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MacPhail makes a comeback with the fans

December 10, 2010, 3:52am

Orioles

Way to go, sweater vest! Is it possible that Andy MacPhail, who was getting crushed by fans on this blog just a week or so ago, is now becoming popular among many O's fans? I haven't seen a comeback this dramatic since that O's-Red Sox game in May 2009. One thing the last few days have shown us. Just because the O's were not mentioned in every rumor over the last few weeks didn't mean they were not busy behind the scenes. And just because they missed out on a few guys (Victor Martinez...

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Steve and Roch wrap it up in Orlando

December 09, 2010, 10:02am

Orioles

It has been an eventful few days for the Orioles at the winter meetings. But all good things sometimes end and so these meetings in Orlando finished up today. The O's filled needs on the left side of their infield with Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy and also with the re-signing of Koji Uehara for the bullpen. They would still like to add some offense and still have an opening at first base. It looks like they have improved their team here in Orlando, but, per usual, the Red Sox got a lot...

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Trembley could have been back with the O's organization

December 08, 2010, 12:28pm

Orioles

Trembley could have been back with the O's organization

He was once a manager in the Orioles farm system and, as of a few weeks ago, Dave Trembley was almost back in the O's organization. Trembley confirmed today that the Orioles offered him a job managing in their minor leagues for next season. He thought about it, but got an offer from Atlanta and recently accepted a position as the Braves' minor league field coordinater/coordinater of instruction, where he will work with all their minor league managers, players and teams. Trembley said June...

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Pat Egan's big day

December 09, 2010, 7:28am

Orioles

Right-hander Pat Egan began today as a minor league pitcher in the O's organization. But after being taken in the Rule 5 draft, he is now on the Milwaukee Brewers' major league roster. "I'm still trying to piece it all together," Egan said by phone moments ago. "It's kind of surreal right now. I've been getting a lot of calls and texts and I'm just trying to get a grip on it right now. I knew it was a possibility, but there is a whole different feeling when you are taken. It is...

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What about Hardy's defense?

December 09, 2010, 6:10am

Orioles

A couple of readers have asked about and offered opinions about J.J. Hardy and his defense at shortstop. Here is what Andy MacPhail said about Hardy's defense: "We like his defense. If you look at those UZR ratings, he is very top of the chart. We think he'll provide us more offense and he is a good defender." Is he as good as Cesar Izturis? "You know it depends. Izzy was so solid for us and JJ is as well." You characterized first base yesterday as still being deep in options, but...

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MacPhail on the addition of Adrian Rosario

December 09, 2010, 5:11am

Orioles

MacPhail on the addition of Adrian Rosario

Here are some comments from Andy MacPhail on Adrian Rosario, the right-handed pitcher the O's took from the Milwaukee organization in this morning's Rule 5 draft: "Big bodied, lack of experience, good arm kid that captured the imagination of our guys. He has a chance to grow into something, whether he is ready or not, we'll find out. Didn't feel like we could miss the opportunity to take a chance on him. "Interestingly enough, Milwaukee took one of our guys and we took one of theirs....

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Some solid moves by the O's

December 09, 2010, 12:44am

Orioles

Can't a guy even get five hours of sleep around here. Around 6 p.m. yesterday, Andy MacPhail said he thought there would not be any moves last night. Guess he meant other than the contract for Koji Uehara and the trade for J.J. Hardy. Other than that, the last few hours have been quiet. We've had seemingly nonstop rumors about the O's for two days and the news comes practically overnight. Hope they don't get the idea to start scheduling their games now at midnight. Anyway, if the price...

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More Rosario stats

December 09, 2010, 5:28am

Orioles

The Orioles certainly took a young arm, that at least on the stat sheet, looks far away from the Major Leagues. Right-hander Adrian Rosario is just 21, from Santiago, Dominican Republic. The O's took him in today's Rule 5 draft with the 4th pick and he would have to stay on their 25-man Major League roster all season. Rosario began last season with Helena of the short-season Pioneer League in June, after I would guess he had pitched in extended spring training for the Brewers. At Helena,...

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Koji is coming back

December 08, 2010, 5:58pm

Orioles

Koji Uehara will return to the Orioles' bullpen for the 2011 season. A Baltimore Sun report tonight said the O's have agreed to a new one-year contract with Uehara that includes a vesting option for the 2012 year. That is an option that kicks in if Uehara meets certain performance clauses during the coming year. Uehara went 1-2, 2.86 with 13 saves last season. He led AL relievers (minimum 40 innings pitched) in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 11-to-1 and did not walk a batter over his final 34...

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Rule 5 draft primer

December 08, 2010, 5:47pm

Orioles

The Rule 5 draft, one of the last official activities at baseball's annual winter meetings, takes place here at the meetings on Thursday morning. The teams select in the order they will in next June's draft, meaning the O's will have the 4th selection. They do not have to pick and, as most know, any player taken in the major league phase of the draft must stay on the selecting team's 25-man big league roster all year or be placed through waivers and then offered back to his original team....

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MacPhail on first base: "The area where we have the most options"

December 08, 2010, 1:47pm

Orioles

MacPhail on first base: "The area where we have the most options"

In the last 24 hours or so, two first basemen have come off the free agent board as Paul Konerko re-signed with the Chicago White Sox and Carlos Pena joined the Cubs on a one-year deal. The Orioles got neither and despite reports where Pena himself said the Orioles made him an offer, O's president Andy MacPhail said the club never offered a contract to either player. Is MacPhail surprised that Pena said the O's made him an offer? "I think it happened with (Matt) Holliday last year, if...

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Confederate money again?

December 08, 2010, 11:09am

Orioles

At least one reporter seems to think so. Click here for the tweet. At least the O's are trying, some would debate the degree and level of that, but they might be one of the leaders for rumors generated in the last few days here at the winter meetings.

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Scott Boras speaks

December 08, 2010, 9:39am

Orioles

It seems to happen just about every year at the baseball winter meetings: Agent Scott Boras talks in a hallway and dozens of reporters jockey for position to try and hear the interview and get close enough to ask a question or two. This time, I got close enough to hear an answer or two of three. He didn't cover anything specifically on the Orioles in the time I was there, but MASNSports.com's Jen Royle did talk to Carlos Pena, who said the O's did offer him a deal and seemed open to...

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Jim Callis' take on the Rule 5 draft

December 08, 2010, 6:42am

Orioles

When I interviewed Baseball America's Jim Callis here yesterday, we also talked about tomorrow's Rule 5 draft. In last year's Rule 5 draft, the Giants took O's minor league pitcher Steve Johnson, but he eventually was sent back to the Orioles during spring training. Callis feels reliever

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Will O's and Kevin Gregg be a match?

December 08, 2010, 4:53am

Orioles

As of this morning, the Orioles' interest in reliever Kevin Gregg still appears to be strong. The Orioles met with his agents here at the winter meetings on Monday and several teams are reportedly in on Gregg. The 32-year-old right-hander went 2-6, 3.51 with Toronto last season with 37 saves. He fanned 58 over 59 innings. Toronto had two chances to pick up options on Gregg and keep him, but passed. The Jays could have retained him for next year for $4.5 million and they also had an option...

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How does MacPhail deal with player rumors? (w/ exclusive video)

December 07, 2010, 2:13pm

Orioles

How does MacPhail deal with player rumors? (w/ exclusive video)

This had to have been an interesting day for the Orioles' Nolan Reimold. Today his cell phone had to be blowing up with reports that he might be traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. He must have gotten several calls and texts; he may have even gotten one or two from the media. I can think of one guy I know that called him. Andy MacPhail recaps Day Two of the Winter Meetings with Steve Melewski At the same time, as of this writing, he has not been traded and maybe after all the rumors, tweets,...

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An interview with Baseball America's Jim Callis

December 07, 2010, 2:45pm

Orioles

An interview with Baseball America's Jim Callis

He is one of the best evaluators of baseball talent, especially in the minors, in the country in my humble opinion. Today at the winter meetings here in Florida, I had a chance to once again interview Jim Callis of Baseball America. I got his take on a few O's related topics. Callis on the Mark Reynolds trade: "I think it's a great trade from the Orioles' perspective. Yeah, Mark Reynolds strikes out and is not going to hit for high average, but he hits home runs. I think that shores...

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Will Tillman & Britton battle for fifth starter's spot?

December 07, 2010, 12:12pm

Orioles

Will Tillman & Britton battle for fifth starter's spot?

The Orioles are clearly in the market for pitching, especially the bullpen variety. But what about the rotation? With four spots looking pretty set - with Guthrie, Matusz, Arrietaand Bergesen - who will round out that rotation? O's manager Buck Showalter said today he is open to a possible competition in camp between Chris Tillman and Zach Britton for that fifth spot. The O's still have plenty of time to add a starter which could send both young guys back to the minors. But that is not...

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Bartlett talks stalled

December 07, 2010, 1:04pm

Orioles

A Rays official says nothing is imminent on the trade front regarding shortstop Jason Bartlett, and that most of the talks with clubs have been "bullpen-centric." Various reports are surfacing that talks with the Orioles are dead. We're heading up to Andy MacPhail's suite in a few minutes. Also, I'm told the Nationals had some interest in former Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez, but that may no longer be the case. Montanez is getting ready to play winter ball in Puerto Rico. Former...

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A no vote on a proposed Reimold deal

December 07, 2010, 8:11am

Orioles

If the deal that is rumored -- Nolan Reimold to Tampa for Jason Bartlett, one for one -- is truly in the works, I vote no on that. I can still hear the words of one-time Aberdeen manager Andy Etchebarren in my ears."Nolan Reimold will hit 40 homers in the Majors one day," Etchebarren said a few years back. While some now may think that is far-fetched, Reimold still is pretty young and has big power potential. Do the O's need Bartlett bad enough to give up a promising young player? Have...