Roch Kubatko

JosÃ© Mesa hoping to follow father's footsteps to Baltimore

February 15, 2018, 9:08am

Orioles

JosÃ© Mesa hoping to follow father's footsteps to Baltimore

SARASOTA, Fla. -Sixteen pitchers threw in the bullpen today, including JosÃ© Mesa, who is vying for a spot on the 25-man roster as a Rule 5 pick and perhaps in a rotation that has plenty of room. Also throwing today were Josh Edgin, Asher Wojciechowski, Darren O'Day, Brad Brach, Mike Wright, Mychal Givens, Chris Lee, Gabriel Ynoa, Perci Garner, Andrew Faulkner, Tim Melville, Alec Asher, Tanner Scott, Michael Kelly and Yefri RamÃrez. Jesus Liranzo had a bullpen session early yesterday and...

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Eddie Gamboa on his commitment to the knuckleball

February 15, 2018, 5:08am

Orioles

Eddie Gamboa on his commitment to the knuckleball

SARASOTA, Fla. - Eddie Gamboa has a better grip on his pitching future. Gamboa has conceded after much prodding from the Orioles that he needs to go exclusively with his knuckleball. No more mixing it in 50 percent of the time. No more fastball first and then the secondary stuff. If Gamboa is going to get back to the majors after appearing in seven games with the Rays in 2016, his only exposure to the highest level, he's going to do it strictly as a knuckleball pitcher. "Absolutely, yeah,"...

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Joining Orioles a breath of fresh air for Susac

February 14, 2018, 4:18pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Susac has a plan. And a color scheme. Susac feels right as home with the Orioles, who acquired him on Feb. 2 to compete for a job as backup catcher. It isn't strictly his welcoming teammates or a hankering for grouper. Orange and black work for him. "I think it's awesome," he said. "It seems like I can't get out of an orange and black jersey. Ever since Little League. I played for the Orioles in Little League. Funny story. From there to Oregon State and then the...

JosÃ© Mesa viewed as starter in camp (and other notes)

February 14, 2018, 11:30am

Orioles

JosÃ© Mesa viewed as starter in camp (and other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick JosÃ© Mesa will be used as a starter in camp instead of working out of the bullpen. The Orioles added him to the mix earlier today, with the right-hander joining Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Mike Wright, Gabriel Ynoa, Miguel Castro, Hunter Harvey and Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. Mesa, son of the former Orioles pitcher of the same name, has made nine starts among his 78 minor league appearances in the Yankees system. He's gone 12-4 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.15 WHIP...

Highlights from the first day of workouts (with video)

February 14, 2018, 8:53am

Orioles

Highlights from the first day of workouts (with video)

SARASOTA, Fla. - With 35 pitchers in camp, the Orioles offered a heavy dose of bullpen sessions this afternoon on the first day of workouts. The group consisted of Dylan Bundy, Jayson Aquino, Jhan MariÃ±ez, Donnie Hart, Richard Bleier, Miguel Castro, Nestor Cortes Jr., Jeff Ferrell, Stefan Crichton, Jimmy Yacabonis, Eddie Gamboa, Jason Gurka, Hunter Harvey, Joely RodrÃguez, David Hess and Pedro Araujo. Michael Kelly stepped on the mound but didn't stay long. Manager Buck Showalter joked...

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Britton on his recovery and uncertain status

February 14, 2018, 5:15am

Orioles

Britton on his recovery and uncertain status

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielders Austin Hays and Jaycob Brugman are the latest Orioles to report early to spring training. The first full-squad workout is Monday. Players are taking their physicals before heading out to the field around noon. Darren O'Day will be shaving off his beard. Zach Britton was sitting at his locker as the media ventured inside the clubhouse, joking that it was unintentional and he couldn't run away from us. He could have walked, however, as his recovery continues from...

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Will the Orioles find their starting pitcher this week?

February 13, 2018, 4:07pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard can be added to the list of position players who reported early to camp, joining a group that includes Adam Jones, Tim Beckham, Anthony Santander and Trey Mancini. Rickard is competing for a spot as an extra outfielder, whether he's platooning in right field with an unidentified left-handed hitter or serving as a backup. His primary competition comes from Craig Gentry and Austin Hays. Improved play in the field has enhanced Rickard's chances,...

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Orioles will watch Lincecum throw this week

February 13, 2018, 11:29am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will be counted among the teams attending Tim Lincecum's showcase later this week. The two-time Cy Young Award winner will throw Thursday at Driveline Baseball's facility outside Seattle, allowing him to dive into a flooded free agent market. Executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated earlier today that the Orioles are more likely to sign a couple of veteran pitchers than consummate a trade, though both avenues remain open. The rotation still has three...

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Perci Garner on knee surgery and signing with the Orioles

February 13, 2018, 8:57am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have both of their starting pitchers under contract for 2018 after Kevin Gausman reached agreement today on a $5.6 million deal to avoid Wednesday's arbitration hearing in Arizona. Gausman and Dylan Bundy will be joined by three other starters. The Orioles aren't going to experiment with a two-man rotation this summer. The issue is reaching agreements with free agents or with executives in trade talks. Interest remains in bringing back Chris Tillman, who's...

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Gausman agrees to contract for 2018 season (updated)

February 13, 2018, 5:46am

Orioles

Gausman agrees to contract for 2018 season (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Center fielder Adam Jones, infielder Tim Beckham and outfielder Anthony Santander are counted among the position players who reported early to camp. Only pitchers and catchers are required to show up today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The first full-squad workout is Monday morning. Beckham has inherited J.J. Hardy's old locker at the end of a row. They no longer play the same position. The rest of the roll call, as observed by media allowed inside the clubhouse from 8-9...

More Britton and Bleier as pitchers and catchers report

February 12, 2018, 4:01pm

Orioles

More Britton and Bleier as pitchers and catchers report

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've concluded the latest countdown in baseball's offseason. Orioles pitchers and catchers are required today to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. A couple of stragglers will show up later - after the Orioles figure out how to plug the holes in their rotation. The clubhouse opens to the media from 8-9 a.m. and manager Buck Showalter will be available before heading to the eighth annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic that benefits the Miracle League of Manasota. The...

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Sifting through spring training storylines

February 11, 2018, 4:34pm

Orioles

Sifting through spring training storylines

One more day until Orioles pitchers and catchers are required to post at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla. The first workout is held the following day. My first trip to Publix will come later this afternoon after my flight lands in Tampa, I hop into a rental car and make the hour drive to the hotel. I can do it with my eyes closed, but local authorities keep issuing warnings. The offseason began with the Orioles needing three starting pitchers to fill out their rotation and more if...

More on starting pitching and Richard Bleier's refusal to relax

February 10, 2018, 4:20pm

Orioles

More on starting pitching and Richard Bleier's refusal to relax

The Orioles never were in the running to sign free agent right-hander Yu Darvish, and the six-year, $126 million contract he landed yesterday from the Cubs justified their distance. They weren't going to spend so lavishly on a starting pitcher. The sides had no reason to be linked in any reports. The Cubs are using Darvish to replace Jake Arrieta, who also is expected to move beyond the Orioles' financial reach. It's already been speculated that teams like the Dodgers, Twins and Brewers...

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Zach Britton on the "frustration" of a slow offseason

February 09, 2018, 4:56pm

Orioles

Zach Britton on the "frustration" of a slow offseason

With the free agent market still overflowing due to a winter-long freeze, a neat trick if you know anything about liquids and temperatures, the Major League Baseball Players Association is arranging a "31st camp" for unemployed players at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The list of participants will include former Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold, 34, who's attempting a comeback after announcing his retirement last summer. Reimold failed to receive a spring training invitation last year...

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Britton still targeting May return, looking back on big O's trades

February 08, 2018, 6:17pm

Orioles

Britton still targeting May return, looking back on big O's trades

Orioles closer Zach Britton reaches another important date today in his recovery from right Achilles surgery. He's hoping that it's the latest step, so to speak, in the right direction. Britton will undergo his third checkup from Dr. Kenneth Jung of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles before he flies to Sarasota and reports early to spring training. He expects to receive more encouraging news - that he's still a bit ahead of schedule. Calling into the "Orioles Hot Stove Show"...

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Flaherty signs minor league deal with Phillies

February 07, 2018, 1:50pm

Orioles

Flaherty signs minor league deal with Phillies

The Ryan Flaherty era in Baltimore really has come to an end. Or maybe it's just been put on hold. The Phillies have signed Flaherty to a minor league deal, as first reported by ESPN.com. He'll go to spring training in Clearwater, Fla., and attempt to win a utility job. Selected from the Cubs organization in the December 2011 Rule 5 draft, Flaherty spent six seasons with the Orioles and batted .215/.284/.355 in 1,270 plate appearances. It wasn't about the bat. Flaherty gained manager Buck...

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Taking the Orioles rotation for another spin

February 07, 2018, 1:13pm

Orioles

While the Orioles wait for starting pitchers to drop into their laps like acorns, the majority of fans think the team would be nuts to bring back anyone from last year's rotation who remains on the free agent market. This is an unscientific poll. I'm basing my observations on comments attached to the blog and appearing on my Twitter feed, and impromptu conversations in restaurants, grocery stores and gyms. Fans don't want to be reminded how the starters posted a 5.70 ERA, the worst in...

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Orioles re-sign Craig Gentry to minor league deal (updated)

February 07, 2018, 9:00am

Orioles

The Orioles are bringing back outfielder Craig Gentry and increasing the number of invites to major league camp. Gentry has agreed to a minor league deal, according to a source, and will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He can earn $900,000 if he makes the club, as first reported by USA Today. Manager Buck Showalter expressed his interest in Gentry, 34, during last month's minicamp in Sarasota. Though the veteran doesn't solve the need for a left-handed hitting outfielder, he offers...

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Choosing this year's spring training dark horse candidate

February 06, 2018, 5:44pm

Orioles

Choosing this year's spring training dark horse candidate

We're down to six days before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex for spring training, though it's expected that the place will be filled with early arrivals. Not a lot of feet drag into Sarasota. The time has come to offer my dark horse candidate to make the team. The challenge, of course, is doing it with so much uncertainty surrounding the roster. I could pick a left-handed hitting corner outfielder and he might be ousted by a future signing or...

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Orioles and Schoop agree to contract terms for 2018 (updated)

February 06, 2018, 8:50am

Orioles

The Orioles have avoided an arbitration hearing with second baseman Jonathan Schoop, with the sides agreeing to terms on an $8.5 million contract for 2018, according to an industry source. Schoop filed at $9 million and the Orioles countered at $7.5 million. He made $3.475 million last season. A hearing was scheduled for Thursday in Phoenix, Ariz. Despite the usual reports that the Orioles were file and trial, they maintained a dialogue with Schoop's representative, Steve Veltman from The...