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Fielder not slated to visit Charm City

January 13, 2012, 1:27pm

Orioles

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported earlier today that free agent first baseman Prince Fielder and agent Scott Boras are in Dallas to visit with the Texas Rangers. Apparently, the Fielder/Boras Tour is cranked up again. This will come as no surprise, but I'm told that the tandem isn't scheduled to meet with Orioles officials. At least not yet. We'll leave the door a little cracked, but that's it. The Rangers are viewed as one of those teams that's been lying in the weeds, waiting for...

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A few quick hits

January 13, 2012, 7:50pm

Orioles

So much for the Yankees being quiet this winter. I blinked last night and they acquired two frontline starters. It must be nice to slot Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda behind CC Sabathia. The Yankees are about seven deep in starters right now, and they'd love to dump A.J. Burnett. They'll gladly drive him to your front door. Last night's activity takes the Yankees off the market for free agent Edwin Jackson. I'm still loving the idea of a Scott Boras package-deal involving Jackson,...

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Advocates' Cardboard to Leather campaign benefits youths in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico

January 12, 2012, 12:48pm

Orioles

Advocates' Cardboard to Leather campaign benefits youths in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico

Any day now, a ship will chug into a port in Puerto Rico and a 40-foot container will be unloaded. Inside are items that will change the lives of kids who don't have the rudimentary basics to play baseball - balls, bats and gloves - that youths in the United States take for granted. Later this month, the scene will be repeated in Nicaragua. Last summer, another delivery was made to Mexico. Under the auspices of the Cardboard to Leather program started by the Oriole Advocates in 1992, generous...

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Cespedes, Jones and a new question (updated)

January 12, 2012, 5:44pm

Orioles

Cespedes, Jones and a new question (updated)

Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, playing his first game last night with Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League, struck out three times and was hit by a pitch in four plate appearances. One observer noted on Twitter that Cespedes had trouble with the slider. That does it. He's overrated. You'll recall that the Orioles scouted Cespedes during a private workout in the Dominican immediately after the Winter Meetings. They aren't commenting on him, perhaps waiting until he establishes...

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An interview with new Orioles' scout Danny Haas

January 12, 2012, 7:12pm

Orioles

Back in mid December, new Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich hired Danny Haas to serve on his staff as one of his two national crosscheckers. The 35-year-old Haas had been a scout with Boston since 2002. In recent years, he served as Boston's southeast, east coast and upper midwest/northeast crosschecker. Red Sox major league players signed during that time include Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway and Kyle Weiland. Haas was named Red Sox amateur Scout of the Year in 2004. He signed Sox pitcher...

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Alan Mills returns to organization

January 12, 2012, 12:03pm

Orioles

Former Orioles reliever Alan Mills, who never met a brawl he didn't like, is returning to the organization as pitching coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Mills, who pitched for the Orioles from 1992-1998, and again from 2000-2001, will replace Scott McGregor. The former Orioles' left-hander has been reassigned to a position in Sarasota. Mills found out about his hiring shortly after Jan. 1. I wrote about his interest in coming back to the Orioles on Nov. 29, and again shortly after...

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MASN adds Mike Bordick as color analyst on Orioles broadcast team

January 12, 2012, 11:55am

Orioles

MASN today announced that they have added Mike Bordick as a color analyst on their Baltimore Orioles broadcast team. Bordick will join Jim Palmer as the network's analysts for Orioles games and will be paired with play-by-play announcers Gary Thorne or Jim Hunter for approximately 80 games during the 2012 season. A 2011 inductee into the Orioles Hall of Fame, Bordick played for the Orioles for six seasons from 1997-2002. One of the best defensive players in club history, Bordick has the...

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Bordick accepts analyst job at MASN (updated)

January 12, 2012, 9:46am

Orioles

Bordick accepts analyst job at MASN (updated)

Former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick has accepted a job as analyst at MASN after meeting earlier today with network officials. Bordick will sign a multiple-year deal with the network. He'll work 81 games, splitting commentary duties with Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. Bordick also has been offered a chance to do some on-field work for the club, including infield coordinator and baserunning instructor at the minor league level. Bordick said he'll need to talk further with John Stockstill,...

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A tale of two MVOs: One gone, one still here

January 11, 2012, 5:46pm

Orioles

A tale of two MVOs: One gone, one still here

A lot of fans are wondering why the Orioles have yet to begin talks on a contract extension with Adam Jones. After four seasons and 551 games with the Orioles, the 26-year-old Jones can be a free agent after the 2013 season. Jones was voted as the Most Valuable Oriole last year when his 16 outfield assists led all major league center fielders and he set career highs in doubles (26), homers (25), RBIs (83), stolen bases (12), extra-base hits (53) and slugging (.466). When I asked Orioles...

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Luke Scott talks about new contract and old team

January 12, 2012, 8:41am

Orioles

Luke Scott talks about new contract and old team

Luke Scott signed his new contract with the Tampa Bay Rays earlier today. He'll make $5 million in 2012, and his deal includes a $6 million option in 2013 with a $1 million buyout. He was paid $6.4 million last season. Scott says the Orioles never made him an offer after non-tendering him on Dec. 12. His agent, Page Odle, only heard from the club once, a little more than a week ago. "They just did not show much interest at all," said Scott, who was named Most Valuable Oriole in 2010. "At...

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Orioles hire Boulanger as hitting coordinator (Scott contract info)

January 12, 2012, 4:00am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette inched closer to completing his minor league staff by hiring Michael Boulanger as hitting coordinator. Boulanger held the same title with the Texas Rangers until June 8, when he replaced Scott Coolbaugh as hitting coach at Triple-A Round Rock. Coolbaugh replaced Thad Bosley as the Rangers' hitting coach. Boulanger has ties to Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. He previously served as a a minor league manager with the Minnesota Twins and Boston...

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This and that

January 11, 2012, 5:06pm

Orioles

I'm filing a shorter entry this morning, so there's no "other." Luke Scott's agreement with Tampa Bay should become official later today. The Rays are expected to make an announcement on his one-year deal, which reportedly includes an option for 2013. The Orioles must have someone else in mind for the designated hitter role. Nolan Reimold remains in play, if manager Buck Showalter is comfortable with Endy Chavez as his left fielder/leadoff hitter. Scott wanted to return, but the...

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Luke Scott off the DH board

January 11, 2012, 8:36am

Orioles

The Orioles won't be re-signing Luke Scott as their designated hitter. Scott has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Rays on a one-year contract, according to an industry source. The deal will become official once he passes a physical. Scott batted .220 with 11 doubles, nine homers and 22 RBIs in 64 games with the Orioles last season. He underwent surgery July 26 in Pensacola, Fla., to repair posterior and SLAP tears in his right labrum. In 2010, Scott was voted Most Valuable Oriole after...

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Looking at the pitching staff, international signings and more

January 10, 2012, 5:27pm

Orioles

Looking at the pitching staff, international signings and more

Skipping around the baseball world today with some random thoughts on random topics. Are the Orioles sending their young pitchers a message?: With the signings of Dana Eveland, Tsuyoshi Wada and Wei-Yin Chen, it is getting crowded in the Orioles' rotation. Depending upon who you considered a candidate for the starting five, there are now a dozen or so candidates for starting rotation spots on this team. Seems to me the message is clear to the young guys like Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz and...

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Chen Wei-Yin almost a done deal (updated)

January 09, 2012, 7:19am

Orioles

Chen Wei-Yin almost a done deal (updated)

The Orioles have scheduled a physical for Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-Yin, bringing them closer to signing another starting pitcher. The two sides have reached agreement on a multi-year deal, according to a source. It will become official once Chen passes the physical. Chen, 26, was 8-10 with a 2.68 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) this year for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. The 6-foot southpaw has a low-90s fastball that reportedly tops out at 96 mph. He...

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Orioles make Chen signing official, DFA Hudson (more)

January 10, 2012, 4:27am

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that they signed Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to a three-year contract with a club option for 2015. He will wear No. 16. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles have designated outfielder Kyle Hudson for assignment. Chen, 26, will be the first Taiwanese-born player in Orioles history. The 6-foot, 195-lb. left-hander went 36-30 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 117 games (88 starts) over the last four seasons with the Chunichi Dragons in the Central...

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Tyler Townsend: Good bat, now looking for a healthy season

January 09, 2012, 5:31pm

Orioles

Tyler Townsend: Good bat, now looking for a healthy season

Sometimes, when national analysts contend the Orioles lack a lot of solid hitting prospects in their minor league organization, they overlook Tyler Townsend, a third-round pick and first baseman out of Florida International in 2009. Not so much because of a lack of good numbers, but a lack of consistent at-bats. Townsend has been dogged by hamstring issues in his left leg the last two years that limited him to 52 games in 2010 and 67 last summer. But consider these numbers: In three seasons...

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Orioles sign Wei-Yin Chen; Hudson designated for assignment

January 10, 2012, 5:18am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have signedleft-hander Wei-Yin Chen (pronounced Way-Ying) to a three-year contract with a club option for 2015. He will wear number 16. Chen, 26, will be the first Taiwanese-born player in Orioles history. The 6-foot, 195-pound left-hander went 36-30 with a 2.48 ERA (631.1IP, 174ER) and 1.06 WHIP in 117 games (88 starts) over the last four seasons with the Chunichi Dragons in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. "Chen works off of a...

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Orioles hire Poitevint as executive director of international baseball

January 09, 2012, 11:40am

Orioles

The Orioles just announced that they've hired Ray Poitevint as executive director of international baseball. "I am delighted to have Ray Poitevint return to the Orioles where he began his career and to have his veteran baseball leadership as part of our global recruiting and marketing efforts," Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said in a statement. I'm about 20 minutes away from going on the air for the latest edition of "The Mid-Atlantic Sports...

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Orioles name Ray Poitevint as executive director, international baseball

January 09, 2012, 11:38am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have named Ray Poitevint as Executive Director, International Baseball . "I am delighted to have Ray Poitevint return to the Orioles where he began his career and to have his veteran baseball leadership as part of our global recruiting and marketing efforts," said Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette . Now entering his sixth decade working in baseball, Poitevint began his career as an Associate Scout with the Orioles in...