Roch Kubatko

Hardy provides update on back spasms

February 17, 2017, 8:22am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy spent about 3 1/2 minutes at this locker updating the media on the condition of his lower back. He hasn't done any baseball activities since the spasms started. "Backs spasms," he said. "Had them for a couple weeks now. We're running a bunch of tests to make sure we can rule everything out. I've done an MRI, I've done a CT scan. I've got one more, bone scan, coming up here. And then when we get all those tests back, we'll kind of know...

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Hardy undergoing CT scan on lower back (updated)

February 17, 2017, 7:41am

Orioles

Hardy undergoing CT scan on lower back (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Shortstop J.J. Hardy remained absent from the Orioles' workouts today as the full squad gathered on the back fields. He also wasn't in camp. Hardy left the complex to receive a CT scan on his sore lower back. He had an MRI yesterday and the Orioles wanted to follow up with further testing. Hardy was in street clothes this morning while teammates put on their spring uniforms and headed outdoors. Manny Machado worked out at shortstop this morning for one of the drills on the...

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Brach wins arbitration hearing

February 17, 2017, 6:14am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles went through their early stretching exercises this morning prior to the first full-squad workout, manager Buck Showalter walked through a line of players on one of the back fields and yelled, "Brach won!" Teammates applauded reliever Brad Brach, the volume a little louder than the standard golf clap. One player demanded that Brach pay for dinner tonight. The price of winning an arbitration hearing. Brach will receive $3.05 million instead of the $2.525 million...

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Davis on his health, Smith on his new team

February 17, 2017, 5:26am

Orioles

Davis on his health, Smith on his new team

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis continues to swing a bat without pain in his left thumb, one of the most positive developments in the first week of camp. He's no longer hindered by an injury that required constant treatments last season and forced him to make adjustments at the plate that didn't bring the desired results. "I think the biggest thing was really the rest and the time off and not having the physical contact and the beating that I did every day when I was...

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Brach back from arbitration hearing and ready to resume routine

February 17, 2017, 4:35am

Orioles

Brach back from arbitration hearing and ready to resume routine

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Brad Brach should find out early this afternoon whether he won or lost his arbitration hearing. He only knows now that there is no animosity and both sides are ready to move on from the process. Brach returned to Sarasota yesterday around 3:30 p.m. and did some throwing to work up a sweat. Back to business as usual. "It's kind of like a rollercoaster," he said. "When we said our case, it was great, and then when they said theirs, I thought we were going to...

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Can Bradley avoid being left out?

February 16, 2017, 2:47pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will begin their first full-squad workout this morning still unsure where they're going to find another left-hander for their bullpen. They've got Zach Britton to close, and each day this week has brought another reporter into camp to set up at his locker. (See what I did there?) They've got rookie Donnie Hart to match up against left-handed hitters. And manager Buck Showalter indicated this week that he could bring another southpaw to Camden Yards, the...

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Showalter on team "getting back together"

February 16, 2017, 10:07am

Orioles

Showalter on team "getting back together"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter monitored the rundown drills on every back field this morning, offering instruction and making sure they were done properly before moving to the next location. He also watched batting practice on the Camden Yards replica field, chatting with Chris Davis as the slugger waited his next turn in the cage. Showalter seemed to be at his happiest after spotting Manny Machado taking ground balls beside Jonathan Schoop on the turf field. He walked over to...

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Notes on Brach and today's workout

February 16, 2017, 8:36am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Brad Brach had his arbitration hearing this morning in St. Petersburg, Fla., with no agreement reached before entering the room. The result is expected on Friday. Manager Buck Showalter said there are only three position players that he hasn't seen today, but he's been told they're in town. The Orioles team introductory meeting will take place tonight, allowing Showalter to take attendance. Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo and Chris Dickerson took batting practice in the...

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Schoop on WBC, PeÃ±a on return, Johnson on being an Oriole

February 16, 2017, 5:08am

Orioles

Schoop on WBC, PeÃ±a on return, Johnson on being an Oriole

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo, Adam Jones and Jonathan Schoop reported to camp this morning, the biggest names among position players to enter the facility during the media's hour-long clubhouse access. Schoop will leave camp on Feb. 28 to join Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. "The thing I'm concerned with is going to Korea. It's far to go over there. I think I'm going to go anyways to help my country a little bit," Schoop said. "To be honest, it was 50/50. It was far to...

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Leftovers for breakfast

February 15, 2017, 4:27pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Position players are due in camp today, with the first full-squad workout held on Friday. Many of them already have reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex, but we're still waiting on Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Mark Trumbo and new right fielder Seth Smith. Jones' truck arrived earlier this week. The Orioles still have 52 players listed on their camp roster with catcher Francisco PeÃ±a clearing waivers and reliever Nate Adcock not reporting for health...

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Francisco PeÃ±a clears waivers and outrighted (updated)

February 15, 2017, 8:55am

Orioles

Francisco PeÃ±a clears waivers and outrighted (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Francisco PeÃ±a has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, according to an industry source. He's expected to be in camp on Thursday. The Orioles designated PeÃ±a for assignment last week after acquiring pitcher Gabriel Ynoa from the Mets for cash considerations. Catching depth was becoming an issue with Welington Castillo leaving camp on March 5 for the World Baseball Classic and Austin Wynns unable to report due to an ankle injury. Having been on...

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Notes, quotes and video from today's workout

February 15, 2017, 7:03am

Orioles

Notes, quotes and video from today's workout

SARASOTA, Fla. - Twelve pitchers threw bullpen sessions today before the Orioles concluded today's workout. Wade Miley, Ubaldo JimÃ©nez and Darren O'Day were in Group 1, followed by Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Logan Ondrusek in Group 2, T.J. McFarland, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy in Group 3 and Chris Lee, JesÃºs Liranzo and Jed Bradley in Group 4. Welington Castillo caught O'Day and Britton. Manager Buck Showalter wants his new catcher to get acclimated to the top pitchers on the...

Tillman on shoulder: "It's feeling strong, it's feeling better"

February 15, 2017, 4:33am

Orioles

Tillman on shoulder: "It's feeling strong, it's feeling better"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman said he's going to play catch again today for the fourth or fifth time since receiving his platelet-rich plasma injection. The shoulder feels "much, much better," but he's not going to rush the process. He won't jeopardize his season in order to maintain his streak of opening day starts. Tillman said he had the injection on Dec. 20 or 22 and was told to wait three-to-five weeks to let it work. He's behind schedule as pitchers and catchers convene at the Ed...

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Orioles sign Juan Francisco to minor league deal

February 14, 2017, 5:11pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are on a roll with signing players to minor league deals. The camp roster has room and they're intent on filling it. Infield depth remains a priority and the Orioles addressed it again tonight by signing Juan Francisco to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, according to multiple sources. Francisco, 29, hasn't played in the majors since appearing in 106 games with the Blue Jays in 2014, hitting 16 home runs but also striking out...

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Notes on catching need and Miley's momentum

February 14, 2017, 4:47pm

Orioles

Notes on catching need and Miley's momentum

SARASOTA, Fla. - The glorious weather wasn't destined to last through spring training, and rain has entered the forecast to threaten this morning's workout at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Pitchers and catchers are on a tighter schedule due to the seventh annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic that benefits the Miracle League of Manasota. A shotgun start is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Orioles should find out today whether catcher Francisco PeÃ±a passed through waivers or was claimed. He was...

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Showalter says Tillman "probably won't be an option" for opener

February 14, 2017, 12:11pm

Orioles

Showalter says Tillman "probably won't be an option" for opener

SARASOTA, Fla. - What was considered a mere formality has become an open competition. Chris Tillman figured to make his fourth consecutive opening day start for the Orioles, the only drama being how long it would take to get confirmation. However, a platelet-rich plasma injection in Tillman's right shoulder has pushed him back three weeks and made him a prime candidate for the disabled list. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed this afternoon that Tillman, 28, had a setback with his offseason...

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Tillman may start season on disabled list

February 14, 2017, 10:15am

Orioles

Tillman may start season on disabled list

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman isn't expected to be the Orioles' opening day starter on April 3 at Camden Yards after undergoing a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder in December. Tillman contacted head athletic trainer Richie Bancells two months ago to express his concerns over how the shoulder was responding to a throwing program. It's the same shoulder that forced him on the disabled list last season. If Tillman is placed on the new 10-day disabled list, the assignment...

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Bullpen sessions highlight first day of workouts

February 14, 2017, 9:12am

Orioles

Bullpen sessions highlight first day of workouts

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles completed their first workout for pitchers and catchers. The usual fielding drills, including one on the Camden Yards replica field where players shift to each infield position during bunts. This is how manager Buck Showalter ensures that they know where each teammate will be in game situations. New catcher Welington Castillo caught Mychal Givens' bullpen session as part of Group 1. Castillo met with Givens halfway between the mound and plate to check how many...

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Castillo leaning on Joseph to learn new pitching staff

February 14, 2017, 5:13am

Orioles

Castillo leaning on Joseph to learn new pitching staff

SARASOTA, Fla. - Players are trickling into the clubhouse this morning and undergoing the standard physicals, with signs pointing them to each station. Catcher Welington Castillo will have to delay the bonding process with his pitching staff until getting medical clearance. Castillo will leave camp on March 5 to join the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic. It's not an ideal arrangement, with player being separated from his new club and the Orioles left short of catchers and...

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Leftovers for breakfast

February 13, 2017, 4:41pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - While the Orioles remain focused on finding another outfielder who is more glove than bat, they also want to take an extended look at Rule 5 picks Auneury TavÃ¡rez and Anthony Santander. The at-bats and reps will be plentiful, assuming that Santander is recovered from his shoulder surgery. TavÃ¡rez is assured of staying busy. "We'd like to add to the depth of our outfield. It's a possibility," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "There are some guys who are...