SARASOTA, Fla. - While Miguel Gonzalez remains on the waiver wire, Orioles manager Buck Showalter is avoiding the subject until the right-hander's fate is determined.
Showalter seems to have settled on his five starters unless there's a late change before rosters are set on Sunday. It likely would have to involve an outsider.
Gonzalez's poor outings in the Grapefruit League were part of the reason why the Orioles decided to let him go. Spring training numbers had some influence on decisions...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Yovani Gallardo is the club's No. 2 starter and will pitch against the Twins on April 6, followed by Ubaldo Jimenez on April. 7.
Showalter has figured out the rest of his rotation, but he's not going to reveal it before informing the pitchers.
The club needs a fifth starter on April 10 and it won't be Kevin Gausman, who's headed to the disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Showalter said the Orioles are aiming for...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles won't head north with projected starter Miguel Gonzalez, placing the right-hander on release waivers today. He can become a free agent after 48 hours if he goes unclaimed.
An industry source confirmed the move, which comes as teams can cut players and not be on the hook for their full salaries for 2016. Players released by opening day receive 45 days of pay.
Gonzalez, 31, agreed to a $5.1 million salary to avoid an arbitration hearing. He's had a disappointing...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hyun Soo Kim, through his interpreter, declined an interview request today from the media.
Kim sat at his locker with about 10 minutes remaining before the clubhouse closed to the press.
The Orioles are waiting for Kim's decision on whether to accept an assignment to the minors. His contract stipulates that he must give his consent.
Meanwhile, Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard hasn't been told by the Orioles that he's made the club. However, he's been given some pretty strong hints,...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter for tonight's game against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium.
Nolan Reimold is in left field. Hyun Soo Kim is on the bench.
Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is tied for first in the American League with 23 hits this spring. His six doubles, 14 runs scored and five steals are tied for second.
Catcher Audry Perez no longer as a locker in the clubhouse.
I'm told that Hunter Harvey, who left yesterday's start at Twin Lakes Park in the third...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Following up on Hunter Harvey, I'm told he has a "slight strain" to his groin and was removed from yesterday's start at minor league camp as a precaution.
Harvey was working his third inning.
If Hyun Soo Kim agrees to an assignment at Triple-A Norfolk, which he's expected to do, he's going to get lots of at-bats as the designated hitter.
Christian Walker is supposed to play left field every day. Dariel Alvarez is playing right field. Kim can't roam center and I'm fairly...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he spoke to outfielder Hyun Soo Kim about accepting an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, and they met again today with executive vice president Dan Duquette.
The first meeting took place before Kim sat out three straight games, including tonight's 4-4 tie with the Braves.
Kim must give his consent before playing in the minors, per a stipulation in his two-year contract.
The Orioles are still learning about Kim despite the scouting reports and...
SARASOTA, Fla. - An Orioles official confirmed tonight that pitcher Hunter Harvey left his start at Twin Lakes Park with a groin injury.
Harvey was working his third inning when he apparently strained a muscle. The club will know more on Wednesday.
Harvey hasn't pitched since 2014 due to a strained right flexor mass. He also suffered a fractured right fibula last spring after being hit by a comebacker in Fort Myers.
MLB.com first reported Harvey's injury.
The Orioles made a minor league trade...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 4, Braves 4 (in 10 innings)
Recap: Needing a good start to improve his chances of making the club, Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run and seven hits over five innings - his longest stint of the spring. He walked none, struck out four and hit a batter. Manny Machado led off the bottom of the first inning with his fifth home run. Matt Wieters hit his first home run in the third inning to break a 1-1 tie. It also was his first RBI. Zach Phillips was charged with...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed tonight that Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim won't be part of the 25-man roster on opening day.
Kim is out of the lineup again tonight and hasn't played since Saturday. He's in the dugout as the Orioles lead the Braves 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning.
"Yes, it looks like he's not going to be on the 25-man roster to start the season," Duquette said, as members of the beat crew gathered outside the MASN booth where...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The camp roster is down to 40 players.
The Orioles optioned outfielder Dariel Alvarez to Triple-A Norfolk before tonight's game against the Braves, a move that had been anticipated with Mark Trumbo penciled into right field and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard assured of breaking camp with the team.
Alvarez, an intriguing prospect with a plus arm, collected only eight hits in 44 at-bats this spring. He had one double, one triple, two RBIs, three walks and seven strikeouts.
Alvarez...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The rain has picked up in intensity again at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, and pretty much the entire state of Florida. The Braves are on a bus headed to Sarasota. I wonder how easily it can execute a U-turn.
No word on a cancellation, but I'll remind fans that they don't postpone games here or play doubleheaders. It would be washed off the schedule.
Miguel Gonzalez is supposed to start tonight. Manager Buck Showalter will let us know how the pitching plans are altered if we...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters said he wanted to catch in two Grapefruit League games before the Orioles break camp. He already had circled Thursday on the calendar. It made sense to also get into tonight's lineup against the Braves.
The weather may not cooperate, but Wieters is ready to get behind the plate in an exhibition game for the first time since playing one inning on March 12 and leaving with a sore right elbow.
Wieters caught an intrasquad game at Twin Lakes Park and has been batting...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hyun Soo Kim is out of the Orioles lineup again for tonight's game against the Braves, which is in doubt due to heavy rain.
Kim also was held back from the last two games in Bradenton and Fort Myers. He was in the clubhouse this afternoon and spent a few minutes with his interpreter checking the lineup card after it was posted.
Ryan Flaherty is in left field tonight. Matt Wieters is catching and batting second.
Wieters remains confident that he will be ready opening day. An...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are an unsettled team with three games remaining in Florida.
We haven't figured out the rotation beyond Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez. We haven't figured out who's playing left field, since the club continues to check on available players. We don't know whether the Orioles are keeping Hyun Soo Kim, though I'll point out again that he wants to stay in the U.S. unless he had a sudden change of heart overnight.
We don't know who's filling two...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Tyler Wilson came off the field in the sixth inning today and hugged Mike Wright.
Competitors for a spot in the rotation, close friends to the end.
Wright allowed one run in five innings in the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Red Sox, and Wilson followed with two scoreless frames.
A decision is pending and it won't be an easy one. Manager Buck Showalter said they're both starter candidates, though Wilson was shortened up today and could pitch again this spring.
"Wally (Dave...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 5, Red Sox 3
Recap: Mike Wright allowed one run and four hits in five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 81 pitches before coming out. Chris Young hit a solo home run off Wright in the second. Tyler Wilson allowed two hits in two scoreless innings. Good friends, good outings. Xavier Avery led off the first inning with his second home run. Paul Janish had an RBI single later in the inning after the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs. Nolan...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Getting to JetBlue Park is a relatively easy task. Getting into the parking lot is much more complicated if you arrive an hour before first pitch.
David Ortiz, who has announced his retirement following the 2016 season, is playing his final game here today. The Orioles are braced for whatever delays are forthcoming, including an on-field ceremony that just started a few minutes ago.
Left-hander Brian Matusz sounded encouraged by his outing yesterday in an intrasquad game at...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed this morning that Kevin Gausman will begin the season on the disabled list after being shelved by tendinitis in his right shoulder.
Gausman, who went on the DL last May with the same condition, still could be available to start on April 10 against the Rays in Baltimore. His assignment will be backdated to March 25.
Otherwise, Showalter said Gausman could start April 13 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park "or later."
The DL move is...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Make it three straight years for Chris Tillman as the opening day starter.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed this morning that Tillman will take the mound for the April 4 game against the Twins at Camden Yards.
Tillman entered camp as the favorite despite the Orioles signing veteran Yovani Gallardo last month to a restructured two-year deal with an option for 2018. And despite having his ERA climb from 3.34 in 2014 to 4.99 last season.
Last spring, Tillman became just...