Bordick interested in coaching job

Bordick interested in coaching job
Mike Bordick has made it clear to Orioles manager Buck Showalter that he'd accept an offer to join the coaching staff. He's also met with Dan Duquette, the new executive vice president of baseball operations. We should find out later this week whether it leads to a change in roles for Bordick, the former Orioles shortstop who currently serves as their coordinator of offensive fundamentals. Bordick is a candidate to be named first base or bullpen coach. He wouldn't replace Willie Randolph...

Reynolds as a trade chip?

Reynolds as a trade chip?
I have a hot date later today - with my couch to watch football. I may shower first, but it's a game-time decision. The GM meetings take place later this week in Milwaukee. They're sort of an appetizer for the Winter Meetings. Executives talk trades, gauge the parameters and agree to resume discussions the following month - this time in Dallas. I wonder if Mark Reynolds' name will come up. I've heard that at least one executive who interviewed for the president of baseball operations job...

This and that

This and that
I told you yesterday that Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin isn't currently regarded as a candidate to become the Orioles' bullpen coach. Griffin is one of the more highly valued members of the organization, but in this case, it keeps working against him. The Orioles don't want to create a huge void by removing him from his post in order to fill another vacancy. They passed him up last year while parading coaches through the bullpen for that exact same reason. Guys like Mike...

Quick coaching update

Quick coaching update
The Orioles are hoping to announce their coaching staff next week. That's the goal. It's not going to happen over the weekend, so don't plan your days and nights around it. They're still open to the possibility of moving Wayne Kirby to third base and hiring a new first base coach. According to one member of the organization, the ideal staff would include a Latin American coach at third base who also could work with the infielders - that's a prime reason why the Orioles wanted Juan...

Kirby still unsure which base he'll coach

Kirby still unsure which base he'll coach
Manager Buck Showalter confirmed Tuesday that he only has two coaching vacancies to fill. John Russell signed a new contract, allowing him to join holdovers Rick Adair, Jim Presley and Wayne Kirby. Russell will remain on the bench. Kirby, however, isn't sure where he'll coach. Kirby served as first base coach last season, but it's still possible that he moves across the diamond to replace Willie Randolph. "It doesn't matter to me," Kirby said last night. "I told Buck, 'Whatever you...

Orioles sign Beerer to minor league deal

Orioles sign Beerer to minor league deal
This transaction won't rock the baseball world, but the Orioles have started the process of signing six-year minor league free agents. Their first signee is outfielder Scott Beerer, 29, formerly a second-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2003 out of Texas A&M. Beerer was selected as a pitcher, but the Rockies converted him to the outfield in 2008. According to this story, he moved to southern California after briefly retiring and began working on his swing with former Oriole Brady...

Who backs up Wieters?

Who backs up Wieters?
While wondering why Hollywood never gave us "Kansas City Bomber II"... The Orioles' 40-man roster still includes only one catcher, All-Star and Gold Glove winner Matt Wieters. He'll need a backup next season, unless the club is relying on him to play every inning of every game. Triple-A catcher John Hester could compete for the job in spring training, assuming he receives an invite. He played in 53 major league games in two seasons with the Diamondbacks, most recently in 2010. As for...

Boddicker diagnosed with cancer, but expects full recovery

Boddicker diagnosed with cancer, but expects full recovery
Former Orioles pitcher Mike Boddicker has been diagnosed with cancer, but he's expected to make a full recovery. Doctors determined that the cancer was confined to Boddicker's tonsils, which he had removed about three weeks ago. As a precaution, he'll undergo radiation treatments on the tissue around the area. Boddicker spent parts of nine seasons with the Orioles, earning a World Series ring in 1983 and winning 20 games the following season. He placed third in the American League Rookie...

Still talking about Duquette

Still talking about Duquette
Now that Dan Duquette has joined the Orioles' front office as executive vice president of baseball operations, he needs to decide how many changes will accompany his arrival. It's pretty clear that Duquette values the information coming from director of baseball operations Matt Klentak. Duquette made reference yesterday to some of the impressive young executives in the front office, and Klentak will join him in Milwaukee next week for the GM meetings. "Matt is a bright kid," Duquette...

Jakubauskas signs with Diamondbacks

Jakubauskas signs with Diamondbacks
Pitcher Chris Jakubauskas has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jakubauskas broke the news on his Twitter account earlier today. "Have new home for 2012. Heading back west to the Valley of the Sun. Looking forward to meeting new teammates and improving on 2011." Jakubauskas also tweeted: "I want to also thank The Orioles and the city of B-More. I enjoyed my time there and wish them great success in the years to come." The Orioles outrighted Jakubauskas after the...

More from Duquette

More from Duquette
If you haven't gotten your fill of Dan Duquette today, here are more quotes from today's press conference. On competing in the American League East: "That's the challenge of the job. The way we're going to be competitive is we're going bring in some players and build from the ground up." "It can be done. I learned in a small market, I applied my skills in a small market to put together a top quality team and also worked from a major market perspective. In some respects, if you just...
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Showalter talks about Duquette

Showalter talks about Duquette
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that the Orioles signed a six-year minor league free agent yesterday, so the Dan Duquette era already has started. That didn't take long. Showalter also is meeting later today with a candidate for his coaching staff, and could set up other meetings after flying home to Dallas. Here are some quotes from Showalter regarding Duquette: "It's very obvious when he came in that he was very up to speed on the Orioles, and it was fun to watch him...

Quick hits with Dan Duquette

Quick hits with Dan Duquette
Dan Duquette wore an orange tie that manager Buck Showalter handed him shortly before today's press conference. He further tried to stamp out the perception that he's an outsider by relaying a story about how as a kid he'd pretend to be Brooks Robinson while playing Wiffle Ball with his brother in a lot behind his backyard. The teams would be divided between the '66 Orioles and '67 Red Sox. One of his childhood friends would play first base like Boog Powell. His father once told him that...

Duquette reminder and minor league pitching

Duquette reminder and minor league pitching
I'm wondering whether the Twins will take a similar beating to the one delivered to the Orioles after they waited until yesterday to fire general manager Bill Smith. At least the Twins acted quickly in naming a replacement, former GM Terry Ryan, but what's up with the timing of the change? I told you on Friday that the Twins denied the Orioles permission to interview vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff because of "internal reorganization and promotions that could be in the...

Duquette will meet the press Tuesday

Duquette will meet the press Tuesday
The Orioles have scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference Tuesday at the warehouse to introduce Dan Duquette to the local media. The press conference will air live on MASN and will be streamed live on MASNsports.com. The Orioles have given Duquette the title of executive vice president of baseball operations, which wasn't on my short list. I kept referring to the job as "general manager" or "president of baseball operations." I may have to abbreviate it to executive VP of baseball ops....

What needs to be done (updated)

What needs to be done (updated)
Is anyone else burned out from all this general manager talk? I'd like to go the rest of the year without typing the word "candidate." I'd like to go the rest of my life without typing it, but I don't know whether Dan Duquette has that kind of staying power. My assumption is that Duquette will be introduced Tuesday as the new president of baseball operations. You can be sure that it will happen this week. The search is over. We can put that "short list" to bed. Duquette won't...

Source: Orioles and Duquette reach agreement (updated twice)

Source: Orioles and Duquette reach agreement (updated twice)
The Orioles and Dan Duquette have agreed to terms on a contract that will make him the organization's new president of baseball operations, according to an industry source. The deal is done, according to the source, and the Orioles are expected to make the announcement as early as tomorrow. Duquette met again this morning with owner Peter Angelos, his third interview in three days. He returned to Baltimore yesterday after his initial meeting, making him only the second candidate to be...

The waiting is the hardest part (updated with Sunday meeting)

The waiting is the hardest part (updated with Sunday meeting)
Owner Peter Angelos met with Dan Duquette late into the night, and I turned off my laptop without any word on whether a deal had been struck. Not that anyone is burning up my phone with updates. Keeping me in the loop isn't a high priority. As of early this morning, it appears that nothing has been finalized, but we're still heading in that direction. I don't feel any need to dust off my list of other potential candidates. Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer comes into play only if...

A few more thoughts on Duquette

A few more thoughts on Duquette
The reaction here to Dan Duquette's second interview with the Orioles is mixed, to say the least. Some fans respect the work he's done in the past - especially the one-sided trades - and think he'll be a major asset. Others think the work was done too far in the past and he's no longer relevant. I just want the situation resolved, so I'm feeling a small sense of relief for selfish reasons. Duquette is meeting tonight with owner Peter Angelos, and the common belief is the Orioles...

O's nearing deal with Duquette

O's nearing deal with Duquette
I've received confirmation that Dan Duquette is heading back to Baltimore, and the Orioles could be drawing close to naming their new president of baseball operations. No contract has been offered, according to a source, but the two sides will attempt to hammer out a deal this weekend. ESPN's Tim Kurkjian first reported that Duquette was returning to Baltimore. Duquette interviewed yesterday, and I'm told that his detailed presentation impressed everyone in the room. One member of the...