Roch Kubatko

Quick hits from the Winter Meetings

December 06, 2016, 12:18pm

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette didn't offer a confirmation or denial today when asked whether he met with Mark Trumbo's representative. He only stated that it's "a fluid conversation." Duquette repeated his desire to land an outfielder and met again today with various agents and team executives. He also had trade talks involving catchers. Asked to respond to a report that the Orioles' four-year offer to Trumbo is off the table, Duquette only mentioned...

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Do Orioles react to Sale news?

December 06, 2016, 9:37am

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - If you're counting on Dan Duquette to hit the panic button or go on a signing/trading rampage to counter what a division rival did at the Winter Meetings, I need to reintroduce you to the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations. This isn't how he operates. This isn't how former executive Andy MacPhail operated. The Orioles walked into the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center with a plan in place, though it's always wise to remain flexible....

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adam jones chris davis chris sale dan duquette matt wieters nolan reimold orioles steve pearce winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles invite top prospect Chance Sisco to minicamp

December 06, 2016, 7:32am

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is finalizing his roster for next month's minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, with certain players requiring their approval. Catcher Chance Sisco will be part of it. Sisco, 21, is viewed as the eventual successor to Matt Wieters if the latter leaves via free agency. He's ticketed for Triple-A Norfolk to start the 2017 season, but could push for a promotion later in the summer. In the meantime, the Orioles want to take...

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austin wynns buck showalter chance sisco chris o'brien joey rickard jonah heim logan verrett matt wieters orioles richard rodriguez stuart levy orioles farm report frontstory_orioles2

Orioles won't repeat Fowler pursuit

December 06, 2016, 5:59am

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - We won't get fooled again. Not that it's going to surprise anyone who's been paying close attention, but the Orioles don't expect to solve their right field riddle by plugging in free agent Dexter Fowler. Fowler is drawing serious interest from multiple teams, including the Cardinals, Blue Jays and Giants, and should easily hurdle the three-year, $33 million offer laid out by the Orioles in spring training. An offer they felt had gotten them Fowler before he reversed...

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dan duquette orioles dexter fowler featured_sidebar michael saunders winter meetings frontstory_orioles2

Day Two of the Winter Meetings

December 05, 2016, 4:47pm

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - One of the more interesting theories at this week's Winter Meetings, as opposed to being a straight-up rumor, involves how Edwin Encarnacion could be a fit for the Orioles. It makes little sense on the surface, considering how Encarnacion turned down a four-year, $80 million offer from the Blue Jays. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette warned that his club won't be making any splashy moves. They don't seem inclined to fatten up their payroll beyond raises for...

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brad brach buck showalter caleb joseph chance sisco dan duquette darren o'day matt wieters mychal givens orioles winter meetings zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Covering a lot of ground with Dan Duquette

December 05, 2016, 2:09pm

Orioles

Covering a lot of ground with Dan Duquette

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - One of the hottest rumors of the day centered on the Mets offering outfielder Curtis Granderson to the Orioles for reliever Brad Brach. However, there doesn't appear to be much traction. Granderson is owed $15 million next season and the Mets don't seem inclined to eat salary, according to reports. The Orioles don't seem inclined to add much payroll beyond raises for their arbitration-eligible players unless it's spent to re-sign Mark Trumbo, and the sides are far...

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brad brach caleb joseph chance sisco dan duquette darren o'day donnie hart manny machado mark trumbo matt wieters mychal givens orioles steve pearce winter meetings zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Quick hits from the Winter Meetings

December 05, 2016, 12:24pm

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said his relievers are drawing lots of interest at the Winter Meetings. The Mets reportedly want Brad Brach for outfielder Curtis Granderson. Other bullpen arms also are deemed attractive by clubs hoping to dip into the Orioles' relief depth. "We want to keep that strength intact," Duquette said while meeting with local media inside his suite at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. I'll pass along more...

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ashur tolliver brad brach dan duquette manny machado mark trumbo orioles winter meetings zach britton chance sisco featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles make four-year offer to Trumbo (updated)

December 05, 2016, 8:51am

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Orioles have made Mark Trumbo a four-year offer as part of their contract negotiations with the free agent outfielder. I'm hearing that Trumbo's side initially sought $80 million after he led the majors with 47 home runs. However, there was flexibility to the point where discussions moved in the $70-$75 million range on a backloaded deal. Still too high. This news indicates again that the Orioles are serious in their attempts to retain Trumbo, who's on the market...

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Orioles showing interest in Michael Saunders

December 05, 2016, 5:18am

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Orioles have a hole in right field and filling it is one of their primary goals at this week's Winter Meetings at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Could Michael Saunders be the solution? The club has definite interest in Saunders, 30, who is a statistical mixed bag. He fits their profile as a versatile outfielder capable of playing all three spots who hits from the left side and could move atop the order. It also might be wise to get him on their...

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dan duquette michael saunders mike wright orioles steve pearce ubaldo jimenez featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

The official first day of the Winter Meetings

December 04, 2016, 4:17pm

Orioles

The official first day of the Winter Meetings

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter knows what's coming this week. It's not only the long days and nights in executive vice president Dan Duquette's suite at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, the meetings with agents and officials, the various obligations and inconveniences. It's also the lasting impression that the Orioles can't compete next season, that they're due to crash to the bottom of the American League East standings despite making the...

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buck showalter chance sisco dan duquette hyun soo kim joey rickard mark trumbo matt wieters orioles pedro alvarez winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles have made multiple offers to Mark Trumbo

December 04, 2016, 2:08pm

Orioles

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Orioles are serious about trying to keep this year's major league home run leader. Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today at the Winter Meetings that he's had ongoing discussions with Mark Trumbo over the past few weeks and the club has made two offers to the slugger. He didn't provide specifics. "We've had several conversations with Mark Trumbo, but we haven't been able to cinch a deal with him," Duquette told a group of local beat writers. "In...

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chris davis dan duquette hyun soo kim joey rickard manny machado mark trumbo matt wieters orioles trey mancini winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Heading to the Winter Meetings

December 03, 2016, 7:07pm

Orioles

The day has arrived. There's no turning back. I couldn't find anyone to lock me out, so it's impossible to avoid the madness of the annual Winter Meetings. At least I can drive to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. - technically Oxon Hill, but let's not quibble - rather than hop on a flight. You'll hear my tires screech about 20 minutes after Thursday morning's Rule 5 draft. I'm packing an extra pair of sneakers for all of the rumor chasing. It's...

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chance sisco mark trumbo matt wieters orioles pedro alvarez trey mancini featured_sidebar scott boras frontstory_orioles2

More from Showalter and another look at new labor agreement

December 02, 2016, 12:19pm

Orioles

More from Showalter and another look at new labor agreement

The Orioles will attempt to improve their pitching depth before opening day, no matter how long it takes. The rotation and the bullpen. They're always interested in arms. In the meantime, manager Buck Showalter likes his much-maligned rotation and expects other teams to exhibit interest in his starters. And he doesn't care if the folks doing the projections disagree with him. "Very quietly, I think our pitching actually is in a lot better shape than people think, especially our bullpen,"...

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brad brach buck showalter chris davis chris tillman darren o'day donnie hart dylan bundy kevin gausman mychal givens orioles trey mancini ubaldo jimenez wade miley yovani gallardo zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles non-tender Vance Worley (with Duquette quote)

December 02, 2016, 11:50am

Orioles

Though Vance Worley is valued for his contributions in a variety of roles, he won't be tendered a contract for the 2017 season. The Orioles decided to non-tender Worley, a much-anticipated move given his projected bump in salary and Wednesday's acquisition of pitcher Logan Verrett from the Mets. Infielder Ryan Flaherty and left-hander T.J. McFarland were tendered contracts - they were on the bubble - leaving the Orioles with 36 players on their 40-man roster. Worley posted a 3.53 ERA in 35...

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brad brach buck showalter caleb joseph chris tillman dan duquette jonathan schoop kevin gausman manny machado orioles ryan flaherty t.j. mcfarland vance worley zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1

Orioles claim outfielder Adam Walker off waivers

December 02, 2016, 9:36am

Orioles

The Orioles exhibited their love of power again today, claiming minor league corner outfielder Adam Walker off waivers from the Brewers. Lots of power and contact issues. Walker, a 25-year-old right-handed hitter, led the minors this year with 202 strikeouts in 531 plate appearances with Triple-A Rochester in the Twins organization. He also had 22 doubles, five triples, 27 home runs and 75 RBIs to go with a .243/.305/.479 slash line in 132 games. Walker totaled 31 doubles, seven triples, 27...

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adam walker logan schafer logan verrett orioles dan duquette featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Hearing from Duquette and Showalter leading into Winter Meetings

December 01, 2016, 5:15pm

Orioles

Hearing from Duquette and Showalter leading into Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings officially start on Monday, though everyone rolls into town the previous day to get settled and soak up the atmosphere. And I'm bringing the sarcasm hard on that last part. I sat down yesterday with Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette to touch on a few topics, including tonight's 8 p.m. deadline to tender contracts to the 10 arbitration-eligible players. "We've got a good idea what we're going to do," Duquette said. "I think last year we went down to the...

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buck showalter caleb joseph chance sisco chris davis dan duquette donnie hart francisco pena logan schafer mark trumbo matt wieters orioles pedro alvarez featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Spring training report dates and other notes

December 01, 2016, 12:43pm

Orioles

Spring training report dates and other notes

The Orioles have announced their report dates for 2017 spring training in Sarasota. Pitchers and catchers will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Feb. 13, with the first workout held the following day. Position players will gather on Feb. 16, with the first full-squad workout the following day. If past years are any indication, the vast majority of Orioles will be in Sarasota before position players are due. Many of them work out in January. Center fielder Adam Jones, third baseman Manny...

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adam jones dan duquette hyun soo kim jonathan schoop manny machado orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles sign outfielder Logan Schafer (plus other notes)

December 01, 2016, 6:39am

Orioles

The Orioles acquired a left-handed hitting outfielder today as the Winter Meetings approach, though it involves a minor league deal. The club announced that it signed Logan Schafer, 30, to a minor league contract. He will receive an invitation to spring training. Schafer is a career .214/.292/.318 hitter in 318 games over parts of six major league seasons, the first five spent with the Brewers. He batted .238/.342/.317 this year in 26 games with the Twins. A former third-round pick, Schafer...

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buck showalter logan schafer logan verrett mark quinn orioles rick peterson cba fanfest featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Non-tender candidates, no increase in ticket prices and more

November 30, 2016, 2:17pm

Orioles

Non-tender candidates, no increase in ticket prices and more

We may have finally reached the end of the awards season in Major League Baseball, unless it sneaks another one past me, but the next big date is almost upon us. The deadline for teams to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible players arrives on Friday. The Orioles have 10 of them. Perhaps you don't have the list memorized. Let me offer my assistance, complete with MLBTradeRumors.com's projected salaries: Chris Tillman - $10.6MM Ryan Flaherty - $1.7MM Zach Britton - $11.4MM Vance...

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buck showalter dan duquette orioles ryan flaherty t.j. mcfarland vance worley featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles acquire Logan Verrett from Mets

November 30, 2016, 8:51am

Orioles

The Orioles are bringing back one of their former Rule 5 picks. The club announced this afternoon that it acquired right-hander Logan Verrett from the Mets in exchange for cash considerations. Verrett, 26, was chosen from the Mets at the 2014 Winter Meetings, exposed to waivers in spring training and claimed by the Rangers, who later returned him to his original organization. The Orioles kept their other Rule 5 acquisition, right-hander Jason Garcia, regarded as less polished but having a...