Manny Machado is lone Orioles finalist for Gold Glove Award

Manny Machado is lone Orioles finalist for Gold Glove Award
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is the club's lone finalist for a Rawlings Gold Glove, giving him an opportunity to win his third award. Machado is joined by the Indians' José Ramírez and the Rays' Evan Longoria. The winners will be announced on Nov. 7 on ESPN. The Orioles failed to claim a Gold Glove last year for the first time since 2010. They had multiple winners in four consecutive seasons before 2015, when Machado earned his second award. Machado and first baseman Chris Davis...

Notes on Dauer, Sardiñas and Wilkerson

Notes on Dauer, Sardiñas and Wilkerson
Rich Dauer finally made it back to the World Series. Dauer is completing his third season as the Astros first base coach and infield instructor. He broke into the majors with the Orioles in 1976 and spent his entire playing career in the organization, retiring after the 1985 season. The Orioles inducted Dauer into their Hall of Fame in 2012. Dauer was the starting second baseman on the last championship team in Baltimore in 1983. A much happier ending than the 1979 World Series, which also...

Quiet start to Orioles offseason, Hill on hill, spring update

Quiet start to Orioles offseason, Hill on hill, spring update
Updates on the Orioles are scarce as we move through the last days of October. A final decision hasn't been made on the coaching staff and contracts expire at the end of the month. The Orioles are notorious for dragging out the process. Manager Buck Showalter already has met with owner Peter Angelos and he's back in town for Saturday's KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K/1-mile walk at Camden Yards. Showalter and Angelos could talk again later this week. A replacement hasn't been named for head...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Someone who's much smarter than me, and that's a deep pool of candidates, noted that this year's World Series between the Astros and Dodgers features two 100-win teams for the first time since 1970. The date jumped out at me straight from my childhood. It was a little dusty. My first memories of the Orioles were born in the '70 season. I'm forever grateful that I have no recollection of the loss to the Miracle Mets in '69. Same with Super Bowl III and the NBA Eastern Division semifinals...

Six Orioles elect free agency

Six Orioles elect free agency
While the Orioles decide which non-roster players to protect in the Rule 5 draft in December, six of their minor leaguers elected free agency and are eligible to sign with another organization. Pitchers Logan Verrett, Vidal Nuño and Jason Wheeler, catcher Francisco Peña and infielders Johnny Giavotella and Rubén Tejada can test the market, according to a list provided by Major League Baseball and published yesterday by Baseball America. The Orioles could attempt to re-sign any or all...

Hamstring injuries didn't hurt Mullins' standing in organization

Hamstring injuries didn't hurt Mullins' standing in organization
While the Orioles continue the process of deciding which players need to be protected in the Rule 5 draft, one of their better prospects isn't vulnerable to it. Outfielder Cedric Mullins doesn't need to be added to the 40-man roster. His time is coming, but not this winter. Hamstring injuries limited Mullins to 76 games at Double-A Bowie, but it wasn't a lost season in the eyes of the organization. The Orioles were comfortable bumping Mullins from Single-A Delmarva to Bowie after he batted...

The Dariel Álvarez pitching experiment will continue

The Dariel Álvarez pitching experiment will continue
The Orioles will resume their attempts to transform Dariel Álvarez from an outfielder to a pitcher. They haven't bailed on the idea. Álvarez is rehabbing his right elbow following ligament-reconstructive surgery in April. Don't forget about him. The Orioles remain committed to seeing this experiment through. "He's doing great," said director of player development Brian Graham. "He's coming back to spring training. And by the end of spring training, he'll be close to being able to...

Orioles facing roster decision with Wilkerson (update)

Orioles facing roster decision with Wilkerson (update)
The Arizona Fall League attracts scouts and officials like moths to flames, and no one wants to get burned. Don't miss out on a prospect who may become available. Don't let one of your own slip away. The Orioles must decide whether to protect infielder Steve Wilkerson before the Rule 5 draft that closes out the Winter Meetings in Orlando. Assigning him to the Salt River Rafters in the AFL can provide a clearer read on his abilities, though it also gives representatives from other teams the...

Orioles sign Can-Am League MVP Joe Maloney

Orioles sign Can-Am League MVP Joe Maloney
The Orioles began their offseason by aiming to improve their depth at first base in the farm system. Always attracted to power at any level, the Orioles announced today that they signed Joe Maloney to a minor league contract. Maloney, 27, was a 10th-round pick of the Rangers in 2011 out of Division II Limestone College in South Carolina. He spent the 2017 season in independent ball and was named Most Valuable Player in the Can-Am League after batting .282/.359/.638 with 24 doubles, two triples,...

Decision pending on Harvey's role to begin 2018 season

Decision pending on Harvey's role to begin 2018 season
If the Orioles continue to resist trading one of their top relievers, and more phone calls will roll in with clubs viewing them as having a surplus, they're going to break camp next spring with a bullpen that includes closer Zach Britton, Brad Brach, Darren O'Day, Mychal Givens and Richard Bleier. The number of relievers can't be pinpointed as long as there's the possibility of an adjusted early rotation and bench. The Orioles won't necessarily begin with the standard five starters, seven...

Jones on young outfielders, E-Rod surgery, Reimold news

Jones on young outfielders, E-Rod surgery, Reimold news
The Orioles aren't in a position to make significant changes to their lineup next season with the bulk of their primary starters back in uniform. The infield appears to be set and they easily could turn over the catching duties to Caleb Joseph and rookie Chance Sisco if Welington Castillo exercises his $7 million option. Castillo is expected to test free agency. That's the industry buzz. The early outfield speculation puts Trey Mancini in left field, Adam Jones in center and Austin Hays in...

Various improvements needed from these six Orioles

Various improvements needed from these six Orioles
The Orioles will seek outside help to avoid another last-place finish, but they also hope that improvement comes from within, that various shortcomings have a short shelf live. Here are a few that come to mind. I'll update the list as the offseason rolls along: Kevin Gausman needs two good halves In the same season. It's an important qualifier. Gausman flashes the ace material after the break. He registered a 3.10 ERA in the second half in 2016, going 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in six August starts,...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Four teams have managerial vacancies and none of them are expected to interview Orioles bench coach John Russell. Lots of names are surfacing as candidates for jobs with the Red Sox, Tigers, Mets and Phillies. Alex Cora is a popular one. It seems like only a matter of time before he gets an opportunity. Meanwhile, Russell never seems to be given consideration despite annual endorsements from Orioles manager Buck Showalter. Russell spent three seasons as Pirates manager from 2008-2010 and his...

Still waiting on decision regarding Orioles coaching staff

Still waiting on decision regarding Orioles coaching staff
The Orioles apparently haven't made a final decision on their coaching staff for next season. There's been no confirmation on returns or changes. The situation needs to be resolved soon with contracts expiring at the end of the month. Then again, the Orioles have been known to move slowly on such matters. No one claims that Maryland is all about crab cakes, football and quick resolutions. Manager Buck Showalter has stated that he wants everyone back and he passionately defends first-year...

Because You Asked - "The Cradle of Life"

Because You Asked - "The Cradle of Life"
I'm opening the offseason mailbag and sorting the questions according to how often they've been repeated to me. "A lot" goes in the pile to my left. "A heck of a lot" goes to my right. I can't get to all of them this morning, but it's a long offseason. There will be other days and more sequels. I'm running out of titles. All nominations are welcome. Just know that "Electric Boogaloo" is off the board. I used that one a few years ago. How can the Orioles improve their rotation if they...

Questions regarding Beckham, Wright, Sisco and Castro

Questions regarding Beckham, Wright, Sisco and Castro
A team that loses 19 of its final 23 games to finish in last place, and has 10 potential free agents and a handful of stars entering the final year of their contracts, is bound to be faced with plenty of questions. They come in all shapes and sizes. The questions and the players. Let's tackle a few of them this morning. The questions, not the players. Is Tim Beckham a leadoff hitter? The Orioles opened the season with Seth Smith batting first, his career .344 on-base percentage making him the...

Information on spring training report dates and home games

Information on spring training report dates and home games
The Orioles have announced their spring training report dates and released the home portion of their Grapefruit League schedule. Pitchers and catchers must report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota by Feb. 13, though they routinely arrive earlier. The full-squad report date is set for Feb. 18. Ten different teams will provide the opposition on the 16-game home schedule, beginning with the Rays on Feb. 23 at 1:05 p.m. The Orioles finish the Sarasota portion with a March 24 game versus...

Santander and early talk about the bench

Santander and early talk about the bench
If the Orioles want to provide more rest for some of their veteran players next season, they could use better options on the bench. If they intend to keep Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander, it's obviously going to influence the composition of their bench. It shouldn't be hard to follow along. Santander must spend the first 44 days of the season on the active roster before the Orioles can option him to Triple-A Norfolk without first running him through waivers and offering him back to the Indians....

What's needed from Harvey, Sedlock, Akin and Lee

What's needed from Harvey, Sedlock, Akin and Lee
We can spend countless hours in the offseason studying the list of free agent pitchers who are realistic targets for the Orioles and potential upgrades available in trades, but never wander too far from home. You know how this club loves to stay in-house. The Orioles can't rely on the organization's arms to solve all of their pitching problems. Rolling the same dice over and over is too big of a gamble for a team that set a franchise record for worst rotation ERA at 5.70. However, the...

Notes on Schoop, arbitation projections, Turner and Wieters

Notes on Schoop, arbitation projections, Turner and Wieters
More recognition has come to Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop. He can't avoid it. A breakthrough season tends to attract the attention. Schoop learned yesterday that he's the Orioles' nominee for the 2017 Hank Aaron Award, presented to the top offensive performer in each league. The award was established in 1999. The Red Sox's David Ortiz and Cubs' Kris Bryant won it last year. Schoop appeared in 160 games this season and batted .293/.338/.503 with 35 doubles, 32 home runs and 105...