While the Orioles work to construct the roster that will represent the team on opening day, plans must be made for their annual FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center.
No winter detail is too small.
Tickets were put on sale today for the Jan. 27 event, which runs from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Early entry for season plan members begins at 10 a.m. as part of the Orange Carpet Program.
Fans can purchase tickets online at www.orioles.com/fanfest, by calling 1-888-848-BIRD or by visiting the Camden...
Among the many factors that contributed to a last-place finish, the first losing season for the Orioles since 2011, one of the most prominent ties together right-hander Chris Tillman and lefty Zach Britton.
The No. 1 starter and closer as broken bookends.
The Orioles weren't prepared for Tillman to win one game, in his first start delayed until May 7 due to a shoulder injury, and register career highs with a 7.84 ERA, a 1.892 WHIP and 12.1 hits per nine innings. For Tillman to lose his spot in...
With such a large gathering in our blog community, it's impossible to get everyone in agreement on most topics. And it's a good thing because the varying opinions lead to some terrific debates. Especially the civil ones.
Certain players on the free agent market have their supporters and detractors. The same goes for manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette.
Some fans endorse a full rebuild going into the 2018 season, conceding that the club won't re-sign Manny...
As long as we're touching on various camp competitions that await the Orioles after they begin full-squad workouts and Grapefruit League games, we should consider what's happening at shortstop.
It could be about the players or the people within the organization who have their preferences.
The job seemed to belong to Tim Beckham without dispute following the July 31 trade that brought him over from Tampa Bay. And especially after he batted .394/.417/.646 in August with 10 doubles, two triples,...
The Orioles' spring training camp will be littered with competitions in a few months. Not the filthy, gulls circling variety. A much smaller scale, but still littered
Jobs won't be handed to catcher Chance Sisco and outfielder Austin Hays, two of the top position prospects in the organization. They will be given the opportunity to head north for the March 29 opener against the Twins at Camden Yards, but the rest is up to them - and whatever other moves are made by executive vice president Dan...
The Orioles have tendered contracts to every player currently on their 40-man roster, taking the course of action deemed the most obvious.
They were parked in a drama-free zone when it came to their seven arbitration-eligibles.
Third baseman Manny Machado, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, starter Kevin Gausman, relievers Zach Britton and Brad Brach, shortstop Tim Beckham and catcher Caleb Joseph were offered contracts prior to the 8 p.m. deadline. Machado, Britton and Brach are entering their...
The Orioles aren't done handing out minor league deals. And they're certainly not done addressing the pitching depth in their system.
Another wave of signings were announced today with right-handers Christian Binford, Perci Garner and Asher Wojciechowski, and left-handers Jason Gurka and Luis Lugo. The Garner news broke late last night, with confirmation coming via the pitcher and his agency.
Gurka, 29, is back with the organization that drafted him in the 15th round in 2008 from Angelina...
The Orioles veered away from an organizational philosophy last winter when they including a $7 million player option for 2018 in catcher Welington Castillo's free agent contract. They didn't refer to it as an opt-out clause, but it basically played as one.
Castillo declined the option, as expected, and he agreed to terms today on a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox. His latest contract comes with an $8 million team option for 2020.
A .282/.323/.490 slash line with 20 home runs in...
As the Orioles continue their search for starting pitchers, casting a wide net that covers the free agent, trade and international markets and potential non-tenders, they also are banking on two strong halves from Kevin Gausman.
Tabbed as this year's opening day starter due to Chris Tillman's shoulder injury, Gausman registered a 5.85 ERA and 1.763 WHIP before the All-Star break and a 3.41 ERA and 1.204 WHIP after it. In 2016, he had a 4.15 ERA and 1.304 WHIP before the break and a 3.10 ERA...
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated again tonight that he expects to keep closer Zach Britton rather than succumb to the various trade proposals.
Appearing on the first edition of the "Orioles Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 the Fan, Duquette was asked to place odds on Britton being with the club on opening day.
"I think they're good," he replied. "I like Zach Britton. Obviously, there's a lot of interest in him. He's got one year left on his contract here, he's been one...
The Orioles have announced start times for their 2018 home schedule, and folks attending Sunday games at Camden Yards are going to have to adjust their schedules.
Sunday games will now begin at 1:05 p.m., a change from the previous 1:35 p.m. start time.
Though games will start a half-hour earlier, Sundays will still be family days at the ballpark, which means fans ages 4-14 will be able to participate in a postgame Kids Run The Bases event, sponsored by Weis Markets.
The Orioles will begin the...
The next important date in Major League Baseball doesn't involve Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez.
Friday marks the deadline for teams to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players or non-tender them, which expands the free agent market.
The Orioles were able to sign catcher Welington Castillo last winter because the Diamondbacks non-tendered him. They would have engaged in trade talks if he hadn't unexpectedly hit the market.
They're going to pay close attention again while continuing...
The Orioles could use a left-handed hitting corner outfielder with a career .358 on-base percentage who is comfortable playing at Camden Yards and capable of serving as the leadoff hitter.
But Nick Markakis isn't walking through that door. At least, I don't think so.
Markakis never wanted to leave Baltimore. Returning "home" with the Braves hasn't been a joyful experience for a variety of reasons. But I haven't detected any signs that a reunion is in the works.
There has been previous...
More comfortable announcing a bunch of minor league signings instead of letting them trickle out one at a time, the Orioles released the names of 14 free agents today who are staying in or joining the organization.
The roll call includes infielder Rubén Tejada, who appeared in 41 games this season and came off the 40-man roster after the Orioles activated Ryan Flaherty from the disabled list. Flaherty is a free agent and Tejada could compete for a utility job.
The Orioles didn't reveal...
Yesterday in this space I wondered whether the Orioles would use catcher Chance Sisco in a platoon with Caleb Joseph or anoint one of them as the primary starter - assuming that the rookie breaks camp with the team, of course.
Don't ever assume or else ... you know the rest.
I'm shifting my focus this morning to another rookie, outfielder Austin Hays, who was chosen as the organization's Minor League Player of the Year.
Hays could get most of the at-bats among the candidates for right field....
The Orioles will enter another season without Doug Fister in their rotation.
Maybe we can start up more rumors at the non-waiver trade deadline.
Manager Buck Showalter really likes Fister and has recommended him in the past, but the veteran right-hander reportedly has agreed to a one-year deal with the Rangers. He's coming off the board while the Orioles try to plug the holes in their rotation.
Fister reportedly will receive $4 million guaranteed, including a $500,000 buyout, and there's a...
I filled this space yesterday with three players who improved from 2016 to 2017 in a specific area and must continue to trend upward and avoid reverting to previous form.
Let's spin it the other way and look at three players who declined in a certain area and must reverse course.
There are lots of candidates in lots of statistical categories. Like shooting fish in a barrel. I just chose these four to pace myself. It's still only November.
Can Kevin Gausman recapture his touch versus...
When a team loses 19 of its last 23 games and tumbles to the bottom of the division with a sickening thud, the natural inclination is to pick apart each player and focus on the negatives that destroyed a season.
Finding the silver linings can be a strain to the eyes.
I randomly chose three players who trended upward in a specific area and will need to keep heading in that direction as the Orioles attempt to ditch the cellar and get back into contention.
Can Jonathan Schoop rev up the on-base...
Now that we've moved past the Thanksgiving holiday, it's time to tackle two important questions: How many ways can turkey be used in leftovers before it turns colors? And how will the Orioles continue to address their need for left-handed bats?
Soups, sandwiches, chili, casseroles, pot pies, enchiladas, omelets and hash are handy ways to transform whatever remains on the carcass and serving dish. That one was easy.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette suggested last week that he could be in...
How intense is the roll that catcher Austin Wynns is on these days? How big is the wave he's riding?
He was given another opportunity to play baseball in the Dominican Republic, the same fulfilling experience as last year. He was able to go home for Thanksgiving and be surrounded by family and friends. He lives in San Diego, where the weather is always ideal. And he found out Monday evening that the Orioles placed him on their 40-man roster three weeks shy of his 27th birthday.
I'd suggest...



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