Roch Kubatko

Chris Davis: "I think there's definitely a sense of urgency"

December 23, 2016, 6:53am

Orioles

Chris Davis: "I think there's definitely a sense of urgency"

Everyone has an opinion regarding the wisdom of trading Orioles left-hander Zach Britton before he potentially hits free agency following the 2018 season. Value may never be higher, teams are paying a steep price for closers, the organization needs the prospects that would be included in any return. Also, he's too valuable to part with, the bullpen depth would take a serious hit, the club should be all-in for 2017. Players hear the same rumors and denials. The Orioles don't seem inclined to...

Tags:

Wondering about Rickard's place on 2017 roster

December 23, 2016, 6:33am

Orioles

Wondering about Rickard's place on 2017 roster

Could a Rule 5 pick impact a former Rule 5 pick next season? I'm not assuming that Joey Rickard has a spot waiting for him on the 25-man roster. I'll say that he's got a decent chance of making it, but there's no way that he's guaranteed to break camp with the team. Rickard can be optioned next year after shedding his Rule 5 status in 2016. He made it far enough despite not playing after July 20 due to a torn ligament in his right thumb. The Orioles figure to carry another Rule 5 guy after...

Tags:

adam jones aneury tavarez anthony santander buck showalter chris davis dan duquette hyun soo kim joey rickard orioles ryan flaherty featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Because You Asked - Home Alone 4

December 23, 2016, 6:23am

Orioles

'Tis the season to be jolly and repetitive. I'm referring, of course, to the hot stove season. Let's gather around it, warm our hands and hearts, and toast our good fortune. A marshmallow on a skewer wouldn't be a bad idea, either. My mailbag is the gift that keeps on giving. Sort of like the Samos burps after the tzatziki and hummus. And I'm not complaining. Fans ask for updates and opinions. Other fans ask for the same updates and opinions. Some are friendlier than others. The fans, not...

Tags:

buck showalter chris carter dan duquette edwin encarnacion jim palmer jose bautista manny machado mark trumbo matt wieters michael saunders orioles pedro alvarez zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Orioles continuing efforts to improve OBP

December 23, 2016, 6:15am

Orioles

How important is it for the Orioles to improve their on-base percentage? Enough so that players talk about it, how wins would come more easily with a more versatile lineup. They manage fine without one, of course. This team has made the playoffs three of the past five seasons while posting the following on-base percentages: 2012: .311 2013: .313 2014: .311 2015: .307 2016: .317 The Red Sox won the American League East this year and they led the majors with a .348 OBP. The Cubs placed second at...

Tags:

chris davis dan duquette hyun soo kim orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Duquette: "Still looking for opportunities to build the club"

December 22, 2016, 12:55pm

Orioles

Duquette: "Still looking for opportunities to build the club"

The Orioles maintained interest in free agent outfielder Ben Revere this winter, engaging again in talks with his representative. However, there doesn't appear to be a financial fit and Revere is expected to sign with another team - perhaps as early as today. The Nationals non-tendered Revere after he batted .217/.260/.300 in 103 games, but he hit .306/.342/.377 in 2015 with the Phillies and Blue Jays. A strained oblique in April pretty much ruined his final season in D.C. Revere, 28, bats...

Tags:

ben revere brad brach dan duquette howie clark john wasdin lenny harris mark trumbo orioles rick peterson featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Challenges of an early lineup and the need for a left-handed bat

December 21, 2016, 11:18am

Orioles

Challenges of an early lineup and the need for a left-handed bat

The Orioles still have lots of work to do as the holidays approach, which doesn't qualify as breaking news. It's more of an observation. They found a starting catcher, signing Welington Castillo to a one-year deal with a player option for 2018. But they're unsettled in right field and at designated hitter, positioned with fallback options, and continue to seek another reliever despite having an abundance of arms and an extra starter who could move to the bullpen. The latest reminder, not...

Does Schoop stay at second base?

December 20, 2016, 3:06pm

Orioles

What's the easiest way to stir up fans and a debate? Suggest that the Orioles should consider trading third baseman Manny Machado and closer Zach Britton before they hit free agency in the winter of 2018. ESPN's Buster Olney is the latest to venture into sensitive territory with Monday's column that focused on Machado and how the Orioles' window of opportunity to extend him is slamming shut. Here's the reality: Executive vice president Dan Duquette refuses to entertain the idea. He's made...

Tags:

adam jones bobby dickerson buck showalter dan duquette jonathan schoop manny machado orioles zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Wasdin expected to join Orioles minor league staff

December 20, 2016, 10:56am

Orioles

The Orioles are leaning toward hiring John Wasdin as their minor league pitching coordinator, according to sources. I'm making an assumption on the title, but Wasdin appears to be their choice. Wasdin, 44, would replace Rick Peterson, who was hired in January 2012 as director of pitching development. He previously served as pitching coach of the Double-A Midland Rockhounds in the Athletics organization. The Rockhounds have won three straight Texas League championships. In 12 major league...

Tags:

alan mills buck showalter dan duquette john wasdin orioles rick peterson orioles farm report frontstory_orioles3

Bolstering bullpen nothing new to Orioles

December 19, 2016, 6:46pm

Orioles

Teams are placing greater emphasis on their bullpens as the offseason moves into the next round of holidays. They grasp the importance of providing quality insurance for their rotations, of spending less to upgrade a pitching staff or spending more to lock down leads in the ninth inning. They're just not being original. Have we already forgotten about the 2007 Orioles and the rash of reliever signings that didn't satisfy their itch? If so, it may be intentional. Better to block it out and...

Tags:

brad brach darren o'day mychal givens orioles leo mazzone sam perlozzo frontstory_orioles3

More on Wieters' market and the search for a right fielder

December 18, 2016, 3:34pm

Orioles

More on Wieters' market and the search for a right fielder

Trying to figure out the market for catcher Matt Wieters is becoming one of the most popular endeavors of the offseason. And one of the most perplexing. I was prepared to tab the Braves as the favorites, and I wouldn't be alone in this prognostication, but ESPN's Buster Olney reported yesterday on rampant industry speculation that Wieters will sign with the Nationals. Wieters and the Braves always were deemed a logical fit. He played at Georgia Tech. He bought a house in the Atlanta area. I...

Tags:

buck showalter chris carter colby rasmus edwin encarnacion matt wieters orioles welington castillo featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Updating the Trumbo negotiations and bullpen search

December 17, 2016, 7:42pm

Orioles

Updating the Trumbo negotiations and bullpen search

The Orioles no longer have their offer on the table to free agent outfielder Mark Trumbo, according to multiple sources. However, recent history suggests a deal still can be struck. The offer to first baseman Chris Davis also was removed last winter before agent Scott Boras again reached out to principal owner and managing partner Peter Angelos, which eventually led to agreement on a seven-year, $161 million contract. Trumbo's camp initially sought a four-year, $80 million deal that included a...

Tags:

brad brach buck showalter chris davis dan duquette darren o'day david hernandez mark trumbo orioles peter angelos vance worley featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Castillo's commitment, Wieters' legacy and more from Davis

December 16, 2016, 10:18am

Orioles

Castillo's commitment, Wieters' legacy and more from Davis

The most encouraging part of yesterday's conference call with Welington Castillo involved his commitment to improving his defense. He's focused on the right aspects of his job. It's the only way he's truly going to fit in with the Orioles. "I know my part, I know what to do. My No. 1 job is being on the same page with the pitchers and try to do my best behind the plate," Castillo said. "I know that I can hit a little bit and we have a lot of guys in this lineup that, that's what they...

Tags:

chris davis featured_sidebar matt wieters orioles school of roch welington castillo frontstory_orioles3

Orioles welcome Castillo as they part with Wieters

December 16, 2016, 8:01am

Orioles

New Orioles catcher Welington Castillo knows that he's going to contribute offensively next season, knows that there's run-producing potential up and down the lineup. Most important, he understands that he must satisfy the team with his work behind the plate. During this morning's conference call with the local media, Castillo said that he's headed to Puerto Rico to work with former major league catcher Jose Molina on his pitch framing. It's one area that screams for improvement and...

Tags:

buck showalter caleb joseph chance sisco dan duquette francisco pena mark trumbo matt wieters orioles welington castillo featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Welington Castillo deal is official

December 16, 2016, 5:18am

Orioles

Catcher Welington Castillo passed his physical with the Orioles and signed his contract. He's officially a part of the team. Castillo took the physical yesterday in Baltimore after agreeing to terms on a one-year, $6 million deal that includes a $7 million player option for 2018. The Orioles' 40-man roster is now full, but they obviously can create space for future signings or trade acquisitions. Castillo, a native of the Dominican Republic who turns 30 in April, is a career .255/.318/.416...

Tags:

caleb joseph francisco pena matt wieters orioles welington castillo featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

This, that and the other

December 15, 2016, 5:36pm

Orioles

The reality of catcher Matt Wieters' likely departure from the Orioles is sinking in among his former teammates. Welington Castillo took his physical yesterday and the announcement of his signing could come later today. He agreed to a one-year deal for $6 million with a player option in 2018 that brings the total value to $13 million. Wieters is one of the more popular Orioles and an undisputed leader. But players were braced for his exit as he entered free agency. "It's tough," first...

Tags:

buck showalter caleb joseph chris davis hyun soo kim mark trumbo orioles pedro alvarez trey mancini welington castillo featured_sidebar matt wieters frontstory_orioles2

Orioles sign Tomo Ohka, three others to minor league deals

December 15, 2016, 1:14pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that they've signed four players to minor league deals, including Japanese right-hander Tomo Ohka, who turns 41 in March and last pitched in the majors with the Indians in 2009. Executive vice president Dan Duquette signed Ohka for the Red Sox in 1999. The Orioles also confirmed that they've re-signed outfielder Chris Dickerson and infielder Garabez Rosa, and they also signed infielder Sean Coyle. Ohka is 51-68 with a 4.26 ERA in 10 major league seasons with the...

Tags:

orioles chris dickerson garabez rosa orioles farm report sean coyle tomo ohka frontstory_orioles2

Tyler Wilson on the good and bad of the 2016 season

December 14, 2016, 2:25pm

Orioles

Tyler Wilson on the good and bad of the 2016 season

Chris Davis is taking the "off" out of "offseason." Davis is really making the rounds this week, starting with his appearance Tuesday at the Orioles' annual holiday party for kids at Dave & Busters. He showed up yesterday in three CBS Radio studios after calling into MLB Network and MLB Network Radio. He's agreed to an interview later today for MASNsports.com before heading down to Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant for the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. Just thinking out loud...

Tags:

caleb joseph chris davis francisco pena orioles tyler wilson welington castillo featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

More thoughts on Welington Castillo agreement

December 14, 2016, 12:05pm

Orioles

More thoughts on Welington Castillo agreement

Does the Welington Castillo agreement officially slam the door on Matt Wieters' return? It's a question that keeps coming to me, perhaps because some fans aren't ready to let him go. The Orioles will pay Castillo $6 million next season assuming he passes a physical on Thursday. There's no reason to believe he won't unless he pulls up near the finish line at Pimlico. But seriously ... Wieters probably would have to settle for a one-year deal, the market completely dry, just to enter the...

Tags:

audry perez caleb joseph chance sisco francisco pena mark trumbo matt wieters orioles welington castillo featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Leftovers for breakfast

December 13, 2016, 3:39pm

Orioles

Caleb Joseph greeted a small group of reporters and media members yesterday with the usual smile and quips. He loves the interaction. The man's personality never takes a day off. It can't be punctured by sharp words. He heard a bunch of them this year after failing to drive in a run in 141 plate appearances. Joseph is tired of talking about RBIs, or the lack of them, but he remains a good sport about it. The 2016 season was a bust, for sure, with a month lost to a gruesome testicular injury...

Tags:

brady anderson buck showalter caleb joseph chris davis darren o'day garabez rosa hyun soo kim logan ondrusek mark trumbo matt wieters mike wright orioles tyler wilson featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Notes from the Orioles' holiday party

December 13, 2016, 8:17am

Orioles

The Orioles concluded their annual holiday party at Dave & Busters in the Arundel Mills Mall, this year hosting 80 outpatients from the University of Maryland Children's Hospital. The chicken nuggets, mini pizzas and fries were a huge hit, especially when plated by Darren O'Day, Caleb Joseph, Tyler Wilson and former Orioles Scott McGregor, Al Bumbry and Larry Bigbie. Chris Davis handled the drinks at the bar. Punch and lemonade for everyone. The Orioles announced earlier in the day that...