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...
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....
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Orioles have made three moves this winter that can be termed as significant, signing catcher Welington Castillo, trading for corner outfielder Seth Smith and re-signing outfielder Mark Trumbo. They moved pitcher Yovani Gallardo in the process, eliminating the extra starter and the $11 million owed to him this year.
They also chose two outfielders in the Rule 5 draft to increase the camp competition, though Anthony Santander already was a longshot coming from the Single-A level and...
Mark Trumbo will be reintroduced to the media Friday afternoon during a press conference at Camden Yards that will air live at 3 p.m. on MASN and 105.7 The Fan.
The timing is no accident.
Trumbo will appear at the annual FanFest the following day at the Baltimore Convention Center. Killing two commitments with one visit.
Trumbo will be signing autographs in two sessions. He'll join Caleb Joseph and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer from 2-3 p.m. at station 4 and Chris Lee and Ken Dixon from 4:40-5:40...
Orioles pitchers will be subjected to the usual drills in spring training, whether it's pop-ups, bunts or rundowns. They're going to throw on flat ground and off mounds, including one that has strings running across it to emphasize command. Certain pitchers will be given instructions tailored to their needs, others may take the initiative and do a little experimenting.
Left-hander Donnie Hart will attempt to perform a balancing act.
Hart will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex feeling...
Whatever moves are made to finalize the Orioles roster for spring training and beyond won't require them to dig deep into their wallets.
Mark Trumbo was the big-ticket item for the club and he came at a relative discount considering early contract projections. But it's still $11 million for 2017 and $37.5 million for the duration of the deal.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette wants an outfielder who's a plus defender, preferably one who bats from the left side, and more pitching. It's...
As another potential suitor for Matt Wieters is eliminated from consideration, speculation mounts that the Orioles could arrange an unexpected reunion with the free agent catcher.
The Braves always have been viewed as the likely landing spot for Wieters, the former Georgia Tech star who owns a home in the Atlanta area, but they veered in a different direction yesterday and signed Kurt Suzuki.
The market isn't completely dry, but the instructions call for the user to add water.
The Angels could...
The non-tender deadline didn't bring an ounce of drama for closer Zach Britton. Not a speck. A gnat's eyelash carried more weight.
The only uncertainty pertained to the Orioles reaching agreement with Britton on a 2017 contract without going to an arbitration hearing.
Britton accepted an $11.4 million offer on Jan. 13, the deadline before the sides exchanged salary figures. He made $6.75 million last season.
Britton approached the deadline with the same confidence and composure that he...
Just as it appeared that the Orioles moved away from free agent outfielder Mark Trumbo, the sides came together on a deal that works for both parties.
Agent Joel Wolfe and executive vice president Dan Duquette reopened the lines of communication last week, and Trumbo signed a contract that pays him $37.5 million over three years. The deal includes a limited no-trade clause to seven teams, per sources.
Trumbo passed his physical and the deal became official this morning. He's back on the 40-man...
The Orioles filled a potential power void in their lineup by bringing back the major league leader in home runs from last season.
The solution was right under their noses.
Mark Trumbo has passed his physical and signed his new contract, which guarantees him $37.5 million over three seasons. His spin through free agency brought him back to Baltimore.
Trumbo batted .256/.316/.533 with 27 doubles, a triple, 47 home runs and 108 RBIs last season in 159 games, earning his second All-Star berth and...
The Orioles' mock lineup for 2017 contains fewer holes as the days tick down before spring training.
Seth Smith can be penciled into right field, at least in a platoon role, and Mark Trumbo can be tabbed as the primary designated hitter after agreeing to terms last night on a three-year, $37.5 million contract.
The deal becomes official after Trumbo passes his physical. I know all the jokes, but neither side is concerned about it. The only holdup is waiting for the results.
Two nights after...
The Orioles are nearing an agreement with free agent outfielder Mark Trumbo, pending a physical, according to an industry source.
The deal is for three years and below $40 million, according to the source.
The Orioles pulled their original offer as talks broke down, but the door never closed on a return. Executive vice president Dan Duquette values the draft pick attached to Trumbo, but both sides left open the possibility of a deal being struck.
Ownership placed a high priority on bringing...



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