Roch Kubatko

Orioles sign five of seven arbitration-eligible players

January 12, 2018, 1:54pm

Orioles

The Orioles are left with two unsigned arbitration-eligible players after a flurry of activity past the 1 p.m. deadline. Pitcher Kevin Gausman and second baseman Jonathan Schoop didn't agree to terms and it appears that the situation will remain unresolved heading into the weekend, according to a source. The sides have exchanged salary proposals and negotiations may continue until the hearing dates, which will be set for next month. A three-person panel will choose one of the salaries. Gausman...

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Orioles sign Britton, Brach, Machado, Joseph and Beckham

January 12, 2018, 9:09am

Orioles

The 1 p.m. deadline has passed for teams to sign their arbitration-eligible players before the sides exchange salary figures. The seven Orioles haven't reached agreements, but executive vice president Dan Duquette texted that the club is "still working on it." The sides can continue to negotiate while hearing dates are set for next month in Phoenix. It's a pretty flimsy deadline. Third baseman Manny Machado, closer Zach Britton, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, starter Kevin Gausman,...

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The bench, arbitration deadline, Triple-A hitting coach and more

January 11, 2018, 9:51am

Orioles

The bench, arbitration deadline, Triple-A hitting coach and more

Hints were dropped at the Winter Meetings that the Orioles could go with a three-man bench and carry 13 pitchers. Manager Buck Showalter never stated it as a certainty, but he implied that they could follow the trend in baseball. He also pointed out why it would be an extreme challenge. Why it seemed unlikely to transpire, circumstances stomping out the idea. "The problem is, if you look at our schedule and the way the game's going, most people are going with 13 pitchers, so now you're...

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Hearing from Hess and Akin at minicamp

January 10, 2018, 4:46pm

Orioles

Only eight of the 17 pitchers at the Orioles minicamp in Sarasota threw off a bullpen mound over the course of three days. Richard Bleier had sessions on Monday and yesterday. I'm including Ryan O'Rourke in the group of invitees because the Orioles wanted to check on him following ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow that forced him to miss the 2017 season. O'Rourke and Dariel Ãlvarez, who had the same procedure on his right elbow, are in rehab mode. David Hess played catch,...

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More on Orioles minicamp (2018 game times set)

January 10, 2018, 10:57am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' latest minicamp provided an opportunity for manager Buck Showalter and some of his coaches to check on the Ed Smith Stadium complex after it incurred damage from Hurricane Irma and with new sod being laid on the Camden Yards replica field. A scoreboard is going up later this winter and the batter's eye must be replaced. Netting beyond the outfield fence will save baseballs from being lost in the pond or oncoming traffic. Trees have been cleared out - some by...

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McDowell wraps up the three-day minicamp

January 10, 2018, 7:17am

Orioles

McDowell wraps up the three-day minicamp

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles concluded their three-day minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning with Richard Bleier throwing his second bullpen session. Bleier was the only pitcher on a mound today and the only one cleared for multiple sessions this week. This is the fifth year in a row that the Orioles have held their minicamp in Sarasota. Dariel Ãlvarez did some long-tossing again while rehabbing from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. As I wrote in my last...

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Dariel Ãlvarez nearing return to mound

January 10, 2018, 5:25am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dariel Ãlvarez no longer is resistant to making the switch from outfielder to pitcher. He's embracing the idea with a surgically repaired elbow and a new attitude. Ãlvarez is playing catch at minicamp, which wraps up later today, and said via translator Ramon Martinez that he's scheduled to throw off a flat mound by the end of the month. "I've been doing the rehabilitation and I feel pretty good so far," said Ãlvarez, who had the procedure in April, was released...

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Could Yacabonis become a starter?

January 09, 2018, 5:27pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've come upon the third and final day of the Orioles minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. It feels like we just arrived and got reacquainted with the facility. Like we just checked the nameplates above the lockers to make certain that no one signed during the flight. Pitching coach Roger McDowell will meet briefly with the three beat writers before everyone heads home. This is, after all, a gathering of pitchers with no position players. It will be good to...

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Pondering the closer situation as Day Two of minicamp concludes

January 09, 2018, 10:44am

Orioles

Pondering the closer situation as Day Two of minicamp concludes

SARASOTA, Fla. - As Zach Britton sits at home with a boot covering his foot following Achilles surgery, the backend of the Orioles bullpen now fractured, manager Buck Showalter won't anoint one reliever as his closer moving forward. Britton could miss the first half of the season depending on his recovery, with no firm timeline in place. He's hoping to be back in May or June. "We have some people that are capable of doing it," Showalter said. "Obviously, nobody of the track record of the...

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Orioles aren't ready to place restrictions on Hunter Harvey

January 09, 2018, 8:26am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't put an innings limit on Hunter Harvey, the former first-round pick who's recovered from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. No decision has been made on where he'll be assigned. Keeping Harvey healthy is job No. 1. The rest should take care of itself. Watching Harvey throw his bullpen session today "brings a smile to my face," Showalter said. "Think about how far he's come and the similarities with Dylan (Bundy). I...

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Miguel Castro preparing for chance to start

January 09, 2018, 6:36am

Orioles

Miguel Castro preparing for chance to start

SARASOTA, Fla. - The second day of Orioles minicamp concluded this morning with Hunter Harvey, Joely RodrÃguez, Luis Gonzalez, Lucas Long and Yefri RamÃrez throwing bullpen sessions. Harvey's sessions always will attract interest, but manager Buck Showalter also has varying levels of praise for the other four pitchers in the group. He's relieved that Gonzalez, a left-hander who went 6-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 36 relief appearances at Single-A Frederick and didn't give up an...

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Chris Lee on a difficult season and a fresh start

January 08, 2018, 4:17pm

Orioles

Chris Lee on a difficult season and a fresh start

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're only one day into the Orioles minicamp and manager Buck Showalter is accomplishing everything on the list. Pitchers coming off surgeries are checked, the newbies are evaluated, meetings are held with everyone who received an invitation. Chris Tillman's workouts while the club retains interest in re-signing him are an added bonus. I'll just assume that he remains out of view of the three beat writers who made the trip. "The criteria for being here, and we have a lot of...

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More on Cortes, Bleier and Givens on Britton, amateur signing

January 08, 2018, 11:45am

Orioles

More on Cortes, Bleier and Givens on Britton, amateur signing

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles set up their yearly minicamps, initially at Camden Yards and for the past five years at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, in part to gather early impressions on pitchers they've mostly known through scouting reports, video and word of mouth. Manager Buck Showalter already held a favorable opinion of left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. and it heightened after the first day of minicamp. "Cortes can spin the ball. Did you all see that?" Showalter asked following...

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Showalter on Machado, Beckham, the roster and more

January 08, 2018, 9:29am

Orioles

Showalter on Machado, Beckham, the roster and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter continues to proceed as if Manny Machado will be part of his opening day lineup, though trade discussions haven't closed. There's no other way to handle the matter. Showalter has talked to Machado and Tim Beckham about the left side of the infield and how it might unfold. Machado could move over to shortstop, the spot where Beckham prefers to play. It's a delicate situation. "It's further along than it was," Showalter said. Any...

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Quick hits from Showalter following Day One of minicamp

January 08, 2018, 8:14am

Orioles

Quick hits from Showalter following Day One of minicamp

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Chris Tillman, who has a home here, is working out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex after receiving permission from the Orioles. Tillman is a free agent and manager Buck Showalter expressed interest today in bringing back the veteran right-hander. Showalter also said he'd like to hold onto free agent outfielder Craig Gentry, whose defense and speed are valuable assets. Showalter didn't dismiss the idea of bringing back Pedro Ãlvarez, but conceded it would be...

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Hunter Harvey: "I feel like I'm ready to go"

January 08, 2018, 6:46am

Orioles

Hunter Harvey: "I feel like I'm ready to go"

SARASOTA, Fla. - The first day of Orioles minicamp wrapped up this morning with Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. completing a bullpen session, pitchers running sprints and Dariel Ãlvarez playing catch on flat ground as he recovers from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Ãlvarez is converting from outfielder to reliever. Manager Buck Showalter is joined by pitching coach Roger McDowell, bullpen coach Alan Mills, bench coach John Russell, special assignment pitching instructor...

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Brian Ebel promoted to head athletic trainer

January 08, 2018, 5:23am

Orioles

Brian Ebel promoted to head athletic trainer

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles announced this morning that assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel has been promoted to the head position as Richie Bancells' replacement. Bancells retired in October after 41 seasons in the organization. Ebel, 51, has spent the last 21 seasons as the assistant and is entering his 34th year with the Orioles. He's only the fourth head athletic trainer in club history. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Ebel began his career in 1985 at 19 when he served as...

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Day One of Orioles minicamp

January 07, 2018, 12:23pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The first day of Orioles minicamp begins this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, with pitchers scheduled to head outdoors at 10 a.m. A small group of beat writers will have clubhouse access for an hour. Temperatures climb into the 70s this week, but rain is in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, which could move some of the bullpen sessions to the covered cages. Or, because it's Florida, the sun could come out two minutes after a downpour. In case you need a...

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Brach seeking to be better in second half

January 06, 2018, 11:54am

Orioles

Brach seeking to be better in second half

As Brad Brach prepares for a likely role as the primary closer for the Orioles while Zach Britton recovers from Achilles surgery, he's making an adjustment to his offseason routine in order to put together two robust halves. More cardio to correct the discrepancy. Brach has been the reverse of Kevin Gausman. Better before the break. He made the American League All-Star team in 2016 while going 6-1 with a 0.91 ERA and 0.831 WHIP in the first half, but he had a 3.94 ERA and 1.382 WHIP in the...

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Chris Davis on hitting approach, contract pressure and more

January 05, 2018, 10:22am

Orioles

Chris Davis on hitting approach, contract pressure and more

It won't be long before Chris Davis' family, which already includes wife Jill and daughter Ella, will expand with the arrival of twin girls. "We're going to go from man-to-man coverage to a zone real quick in our house, but we're fired up about it," Davis said this week while interviewed on the "Orioles Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "I couldn't be happier. We always said that we wanted at least three. I'm still pushing for maybe four, but it's probably not the best time to be...