The Orioles today announced that Koby Perez has been named the club's Senior Director, International Scouting. Perez will oversee all aspects of the Orioles' international scouting operations and management of the club's bonus pool. He will report to Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias. "In Koby Perez, we have found the right person to spearhead the Orioles' new international presence," said Elias. "His experience, connections, and reputation built across a...

The Nationals couldn't end the season on a run that netted a playoff spot, but right-hander Koda Glover was able to finish the season healthy for the first time in two campaigns. The 6-foot-5, 215-lb. right-hander hasn't been able to pitch more than 25 innings or appear in more than 24 games in his three seasons with the Nats. Glover, 25, returned to the lineup in August of last season, his first meaningful baseball since June 2017. It was an up-and-down return, but in the last month, he got...

It's a good question. What represents success for the 2019 Orioles? Is it a certain number of wins or something else? Can it even be quantified? Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was asked that question at the Winter Meetings. "I want to improve the aggregate talent base of this organization, and that's going to come in the form of additions to the organization via the draft, international signings, perhaps some trades that might occur," Elias said. "But, just...

The season isn't starting today. The Orioles aren't in the Bronx and Manny Machado still isn't wearing pinstripes. The roster hasn't really started to take shape unless you count a couple of Rule 5 picks who will compete for shortstop and utility jobs and a left-handed hitting third baseman to compete against a right-handed hitting third baseman. Keep a brown paper bag handy to prevent hyperventilating. The clock hasn't become the enemy, with executive vice president and general manager...

As the calendar turns to 2019 today, this will be the year the Orioles embrace analytics. They had better, because that is the background of their new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. His first hire was Sig Mejdal, named the club's assistant general manager, analytics. New manager Brandon Hyde is very much on board with his front office. No longer should we see a player like Zach Britton traded to another team - in Britton's case the New York Yankees - and say this:...

2B or not 2B? That is the question ... at least for the next six weeks or so. The club has made nice moves in the offseason to secure a pair of front-line starters, a pair veteran catchers, solid bullpen arms and a familiar backup first baseman. But what about a starting second baseman? The Nationals continue to look around at veteran impact second basemen to add to the mix of Wilmer Difo, Howie Kendrick and Carter Kieboom (down the line). The best-case scenario is to get a second baseman who...

A new year carries with it the same tasks placed in front of executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, assistant Sig Mejdal and manager Brandon Hyde. No one has been hired to replace director of player development Brian Graham and director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Only two coaches are known to have joined the staff, with a third offered a job in the bullpen, per sources. And how's that analytics department coming along? Openings remain for a manager at Triple-A Norfolk, a...

For Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, a miserable 2018 season got even worse at the end. Davis went 1-for-37 over his last 10 games with 20 strikeouts and then didn't play in the season's last 10 games. Why was never really explained. The player who seemed to get at-bats every night during his huge struggles was not seen much as the 2018 season wound down. The combination of a big salary and little production has not been good for Davis with Orioles fans. They criticize him morning, noon and...

A team that posted the worst record in club history is bound to be subjected to the New Year's Eve ball-dropping joke that I repeat every winter. I'll be above it today. 'Tis the season for clichéd resolution articles and I'm not above them. For example: Jonathan Villar: Don't make the first or last out trying to steal third base. Villar: Don't be passive on the bases. You can figure out how to balance the two. Trey Mancini: Get your Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) closer to the minus-1...

More than any other fans I can think of, those of us who pull for the Orioles are more than happy to see 2018 in the rear-view mirror. With new leadership in the front office and in the dugout, fans aren't sure what 2019 will bring, but it sure ought to be interesting. Those new guys calling the shots around here have made it abundantly clear that they're looking ahead, searching for new blood and new ways (to the Orioles, at least) of doing things. But they have also given a firm nod to the...