Roch Kubatko

Drake started from the bottom and hopes to make headlines

February 04, 2017, 12:27pm

Orioles

Drake started from the bottom and hopes to make headlines

The Orioles roster on opening day won't resemble the one that's utilized later in the month of April. The three open dates on the schedule in the first eight days enable them to carry fewer pitchers and an expanded bench. Don't get too attached to every player who runs down the orange carpet. Manager Buck Showalter suggested that the Orioles could carry 10 or 11 pitchers because they won't need a fifth starter. Oliver Drake has no idea whether he's going to be part of the bullpen. He made...

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Adam Jones: "The market is really, really crazy"

February 03, 2017, 5:27pm

Orioles

Adam Jones: "The market is really, really crazy"

Adam Jones won't reach free agency, barring an extension on his contract, until the conclusion of the 2018 season. It doesn't tap him on the shoulder, but he can feel its presence. Jones has stated that whether he stays in Baltimore depends on the front office, that he's not calling all the shots. What he's doing now is watching how the market unfolds and wondering what the coming years have in store. The sluggers are settling or staying on the board. Mark Trumbo received a three-year,...

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Orioles could add another catcher

February 02, 2017, 5:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles are in the market for another catcher as spring training approaches. Austin Wynns injured his ankle while playing for Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League and it's not known when he'll be available. He's on the list of spring invites, along with top prospect Chance Sisco and Audry Perez. One official speculated that Wynns might not be ready until March, but he's started to swing a bat and is working out. The 40-man roster includes catchers Welington Castillo, Caleb...

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Joseph loses arbitration case (and signs one-year deal)

February 02, 2017, 7:54am

Orioles

Joseph loses arbitration case (and signs one-year deal)

One arbitration hearing is in the books for the Orioles, with catcher Caleb Joseph coming out on the losing end in St. Petersburg, Fla. The ruling was handed down today. Joseph will be paid $700,000 instead of the $1 million that he sought. He made $523,500 in 2016. In 49 games last season, Joseph batted .174/.216/.197 with three doubles and no RBIs. He missed a month of the season after suffering a testicular injury that required surgery. Joseph registered a .994 fielding percentage and threw...

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Who's up first?

February 01, 2017, 3:52pm

Orioles

The Orioles will find out today whether they're paying catcher Caleb Joseph $1 million or $700,000. His hearing was held yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla. It's going to take a lot longer to figure out who's batting leadoff this season. Adam Jones did it for 108 games last season, the switch coming on May 27 in Cleveland. He batted .282/.320/.471 atop the order, but manager Buck Showalter stated after the season that he wanted someone else in the role in 2017. Is there anyone on the current...

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Orioles sign Giavotella to minor league deal

February 01, 2017, 12:12pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter wants more infield depth in the minors, especially in the middle, and the Orioles made a move today to address the need. The Orioles signed second baseman Johnny Giavotella to a minor league deal after the Angels outrighted him in August and non-tendered him three months later. He could compete with Ryan Flaherty for a utility job, but is more likely injury insurance. Giavotella, 29, was the Angels' opening day second baseman the past two seasons. He batted...

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Arbitration hearing dates and Davis leftovers

January 31, 2017, 3:48pm

Orioles

Arbitration hearing dates and Davis leftovers

Catcher Caleb Joseph's arbitration hearing will be held today in St. Petersburg, Fla. He's seeking $1 million and the Orioles countered at $700,000. He made $523,500 last season. Pitcher Kevin Gausman's hearing is set for Feb. 7 and reliever Brad Brach's hearing is Feb. 16. You've probably memorized the figures, or at least have them hanging on your fridge. Gausman made $532,000 last season and is seeking $3.55 million, and the Orioles countered at $3.15 million. Brach made $1.250 million...

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Brach's knack for picking up wins

January 30, 2017, 4:30pm

Orioles

With Brad Brach headed to an arbitration hearing, the Orioles still determined to file-and-trial, we're going to learn about the relevance of a reliever's win total in the process. Never judge a pitcher by his won-loss record. Kevin Gausman is a prime example of how run support and other factors wield a heavy influence. But Brach's record in 2016 is going to be placed in front of the three-person panel like a five-star meal. Digest this: Brach became the ninth reliever in team history to...

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Expectations running high for Gausman and Bundy

January 29, 2017, 12:59pm

Orioles

Expectations running high for Gausman and Bundy

The Orioles may break camp with only 10 or 11 pitchers due to having three open dates within the first eight days of the season. They can carry an expanded bench, perhaps including a Rule 5 pick and/or Trey Mancini, who's currently on the roster bubble. However the rotation unfolds, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy will be in it. They're locks if healthy and carrying weighty expectations from teammates who were encouraged by their progress in 2016. "It's huge," first baseman Chris Davis said...

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Leftovers from FanFest

January 28, 2017, 4:36pm

Orioles

There wasn't any real news to come out of yesterday's FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. A few injury updates, confirmation that the Orioles aren't engaged in contract extension talks, confirmation that executive vice president Dan Duquette made an offer to pitcher Vance Worley before the right-hander signed a minor league deal with the Nationals, Adam Jones' assertion that the club must improve its outfield defense. Jones made the point multiple times. He's got concerns about the...

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Worley no longer pitching option for Orioles

January 28, 2017, 2:07pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced earlier today that more than 15,000 fans attended their annual FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. We've reached the conclusion. No more forums, no more autograph sessions. No more Vance Worley in an Orioles uniform. The Nationals announced this evening that they signed Worley, 29, to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He reportedly will earn $1 million if he reaches the majors, with another $1.65 million possible in incentives. Orioles...

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Adam Jones calls for better defense in the outfield

January 28, 2017, 11:51am

Orioles

Adam Jones calls for better defense in the outfield

Let Adam Jones play general manager and he's got strong opinions on where the Orioles need to improve in 2017. It isn't on the pitching staff, it isn't in the lineup, it isn't on the basepaths. "We don't need more power. I think that's prevalent. We don't need more offense. I think we need to improve the outfield defense," Jones said. "People want to say always pitching, pitching, pitching. I think we've got some (darn) good pitchers right now. They're young, but they're maturing....

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Davis and O'Day in good health

January 28, 2017, 10:13am

Orioles

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said he started to swing a bat about a month ago and hasn't experienced any discomfort in his left hand. It's a sizable piece of good news in the offseason. Davis dislocated his left thumb early in the 2016 season and continued to play through the pain, batting .221/.332/.459 with 38 home runs and 84 RBIs. He led the majors with 219 strikeouts in the first year of his seven-year, $161 million deal. "It's good," he said. "I started hitting about a month...

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Orioles still expect to take three players to arbitration hearings

January 28, 2017, 9:20am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated again today at FanFest that the club is prepared to go to arbitration hearings with pitchers Kevin Gausman and Brad Brach and catcher Caleb Joseph. "The club took the stance that if you file, there's a trial. We took file-to-trial this year," he said. "We were able to resolve six of the nine cases and it looks like we're going to have to go to arbitration with a couple of them, but we were prepared. We're not afraid of the process....

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Early words from Duquette and Showalter (updated)

January 28, 2017, 6:36am

Orioles

Early words from Duquette and Showalter (updated)

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter finished up their FanFest forum for season plan members. The session lasted about 30 minutes, and it took 22 before a woman began to ask Showalter about his decision to not use closer Zach Britton in the wild card game. I had the under. Showalter cut her off and said, "It wasn't very good, was it?" The first question of the session pertained to Trey Mancini. Fans really want him to break camp with the team. Duquette and...

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Rickard hopes to repeat as part of 25-man roster

January 27, 2017, 6:39pm

Orioles

Rickard hopes to repeat as part of 25-man roster

Whether former Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard breaks camp with the Orioles this spring depends on a variety of factors. Not all of them are in his control. Rickard's performance will be weighed and he's hoping it's in the best shape of his life. (See what I did there?) The Orioles always keep a Rule 5 pick on the roster, which could put Rickard in direct competition with Aneury Tavarez. However, Rickard bats from the right side and is needed to platoon with Hyun Soo Kim or Seth Smith, though Mark...

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Trumbo on free agency and his return to the Orioles

January 27, 2017, 12:19pm

Orioles

Mark Trumbo never wanted to leave Baltimore and he made that point crystal clear again this afternoon at his press conference inside the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. Trumbo put on his No. 45 jersey and cap, smiled with executive vice president Dan Duquette, and explained how the free agent process left him frustrated and ultimately thrilled because it brought him back to the Orioles. The sides reached agreement last week on a three-year, $37.5 million contract that included a limited...

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Joseph and Brach on arbitration hearings

January 26, 2017, 4:40pm

Orioles

Joseph and Brach on arbitration hearings

The Orioles have three players headed to arbitration hearings if agreements can't be reached on 2017 contracts, and the club indicated that it won't negotiate past the deadline. The process seems inevitable. Pitchers Kevin Gausman and Brad Brach and catcher Caleb Joseph remain unsigned. Joseph said last night that he's planning to go to his hearing on Feb. 1 in St. Petersburg, Fla. before position players report to spring training. Joseph is seeking $1 million and the Orioles countered at...

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Orioles lose Adam Walker to waiver claim

January 26, 2017, 11:04am

Orioles

Outfielder Adam Walker is taking his all-or-nothing approach to another organization. It still isn't safe to unpack his bags or send out his laundry. The Braves have claimed Walker off waivers from the Orioles, who designated him for assignment on Friday to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Mark Trumbo. To make room on the 40-man, the Braves waived catcher Tuffy Gosewich, who was claimed by the Mariners. The Orioles claimed Walker, 25, off waivers from the Brewers in December after he...

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Britton passes around credit for historic season

January 25, 2017, 1:34pm

Orioles

Britton passes around credit for historic season

The annual Orioles FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center is only a few days away and closer Zach Britton will be a popular figure with fans and the media. An extremely nice guy, super-talented and coming off an historic season. He won't slip through the crowd unnoticed. How long until he's asked about being a perfect 47-for-47 in saves and how he intends to top it? I'm giving him one minute. Maybe two minutes before he's asked about not pitching in the wild card game. I'll...