Roch Kubatko

Britton on soreness: "I don't think it's anything serious"

February 22, 2017, 4:40am

Orioles

Britton on soreness: "I don't think it's anything serious"

SARASOTA, Fla. - The rain arrived early this morning in Sarasota and caused the Orioles to postpone their intrasquad game until Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Work must be done indoors today unless it involves the backstroke. Closer Zach Britton isn't scheduled to throw after informing the club yesterday that he's feeling some soreness on his left side. Britton didn't sound worried this morning while providing an update at his locker. Britton threw on one of the side mounds Monday before heading...

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JimÃ©nez putting thoughts of free agency on hold

February 21, 2017, 4:10pm

Orioles

JimÃ©nez putting thoughts of free agency on hold

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo JimÃ©nez is back in his contract year, free agency looming like storm clouds over one of the practice fields. Will a team make it rain? The Orioles were mighty generous on Feb. 19, 2014, giving JimÃ©nez $50 million over four years in the largest deal handed out to a free agent pitcher outside the organization. The return hasn't been acceptable, to say the least, though his contributions in September pushed the Orioles into the wild card game and offered renewed hope...

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Britton scratched from intrasquad game (plus other notes)

February 21, 2017, 11:31am

Orioles

Britton scratched from intrasquad game (plus other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Closer Zach Britton has been scratched from Wednesday's intrasquad game with symptoms of a possible left oblique injury, according to manager Buck Showalter. Showalter said the move is being made for precautionary reasons and suggested that Britton could pitch if the Orioles had started the regular season. They're not taking any chances with him in February. Britton was supposed to pitch in the same group as starter Wade Miley, Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens and Jed Bradley....

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Orioles interrupt intrasquad by trading for Bleier (updated)

February 21, 2017, 9:31am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Christian Walker was listed as the first baseman and cleanup hitter for the visiting team in today's intrasquad game, but he never took the field. David Washington replaced him in the bottom of the first inning and lined a single into center field off Logan Verrett leading off the top of the second. There was a good reason for Walker's removal from the lineup. He was designated for assignment to make room for left-hander Richard Bleier, acquired from the Yankees today for a...

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Intrasquad lineups and Wieters news

February 21, 2017, 6:57am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have posted their first lineup for 2017. It's an intrasquad game, but let's not quibble. Don't read too much into it. Jonathan Schoop probably isn't going to bat leadoff on opening day. But he needs the at-bats this spring before leaving Feb. 28 for the World Baseball Classic. Home Team Jonathan Schoop 2B Adam Jones CF Manny Machado SS Hyun Soo Kim DH Welington Castillo C Chris Johnson 3B Trey Mancini 1B Chris Dickerson RF Joey Rickard LF Mike Wright...

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Hardy says his back is "feeling much better"

February 21, 2017, 4:41am

Orioles

Hardy says his back is "feeling much better"

SARASOTA, Fla. - The schedule and expectations for shortstop J.J. Hardy haven't changed over the past few days. His back hasn't put up any roadblocks. Hardy remains confident that he can start playing in exhibition games on March 10, the target date set after he underwent three tests to determine the cause of his spasms and eliminate the most serious possibilities. "I'd say everything's kind of as planned, like what we talked about," Hardy said this morning while sitting at his locker....

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Orioles sign Bourn to minor league deal (updated)

February 20, 2017, 3:04pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is on a roster roll. The Orioles have re-signed outfielder Michael Bourn to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. He can earn $2 million if he returns to the majors. Bourn appeared in 24 games with the Orioles last season and batted .283/.358/.435 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 46 at-bats. They acquired him from the Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 for minor league outfielder Jason Heinrich. "Michael Bourn's...

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Joseph offers scouting report on Liranzo

February 20, 2017, 1:09pm

Orioles

Joseph offers scouting report on Liranzo

SARASOTA, Fla. - Caleb Joseph raised his mitt during a recent bullpen session, awaiting the pitch from 21-year-old JesÃºs Liranzo, never expecting it to arrive so quickly. The ball almost startled Joseph, who was catching Liranzo for the first time. It definitely impressed him. "I'm not going to say his windup lulls you to sleep. I don't want to say that. But it's not a very violent windup," Joseph said. "You don't expect the ball to be on you as fast as it is. That was what I was...

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Notes on NuÃ±o, Ondrusek, Davis, Andino and more

February 20, 2017, 9:34am

Orioles

Notes on NuÃ±o, Ondrusek, Davis, Andino and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Vidal NuÃ±o will participate in his first workout on Wednesday before leaving March 5 for the World Baseball Classic. He's pitching for Team Mexico. Manager Buck Showalter said NuÃ±o has been working out for a few days and conditioning won't be an issue. "He's going to be in pitching shape when he gets back," Showalter said. "I think he's OK. Get a chance to talk to him and see where he is with everything." NuÃ±o could head north as a third left-hander...

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Quick hits from today's workout

February 20, 2017, 7:20am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Vidal NuÃ±o, the newest Oriole in camp, isn't working out today and probably won't report until midweek. The roster remains at 54 players with Nuno's addition and T.J. McFarland being designated for assignment. Robert Andino returned to camp after leaving yesterday to attend to a family matter. He worked out at third base, shortstop and second base in an attempt to make the club in a utility role. Andino could be the starting shortstop at Triple-A Norfolk, with...

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Washington wants to bring more power to Orioles lineup

February 19, 2017, 5:34pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. -The clubhouse won't open to the media this morning because it's Photo Day. Players will be inside Ed Smith Stadium with smiles plastered on their faces. It's quite a scene. Vidal NuÃ±o hasn't met the media after the Orioles acquired him from the Dodgers yesterday for minor league pitcher Ryan Moseley. NuÃ±o has a 5-20 career record, but let's not judge him by it. His 4.02 ERA isn't a disaster, and he posted a 3.76 ERA and 1.088 WHIP in 2015 while going 0-7 in 14 starts...

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Orioles acquire Vidal NuÃ±o from Dodgers

February 19, 2017, 1:00pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter mentioned today that his club had 54 players in major league camp, the lowest total in baseball. Left-hander Vidal NuÃ±o temporarily made it 55. The Orioles have acquired NuÃ±o from the Dodgers for minor league pitcher Ryan Moseley. They had been awaiting the approval of ownership. Left-hander T.J. McFarland was designated for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster, again leaving the Orioles with 54. Showalter wants to carry a...

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Ondrusek sidelined with ankle injury (plus more notes)

February 19, 2017, 9:36am

Orioles

Ondrusek sidelined with ankle injury (plus more notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Logan Ondrusek may not pitch in Wednesday's intrasquad game after rolling his right ankle yesterday during a drill. He's been walking with a limp and continues to receive treatment. Ondrusek was supposed to be on the same team as starter Wade Miley, Dylan Bundy, Zach Britton, Mychal Givens and Jed Bradley. Ondrusek, 32, said the injury occurred as he tried to avoid running into a teammate. "It's a little sore," he said. "It's kind of a fluke little thing. Trying...

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Ynoa trying to seize opportunity with Orioles

February 19, 2017, 5:12am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Gabriel Ynoa knows that he has a chance to impact the Orioles this season. It just depends what he does with it. The Orioles made an attempt to improve their pitching depth on Feb. 10 by acquiring Ynoa from the Mets for cash considerations. They designated catcher Francisco Pena for assignment and he cleared waivers. Ynoa, 23, has thrown a couple of bullpen sessions and will pitch in Tuesday's intrasquad game, expected to be played on the Ed Smith Stadium field. Ynoa is in the...

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McFarland moving on from disappointing 2016 season

February 18, 2017, 3:33pm

Orioles

McFarland moving on from disappointing 2016 season

SARASOTA, Fla. - T.J. McFarland didn't know whether the Orioles would tender him a contract over the winter. Whether he still was regarded as a fit for their bullpen. Whether a lost season made him disappear from their plans. The first question no longer is in play. The Orioles reached agreement on a deal that pays McFarland $685,000 for the upcoming season. Manager Buck Showalter wants a third left-handed reliever, a guy capable of giving him multiple innings. McFarland has done it in the...

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Good news on Hardy and getting to know Gentry

February 18, 2017, 9:29am

Orioles

Good news on Hardy and getting to know Gentry

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made it through today's workout before a storm hit the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Perhaps the black cloud has lifted from shortstop J.J. Hardy, who found out that the tests on his back - an MRI, CT scan and bone scan - came back clean. Manager Buck Showalter is projecting that Hardy could begin playing on March 10. "The thing we were worrying about were tears," Showalter said. "There's nothing there. Just got to calm down the irritation. "You can tell just...

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Orioles sign Gentry, Machado meets with the media

February 18, 2017, 5:23am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have signed outfielder Craig Gentry to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, giving them a defensive upgrade if he makes the club. Gentry is a career .261/.335/.333 hitter in eight major league seasons, but he appeared in only 26 games with the Athletics in 2015 and 14 with the Angels last season due to injury. The Angels designated him for assignment on July 30 and he rejected an outright assignment and elected free agency. Gentry, 33,...

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Jones on playing center field, his opinions and more

February 18, 2017, 4:35am

Orioles

Jones on playing center field, his opinions and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Adam Jones doesn't care if people want to criticize him for playing too shallow in center field. He's going to be himself, he says, and that includes making a joke about it. Jones ran out to the warning track on the Camden Yards replica field yesterday to start shagging fly balls, leaving the rest of the outfielders a substantial distance in front of him. But seriously, does he intend to change how he plays the position? "We shall see," he said, grinning. "I might be up in...

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Health issues and the catching situation

February 17, 2017, 1:29pm

Orioles

Health issues and the catching situation

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles aren't in panic mode over the shoulder discomfort, or whatever we're calling it, that could force No. 1 starter Chris Tillman on the disabled list. They're continuing to breathe normally through a series of tests administered to shortstop J.J. Hardy's back, the spasms keeping him from participating in workouts. They haven't made it through one full week of camp and already their faith is being tested. A veteran starter has been part of their offseason wish list...

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Showalter on Hardy: "Nothing's in jeopardy"

February 17, 2017, 9:59am

Orioles

Showalter on Hardy: "Nothing's in jeopardy"

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles held their first full-squad workout today and received more attention for the one player who wasn't on the field. Shortstop J.J. Hardy's absence, at first believed to be caused by an illness, was due to lower back spasms that he said began on Jan. 27. He's undergone an MRI and CT scan and has a bone scan pending. "The first one came back, it was good," said manager Buck Showalter. There's cautious optimism in camp regarding Hardy's condition. He's...