Checking on Britton and Hammel before today's FanFest

Checking on Britton and Hammel before today's FanFest
Has it really been a year since I sat behind the main stage for FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center and cranked out a blog entry about the Orioles' reported interest in reliever Luis Ayala? There wasn't much enthusiasm for that rumor, but Ayala became an integral part of the Orioles' sensational bullpen last season, posting a 2.64 ERA in 66 games. News broke during FanFest 2010 that the Orioles were bringing back Miguel Tejada, after I kept insisting that ship had sailed. The...

Wieters says "it's a good feeling" to have contract agreement

Wieters says "it's a good feeling" to have contract agreement
Rather than try to convince reporters at spring training that he wasn't upset with the club's decision to renew his contract, as he did in 2012, catcher Matt Wieters is able to put all the money talk behind him before reporting to the Ed Smith Stadium complex next month. Wieters agreed today to a $5.5 million deal for the upcoming season in his first year of arbitration eligibility. No controversies, no threat of a hearing. "It's a good feeling," Wieters said tonight at the Maryland...

Duquette talks about contract agreements (salary figures exchanged)

Duquette talks about contract agreements (salary figures exchanged)
The Orioles are down to three unsigned arbitration-eligible players after reaching contract agreements today with catcher Matt Wieters, first baseman Chris Davis, and pitchers Troy Patton and Brian Matusz. "We started out with 12 in the process and we have nine signed so far, so I guess we're three-quarters of the way home, right?" said executive vice president Dan Duquette. The big winners were Wieters ($5.5 million) and Davis ($3.3 million). "I'm real happy we got agreements with...

Orioles avoid arbitration with Patton, Wieters, Davis and Matusz

Orioles avoid arbitration with  Patton, Wieters, Davis and Matusz
The Orioles and left-hander Troy Patton have agreed to an $815,000 contract with awards and performance bonuses to avoid salary arbitration, according to his agents. Patton, who's represented by CAA Baseball, made $483,500 last season while going 1-0 with a 2.43 ERA in 54 games. Left-handers hit .212 against him. Teams have until 1 p.m. to reach agreements with their arbitration-eligible players before the two sides exchange figures, with hearing dates set up next month. Executive vice...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Yesterday proved to be one of the busiest days of the offseason, with the press conference for executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter followed by a stop inside the Orioles' clubhouse to interview players taking part in the minicamp, pitcher Miguel Gonzalez confirming that he wouldn't pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, rosters being announced for the WBC and news that second baseman Brian Roberts underwent sports hernia surgery last month. I half...

Roberts recovered from sports hernia surgery

Roberts recovered from sports hernia surgery
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts revealed tonight that he underwent sports hernia surgery on Dec. 20 similar to the procedure that two of his teammates endured over the past year. He's resumed workouts in Sarasota and said he's feeling good, with no concerns about his availability for the start of spring training. Dr. William Meyers performed the surgery in Philadelphia, just as he did with Nick Markakis last January and Brian Matusz in October. Roberts consulted with both players, who...

Updating Roberts and the WBC

Updating Roberts and the WBC
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts said he shut down for a few weeks over the holidays because he had "some minor stuff going on" related to his surgically repaired hip, but he's resumed his daily workouts and isn't experiencing any health issues. Roberts appeared in 17 games last season before undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. "I had been pushing pretty hard for a while after my surgery and had some minor stuff going on, so we shut down for a few weeks over the...
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More notes and quotes from today's press conference (and Schoop note)

More notes and quotes from today's press conference (and Schoop note)
As manager Buck Showalter met with reporters following today's press conference, making the rounds from radio to television to print, he kept glancing out a window on the sixth floor of the B&O warehouse, where he spotted a few Orioles playing catch on the Camden Yards field as part of today's mini-camp. Though his five-year contract extension is proof that the organization has an eye pointed toward the future, Showalter remains focused on the present. "I'm hoping personally that this...

Duquette meets the press

Duquette meets the press
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with reporters following today's press conference, just in case we forgot to ask him something important or if we wanted to hear the same thing. That's what we do in this business. Here are a few highlights: On the extension: "I'm really grateful for the opportunity from the Angelos family and also the opportunity to serve the fans of Baltimore. I have been out of it for a while. I truly missed it and I appreciate being back. Every day, I...

Gonzalez won't pitch in WBC

Gonzalez won't pitch in WBC
Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez said he will decline an offer to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Gonzalez's wife is expecting their first child, which factored into his decision. It's also clear that the Orioles would prefer that he stay in camp. "Obviously, this is more important than me going down there," he said. "This is my first big league spring training. I'll be focused on doing my stuff here first. "It was a tough decision, but you always have to think about...

Showalter's place in Orioles managing history

Showalter's place in Orioles managing history
Did you ever imagine that Buck Showalter would one day become synonymous with the Orioles? The same guy who began his managerial career in pinstripes? The same guy who was named the first manager of the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks? The same guy hired and fired by the Texas Rangers? Showalter has a chance to guide the Orioles through the 2018 season after agreeing to a five-year extension. He took over the helm in August 2010. That's a little more than eight years on the job, if my math...

Notes on Wieters, Gonzalez, Hendrickson, Morse (and Roberts)

Notes on Wieters, Gonzalez, Hendrickson, Morse (and Roberts)
Catcher Matt Wieters was happy to learn today that the Orioles extended the contracts of executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter through the 2018 season. "I think it's great for the franchise to be able to keep two guys around who are two of the main parts of putting together the team last year," Wieters said. "I think the big thing is we're able to have two guys working together who have the same goals, and keep them together for an extended period of time. Your...

Orioles extend Duquette and Showalter contracts through 2018 (updated)

Orioles extend Duquette and Showalter contracts through 2018 (updated)
The Orioles just announced contract extensions through the 2018 season for executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. The Showalter extension covers five years. He's set up to become the second-longest tenured manager in club history behind Earl Weaver. Showalter, 56, became the 17th full-time manager of the Orioles on Aug. 2, 2010 and has led the club to a 196-185 record in 381 regular season games. He guided the Orioles to the American League Division Series in 2012,...
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Flaherty on his winter ball experience (O's early promotion schedule)

Flaherty on his winter ball experience (O's early promotion schedule)
Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty collected nine hits and one illness during his brief stay in the Dominican Winter League. Flaherty, who's currently working out in Tampa, batted .209/.306/.233 with one double, three RBIs, six walks and 13 strikeouts in 43 at-bats with Escogido. He returned to the U.S. on Dec. 20 about eight pounds lighter after coming down with a bad case of "water poisoning" during his last few days. "It was kind of crappy," Flaherty said, no pun intended. "It's...

Taking another look at Matusz and maneuverability (arbitration note)

Taking another look at Matusz and maneuverability (arbitration note)
I don't have information on all of the forums at FanFest, but I do know that Brian Matusz is participating in one that features a group of Orioles relievers. This doesn't mean that Matusz is assured of being assigned to the bullpen on opening day. He's going to work out as a starter in spring training. But he ended 2012 as a reliever and that's how he'll enter FanFest. Matusz was 6-10 with a 4.87 ERA in 34 games last year. He posted a 5.42 ERA as a starter and a 1.35 ERA as a...

Orioles reach contract agreement with Tommy Hunter

Orioles reach contract agreement with Tommy Hunter
The Orioles are down to seven arbitration-eligible players who haven't agreed to terms. The club announced this afternoon that it reached agreement with pitcher Tommy Hunter on a one-year deal. Hunter, 26, went 7-8 with a 5.45 ERA in 33 games, including 20 starts, in 2012. He allowed 32 home runs in 133 2/3 innings. Hunter began the year in the rotation before spending time at Triple-A Norfolk and the Orioles' bullpen. He was 4-8 with a 5.71 ERA as a starter and 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA in...

More from Buck Showalter

More from Buck Showalter
It would be highly surprising if the Orioles didn't announce manager Buck Showalter's contract extension this week, leading up to Saturday's FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. Showalter keeps downplaying the importance of the extension. He almost seems embarrassed by the money he's already made in this game. "Honestly, the way I judge whether or not I've got enough money is, if I can walk into Target and buy anything I want, I'm in good shape," Showalter said Saturday on...

Showalter on Hardy, Lindstrom, Saunders and trades

Showalter on Hardy, Lindstrom, Saunders and trades
Orioles manager Buck Showalter filled in for Dave Johnson yesterday as one of the co-hosts of "Wall to Wall Baseball" on MASN. He passed the audition. In case you missed it, I asked Showalter whether the Orioles would have to be overwhelmed by an offer in order to trade shortstop J.J. Hardy, who's coveted by the Detroit Tigers. "What's the word above overwhelmed? Stunned?" he said. "I like J.J. He's pretty good and he's going to have a big offensive year for us this year, I think....

Orioles notes on infield coordinator and Mark Hendrickson

Orioles notes on infield coordinator and Mark Hendrickson
The Orioles are preparing to hire Matt Martin as their new minor league infield coordinator, a position that became vacant with Bobby Dickerson's promotion to third base coach. Martin, 43, served in the same role with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2007-2011. Last year, he was named manager of the AZL Dodgers and coordinator of Arizona instruction. Previously, Martin managed the Pioneer League's Billings Mustangs (1996), the New York-Penn League's Jamestown Jammers (1997) and the Gulf Coast...

Jones is glad that Showalter is staying around

Jones is glad that Showalter is staying around
While we wait for the Orioles to announce Buck Showalter's contract extension, center fielder Adam Jones is just grateful that his manager will be staying around for a while. As you may recall, Jones walked into Showalter's office before signing his own extension last summer and asked about his manager's commitment to the organization. He didn't doubt Showalter's passion for winning. Jones just wanted to make sure that Showalter, startled by the question, wasn't going to abruptly...