jonathan Villar and Luis Ortiz...

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Gary Kendall named manager at Triple-A Norfolk

February 01, 2019, 10:04am

Orioles

Gary Kendall named manager at Triple-A Norfolk

Beyond the outside hires that have been made public via Twitter, the Orioles also are shuffling minor league personnel to fill vacancies at multiple levels of their farm system. The Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk has announced the promotion of manager Gary Kendall, 55, from Double-A Bowie. Kendall will replace Ron Johnson. Buck Britton, 32, is moving up from low Single-A Delmarva to Bowie as Kendall's replacement, according to sources. An announcement from the Orioles is pending on the...

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Orioles sign Sucre to minor league deal

February 01, 2019, 7:39am

Orioles

The Orioles' search for a veteran catcher to toss into the spring training competition led them to JesÃºs Sucre, who has agreed to terms on a minor league deal. The announcement came this afternoon. Sucre's contract includes an invitation to major league camp and guarantees $850,000 if he makes the club. USA Today reported that the deal also includes a March 22 opt-out date. The 40-man roster still holds only two catchers - Austin Wynns and Chance Sisco, who were rookies in 2018. Non-roster...

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Being on 40-man roster only "small stepping stone" for Kline

February 01, 2019, 4:00am

Orioles

Being on 40-man roster only "small stepping stone" for Kline

Time remains in the offseason to break down the top storylines of spring training, the most anticipated interviews, the most intense competitions, the best and worst of everything. The dissections will cut deep. The repetition that usually follows will numb the mind. The locker belonging to pitcher Branden Kline is going to attract media despite the interviews he gave last weekend at FanFest and Thursday night on 105.7 The Fan's "Hot Stove Show." He's talked about his injuries, the...

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FanFest leftovers from Beyeler, Wasdin, Mancini and Trumbo

January 31, 2019, 12:06pm

Orioles

FanFest leftovers from Beyeler, Wasdin, Mancini and Trumbo

Though the Orioles coaching staff lacks anyone with managerial experience in the majors, resumes include handling the same job and responsibilities in the minors. One example is first base coach Arnie Beyeler, who spent the past three seasons guiding Triple-A New Orleans in the Marlins system. He also managed in the Red Sox system and led Triple-A Pawtucket to the Governors' Cup championship in 2012 before his promotion to the major league staff Beyeler knows rebuilds. He understands the...

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Richie Martin on being a Rule 5 pick and competing for a job

January 31, 2019, 10:10am

Orioles

Richie Martin on being a Rule 5 pick and competing for a job

In a spring training that's going to spew its share of storylines and curiosities for the media, one of the major ones involves the Rule 5 picks and how many the Orioles are willing to stash on the 25-man roster. They kept two for the bullpen last year in Pedro Araujo and Nestor Cortes Jr., the latter designated for assignment in April and returned to the Yankees organization after clearing waivers. Outfielder Anthony Santander's status carried over from 2017, forcing the Orioles to keep him...

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Castro would find relief in throwing more strikes

January 29, 2019, 12:33pm

Orioles

Castro would find relief in throwing more strikes

The two scoreless innings that reliever Miguel Castro worked on Sept. 22 in New York might seem insignificant when cast in the overall picture. The Orioles were barreling toward another loss and destined to finish with the worst record in the majors and in franchise history. Seven batters faced after replacing starter David Hess in the sixth and just one hit allowed on a Gleyber Torres double that was followed by a passed ball and out at the plate on a fielder's choice. But Castro lowered his...

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Stewart and Hays working to get into outfield competition

January 29, 2019, 10:03am

Orioles

Stewart and Hays working to get into outfield competition

While revealing at FanFest that finding more pitching is the top offseason roster priority for the Orioles, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias didn't deny that the outfield, infield and catching position also could be addressed before opening day. The Orioles remain in an infield frenzy as they increase the competition for starting and utility jobs. They selected Richie Martin with the first pick in the Rule 5 draft and traded for Drew Jackson, who also must remain on the...

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Hyde: "I know our players are unbelievably energized"

January 29, 2019, 6:08am

Orioles

Hyde: "I know our players are unbelievably energized"

The curiosity over manager Brandon Hyde's first spring training with the Orioles is building as the days melt away in the winter cold. How much will it resemble or differ from past years under former manager Buck Showalter? The instruction, hours spent on the field, player availability to the media. All of the important stuff. Hyde explained at FanFest why Orioles camp won't duplicate how the Cubs operated in Mesa, Ariz., while he served as bench coach. He also pinpointed certain areas that...

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Orioles claim Jack Reinheimer off waivers

January 28, 2019, 10:01am

Orioles

The Orioles keep building infield depth and increasing their options as they move through the offseason. The latest utility candidate arrived today in Jack Reinheimer, claimed off waivers from the Rangers. Pitcher Austin Brice was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Reinheimer, 26, was a fifth-round pick of the Mariners in 2013 out of East Carolina University who appeared in 21 games with the Mets last summer and went 5-for-30 with five walks and nine strikeouts. He was...

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Bonding process continues to unfold in Orioles organization

January 28, 2019, 9:19am

Orioles

New Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is seeking ways to familiarize himself with his players, the minicamp earlier this month in Sarasota and Saturday's FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center providing two convenient and effective methods. The coaches are learning about the players, Hyde as a manager and each other. Much of it happens behind the scenes, but the enthusiasm was put on display over the weekend. From the first floor to the third. Hyde has delivered a message to his staff...

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Getting to know the new coaching staff

January 27, 2019, 11:05am

Orioles

DJ Stewart cut through the media room Saturday at FanFest, spotted Richie Martin and yelled "Noles!" The Rule 5 pick stopped the interview, smiled and replied "Gators!" The trash talk should be fun at spring training. Meanwhile, six of the eight coaches on manager Brandon Hyde's staff participated in FanFest and were introduced to the media. John Wasdin and Howie Clark recognized some of the faces because they already were part of the organization, the former switching from minor league...

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Health news is good for Orioles at FanFest

January 26, 2019, 4:35pm

Orioles

The hours that ticked away after the last remnants of the crowd at FanFest had spilled onto the sidewalks outside the Baltimore Convention Center could be spent reviewing and dissecting some of the bullet points from the annual event. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias stressed again that his primary goal is to improve the level of talent throughout the organization. Don't obsess so much over the record, though avoiding another 115-loss season would be celebrated,...

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Chris Davis on willingness to "exhaust all options" and more

January 26, 2019, 11:39am

Orioles

Chris Davis on willingness to "exhaust all options" and more

The interview portion of FanFest is wrapping up, with only a few more players being led into the media room on the third level of the Baltimore Convention Center. Chris Davis' session lasted the longest, at more than 14 minutes, as he revisited a nightmarish 2018 season, the changes in his workouts and nutrition, his enthusiasm over being a leader in the clubhouse and how the shift continues to be a thorn in his side the length and width of an oak tree. That could explain the oblique injuries...

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FanFest notes on Harvey, Mancini, Trumbo and more

January 26, 2019, 9:24am

Orioles

FanFest notes on Harvey, Mancini, Trumbo and more

Six of the eight coaches on manager Brandon Hyde's staff are present today at FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. Third base coach JosÃ© Flores and major league coach JosÃ© HernÃ¡ndez were unable to attend. Vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson is here, but pretty much out of view as he attends meetings. The Orioles announced the FanFest attendance at 8,000, though it's possible that more people trickle into the facility later in the day. Hunter Harvey said his...

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More from Elias at FanFest

January 26, 2019, 8:03am

Orioles

Mike Elias headed to the third level of the Baltimore Convention Center following the Q&A session with season plan holders. It was the media's turn to ask the questions. On no former manager in the dugout as part of coaching staff: "Definitely, that was a consideration and attractive, but we were working with the people available and the scenarios and the people we wanted to get in. It just didn't happen this year. But it was definitely something that was discussed." On broader...