Bobby Witt Jr. becomes latest young MLB star to sign big bucks extension

Bobby Witt jr.

The deal was announced, and the news was probably just minutes old when some around Birdland wondered whether their team might soon have interest in a similar arrangement.

Monday afternoon, the Kansas City Royals, who ranked 24th in 2023 in MLB team payroll, a few steps ahead of the Orioles, locked up one of their bright young stars to a huge contract.

When your team has its own bright young starts – players like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson and maybe soon will be adding Jackson Holliday to that list - it’s only natural to wonder and hope that they remain Orioles for a long, long time.

While the Royals extension deal with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., 23, has opt-outs, they don’t start until after the 2030 season. He will have nine years in the majors at that point.

Signing up young talent well before free agency is a gamble when any team does it. But it is one pre-emptive strike that the so-called “small market” clubs have against losing those players later to the big spenders via free agency.

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Big lead gets away, the game doesn't: O's rally late to beat K.C., take another series

Grayson grey jersey pitching

KANSAS CITY – After the top of the third today, the Orioles were enjoying an 8-1 lead against the Kansas City Royals and former teammate Jordan Lyles. Maybe this would be their rare laughter - a blowout with no late game or even mid-game drama.

Nope.

By the end of the Kansas City fourth, the Royals were hitting rookie right-hander Grayson Rodriguez hard and their 8-1 deficit was now just 8-6. There was nothing to laugh about now. Would the O’s even hold on and get another series win before heading to Atlanta?

Nope, also.

Or so we thought.

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O's game blog: Wrapping up the series in Kansas City

Grayson Rodriguez Black jersey pitching

KANSAS CITY – The Orioles had won three in a row, five of six, 12 of 14 and 16 of their past 20 games until they were shutout for the first time this year, 6-0 last night at Kansas City. 

So Baltimore (20-10) play the series finale at Kauffman Stadium this afternoon and it is their fifth rubber game of the year. They lost their first two – at Boston and home vs. the New York Yankees. But have won the last two at the Chicago White Sox and home against Boston.

The Orioles are 11-6 on the road and 4-2 on this 10-game trip. They are 7-2 in their past nine road games and are 4-1 in road series.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (1-0, 4.07 ERA) gets the ball this afternoon and he takes a 14-innings scoreless streak into this start. The streak started in the second inning April 16 at Chicago versus the White Sox. It continued in five-inning outings twice against Detroit, once at home and once on the road. His last outing was Game 2 of the doubleheader Saturday at Detroit, when he pitched five scoreless with nine strikeouts and 91 pitches.

In those past two outings, he has allowed seven hits in 10 innings with four walks and 15 strikeouts, allowing a .194 batting average and .525 OPS. He is 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA in three starts vs. teams from the AL Central.

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Looking to improve strong record against losing clubs, plus other O's notes

Mullins Hays white

KANSAS CITY – If a formula for producing one of the best records in baseball so far has been to hold your own against the best teams and clean up on losing records clubs, the Orioles are doing a pretty solid job in following the script.

They may have gone off script for a night, being shutout 6-0 by Kansas City last night, as the Royals (8-23) ended a 10-game home losing streak that fell a game short of the franchise record.

But the Orioles have played four series to date against teams with current winning records and they are 6-6 in the 12 games against Boston, the New York Yankees and Texas, going 2-2 in series.

But they are 14-4 through Tuesday’s games against clubs with current losing records, going 5-0 in series. That is a .778 win percentage and that will help a team get into the playoffs. So will a 20-10 record and a .667 overall win percentage that, if maintained through the full year, amounts to 108 wins.

But as noted previously here, the May schedule is about to get more challenging for the team, with series looming against Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Toronto and New York.

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Game 88 lineups: Nats vs. Royals

Game 88 lineups: Nats vs. Royals
Even with the extra-inning loss to the Royals in the rearview mirror, the Nationals have some positives to take away from Friday's events at Nats Park. The Nats fell to Kansas City 7-4 in 11 innings, but came back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, watching as Ryan Zimmerman's power returned and learned that Anthony Rendon will sacrifice his All-Star Game invitation in order to stay in D.C. and rehab a tight left quad/hamstring for the duration of the...
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Opposite dugout: Royals look like O's chief rival for top draft pick

Opposite dugout: Royals look like O's chief rival for top draft pick
Manager: Ned Yost (9th season) Record: 42-91 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Whit Merrifield (.307, 28 SB) C Salvador Pérez (23 HR, 65 RBIs), DH Ryan O'Hearn (.554 slugging), RHP Brad Keller (6-5, 3.33 ERA), RHP Wily Peralta (8 saves), Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2 Pitching probables: Aug. 31: RHP Andrew Cashner (4-12) vs. RHP Brad Keller (6-5)Sept. 1: RHP Dylan Bundy (7-13) vs. RHP Heath Fillmyer (2-1)Sept. 2: RHP David Hess (3-8) vs. RHP Jorge López (0-4) Inside the Royals: The...
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Collins brings the battle scars and World Series experience to the Nats

Collins brings the battle scars and World Series experience to the Nats
The Nationals added left-hander Tim Collins, a pitcher who has seen it all in the big leagues - from the World Series, to a pair of Tommy John surgeries - and is only 28 years of age. "It's still a little surreal," Collins said. "I didn't see my name on the roster until I got here so it's pretty awesome. It's been a long road. It's been over three years, last time was 2014. Finally, out of that tunnel." With injuries to Ryan Madson and others, Collins has pitched well for Triple-A...
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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy on the mound in homestand opener

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy on the mound in homestand opener
The Orioles have won just one of five home series this year. But after 12 straight road losses, Oriole Park should feel very friendly to the team tonight in the opener of a three-game series with Kansas City. Tonight begins a three-team, nine-game homestand that includes Saturday's single-admission doubleheader with Tampa Bay. The Orioles went 0-6 on a road trip to Anaheim and Oakland, and they scored just one run in losing the last two games versus the Athletics. The Orioles are 2-18 when...
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Indians taking run at third consecutive AL Central title

Indians taking run at third consecutive AL Central title
After losing the 2016 World Series in seven games and the 2017 Division Series to the Yankees in five games, the Cleveland Indians hope to take a run at a third consecutive American League Central championship. But their biggest competition comes from the Twins, a wild card team in 2017 that has added six players, including five pitchers, two of them starters. The White Sox and Tigers are in rebuild, although the White Sox are, unlike the Tigers, beyond the first step. The Royals lost two key...
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Taking a look at the bizarre AL wild card race

Taking a look at the bizarre AL wild card race
The American League wild card race is bizarre, flawed or mediocre - whatever you choose to call it. In most seasons, teams struggling to stay above .500 would be long gone out of the race. Not this year. Here is what makes the AL wild card race so wild: * The Twins, who lost 103 games in 2016, are contenders even with a rotation that includes Bartolo Colon, Aaron Slegers, Dillion Gee and Tim Melville. Colon is 44 and looks like a sportswriter. Slegers has made one big league start, Gee 23 in...
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Where the American League postseason race stands

Where the American League postseason race stands
With less than two months to go, there's not a lot of drama in the National League races. The Nationals most likely will play either the Cubs, Brewers or surging Cardinals in the Division Series, while the Dodgers will play the winner of the projected Diamondbacks-Rockies wild card game. The American League is more complex. Teams are bunched and a .500 record keeps a team thinking October. The Orioles are contenders even though they were seven games under on July 16. The Orioles' schedule...
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Opposite dugout: Royals come to Baltimore on a roll

Opposite dugout: Royals come to Baltimore on a roll
Manager: Ned Yost (8th season) Record: 55-48 Last 10 games: 9-1 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.321 average, 16 HR), 2B Whit Merrifield (.339 OBP, 17 SB), 3B Mike Moustakas (30 HR, 69 RBIs), CF Lorenzo Cain (16 SB), LHP Jason Vargas (13-4, 3.00 ERA), LHP Mike Minor (2.49 ERA, 11 holds,), RHP Kelvin Herrera (23 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: July 31: LHP Danny Duffy vs. RHP Ubaldo Jiménez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2Aug. 1: RHP Ian Kennedy vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 7:05 p.m.,...
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Opposite dugout: Struggling Royals bringing up rear in AL Central

Opposite dugout: Struggling Royals bringing up rear in AL Central
Manager: Ned Yost (8th season) Record: 13-21 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Lorenzo Cain (.284/.399/.379), 1B Eric Hosmer (.282, 14 RBIs), 3B Mike Moustakas (8 HR, 14 RBIs), C Salvador Perez (.283 with 7 HR, 20 RBIs), LHP Danny Duffy (2-3, 3.50 ERA), RHP Kelvin Herrera (5 saves, 3.46 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (2-4 in 2016) Pitching probables: May 12: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. LHP Danny Duffy, 8:15 p.m., MASN2 May 13: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Nate Karns, 7:15 p.m., MASN2 May...
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Tigers might be Indians' only competition in AL Central

Tigers might be Indians' only competition in AL Central
Stranger things have happened, but if Cleveland doesn't win the American League Central, it's an upset. The Indians have gone the longest - 68 years - without winning a World Series. Detroit has a dangerous offense. They have Justin Verlander, Jordan Zimmermann and Michael Fulmer leading their rotation. And the Tigers, despite not having a healthy Zimmermann, were in the playoff hunt until the final day of last season, when they were beaten 1-0 by Atlanta pitcher Julio Teheran. Kansas City...
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Indians' pitching staff expects to dominate AL Central

Indians' pitching staff expects to dominate AL Central
The Cleveland Indians, who lost the World Series to the Cubs in Game 7 last season, have the scariest rotation and the deepest bullpen in the American League Central. Who has the best chances to catch them? Maybe the Detroit Tigers, assuming health in their rotation and growth with their young guys. Former National Jordan Zimmermann had a strong start with his new team in 2016, but neck injuries slowed him the rest of the way. By all indications, Cleveland will run away with this...
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Opposite dugout: Royals dealing with injuries, but still pose a challenge

Opposite dugout: Royals dealing with injuries, but still pose a challenge
Manager: Ned Yost (7th season) Record: 30-26 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.321 with 10 HR, 35 RBIs), CF Lorenzo Cain (.297 with 8 HR, 34 RBIs), C Salvador Perez (7 HR, 29 RBIs), RF Paulo Orlando (.333), RHP Wade Davis (0.89 ERA, 16 saves)Season series vs. Orioles: 2-1 Pitching probables: June 6: LHP Danny Duffy vs. RHP Mike Wright, 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 7: RHP Yordano Ventura vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, 7:05 p.m. MASNJune 8: RHP Edinson Volquez vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 7:05 p.m.,...
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Opposite dugout: Royals enter interleague series after rough road trip

Opposite dugout: Royals enter interleague series after rough road trip
Manager: Ned Yost (7th year) Record: 13-11 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.333/.374/.538 with 4 HR, 9 RBIs), 3B Mike Moustakas (7 HR,11 RBIs), C Salvador Perez (14 RBIs), RHP Edinson Volquez (3-1, 3.34 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (8 saves, 0.00 ERA), RHP Kelvin Herrera (0.00 ERA, 17 Ks in 12 1/3 IP) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-2 in 2013) Pitching probables: May 2: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Edinson Volquez, 8:15 p.m., MASN May 3: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Chris Young,...
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Opposite dugout: Pitching and defense are again Royals' strengths

Opposite dugout: Pitching and defense are again Royals' strengths
Manager: Ned Yost (7th season) Record: 10-5 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Omar Infante (.286), 1B Eric Hosmer (.305), DH Kendrys Morales (2 HR, 7 RBIs), C Salvador Perez (11 RBIs), CF Lorenzo Cain (.222 with 2 HR, 7 RBIs), RHP Kris Medlen (1-0, 2.38 ERA), RHP Yordano Ventura (1-0, 2.81 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (6 saves, 0.00 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-3 in 2015) Pitching probables: April 22: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. RHP Chris Young, 8:15 p.m., MASN2 April 23: RHP Tyler...
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Royals are comeback kings who have earned their World Series crown

Royals are comeback kings who have earned their World Series crown
This week, the news converges: The Kansas City Royals celebrate their first World Series title in three decades and the Nationals will announce that Bud Black will be their new manager. Black, a left-handed pitcher, was the Royals' No. 4 starter in 1985, the year the Royals beat St. Louis in seven games in the World Series. Black started Game 4 in Busch Stadium, getting beaten by John Tudor 3-0. Black pitched five innings and gave up home runs to Willie McGee and Tito Landrum. Black is known...
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Royals return to Fall Classic with more power added to speed, defense, pitching

Royals return to Fall Classic with more power added to speed, defense, pitching
The Kansas City Royals, a team that had nine consecutive losing seasons (including four seasons of at least 100 losses) from 2004 to 2012, are making a repeat visit to the World Series. The Royals are the first team to win consecutive American League pennants since Texas in 2010-2011, but the Rangers lost both World Series. Toronto won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992-1993. Not long ago, the Royals were a young and talented team going nowhere. Their turnaround started in the second half...
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