Janish accepts outright assignment (plus other notes)

Janish accepts outright assignment (plus other notes)
Infielder Paul Janish accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, according to industry sources. He is expected to join the team this weekend. Janish had the right to refuse the assignment based on a previous designation. He cleared waivers and was outrighted yesterday to make room for reliever Oliver Drake, giving him three days to make a decision. The Orioles have signed 15 more of their 2016 draft picks, bringing their overall total to 21. The newest players to sign are shortstop...
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Nationals top draft pick Kieboom gets $2 million to sign

Nationals top draft pick Kieboom gets $2 million to sign
The Nationals and top draft pick Carter Kieboom agreed to terms this week on a deal that will pay the 18-year-old shortstop a $2 million signing bonus, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. That amount, which was first reported by MLB.com's Jim Callis, is roughly the same as Major League Baseball's predetermined slot amount of $2,065,900 for the 28th overall selection in last week's draft. The club has yet to announce Kieboom's signing, but he appeared at Nationals Park on Monday,...
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Carter Kieboom on Nats' selection: "Really a dream come true"

Carter Kieboom on Nats' selection: "Really a dream come true"
The Nationals' top selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft met with the media on a conference call Friday. Shortstop Carter Kieboom, the younger brother of Double-A catcher Spencer Kieboom, was selected with the 28th pick in the opening round on Thursday night. "To be selected by the Nationals, that's very special," said the 6-foot-2, 185 lb. Carter Kieboom. "I've never been able to play with my older brothers. Now to be given the opportunity to potentially to play with Spencer in a...
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Orioles select outfielder Austin Hays in 3rd round (4th, 5th round)

Orioles select outfielder Austin Hays in 3rd round (4th, 5th round)
With three college pitchers already in the fold, the Orioles began Day 2 of the First-Year Player Draft by selecting Jacksonville University outfielder Austin Hays in the third round. Hays is the 91st overall pick. Baseball America rated him No. 46 on its draft prospect list and wrote the following: "Power potential with bat and power arm make him prototype right field prospect." Hays, 20, batted .350/.406/.655 with 16 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 42 RBIs in 54 games as a junior. He...
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Hearing from Rajsich and Sedlock after Day 1 of draft

Hearing from Rajsich and Sedlock after Day 1 of draft
Orioles director of scouting Gary Rajsich set out to get three college pitchers last night in the 2016 amateur draft and achieved his goal with Illinois right-hander Cody Sedlock at No. 27, Western Michigan left-hander Keegan Akin at No. 54 and John A. Logan Community College right-hander Matthias Dietz at No. 69. Rajsich speculated that all three pitchers will begin their professional careers at Single-A short-season Aberdeen. Of course, the Orioles must sign them. Rajsich, made available to...
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Nationals select Carter Kieboom and Dane Dunning in first round (updated)

Nationals select Carter Kieboom and Dane Dunning in first round (updated)
The Nationals have been impressed with the growth and ability of catcher Spencer Kieboom. The fifth-round selection in 2012 was placed on the 40-man roster November 20, 2015, alongside left-hander Nick Lee and infielder Chris Bostick. Kieboom is currently a catcher at Double-A Harrisburg. And staying in the family to begin the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals selected Spencer's little brother, shortstop Carter Kieboom, out of Walton (Ga.) high school. Carter was selected with the...
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More Machado, delving into draft and talking to Trumbo

More Machado, delving into draft and talking to Trumbo
Today may bring word of Manny Machado's suspension for his part in Tuesday night's brawl. Actually, the news release from Major League Baseball couldn't be summed up in one word. It would have to include the length of the suspension, mention of an "undisclosed fine" and a reminder of his actions, including how he charged the mound and threw a punch at Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura. The Orioles are the losers here despite sweeping the Royals. Any suspension is going to take away an...
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A draft Q&A with Gary Rajsich, plus O's notes on pitching and more

A draft Q&A with Gary Rajsich, plus O's notes on pitching and more
The Orioles have the No. 27 overall pick tonight as Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft begins at 7. It will be televised live on MLB Network. The 40-round draft will continue tomorrow and Saturday. Tonight the clubs select players through Round 2 and the Competitive Balance Lottery Round B, so the Orioles will make three picks tonight. On Friday players will be selected in Rounds 3-10 and the draft concludes Saturday with picks in Rounds 11-40. The Orioles have four picks in the...
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Notes on Ashur Tolliver, draft picks and Chris Tillman

Notes on Ashur Tolliver, draft picks and Chris Tillman
HOUSTON - If, as expected, the Orioles add Double-A Bowie left-handed reliever Ashur Tolliver to their roster today to replace the recently traded Brian Matusz, the move will very likely be popular among O's minor league staff and players. They will be excited to see a career minor leaguer get his shot. Tolliver is no pitching version of Crash Davis, but he has been hurling baseballs on the O's farm since 2009. He has never pitched above Double-A, but it looks like he will now. He's also...
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Another look at the possibility of the Orioles giving up a draft pick

Another look at the possibility of the Orioles giving up a draft pick
So what is the value of a draft pick? On the one hand, we know that most players that get drafted never make the major leagues - and even some of the highest-drafted players never make it. Look at the first-round picks for just about any draft and check out the number of players that never made it or never did very much in the majors. On the other hand, teams seem to value the picks now more than ever. They don't part with them easily. All organizations value young talent that is on the lower...
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A look at a few reasons to keep the 14th pick

A look at a few reasons to keep the 14th pick
There are a few good reasons that the Orioles have been reluctant to part with the No. 14 pick in the first round of next June's First-Year Player Draft. If the Orioles had signed or do sign a player that turned down a qualifying offer, they have to part with that draft pick. For one, the Orioles hope to get a player with that pick that will advance to the major leagues and help them win games for years. But beyond that, money to sign the picks is involved. The Orioles currently have six of...
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A look at O's draft picks, Colorado outfielders and more

A look at O's draft picks, Colorado outfielders and more
At the moment, the Orioles have, by my count, six of the first 90 picks in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft next June. In the 2014 draft, after losing picks for signing Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez, the O's first pick was No. 90. The Orioles should currently be slated to get the No. 28 overall pick in the draft for losing pitcher Wei-Yin Chen via free agency to Miami. Four teams have lost first-round picks for signing free agents that turned down qualifying offers: the Cubs, Nats,...
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Buck Showalter on possibly parting with a draft pick and the need for a lefty bat

Buck Showalter on possibly parting with a draft pick and the need for a lefty bat
NASHVILLE - Would the Orioles part with the 14th pick in the draft? If they signed a free agent who had turned down a qualifying offer, they would have to. While the first 10 picks in next June's First-Year Player Draft are protected, the O's No. 14 pick is not. Players that turned down the qualifying offer who could be sought by the Orioles include outfielders Alex Gordon, Justin Upton and Jason Heyward, and pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Ian Kennedy. During his Winter Meetings press...
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O's game blog: Orioles are 16-11 against Boston since 2014

O's game blog: Orioles are 16-11 against Boston since 2014
The Orioles look to continue their winning ways against the Boston Red Sox tonight as Wei-Yin Chen (1-4, 3.18 ERA) faces Rick Porcello (4-5, 5.01 ERA) in the second game of the series. The Orioles went 11-8 against Boston last year and are 5-3 this year. Since July 19, 2011, the Orioles are 45-27 (.625) versus the Sox, including a mark of 21-15 (.583) at home. The Orioles split one series 2-2 with Boston and won another one 2-1 before taking the series opener with a 1-0 win last night at Camden...
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Should the Orioles look to draft more college players this year?

Should the Orioles look to draft more college players this year?
The Orioles have a lot of pending free agents. They could be a very different looking team next year. They also have four picks in the top 102 selections of the First-Year Player Draft that begins tomorrow. Does that mean the club should look to draft more college players this year? Players that are closer to reaching the big leagues and that can help the big league team sooner? Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com, one of the top draft experts in the industry for many years, said that would not...
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Draft talk: A look at the O's draft pool and players they've been linked to in mock drafts

Draft talk: A look at the O's draft pool and players they've been linked to in mock drafts
The 2015 First-Year Player Draft is now less than a week away. It all begins Monday night at 7 p.m., when MLB Network will televise picks made from Round 1 through Competitive Balance Round B. The draft then resumes Tuesday, June 8 at 1 p.m., with Rounds 3-10, and then on Wednesday June 9 at noon with Rounds 11-40. The Orioles have the 25th pick in Round 1 and they have four of the first 102 picks as they also select 36th, 68th and 102nd. They have 11 picks over the first 10 rounds. Orioles...
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Previewing the First-Year Player Draft with O's scouting director Gary Rajsich

Previewing the First-Year Player Draft with O's scouting director Gary Rajsich
Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich is about to make selections for his fourth draft for the organization. He selected pitcher Kevin Gausman fourth overall in 2012 and pitcher Hunter Harvey with the 22nd pick in 2013. Last year, the Orioles did not have a first-round pick. Their first selection was No. 90 overall in the third round, when the club took high school left-hander Brian Gonzalez. The First-Year Player Draft, consisting of 40 rounds over three days, begins a week from Monday on...
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Patrick Reddington: In drafts, Nationals feel reward often outweighs risk

Patrick Reddington: In drafts, Nationals feel reward often outweighs risk
Anthony Rendon was considered the top hitting prospect in his draft class in 2011. The hard-hitting third baseman was limited to designated hitter duties by a shoulder injury in his final year at Rice University, however, after he suffered ankle injuries in the 2009-2010 seasons, both of which required surgery. So there was some concern about his durability as the First-Year Player Draft approached that June. Five teams passed on Rendon, in spite of the fact that he finished his collegiate...
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O's look to bounce back tonight, plus checking in with top pick Brian Gonzalez

O's look to bounce back tonight, plus checking in with top pick Brian Gonzalez
Well, if you didn't have a dog in the fight, it was a great game to watch. Plays at the plate, an attempted steal of home, enthusiastic crowd, some clutch hits, some homers and fine defense. But it was a loss to Oakland last night for the Orioles, one that leaves them 6 1/2 games out in the American League East. It was a tough start to an important 10-game homestand that will see two first-place teams invade the Yard. Oakland improved its AL-best record to 38-23, its league-best road mark to...
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Orioles draft high school pitcher Gonzalez with third-round pick (updated)

Orioles draft high school pitcher Gonzalez with third-round pick (updated)
The Orioles had to wait until the second day of the First-Year Player Draft to make a selection, but in the third round this afternoon, they drafted a high school pitcher from Florida. In the third round: The O's selected left-handed pitcher Brian Gonzalez from Archbishop McCarthy High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Gonzalez is 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds. According to Baseball America's scouting report on Gonzalez, he throws his fastball 87 to 90 mph, touching 91, and throws a changeup and...
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