Roch Kubatko

Leftovers from the Winter Meetings

December 13, 2018, 2:30pm

Orioles

No longer in Las Vegas for baseball's Winter Meetings, my body is in the process of adjusting to the time change and the lack of slot machines and second-hand smoke. Anyone know where I can score a $40 sandwich? In the span of a couple days, the Orioles indicated that Jonathan Villar was their starting shortstop and then grabbed two shortstops in the Rule 5 draft, selecting Richie Martin with the first overall pick and trading for Drew Jackson. I'm still inclined to believe that Villar will...

Tags:

Wrapping up the Rule 5 draft

December 13, 2018, 8:50am

Orioles

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles left the Winter Meetings today with two Rule 5 picks and a full 40-man roster. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias used the first overall selection to take shortstop Richie Martin from the Athletics organization and the Orioles later acquired infielder Drew Jackson from the Phillies, who had plucked him from the Dodgers system earlier in the morning. Jackson, 25, was a fifth-round selection by the Mariners in 2015 out of Stanford University. He's a...

Tags:

caleb joseph corban joseph drew jackson jonathan villar kent qualls orioles richie martin taylor grover tim beckham tripp norton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Orioles select shortstop Richie Martin in Rule 5 draft (updated)

December 13, 2018, 7:04am

Orioles

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles made the decision last night on which player they would select in this morning's Rule 5 draft, the name agreed upon in a second meeting among team officials and scouts. They didn't repeat last year's tactic of loading up on pitching, choosing shortstop Richie Martin from the Athletics organization. Martin, who turns 24 later this month, was the 20th overall pick in the 2015 out of the University of Florida. The Detroit native slashed .300/.368/.439 this year at...

Tags:

mike elias orioles richie martin featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Recapping the Winter Meetings on the final day

December 12, 2018, 8:46pm

Orioles

Recapping the Winter Meetings on the final day

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles are on the clock this morning with the first pick in the Rule 5 draft. Their contingent at the Winter Meetings will be on a plane later in the day. A review of the business conducted so far includes claiming third baseman Rio Ruiz off waivers from the Braves and losing pitcher Ryan Meisinger to the Cardinals. And, yes, the decision on a new manager that should be announced by next week. There wasn't much of a buzz here related to the Orioles, as so many people in the...

Tags:

alex cobb chris davis chris holt mike elias orioles featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Wrapping up Day 3 of the Winter Meetings

December 12, 2018, 5:16pm

Orioles

Wrapping up Day 3 of the Winter Meetings

LAS VEGAS - The big screen television inside the suite of Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was tuned again today to MLB Network. "I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any Orioles moves," he quipped. Always start with a joke. Play to the crowd. Elias didn't confirm that he made a decision on his manager and that Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde received an offer. "I feel very good about where we're at with it," he said. "A lot has happened in the last 24 hours...

Tags:

adam jones chris davis mark trumbo mike elias orioles richard bleier featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Notes on manager search, coaches, Davis, Trumbo, Bleier, more

December 12, 2018, 4:02pm

Orioles

Notes on manager search, coaches, Davis, Trumbo, Bleier, more

LAS VEGAS - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias didn't confirm today that he's chosen a manager. However, he talked about "a lot happening" over the past 24 hours and feeling "very good" about where he is in the process. He wants to get it done soon, but can't provide a specific timeframe. Elias referred to yesterday's reports on the job being offered to Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde as "premature and overzealous," and later as "inaccurate" based on how...

Tags:

adam jones chris davis mark trumbo mike elias orioles richard bleier featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Boras met with Orioles to discuss ways to improve Davis' output

December 12, 2018, 10:34am

Orioles

LAS VEGAS - The lack of a buzz surrounding the Orioles at baseball's Winter Meetings, the heavy silence that's pervasive beyond the managerial chatter, has been deafening. The only interesting note so far today was agent Scott Boras revealing during his annual media scrum that he met with team officials yesterday, but not to pitch a client. Rather, to assist in getting more production out of one. Boras said he talked to the Orioles last night regarding first baseman Chris Davis, who has four...

Tags:

calvin maduro chris davis dave engle kent qualls luis noel orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Maryland native Ryan Meisinger talks about leaving O's organization

December 12, 2018, 8:35am

Orioles

Maryland native Ryan Meisinger talks about leaving O's organization

LAS VEGAS - Ryan Meisinger was driving from his Richmond, Va., home to Baltimore on Monday morning when he received a phone call from an Orioles official. He had no idea that it would change the direction of his trip and his life. Tripp Norton, the club's director of baseball operations, alerted Meisinger that he had been placed on waivers, with the Orioles hoping to sneak him through and keep him in the organization, but the Cardinals put in a claim. "Then, probably two minutes later after...

Tags:

chris davis david hess jimmy yacabonis orioles ryan meisinger tripp norton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Seeking more confirmations on Hyde

December 11, 2018, 9:15pm

Orioles

LAS VEGAS - Today marks the last full day of the 2018 Winter Meetings, with the Rule 5 draft on Thursday morning providing the final buzzer. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said the Orioles won't leave Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino with a new manager, a press conference or "introduction" coming to Baltimore at a later date. If that's the case, they're going to maintain their streak of not getting to the podium. This is why I don't bother to dress up. An...

Tags:

alex cobb andrew cashner brandon hyde mike elias orioles sig mejdal featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Elias calls report of Hyde hiring "premature"

December 11, 2018, 4:39pm

Orioles

Elias calls report of Hyde hiring "premature"

LAS VEGAS - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias disputed reports today that he's chosen Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde as manager - including one airing on MLB Network and shown on the television inside his suite at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino as he sat down with the local media. Elias was able to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, the intensity of breaking news spliced with some humor. "I will say very clearly it's a premature report," Elias said. "And,...

Tags:

brandon hyde mike elias orioles featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles3

Coolbaugh hired as Dodgers' Triple-A hitting coach

December 11, 2018, 2:22pm

Orioles

Coolbaugh hired as Dodgers' Triple-A hitting coach

LAS VEGAS - Former Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh has been hired as hitting coach with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. Coolbaugh accepted the offer this week and signed his contract earlier today. Coolbaugh replaced Jim Presley as hitting coach prior to the 2015 season. His contract ran out on Oct. 31 and he wasn't expected to return under a new manager, who's expected to be hired later this month from a field of six candidates. I've heard that Coolbaugh also...

Tags:

orioles scott coolbaugh brandon hyde bud black chip hale davey martinez david bell featured_sidebar joe maddon mike bell mike redmond torey lovullo winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Grenier enjoys Winter Meetings and reflects on first pro season

December 11, 2018, 12:15pm

Orioles

Grenier enjoys Winter Meetings and reflects on first pro season

LAS VEGAS - Orioles shortstop prospect Cadyn Grenier lives 10 minutes from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He never had a reason to show up at the Winter Meetings until today. Grenier conducted a few interviews with local media and hoped to meet later with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. Make a full day of it. "It works out well for me that I live here, that they're coming in," he said. "And with Mike being the new GM and everything, to be able to be in the same...

Tags:

cadyn grenier mike elias orioles featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Notes on Cobb interest and Villar's position

December 11, 2018, 7:57am

Orioles

Notes on Cobb interest and Villar's position

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles aren't expected to shop Dylan Bundy at the Winter Meetings, with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias referencing the right-hander in a letter sent out to season ticket holders. However, some of the executives who have gathered at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino are curious about the availability of Alex Cobb, who has three years and $43 million remaining on the deal he signed in spring training. I spoke with one executive yesterday who thought the...

Tags:

alex cobb andrew cashner buck showalter dylan bundy jonathan villar mike elias orioles featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Notes on managerial hire, Ruiz claim and more

December 10, 2018, 7:27pm

Orioles

Notes on managerial hire, Ruiz claim and more

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles will choose a manager from among six candidates, according to executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. However, it's possible for two hires to come out of the process. Elias seems to be leaning more toward experience, preferring someone who's managed in the majors, but he also could hire Diamondbacks director of player development Mike Bell in a coaching capacity. Bell, 44, could serve as bench coach or third base coach under Chip Hale, Brandon Hyde or...

Tags:

harold baines jim presley lee smith mike bell mike elias orioles renato nunez rio ruiz scott coolbaugh featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles3

Elias on manager search, the front office, goals and more

December 10, 2018, 5:12pm

Orioles

Elias on manager search, the front office, goals and more

LAS VEGAS - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias arrived at the Winter Meetings this morning with his focus primarily on the hiring of a new manager, which would lead to the completion of the coaching staff. The roster isn't being ignored, but there are more pressing matters, including replacements for director of player development Brian Graham and director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Elias praised the work done by assistant Sig Mejdal, director of baseball operations...

Tags:

brady anderson mike elias mike snyder orioles sig mejdal tripp norton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

O's will choose manager from six candidates (and other notes)

December 10, 2018, 4:03pm

Orioles

O's will choose manager from six candidates (and other notes)

LAS VEGAS - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias confirmed this afternoon that he's conducted six in-person interviews for the managerial position and hopes to name a replacement for Buck Showalter later this month. Elias, meeting with the media for about 20 minutes inside his suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, said the process is "pretty far" along and there won't be a second round of interviews. He has all of the information that he needs. Though Elias...

Tags:

brady anderson chris holt jonathan villar mike elias orioles renato nunez rio ruiz featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Orioles claim Rio Ruiz off waivers (and other notes)

December 10, 2018, 10:08am

Orioles

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles subtracted Maryland native Ryan Meisinger from their 40-man roster today and claimed infielder Rio Ruiz off waivers from the Braves. The Cardinals claimed Meisinger before he could clear, ending the feel-good story of the local kid pitching for his favorite team. Meisinger attended Northern High School in Calvert County and made his major league debut on June 29 at Camden Yards. Ruiz, 24, is a left-handed hitting third baseman taken by the Astros in the fourth round of...

Tags:

mike elias orioles rio ruiz ryan meisinger scott coolbaugh featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Lunch with Mancini and Givens included in MLB auction experience

December 10, 2018, 7:42am

Orioles

Lunch with Mancini and Givens included in MLB auction experience

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles are providing fans with an opportunity to have lunch with two of their players next year, assist the grounds crew and enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience at Camden Yards. It's also for a good cause, a win-win situation before the first pitch has been thrown. Major League Baseball revealed this morning that its annual charity auction at the Winter Meetings will benefit The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. And the Orioles are offering...

Tags:

mychal givens orioles ryan mckenna trey mancini featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Day One of the Winter Meetings

December 09, 2018, 6:00pm

Orioles

LAS VEGAS - The first official day of baseball's annual Winter Meetings finally has arrived, though the lobby of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino began to fill up yesterday. The chatter surrounding the Orioles, and there hasn't been much of it, centers on the unique circumstances of team representatives arriving without a manager in tow. The expectation is that they will leave in the same manner, but could draw closer to making a decision. No manager for the media sessions or Wednesday's...

Tags:

john wasdin mike elias orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Former Orioles Harold Baines and Lee Smith headed to Cooperstown

December 09, 2018, 3:28pm

Orioles

LAS VEGAS - The first nugget of news has rolled through baseball's Winter Meetings this afternoon at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. And it picked up a couple of former Orioles. Longtime outfielder/designated hitter Harold Baines and reliever Lee Smith have been chosen for induction in the Hall of Fame by the Today's Game Era Committee. The announcement was made a few minutes ago on MLB Network. Six former major league players, three managers and one executive comprised the list of...