Steve Melewski

A scout's tale: Meet Kirk Fredriksson

December 14, 2017, 7:53am

Orioles

Today, we begin a new series in this space. We'll introduce you to some Orioles scouts over the rest of the offseason. Some fans may not even know their names. Hopefully, after reading some upcoming posts, you'll know a lot more than that. So let's begin ... For many years, Kirk Fredriksson was a general manager for a couple of summer college league teams in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. For part of that time, current O's executive vice president Dan Duquette owned the...

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What is the next move in the Machado trade talks?

December 14, 2017, 7:24am

Orioles

What is the next move in the Machado trade talks?

To this point, the offseason has featured constant debate and discussion about what the Orioles will do to rebuild their starting rotation. That topic drifted to the backburner at the Winter Meetings. All it took were rumors and speculation about trade possibilities for Manny Machado. We later found out some of the rumors are indeed based in fact. The prediction here is that the Orioles trade Machado. The reports that indicated the Chicaco White Sox would part with either Lucas Giolito or...

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Orioles' Dan Duquette on the club's three Rule 5 picks

December 14, 2017, 6:16am

Orioles

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles have taken two players before in the Rule 5 draft. They topped that today, adding three selections in the major league phase. They chose three pitchers. They selected lefty Nester Cortes from the Yankees organization. In 30 games (13 starts) this season, he went 7-4 with a 2.06 ERA. He pitched at three levels in 2017, but mostly at Double-A and Triple-A. He's 25-14 with a 2.08 ERA in 84 career minor league games, including 40 starts, with 344 strikeouts in...

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Machado talks heat up overnight and Rule 5 draft is today

December 13, 2017, 2:14pm

Orioles

Machado talks heat up overnight and Rule 5 draft is today

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - While you were sleeping, the White Sox emerged as the most aggressive team pursuing the Orioles' Manny Machado, according to reports from The Athletic and USA Today. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote that the White Sox are offering the Orioles a package that includes right-hander Lucas Giolito or right-hander Michael Kopech, but not both pitchers. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Orioles believe they can move Machado by the end of the week with the strength...

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O's would trade Machado in division and will not put timetable on talks

December 13, 2017, 1:32pm

Orioles

O's would trade Machado in division and will not put timetable on talks

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles don't seem inclined to put a timetable or deadline right now on any trade discussions involving third baseman Manny Machado. They continue to talk with several teams about the three-time All-Star. If these trade talks drag on for an extended period of time, you have to wonder how much that will impact the club's planning for the 2018 season. But as of now, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette is not inclined to put a timetable on...

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A quick look at the Rule 5 draft with Baseball America's J.J. Cooper

December 13, 2017, 10:47am

Orioles

A quick look at the Rule 5 draft with Baseball America's J.J. Cooper

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rule 5 draft is the final event of the Winter Meetings and it happens at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. The Orioles have made at least one Rule 5 selection every year since 2006. Even though they are likely to carry outfielder Anthony Santander on their roster to start the 2018 season, no one would be surprised by the Orioles selecting another player tomorrow. Santander still has to spend 44 days on the active major league roster to fulfill his Rule 5 obligation before he...

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Some thoughts from Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com

December 13, 2017, 6:46am

Orioles

Some thoughts from Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com has reported on many trades over the years as part of his excellent analysis of prospects. He is someone fans turn to in order to find out the level of prospects their team just got when a club deals a star player for young talent. A deal much like the Orioles potentially could be discussing for Manny Machado. When Callis was on "MASN All Access" yesterday, I tapped into his experience with these deals to ask what return the Orioles could...

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Showalter on the AL East big boys: "They can be beaten"

December 12, 2017, 6:53pm

Orioles

Showalter on the AL East big boys: "They can be beaten"

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - To no one's surprise, Orioles manager Buck Showalter is conceding nothing in the American League East - even after the rival New York Yankees added Giancarlo Stanton. When Showalter was our guest on "MASN All Access" yesterday, we discussed the fact that some fans are saying they are discouraged right now. They know the Orioles are coming off a last-place finish, still have to fill out a rotation and then have to beat out Boston and New York to win the division. Oh,...

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Orioles' young outfielders drawing interest in trade talks (with Duquette video)

December 12, 2017, 1:32pm

Orioles

LAKE BUENVA VISTA, Fla. - Well, not every topic concerning the Orioles involves Manny Machado, it turns out. The club, by the way, is still looking for several starting pitchers. And the quest for pitching might end with one or more hurlers coming to Baltimore via the trade route. In a one-on-one interview this afternoon with MASNsports.com, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said some of the club's young outfielders are drawing interest in trade talks. "I was heartened today....

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MLB Network's Harold Reynolds on the Orioles

December 12, 2017, 11:24am

Orioles

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Harold Reynolds is a former Oriole and current analyst for MLB Network. He was part of the network's original on-air talent roster at its launch in 2009 and has been on the network since. Reynolds played 12 seasons in the majors and was an Oriole in 1993, the year the club hosted the All-Star Game. He was a guest this morning on "MASN All Access" and talked about the Orioles. The main topic of conversation was, of course, Manny Machado. Here are some of Reynolds'...

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Showalter talks Machado, Davis and more

December 12, 2017, 8:23am

Orioles

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The topic of a potential Orioles trade of Manny Machado has not slowed a bit at the Winter Meetings. Clearly, the club is open to moving a star player one year before his contract is due to end. At the same time, if Machado is still an Oriole on opening day, will he be playing third base or shortstop? He might be moving over on the diamond. It is clear the Orioles are discussing that topic internally as well. Orioles manager Buck Showalter was a guest earlier today on...

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More Manny Machado talk and some O's minors chatter

December 11, 2017, 6:25pm

Orioles

More Manny Machado talk and some O's minors chatter

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Are the Orioles rebuilding or reloading? Are they doing something in the middle? Are they still deciding which direction they are heading? After Day One of the Winter Meetings, it does seem that the Orioles are open to listening to trade offers for pending free agent third baseman Manny Machado. That certainly doesn't signal the team is ready for any selloff or complete rebuild, but it possibly could be a bit of a change in thinking from the club's top...

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O's Duquette: Machado is "coveted by a lot of teams"

December 11, 2017, 1:33pm

Orioles

O's Duquette: Machado is "coveted by a lot of teams"

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette does not say the club is looking to trade pending free agent third baseman Manny Machado. But in an interview this afternoon with MASNsports.com, he did confirm that teams are asking about Machado. He said Machado is "coveted by a lot of teams." Machado has one year left on his Orioles contract before he can hit the open market via free agency and perhaps cash in a on a deal that will prove to be too rich for many clubs,...

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ESPN's Keith Law on Manny Machado and the search for pitchers (with video)

December 11, 2017, 11:13am

Orioles

ESPN's Keith Law on Manny Machado and the search for pitchers (with video)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - ESPN analyst Keith Law is not a fan of the Marlins' trade of outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees. "I was kind of disgusted actually, that Major League Baseball would let an ownership group buy the Marlins when it's pretty clear they can't afford to field a competitive team," Law said. "Or simply are choosing not to do so. They moved two valuable players (Dee Gordon and Stanton) and got very, very little in return in young talent." Law compared...

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Checking in with O's Brian Graham at Winter Meetings

December 11, 2017, 7:37am

Orioles

Checking in with O's Brian Graham at Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENVA VISTA, Fla. - Pitching prospect Hunter Harvey's path toward the big league rotation took another big step last month when he was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. Now the club anxiously awaits his 2018 season. It could be a season that ends for him in the majors. Even if it doesn't, the Orioles are excited that Harvey is healthy again after his 2016 Tommy John surgery and the club can now foresee a day coming when he joins Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy to head up a mostly...

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If O's look to make trades, will the return be higher in July?

December 10, 2017, 2:43pm

Orioles

If O's look to make trades, will the return be higher in July?

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the Winter Meetings begin today, the Orioles continue to absorb the news that Giancarlo Stanton is going to be a Yankee. Meanwhile, Boston has won back-to-back division championships and figures to add a big bat of its own. The Orioles have to fill out their rotation, but they may not do it with signings of the top-tier free agent pitchers - and even the second tier may find deals out of the Orioles' comfort range. So how to catch New York and Boston under that...

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In the AL East, the rich (in talent) often get richer

December 09, 2017, 3:54pm

Orioles

In the AL East, the rich (in talent) often get richer

Just when Orioles fans may have been breathing a sigh of relief that two-way player Shohei Ohtani was not going to become a Yankee, yesterday's news came. National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton is going to be a Yankee. He joins a lineup that already featured Aaron Judge and a lineup that helped the Yankees produce a major league-leading 241 homers last year. I guess it was fun while it lasted, but New York and Boston are back on top of the American League East and don't look ready to...

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As O's look to build a solid rotation, some of their own fans doubt they can

December 08, 2017, 6:56pm

Orioles

As O's look to build a solid rotation, some of their own fans doubt they can

To say the least, there is some skepticism out there that the Orioles' decision to reload and not rebuild is the right one. Fans have seen the Chicago Cubs go from 101 losses in 2012 and 96 the next year to World Series champions in 2016. The Houston Astros lost 106 games in the 2011 season, then followed that by losing 107 and 111 the next two years. But they won 101 games and the World Series this past season. Both clubs went from the outhouse to the penthouse. They made a lot of good moves...

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Smoltz on the Orioles, Machado talk and more

December 07, 2017, 6:47pm

Orioles

It was an interesting comment on the Orioles made by a Hall of Famer and commentator for MLB Network. It came from former big league pitcher John Smoltz. It was a compliment for the organization, but sounded like he ended it with a warning that trouble could be looming. In sizing up the Orioles over the last few seasons while also looking ahead to next year, Smoltz said: "It seems they are the Rodney Dangerfield of the (American League) East. They kind of find a way and they have a chip on...

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Does inexperienced manager in the Bronx help the Orioles?

December 06, 2017, 11:23am

Orioles

Not long after the Yankees named Aaron Boone their new manager, we heard from some Orioles fans here that Buck Showalter would "school" the rookie skipper next year. No doubt hiring Boone was a risk. He has never managed in the pro ranks - in the minors or majors. He has never coached in the majors. His most recent experience in the game came in the ESPN broadcast booth. He could certainly make mistakes due to a lack of experience. But before we assume the Orioles will take advantage of...