Steve Melewski

Another Oriole facing an uncertain future

December 05, 2017, 4:25pm

Orioles

Another Oriole facing an uncertain future

While fans and reporters debate what the Orioles need to do to improve for the 2018 season, the debate often seems to turn to the future for Manny Machado and Zach Britton. Will the team be able to sign either player beyond 2018, when they can become free agents? Will the team consider trading either player before they can hit the open market? But there is another key Oriole whose contract is up after the 2018 season, and he is seldom discussed in this conversation: center fielder Adam...

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Ohtani not heading east (is pitching market about to move?)

December 04, 2017, 6:29pm

Orioles

Ohtani not heading east (is pitching market about to move?)

Is Japan's Shohei Ohtani too good to be true? He sounds like it. His move to the major leagues is unique in two huge ways. First, some team will get a player that might be worth $200 million or more on the open market for perhaps $25 million or less, counting the posting fee. Second, Ohtani is a two-way player who might impact games as both a pitcher and a hitter. While Orioles fans are probably disappointed that their team is not on his final list of seven teams, there was never an indication...

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Prospect profile: Steve Wilkerson elevates his game with a solid year

December 03, 2017, 2:10pm

Orioles

When the Orioles drafted senior second baseman Steve Wilkerson in the eighth round out of Clemson in 2014, the odds seemed long that he would ever make the major leagues. But coming off his best year yet - which ended with a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League - Wilkerson's big league dream is within reach at this point. He showed defensive versatility this year, leading to the possibility to compete in the future for a big league utility role. He's a switch-hitter with some speed...

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Week in review: Britton trade talk, Machado possibly to short and more

December 02, 2017, 2:07pm

Orioles

Week in review: Britton trade talk, Machado possibly to short and more

In reviewing a week's worth of stories and comments here over the past several days, we had some interesting discussions. Today, we will take a look back at three of them. On Tuesday, we looked at the cases for and against trading Orioles closer Zach Britton. The lefty is projected to earn a salary of $12.2 million through arbitration this coming season. He has just one season left of team control before he hits free agency. The Orioles could deal the lefty, put some salary savings toward...

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Will Manny Machado wind up at shortstop in 2018?

December 01, 2017, 3:14pm

Orioles

Will Manny Machado wind up at shortstop in 2018?

Now that J.J. Hardy is no longer on the team, which player on the Orioles would be the best defensive shortstop? The answer to that is almost certainly Manny Machado. But would the Orioles move a player who has proven to be an elite defender at third base over to short? There has been some discussion among national reporters recently on the topic and it was discussed during a segment Friday morning on MLB Network's "Hot Stove." We have yet to hear the thoughts on this from either manager...

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Ranking several free agent pitchers

November 30, 2017, 11:20am

Orioles

Over the last few weeks, we have taken a look at nine different free agent starting pitchers in three different entries here. Today, let's take another look and rank them one through nine. I'm ranking mostly on my opinion of their talent level, while also taking into consideration the contract terms that might be needed to get it done. Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta are not on the list. It would be a real surprise if the Orioles are willing to commit to the years and dollars those two will...

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A look at one free agent lefty bat

November 29, 2017, 3:26pm

Orioles

As the Orioles look to add left-handed hitting and some balance to their lineup versus right-handers, they could do a lot worse than Adam Lind. Yes, Adam Lind, who is a free agent and won't come at a big price. He has a good track record versus right-handed pitchers. What he doesn't truly offer is a good fit on an Orioles roster that already has several first base-designated hitter types. Lind, though, has played the outfield and played some in left field for the Nationals in 2017. While no...

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Prospect profile: Ademar Rifaela had breakout '17 (plus other notes)

November 28, 2017, 3:42pm

Orioles

When you talk about outfield prospects on the Orioles farm, he can get overlooked among players like Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and DJ Stewart. But Ademar Rifaela had a breakout 2017 season. Producing much better stats than he had earlier in his career, the 23-year-old corner outfielder was named the Carolina League MVP at Single-A Frederick. Over 126 games, he hit .284/.358/.500 with an OPS of .858, which was well above the .717 he posted in 2015 or the .713 from 2016. Rifaela hit 23 doubles,...

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The cases for and against trading closer Zach Britton

November 27, 2017, 3:04pm

Orioles

The cases for and against trading closer Zach Britton

His name came up in trade rumors at the general managers' meetings and figures to come up again at the Winter Meetings. It could be a winter of trade speculation involving Orioles closer Zach Britton. Of the four key players on the club whose contracts are up after the 2018 season - Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Brad Brach and Britton - Britton might be the most replaceable. Fellow free-agent-to-be Brach is a potential replacement for Britton for the 2018 season. The Orioles also have...

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Strong finish ends solid year as David Hess makes the 40-man

November 26, 2017, 2:15pm

Orioles

Strong finish ends solid year as David Hess makes the 40-man

Right-hander David Hess has pitched in spring training games before for the Orioles. But that was always as one of the minor league pitchers added for a game as a just-in-case guy. But next season, he'll begin spring training with a locker in the home clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium. The 24-year-old Hess was recently added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. So he'll report with the other pitchers and catchers in February and he could possibly get a long look from a club that needs starting...

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Week in review: Cobb versus Lynn, roster additions and WAR

November 25, 2017, 11:12am

Orioles

Week in review: Cobb versus Lynn, roster additions and WAR

We had a few solid conversations and debates in the comments section over the last week as we touched on a variety of topics. We'll revisit a few today and please weigh back in or comment for the first time if you like. As always here, anything about the Orioles is the topic, even if it is not presented in the story. So please throw it out there, so to speak. On Monday, we debated which free agent pitcher is the better choice - Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn? Lynn went 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA over 186...

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Some free agent contracts just may be too risky

November 24, 2017, 2:31pm

Orioles

Some free agent contracts just may be too risky

Any free agent contract for a pitcher can be risky. The bigger the contract, the riskier. But two current free agent pitchers present greater risk than some others. That is according to Dave Cameron on FanGraphs in his listing of 2018 free agent landmines. It is not that Cameron sees the pitchers in question as poor pitchers. But in relation to the contracts they are likely to get, he sees them as risky to sign at those prices. Last year, Cameron listed Mark Trumbo as his No. 1 free agent to...

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Could Harvey's innings ramp up to the Bundy plan?

November 23, 2017, 6:36pm

Orioles

Could Harvey's innings ramp up to the Bundy plan?

They are both Orioles first-round draft picks that are right-handed pitchers and were selected out of high school. They have both been ranked as top 100 prospects. They have both had Tommy John surgery. The similarities between Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey don't end there. Bundy has thrown 167 minor league innings and Harvey has pitched 144. Bundy is 10-9 with an ERA of 2.59, WHIP of 1.05 and .211 batting average against. Harvey is 7-8 with an ERA of 2.56, WHIP of 1.12 and .210 batting...

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Pondering a few baseball questions before the feast

November 22, 2017, 6:00pm

Orioles

Pondering a few baseball questions before the feast

Sending out a wish today that everyone has a great Thanksgiving and weekend with family and friends. It remains as true today as ever: I'm thankful for the readers of this blog and that so many post questions and comments to keep a great conversation going through the year. During this offseason to this point we have written about here and debated several questions surrounding the Orioles. Today I will throw out a few topics from recent weeks. Feel free to add your own in and around trips to...

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Wins Above Replacement: useful metric or nonsense?

November 21, 2017, 5:52pm

Orioles

Wins Above Replacement: useful metric or nonsense?

WAR, what is it good for? In a baseball statistical sense, it may be a useful metric that allows us to compare players and takes into account hitting, fielding and even baserunning among position players. There are WAR stats for pitchers, as well. It has become more prominent in the game in recent years and is used more by media and fans. But in my humble opinion, it remains a stat/metric still trying to find its way into the mainstream. It is still often misunderstood by some who then tend to...

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Hunter Harvey and David Hess on getting added to the 40-man

November 20, 2017, 5:43pm

Orioles

Hunter Harvey and David Hess on getting added to the 40-man

When the Orioles made talented, young right-hander Hunter Harvey the 22nd pick in the First-Year Player Draft in 2013, it was inevitable that he would make the 40-man roster someday. But Harvey had no idea it would come after he had dealt with several injuries and one major surgery. Harvey once again has the look of a top 100 pitching prospect and now he is one of 33 on the Orioles' 40-man roster. He joined pitcher David Hess and catcher Austin Wynns as 40-man additions yesterday. Now that...

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Is there a preference for Cobb or Lynn? (plus Rule 5 talk)

November 19, 2017, 4:45pm

Orioles

Is there a preference for Cobb or Lynn? (plus Rule 5 talk)

If the Orioles pursue either or both of free agent right-handers Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn, they would probably be delighted to get either pitcher. And either would be a huge addition to their rotation for 2018 and beyond. But is one the better choice? Lynn went 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA over 186 1/3 innings last season for the St. Louis Cardinals, the team he has pitched for since 2011. He has been a consistent winning pitcher for that club, posting ERAs between 2.74 and 3.97. With a 3.38 career ERA,...

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Week in review: Givens' future role, trade talk and more

November 18, 2017, 3:14pm

Orioles

Week in review: Givens' future role, trade talk and more

It is time for another week in review entry, where we take a look back at some of the stories and dicussions featured here in the last week. On Monday, we looked at reliever Mychal Givens and his possible future as a closer for the Orioles. Givens went 8-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.042 WHIP last season. His average against dropped from .220 in 2016 to .200 and he reduced his walk rate from 4.3 per nine innings, which was much too high, to a more workable 2.9 walks per nine. Givens seems to have the...

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Another look at pace of play, plus final AFL statistics

November 17, 2017, 4:35pm

Orioles

Another look at pace of play, plus final AFL statistics

Once again, Major League Baseball is talking about pace of play. They don't refer to this as time of game, which was up in 2017 and the longest we've ever seen. But MLB wants more on-field action and wants it to happen it seems, in a more timely fashion. But let's talk time of game for a moment. In 2015 - the first year of new pace of play rules - the average time of game was 2 hours, 56 minutes. That went up to 3 hours in 2016 and to 3 hours, 6 minutes last season. In the 2017 postseason,...

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Still talking free agent pitchers, plus other notes

November 16, 2017, 5:04pm

Orioles

Still talking free agent pitchers, plus other notes

If a pitcher that tied for the National League lead in losses and who has had two Tommy John procedures doesn't sound like he could help the 2018 Orioles, then right-hander Tyler Chatwood is not for you. But when a national reporter said the Orioles have interest this week, the season for rumors officially began. The Orioles will no doubt be linked to many free agent starters over the next several weeks. Simple math tells us that. They have two starters set for their 2018 rotation and you need...