masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Pirates claimed reliever Jorge Rondon off waivers yesterday, according to Major League Baseball’s transactions page. The Orioles haven’t confirmed it.
It basically works out as a swap of pitchers. The Orioles designated Rondon for assignment last week after claiming Vance Worley off waivers from the Pirates.
Rondon allowed 11 earned runs (15 total) and 20 hits in 13 1/3 innings with the Orioles. He walked six batters and struck out eight.
* The question remains whether the Orioles should…

The Pirates claimed reliever Jorge Rondon off waivers yesterday, according to Major League Baseball’s transactions page. The Orioles haven’t confirmed it.

It basically works out as a swap of pitchers. The Orioles designated Rondon for assignment last week after claiming Vance Worley off waivers from the Pirates.

Rondon allowed 11 earned runs (15 total) and 20 hits in 13 1/3 innings with the Orioles. He walked six batters and struck out eight.

* The question remains whether the Orioles should make catcher Matt Wieters a qualifying offer. It’s a hot topic in the warehouse, of course, with the pros and cons weighed, discussed and debated.

We’ve assumed that the Orioles were committed to making the offer, now worth $15.8 million, and began to have second thoughts as the season reached its conclusion. However, I’ve heard that it’s reversed. The Orioles were leaning more toward not making the offer earlier in the summer.

Either way, I still believe the Orioles should make the offer with the expectation of receiving the compensatory draft pick. And if Wieters actually takes it, the Orioles get him for another season, he’ll catch more, provide the same clubhouse leadership and be extra-motivated to pull a Nelson Cruz by using a one-year contract as a platform for a much bigger deal.

* The Orioles are in no rush to hire an assistant hitting coach. They plan on bringing in candidates, as they would for any other position.

As I wrote earlier, the hire is expected to come from outside the organization.

* I mentioned a while ago that the Orioles were relieved that they reached agreement with bullpen coach Dom Chiti on a contract for 2016. They were concerned about the possibility of losing him to another team.

I’ve heard from multiple people that the Braves wanted Chiti back in a scouting role.

* The Orioles won’t be linked again to outfielder Torii Hunter this winter. He’s retiring after 19 seasons, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Orioles were one of the finalists for Hunter, who returned to the Twins on a one-year, $10.5 million deal and batted .240/.293/.409 with 22 doubles, 22 home runs and 81 RBIs in 139 games. They ended up trading for Travis Snider, and you know the rest of the story.

* Julio Borbon never made it to Baltimore this summer, but Paul Janish thinks his former teammate at Triple-A Norfolk could be an excellent fourth or fifth outfielder with the Orioles.

Borbon, 29, is a plus defender who has intrigued manager Buck Showalter. The former first-round draft pick batted .269/.299/.321 in 114 games with Norfolk.

The Orioles selected Borbon from the Cubs organization on Dec. 12, 2013 in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft and re-signed him as a free agent in February. He went 1-for-2 with a run scored for the Rangers in the 2010 World Series.

* The Orioles run the risk of losing pitcher Andrew Triggs in the Rule 5 draft if they don’t place him on the 40-man roster. He’s created a buzz in the industry with his performance at Double-A Bowie.

Showalter was impressed after watching Triggs pitch in a game this summer while the Orioles were off, and he referenced the right-hander on numerous occasions. Triggs allowed seven earned runs and 42 hits in 61 innings this season, with 11 walks and 70 strikeouts. He registered a 1.03 ERA and 0.869 WHIP in his 43 appearances.

The Royals selected Triggs in the 19th round of the 2012 draft out of USC. The Orioles acquired him in April for cash considerations. He turns 27 in March.

A scout from another organization who watched Triggs at Bowie said the right-hander will be part of his club’s Rule 5 discussion.

“He has a funky, deceptive, crossfire delivery with command of a sinker/slider combination,” the scout said. “Similar in style to Darren O’Day. All he does is locate and get the job done. A late maturer. Excellent walk-to-strikeout ratio.”

wright-pitching-front-white sidebar.jpg* The group of pitchers and position players who will work out this winter with vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson in California includes right-handers Mike Wright, Jason Garcia and Tim Berry, and first baseman Trey Mancini.

Anderson arranges and oversees the West Coast version of the Orioles’ minicamp.

* Nicky Delmonico hit a two-run homer yesterday for Glendale in the Arizona Fall League. Delmonico has two home runs and five RBIs in five games with the Desert Dogs.

Delmonico was one of the Orioles’ top position prospects before they traded him to the Brewers on July 23, 2013 for veteran reliever Francisco Rodriguez. He missed minor league camp last spring for “personal reasons” and received a 50-game suspension on July 28, 2014 after testing positive for amphetamines. The Brewers finally released him in February, claiming they couldn’t find him.

Delmonico batted .238/.313/.386 with 24 doubles, three home runs and 26 RBIs this summer in 62 games with Double-A Birmingham of the White Sox organization.

* A reminder that the sixth annual KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K/1 Mile Walk at Camden Yards takes place Saturday morning. Here are some of the particulars:

What: KidsPeace, in partnership with the Orioles and Buck and Angela Showalter, invite you to run or walk for kids in foster care. Enjoy a great course through the harbor and finish on the field with the Oriole Bird. Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume (or as your favorite Oriole) and enjoy a fun post-race party. Fit certificates will be presented for top runners, age group winners and best costumes.

To register, go to www.kidspeace5k.org. The registration fee is $35 through today and $40 on race day.

Where: The race begins and ends at Camden Yards. Parking is complimentary in Lot B and Lot C.

When: Saturday, Oct. 31
7:40 a.m. – Begin pre-race welcome, introductions by Showalters and KidsPeace.
8 a.m. – Start of 5K. The Showalters will start the race.
8:05 a.m. – Start of one-mile walk.

Beneficiary: All proceeds benefit KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs of Maryland, including KEYS (KidsPeace Empowering Youth to Succeed), a program that prepares youth for independence through life skills training.

* Center fielder Adam Jones has received the Governor’s Service Award for outstanding volunteer service in Maryland communities.

Jones lends more than his wallet to various causes. He’s actively involved while trying to make a difference. He deserves a lot of credit for it.

Here is video of Jones’ remarks at the awards ceremony: