Roch Kubatko

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...

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Reviewing today's introduction of Mike Elias at Camden Yards

November 19, 2018, 8:37am

Orioles

Reviewing today's introduction of Mike Elias at Camden Yards

Mike Elias' introduction this morning as Orioles executive vice president and general manager lasted 40 minutes and covered a wide range of topics. He also conducted individual interviews with television and radio outlets and met with the beat crew. John and Louis Angelos flanked Elias in an informal conversational setting inside the home clubhouse at Camden Yards, an event that was catered with food and drinks available in the back. There really are a lot of changes happening in the...

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Positive reviews on Elias accompany today's intro at Camden Yards

November 18, 2018, 2:36pm

Orioles

Positive reviews on Elias accompany today's intro at Camden Yards

It's a little premature to begin printing out T-shirts honoring and promoting Mike Elias, the Orioles executive vice president and general manager. He hasn't made a single move. He hasn't been introduced to the media, though the wait finally ends today at 11 a.m. However, there are two early nominations for slogans based on what I've heard whenever his name comes up in conversation. "You guys got a good one." "You're going to love this guy." Bobbleheads and gnomes have been created...

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Questions awaiting Elias at Monday's introduction

November 17, 2018, 3:20am

Orioles

Questions awaiting Elias at Monday's introduction

With the news on Friday that Mike Elias had been hired by the Orioles as executive vice president and general manager, anticipation spun into reality, the next set of questions can be tackled at Monday morning's introduction inside the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. Among the points that Elias can address: * Is it true that former Astros sabermetrics analyst Sig Mejdal will join the organization as Elias' top assistant? * What are the statuses of vice president of baseball operations...

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Looking at a few of the decisions awaiting Elias

November 16, 2018, 9:24am

Orioles

Looking at a few of the decisions awaiting Elias

The hiring of Mike Elias as executive vice president and general manager doesn't remove all of the uncertainty attached to the franchise. It barely makes a dent. Elias was the biggest piece, of course, as the person who will run the baseball operations department. Who will assemble the rest of the front office, choose a manager and drag the scouting department into the 21st century. But having so many slots to fill is an example of the work that lies ahead. The 40-man roster must be set by...

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Elias hired as executive vice president and general manager

November 16, 2018, 8:59am

Orioles

Elias hired as executive vice president and general manager

The wait is over. To fill the top vacancy in the Orioles' front office and to reveal his identity and title. The Orioles have hired former Astros assistant general manager Mike Elias as their executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager, with the announcement made this afternoon. He will be introduced to the media at a Monday morning press conference at Camden Yards that will include John and Louis Angelos and air live on MASN and 105.7 the Fan beginning at 11 a.m. Elias...

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Bleier on changes, low expectations and missing ex-teammates

November 15, 2018, 12:19pm

Orioles

Bleier on changes, low expectations and missing ex-teammates

Players who remain in recovery mode from a 115-loss season that left marks on them continue to process the changes that have been made and brace for the ones that are coming. The Orioles chose Mike Elias, who turns 36 next month and hasn't worked above the assistant level, to replace executive vice president Dan Duquette. He's allowed to hand-pick the next manager, who won't bring the same experience and honors as predecessor Buck Showalter. None of the coaches are under contract and an...