Quick Chong update

Quick Chong update
If you're anticipating a press conference Wednesday to announce the signing of Korean pitcher Chong Tae-Hyon, you can stop waiting for it. The holiday week is complicating the process. Though the Orioles are finalizing a deal with Chong, they still need to schedule every examination that's part of the physical and wait for the results. Good luck getting that done by Wednesday, which had been the club's original target date. It's possible that the Orioles could send out a release...

Still waiting on a backup catcher

Still waiting on a backup catcher
The Orioles had no interest in re-signing Jake Fox and breaking camp for a second time with him making the 25-man roster as the backup catcher to Matt Wieters, but we'll still cross his name off the list of available free agents after he signed a minor league deal with the Pirates. As you've probably noticed, Wieters is the only catcher listed on the Orioles' 40-man roster. They need a backup on their bench. The Astros claimed Craig Tatum off waivers. Triple-A catcher John Hester will be...

More on Chong, the 40-man roster and the coaching staff (and more)

More on Chong, the 40-man roster and the coaching staff (and more)
The Orioles aren't exactly coasting into the Thanksgiving holiday. It's already been a busy week. No, they haven't reached agreement with a big-name free agent. They haven't swung a major trade. But they haven't been idle. They signed infielder Matt Antonelli, who has a legitimate shot at making the club. They reached agreement on two more six-year minor league free agents. And the most intriguing piece of news is the pending arrival of Korean reliever Chong Tae-Hyon, who is expected to...

Orioles close to announcing deal with Chong Tae-Hyon

Orioles close to announcing deal with Chong Tae-Hyon
I've got one final item on the Orioles before shutting down for the night. The Orioles are on the verge of reaching an agreement with Korean pitcher Chong Tae-Hyon. This has seemed to be a foregone conclusion since earlier today, but they haven't hit any snags and the process continues to move forward. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said the Orioles are still working on "a potential agreement to acquire Chong," but it's close enough that you can expect a press conference at the...

Antonelli talks about signing with the Orioles

Antonelli talks about signing with the Orioles
New Orioles infielder Matt Antonelli dropped by MASN's Hunt Valley studio this afternoon to tape an interview with me for "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report." Then he dashed out the door and headed to the airport for his flight home to Boston. Antonelli said he grew up a Red Sox fan, but he promised that he got over it about six years ago. Antonelli passed his physical today and signed a major league deal that also gave him a spot on the 40-man roster. So why the Orioles? "I think there...

Antonelli signing official (Chong Tae-Hyon not official)

Antonelli signing official (Chong Tae-Hyon not official)
Infielder Matt Antonelli passed his physical today, signed a major league contract and was officially added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. The Padres made Antonelli, 26, the 17th overall selection in the 2006 First Year Player Draft. He spent 2011 with Double-A Harrisburg (four games) and Triple-A Syracuse (86), batting a combined .298/.390/.457 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs. He finished in the Top 10 of the International League in on-base percentage. Antonelli is a career .264/.373/.406...

Deciphering interest in Street (and Chong Tae-Hyon)

Deciphering interest in Street (and Chong Tae-Hyon)
The Orioles reportedly have talked to the Rockies about acquiring closer Huston Street, which leads to two not-so-bold assumptions: They're still considering the possibility of moving Jim Johnson into the rotation, and they'd prefer using Kevin Gregg in more of a set-up role. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote about the Orioles' interest in Street, who was 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA, nine walks, 55 strikeouts and a 1.217 WHIP in 58 1/3 innings. That's the highest ERA and WHIP of his career....

This, that and Luke Scott

This, that and Luke Scott
The American League's Most Valuable Player will be announced later today. Will it be Jacoby Ellsbury, Jose Bautista, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander or someone else? I didn't have a vote. I picked Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon for AL Manager of the Year, so my work here is done. The Phillies acquired former Oriole Ty Wigginton from the Rockies yesterday for a PTBNL or cash. Wigginton played third base, first base, left field and right field for the Rockies...

Luke Scott: "When they're ready, I'll be ready"

Luke Scott: "When they're ready, I'll be ready"
The Orioles must decide in the next three weeks whether to offer Luke Scott a contract for the 2012 season or let him become a free agent. Scott has no idea which direction the Orioles are leaning. And he's not pushing them. "They're still getting things squared away with the new GM," Scott said last week, referring to new executive vice president Dan Duquette. Scott's agent recently contacted the Orioles again to find out whether they planned to non-tender the veteran outfielder/DH,...

Revisiting the 40-man moves

Revisiting the 40-man moves
Now that the dust has settled from yesterday's 40-man roster activity, I wanted to chime in with a few observations. First of all, please keep in mind that the Orioles can eliminate players from the 40-man and add others from outside the organization - whether it's someone acquired via free agency, a trade or the Rule 5 draft. The only restriction is they can't add someone from within the organization, so the minor leaguers currently exposed to the Dec. 8 draft will remain that way. I...

Oliver Drake added to 40-man roster (Antonelli agrees to terms)

Oliver Drake added to 40-man roster (Antonelli agrees to terms)
The Orioles added pitcher Oliver Drake to the 40-man roster today in the only move made at the deadline. Drake, a 43rd-round pick out of the Naval Academy in 2008, was 11-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 27 games at Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick. He walked 43 and struck out 129 in 162 2/3 innings. Most of his success came with the Keys, where he went 8-3 with a 2.14 ERA. The 40-man roster currently stands at 39. The Orioles can't add anyone else from within the organization...

On today's agenda

On today's agenda
I don't have much for you this morning beyond a reminder that the Orioles must set their 40-man roster later today. They currently have two openings. Once the roster is finalized, they can't add another player from within the organization. However, they can add anyone who's acquired via free agency or trade. That's eventually going to happen. I swear. I'll pass along the changes whenever the Orioles make the announcement. The Orioles have made offers to a few free agents while...

Still trying to reel in a catcher (updated)

Still trying to reel in a catcher (updated)
I've got my power cord and I'm back at my laptop. Just long enough to provide an incremental non-update update on the backup catching situation. You can cross three names off the list, though I'd do it in pencil, just in case the Orioles are left scrambling. As of today, they haven't reached out to Ryan Doumit, Kelly Shoppach or Chris Snyder. Snyder is looking for a starting job. He won't find one in Baltimore. Shoppach is attracting plenty of suitors, according to one industry source,...

This and that

This and that
True confession: I left the power cord to my laptop at the MASN studio in Hunt Valley last night, which means I'll have to power-write this blog entry before my computer dies. The one day that I don't have to drive to Hunt Valley ... I'll have to drive to Hunt Valley. Welcome to my world. Anyway, you know that the Orioles need a veteran starting pitcher and you know they're not going to hand out a long-term contract and spend mega-bucks on one, so how can they bulk up the rotation?...

Orioles getting closer to adding bench help

Orioles getting closer to adding bench help
I just had a quick phone conversation with executive vice president Dan Duquette before I'm needed in studio for "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN. This is frantic multi-tasking. Duquette continued to meet with clubs and agents today, and he'll remain busy through the night. He's hoping to sign a few free agents by early next week "to fill out our bench." Asked specifically about the type of reserves he's targeting, Duquette said, "Infield help and backup catcher." The GM...

Duquette confirms meeting with Cuza

Duquette confirms meeting with Cuza
Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette - man, we really need to shorten that title - confirmed this morning that he met last night with agent Fernando Cuza. When I brought up David Ortiz's name and the assumption that the veteran designated hitter was the focus of that meeting, Duquette paused before replying, "He represents Vladimir Guerrero, too, by the way." Duquette said the Orioles need to decide "what we're doing with him." That also could mean...

Interest in Ortiz?

Interest in Ortiz?
In case you thought executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette has spent the entire day comparing cartoon birds and making sure the script on the road jerseys is no longer tapered, he's been sitting down with agents and rival executives at the GM meetings in Milwaukee. And according to one report, he's got an appointment tonight with agent Fern Cuza. The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham tweeted that Duquette is meeting with Cuza, who represents free agent David Ortiz. Abraham...

Who rules in Rule 5 protection?

Who rules in Rule 5 protection?
With the Winter Meetings fast approaching, the Orioles must set their 40-man roster by Friday while determining which players to leave exposed in the Rule 5 draft. The roster currently holds 38 players. I'll publish the list at the bottom of this entry. Keep in mind that once the Orioles finalize the roster, they can't add other players from within the organization before the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 8. They can, however, add players obtained from other organizations, which would necessitate...

Flipping you the cartoon bird (updated with images)

Flipping you the cartoon bird (updated with images)
You've heard about it. Now you can hear more. The Orioles are unveiling their new caps and jerseys today. The cartoon bird is back. Let us rejoice. This is an updated version that takes elements from the 1970 and 1983 models. As I told you yesterday, it more closely resembles the Brooks Robinson bird, not the Todd Cruz one, in terms of overall shape. And this is the first time that the bird is wearing a cap with O's on the front. Here's what you didn't know until today (and what I was...

Previewing the new uniforms

Previewing the new uniforms
I stopped by the warehouse today to check out the Orioles' new caps and jerseys. I think most of you will be pleased with the changes. The club requested that no further details be published until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, so I'm following the embargo. You already know that the Orioles have gone back to the cartoon bird on the caps - taking elements from the 1970 and 1983 models - and that the angle of the Baltimore script on the road jerseys no longer tapers at the end. I can tell you that the...
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