Showalter's award, negotiations and more

Showalter's award, negotiations and more
As you're going to notice from my Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot, which I've posted below, I have no issues with the Orioles' Buck Showalter being named American League Manager of the Year. Count me among the 25 voters who placed him first. My issue was deciding which manager to omit among the Angels' Mike Scioscia, the Royals' Ned Yost and the Mariners' Lloyd McClendon. Keep in mind that ballots were turned in before the playoffs. After much deliberation, I decided to...

Buck Showalter named AL Manager of the Year

Buck Showalter named AL Manager of the Year
Orioles manager Buck Showalter still feels twinges of anger and disappointment when reflecting back on the four-game sweep in the American League Championship Series, on how his season came to a screeching halt with more baseball left to play. Awards don't heal the wounds, but they bring recognition so richly deserved after a 96-win season and the organization's first division title in 17 years. Showalter has been named American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers'...

Duquette named Sporting News Executive of the Year

Duquette named Sporting News Executive of the Year
The Orioles' first division title in 17 years has brought more recognition to executive vice president Dan Duquette. Duquette has been named 2014 Major League Baseball Executive of the Year by the Sporting News, the announcement coming tonight during the annual general managers' meetings in Phoenix. Duquette received his award, which has existed since 1936, after being chosen by a panel of 33 major league executives. Voting concluded before the postseason. This is the second Sporting News...

"Because You Asked - Money Never Sleeps"

"Because You Asked - Money Never Sleeps"
The Orioles didn't factor into the Baseball Writers' Association of America Rookie of the Year voting, the results revealed last night on MLB Network. The White Sox's Jose Abreu was a unanimous choice in the American League, and none of the Orioles received a vote. The tide turns tonight. Buck Showalter is expected to be named AL Manager of the Year for the third time after being runner-up to the Angels' Mike Scioscia in the Sporting News voting. Showalter, Scioscia and the Royals' Ned...

Cruz rejects qualifying offer

Cruz rejects qualifying offer
With the deadline passing for players to make decisions on qualifying offers, outfielder Nelson Cruz has rejected the one extended to him last week. Cruz was assured of turning down the Orioles' $15.3 million offer. It just became official this afternoon. The Orioles will receive a compensatory draft pick if Cruz signs with another team. Teams have made 34 qualifying offers over three seasons, including 12 in 2014. None have been accepted. Cruz continues to seek a minimum four-year deal...

Duquette set for start of GM meetings

Duquette set for start of GM meetings
Nelson Cruz still hasn't officially declined the Orioles' $15.3 million qualifying offer. The announcement will come later today. Meanwhile, the Orioles are trying to reach agreement with Cruz and Nick Markakis on multi-year deals. "We're still working on it," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. A deal with Markakis remains the most likely outcome. Cruz will have to come down from four years. The general managers' meetings begin today in Phoenix. Too bad they can't take the place...

Orioles and Blue Jays discussed Adam Lind trade

Orioles and Blue Jays discussed Adam Lind trade
The Orioles will explore trade options as well as check the free agent market while attempting to upgrade their roster. In that regard, it's going to be a typical winter. According to multiple sources, they spoke to the Blue Jays about first baseman Adam Lind and were unable to agree on a return before he was traded to the Brewers last weekend for pitcher Marco Estrada. The Jays wanted first baseman/outfielder Steve Pearce, according to sources, but the Orioles weren't willing to part...

Jones on Markakis, Showalter and his latest charitable endeavor

Jones on Markakis, Showalter and his latest charitable endeavor
Adam Jones returned from last night's Rawlings Gold Glove Award ceremony in New York with continued confidence that the Orioles will re-sign Nick Markakis, whose agent remains in negotiations with the club. Jones, Markakis and shortstop J.J. Hardy received their awards last night. "I've been speaking with him a lot," Jones said following today's dedication ceremony at the Westport Boys and Girls Club in Baltimore. "We've been friends for the last seven years. Man, time's flying. "I...

Notes on Hunter and Russell

Notes on Hunter and Russell
Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter is entering his final winter of arbitration eligibility before he can test free agency. He's not losing sleep over it. Or his sense of humor. "I had a good second half for that," said Hunter, who posted a 1.77 ERA in his last 43 appearances. "It's a roller coaster, baseball is, and you try to ride those upward climbs as long as you can. Hopefully, it continues in Japan and continues next spring training, and hopefully I start off the way I ended this year and...

Roster for Japan All-Star Series, list of minor league free agents

Roster for Japan All-Star Series, list of minor league free agents
Major League Baseball released its roster today for the "Japan All-Star Series 2014," and Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter is joined by 28 other players who will compete against Samurai Japan. The pitching staff includes Jeff Beliveau (Rays), Jerry Blevins (Nationals), Chris Capuano (Yankees), Randy Choate (Cardinals), Jeremy Guthrie (Royals), Hisashi Iwakuma (Mariners), Mark Melancon (Pirates), Franklin Morales (Rockies), Hector Santiago (Angels), Matt Shoemaker (Angels), Jose Veras (Astros),...

Left-handed relief a priority for Orioles

Left-handed relief a priority for Orioles
As the Orioles monitor the free agent market and check on potential trade partners, they're placing heavy emphasis on finding a left-hander reliever this winter. It's their primary focus at the moment. This could be viewed as a sign that they're not optimistic about re-signing Andrew Miller, a free agent with numerous suitors who may command a four-year deal for closer-type money. The projected bullpen next season includes left-handers Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland. Britton...

Notes on FanFest and Silver Slugger Awards

Notes on FanFest and Silver Slugger Awards
The Orioles announced today that their annual FanFest will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Convention Center. More information will become available later. For now, you'll need to be satisfied with the date. Save it. The Silver Slugger Awards were handed out tonight, the selections revealed on MLB Network, and the Orioles were shut out after winning three of them in 2013. Nelson Cruz lost out to the Tigers' Victor Martinez among finalists at designated hitter. Cruz led the majors with 40...

Hunter on MLB team touring Japan, Showalter on MLB Network

Hunter on MLB team touring Japan, Showalter on MLB Network
Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter received a phone call from an official with the Major League Baseball Players Association about two weeks ago asking whether he'd be interested in participating in All-Star Series 2014 in Japan later this month. The answer came without hesitation. "It was pretty much a no-brainer," Hunter said. A collection of major leaguers will play a five-game series against Japan's national team, known as Samurai Japan. Three games will be held in Tokyo from Nov. 14-16, and...

Next up: The Silver Slugger Award

Next up: The Silver Slugger Award
One night after winning three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, the Orioles were shut out in the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards. The Wilson Award, founded in 2012, doesn't separate the winners by leagues. They're determined by using a formula that relies heavily on scouting information, sabermetric analysis and traditional statistics. The Braves' Andrelton Simmons was named top shortstop instead of J.J. Hardy. The Royals' Lorenzo Cain was named top center fielder over Adam Jones, and...

Cruz talks Orioles on MLB Network Radio, Patton suspended again

Cruz talks Orioles on MLB Network Radio, Patton suspended again
Nelson Cruz, interviewed today on MLB Network Radio, stated again that his first choice in free agency is to remain with the Orioles. Winning is his first priority when deciding on a team, and that's why he signed a one-year deal with the Orioles in spring training. It all sounds so good, but Cruz initially sought a five-year deal and the most recent reports have him geared toward a minimum of four. That's not good for the Orioles. Cruz has until Monday to turn down their $15.3 million...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles have three Gold Glove winners in 2014. However, I wouldn't expect the team to bring home the Platinum Glove for a second consecutive season. Third baseman Manny Machado won it in 2013. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, center fielder Adam Jones and right fielder Nick Markakis are eligible this year. It would be an upset if Royals left fielder Alex Gordon didn't win it. The announcement will come on Nov. 7 during the Gold Glove ceremony. Hardy, Jones and Markakis deflected credit in their...

Hardy, Jones and Markakis win Gold Glove Awards

Hardy, Jones and Markakis win Gold Glove Awards
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy maintained his streak of winning Rawlings Gold Gloves, capturing the award tonight for the third consecutive season. The announcement was made on ESPN2. Hardy finished ahead of the Royals' Alcides Escobar and the White Sox's Alexei Ramirez. The ceremony will be held on Nov. 7 in New York. As you probably know, the selection process is approximately 75 percent votes submitted by managers and coaches - up to seven total votes per team - and 25 percent from the...

Showalter finalist for BBWAA Manager of the Year Award (updated)

Showalter finalist for BBWAA Manager of the Year Award (updated)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is included among the finalists named tonight for the annual Baseball Writers Association of America awards. The candidates were revealed on MLB Network. Showalter joins the Angels' Mike Scioscia and the Royals' Ned Yost as the three American League finalists after leading the Orioles to 96 wins in the regular season and their first division title and appearance in the Championship Series since 1997. He won the award with the Yankees in 1994 and the Rangers in...

Meek chooses free agency

Meek chooses free agency
The Orioles announced today that reliever Evan Meek refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected free agency. Meek, 31, went 0-4 with a 5.79 ERA in 23 1/3 innings over 23 games with the Orioles and 2-0 with a 1.94 ERA and 16 saves in 41 2/3 innings over 39 games with Norfolk. He signed a minor league deal in February following a tryout at Camden Yards the previous month, and he made the club out of spring training after allowing one run and two hits, with no walks and 10...

More on qualifying offers, BBWAA awards and Rawlings Gold Gloves

More on qualifying offers, BBWAA awards and Rawlings Gold Gloves
The Orioles have taken care of the obvious pieces of business over the past few days, picking up the options on pitchers Wei-Yin Chen and Darren O'Day, declining the options on right fielder Nick Markakis and catcher Nick Hundley, making a qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz, and reinstating catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado from the 60-day disabled list. The only drama centered on when the club would send out the tweets and press releases. Twenty-two players were...