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Late-inning intrigue (updated)

February 12, 2012, 5:39am

Orioles

We're less than a week away from pitchers and catchers taking the back fields at Ed Smith Stadium for the Orioles' first spring training workout. I can't guarantee much these days, but I'm fairly certain that it won't be snowing sideways. Here's the list of non-roster invitees: Pitchers Edell, Ryan LHP Eyre, Willie RHP Galarraga, Armando RHP Johnson, Steve RHP Link, Jon RHP Neshek, Pat RHP Reyes, Dennys LHP Socolovich, Miguel RHP Villarreal, Oscar RHP Catchers Hester,...

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A few more thoughts on the situation with Seong-Min Kim

February 11, 2012, 6:06am

Orioles

A few more thoughts on the situation with Seong-Min Kim

Well, it has been quite a few days of spirited discussion and debate about a young pitcher that almost none of us know much about and have never seen pitch. The Orioles signed Seong-Min Kim to a minor league contract Jan. 30. He either throws 80 or 83 mph, or maybe 88, depending on the report you read and trust most. He's either a high shool sophomore or maybe entering his final year. Someone said Korean kids graduate at 19 so he could be a 17-year-old sophomore. His curveball is either...

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Orioles' statement regarding Seong-Min Kim

February 10, 2012, 2:50pm

Orioles

Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette has issued the following statement regarding Seong-Min Kim: "On behalf of the Orioles organization, I offer a sincere apology to the Korea Baseball Organization and the Korea Baseball Association for the club's unintentional breach of protocol in failing to tender a status check in the process of signing Seong-Min Kim. The Orioles respect Major League Baseball's recruiting policies and the governing bodies and people that...

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Orioles issue statement regarding Seong-Min Kim

February 10, 2012, 3:07pm

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette has issued the following statement regarding 17-year-old Korean pitcher Seong-Min Kim: "On behalf of the Orioles organization, I offer a sincere apology to the Korea Baseball Organization and the Korea Baseball Association for the club's unintentional breach of protocol in failing to tender a status check in the process of signing Seong-Min Kim. The Orioles respect Major League Baseball's recruiting policies and the...

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Duquette on Ramirez and other topics

February 10, 2012, 3:28pm

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has pretty much dismissed the possibility that he'll sign veteran designated hitter Manny Ramirez. "I don't think there's going to be a fit for Manny," Duquette said. "We've looked at that all winter and I'm not sure there's a fit there for the Orioles. I wish Manny a lot of luck, but I just don't think he fits in our ballclub right now." Asked what else he plans to do with the roster before spring training, Duquette said, "I think...

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Matt Angle designated for assignment

February 10, 2012, 11:44am

Orioles

Outfielder Matt Angle was designated for assignment today to make room for reliever

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Orioles not likely to sign Ramirez

February 10, 2012, 1:28pm

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated tonight that the Orioles won't sign veteran designated hitter

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Orioles reach agreement with Luis Ayala (updated)

February 10, 2012, 7:21am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette found another late-inning reliever without making a trade. The club has reached agreement with right-hander Luis Ayala, and the deal will become official once his physical is completed and the results are known. It's believed to be a major league deal, which would require a corresponding 40-man roster move. Ayala, 34, was 2-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 52 appearances with the Yankees last season. He's 31-41 with a 3.47 ERA in seven seasons with six...

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O's sign Nick Johnson to minor league deal

February 10, 2012, 11:40am

Orioles

O's sign Nick Johnson to minor league deal

The Orioles also announced that they have signed infielder Nick Johnson to a minor league contract with a spring training invite. Outfielders Xavier Avery, LJ Hoes and catcher Dane Sardinha have also been invited to big league camp. Johnson, 33, played in 55 games for Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus in the Cleveland organization in 2011. He owns a .401 on-base percentage over nine seasons (794 games) in his major league career. Avery, 22, batted .259/.324/.343 in 138 games for Double-A...

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Orioles sign free agent right-handed pitcher Luis Ayala

February 10, 2012, 11:37am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher Luis Ayala to a one-year contract with a club option for 2013. Ayala, 34, posted a 2.09 ERA (56.0 IP, 13 ER) in 52 appearances for the Yankees last season. In seven major league seasons, he has gone 31-41 with a 3.47 ERA (446.1 IP, 172 ER) for Montreal/Washington, the Mets, Minnesota, Florida and the Yankees. To clear room for Ayala on the 40-man roster, outfielder Matt Angle has been designated for assignment. Angle, 26,...

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Hoes anxious to soak up experience of big league camp

February 09, 2012, 6:51pm

Orioles

Hoes anxious to soak up experience of big league camp

Orioles minor leaguer LJ Hoes could not quite contain his excitement this week. He got an important phone call Wednesday morning and before long posted this via his Twitter account: "Just got the best news ever God is good...Big league Camp here I come." Hoes will join Xavier Avery as O's farmhands that are getting an invitation to the Birds' major league spring training camp, where they join the big leaguers in the clubhouse and on the field. "I'm just very excited," Hoes said by...

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The Orioles will bring some minor leaguers to Sarasota for an early camp

February 10, 2012, 11:04am

Orioles

The Orioles are planning to bring some of their minor league players to Sarasota for an early spring training and there could be 30 or more players asked to report Feb. 23. They are several reasons to do this. In the case of some players, like outfielder Trent Mummey, who will report early, he was hurt and missed a lot of last year and could use some extra work. In the case of some pitchers, like Bobby Bundy, they could potentially be used in one of the early major league exhibition games to...

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Search for new O's PA announcer enters audition phase

February 10, 2012, 5:43am

Orioles

Search for new O's PA announcer enters audition phase

If you're strolling through downtown near Camden Yards tomorrow and hear some strange sounds emanating from the stadium that harken you to warmer weather and the game of summer, your ears aren't playing tricks on you. Tomorrow afternoon, the Orioles have invited 25 finalists to Camden Yards to audition for the opportunity to be the new public address announcer at the stadium. The new voice will replace Dave McGowan, the longtime PA announcer who announced in December that new job...

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So ... what now?

February 10, 2012, 3:50am

Orioles

Now that the dust has settled from that flurry of activity yesterday - Brad Bergesen's arbitration ruling, Nick Johnson's minor league contract - it's time to wonder whether the Orioles are finished with the roster before pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 18. I'm guessing that at least one more move is made before that date. Perhaps another late-inning reliever is added to the mix - Koji Uehara's return remains a possibility if the Rangers lower their demands, though I...

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Orioles reach agreement with Nick Johnson

February 09, 2012, 11:18am

Orioles

The Orioles have reached agreement with first baseman Nick Johnson on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. Johnson could give manager Buck Showalter another option at first base and designated hitter. He also could share time at those spots with Joe Mahoney at Triple-A Norfolk. No promises come with the deal, only an opportunity. Johnson, 33, didn't play in the majors last year. He appeared in 53 games with Triple-A Columbus and batted .201/.316/.332 with...

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A Korean reporter's perspective on the Orioles and Kim Seong-Min (update)

February 09, 2012, 7:03am

Orioles

Daniel Kim is a reporter for what is basically the ESPN of Korea. He has been closely following the story of Kim Seong-Min, the 17-year-old lefty high school pitcher signed recently by the Orioles that is from his country. The Korean Baseball Organization, which runs the nation's top baseball league, seems to believe the Orioles violated protocol in signing Seong-Min and have taken their concerns to Major League Baseball. The KBO has lodged a complaint with MLB over the Orioles' alleged...

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Will it be Frederick or Bowie for the Orioles' dynamic duo?

February 08, 2012, 5:56pm

Orioles

Even though they played just about a half-season each last year in the Carolina League, it sure seems quite possible that the Orioles' top two minor league position players could begin the 2012 season with Double-A Bowie. The Orioles have to decide if they will start the dynamic, young double play combo of 19-year-old Manny Machado and 20-year-old Jonathan Schoop in the Eastern League with Bowie after the duo played at both Single-A Delmarva and Single-A Frederick last year. While the stat...

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Bergesen loses in arbitration (O's sign Stuart Pomeranz)

February 09, 2012, 8:21am

Orioles

Bergesen loses in arbitration (O's sign Stuart Pomeranz)

Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen came out on the losing side in yesterday's arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla. Bergesen will make $800,000 this season after earning $434,000 in 2011. He sought $1.2 million. The Orioles haven't lost a hearing since 1995 with pitcher Ben McDonald. They're 7-0 with general counsel H. Russell Smouse. Yesterday's hearing included Smouse, executive vice president Dan Duquette, director of baseball administration Tripp Norton and assistant director of...

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Deep depth thoughts (and more)

February 08, 2012, 4:46pm

Orioles

We should find out today whether Brad Bergesen was declared the winner in his arbitration hearing, which would represent the Orioles' first defeat since 1995 with former pitcher Ben McDonald. Don't feel bad if it happens. The money isn't coming out of your checking account. Either way, Bergesen will receive a healthy raise. In this economy, that's reason to celebrate. Also, the Orioles could announce that they've reached agreement on a minor league deal with first baseman Nick Johnson....

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Arbitrator sides with Orioles on Bergesen

February 09, 2012, 8:19am

Orioles

Right-handed pitcher Brad Bergesen has been awarded the Orioles' contract offer of $800,000 in salary arbitration, it was announced today. Bergesen, 2-7 with a 5.70 ERA (101.0 IP, 64 ER) in 34 games (12 starts) last season, had sought a $1.2 million contract for the 2012 season.