Showalter on Cobb, Trumbo, leadoff spot and more (O's lead 5-2)

Showalter on Cobb, Trumbo, leadoff spot and more (O's lead 5-2)
NEW YORK - The Orioles still haven't committed to a date for Alex Cobb's debut, waiting again for his upcoming work day and input from the right-hander before plotting the next move. Cobb went five innings yesterday in a simulated game in Sarasota. He could go six next week at extended spring training or join the Orioles. Manager Buck Showalter said Cobb will throw in the bullpen Friday or Saturday, "depending how he feels." Showalter suggested that Cobb could pitch Monday or Tuesday in...

Orioles acquire left-hander Luis Ysla from Dodgers

Orioles acquire left-hander Luis Ysla from Dodgers
It's been a busy transactional day for the Orioles before they open a three-game series in Houston. Already making two earlier moves involving outfielder Michael Saunders and pitcher Stefan Crichton, the Orioles announced early this evening that they acquired left-hander Luis Ysla from the Dodgers for pitcher Jesus Liranzo and assigned him to Double-A Bowie. Ysla, 25, went a combined 1-5 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 36 relief appearances at Double-A Portland and Tulsa. He walked 39 batters...

Orioles trade Stefan Crichton to Diamondbacks

Orioles trade Stefan Crichton to Diamondbacks
After designating four pitchers for assignment in order to create room on the 40-man roster prior to opening day, the Orioles have found closure with one of them by orchestrating a trade. Right-hander Stefan Crichton has been dealt to the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Crichton was optioned to Triple-A Reno. Crichton, 26, rode the shuttle hard between the majors and Triple-A Norfolk last summer, having six stints with the Orioles, and posted an 8.03 ERA and...

Showalter on roster moves, Davis leading off and more

Showalter on roster moves, Davis leading off and more
The Orioles set their 25-man roster today shortly before the noon deadline and the moves included the removals of pitchers Alec Asher, Stefan Crichton, Michael Kelly and Jesus Liranzo from the 40-man roster to accommodate Colby Rasmus, Danny Valencia, Pedro Álvarez and Craig Gentry. Four pitchers for four position players. "Our hope is that they clear and put them back in the system," said manager Buck Showalter. "If not them, then who? I know there was a lot of discussion back and forth....

Bullpen won't provide many options for Orioles

Bullpen won't provide many options for Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Whatever combination of relievers makes up the Orioles bullpen on opening day, it's not going to offer much flexibility for manager Buck Showalter. The desire for an optionable 'pen has to be muted. Of the pitchers assured of breaking camp with the team, only Mychal Givens and left-hander Richard Bleier can be sent down and they aren't the typical candidates to ride the Triple-A shuttle. Brad Brach is out of options. Rule 5 picks Nestor Cortes Jr. and Pedro Araujo can't be...

Notes on Trumbo, Rule 5s, Mountcastle and more (O's win 8-5)

Notes on Trumbo, Rule 5s, Mountcastle and more (O's win 8-5)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that Mark Trumbo will return to the lineup Wednesday as the designated hitter against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. Trumbo has been out since Tuesday with a sore right quadriceps muscle. Showalter indicated that final decisions on Rule 5 pitchers Nestor Cortes Jr., Pedro Araujo and José Mesa Jr. could be withheld until the end of camp. Araujo might have moved to the head of the pack, though Showalter isn't tipping his...

Orioles remove Mountcastle, Stewart, Asher from camp roster

Orioles remove Mountcastle, Stewart, Asher from camp roster
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles made three more cuts this morning to get their roster down to 45, optioning pitcher Alec Asher to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning infielder Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder DJ Stewart to minor league camp. Mountcastle, 21, will continue to play third base, though he's also been taking fly balls on the back fields. His bat delivered two tape-measure home runs, including a three-run shot yesterday to right-center field against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. He was...

Cortes retires six of seven batters in spring debut (O's, Twins tie)

Cortes retires six of seven batters in spring debut (O's, Twins tie)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. came as advertised tonight in his first spring start. Didn't throw hard, but worked quickly and changed speeds and his arm angle to keep the Twins off balance. Cortes duplicated Mike Wright Jr.'s outing yesterday by allowing one run and one hit over two innings. Cortes retired six of seven batters and threw 16 of 23 pitches for strikes. The Twins lead the Orioles 1-0 in the top of the third inning. Alec Asher replaced Cortes and struck out the...

Asher trying to regain club's confidence as camp continues

Asher trying to regain club's confidence as camp continues
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will conduct their first full-squad workout this afternoon after the remaining players in camp have passed their physicals and are cleared for baseball activities. Utility infielder Éngelb Vielma isn't expected to arrive until perhaps later in the week due to a visa issue in Venezuela. Everyone else should be in camp. How could practically every team in baseball claim Vielma over the last few months and no one applied for a visa? Chris Davis and Craig Gentry...

A look at some in-house rotation candidates

A look at some in-house rotation candidates
The assumption seems to be that the Orioles may leave spring training with at least one in-house pitcher winning a job in their starting rotation come April. And yes, we all know they have just two starters set right now in Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy. You know what that means, right? If they had to play today, they might need gloves (and I don't mean baseball gloves) first of all, but also they also would need three in-house starters in addition to Gausman and Bundy. Let's take a look at a...

Thoughts on Asher, Hart, Crichton and Yacabonis

Thoughts on Asher, Hart, Crichton and Yacabonis
There are no holiday updates on the Orioles' search for starting pitching and a left-handed reliever with plus velocity and the splits to present the option as a specialist. The 40-man roster includes 24 pitchers, and the Orioles have announced 14 more on minor league deals since Nov. 28. Maybe there's strength in numbers. I've spent part of the offseason choosing Orioles who need to step up or have various questions circling over their heads. Let's toss out another handful. * Alec Asher is...

Orioles will reload, not rebuild

Orioles will reload, not rebuild
It is a question worth asking even though we pretty much know the direction the organization will take: Should the Orioles be rebuilding now after posting a losing record in 2017, and with several veterans not signed beyond 2018? The Orioles seem much more inclined to be reloading than rebuilding. They are still looking to add to their roster and improve their pitching to make another run for the playoffs in 2018. But we all know that free agency awaits for four key players after the 2018...

Possible roster addition and Ynoa's latest opportunity

Possible roster addition and Ynoa's latest opportunity
PITTSBURGH - The Orioles may bring up a pitcher from their minicamp before tonight's game against the Pirates, which closes out their brief interleague series. The candidates include Alec Asher, Stefan Crichton, Chris Lee and Yefry Ramirez, the latter having made six starts at Double-A Bowie after the Orioles acquired him from the Yankees on July 31 for international signing bonus pool money. All four pitchers are on the 40-man roster. Asher and Crichton have been used by the Orioles this...

Can the reeling Orioles avoid a sweep? (and other notes)

Can the reeling Orioles avoid a sweep? (and other notes)
CLEVELAND - Having lost another series over the weekend, the Orioles can hope only to salvage a game tonight on ESPN and try to convince the world that the wild card remains within their reach. It feels like one. A reach. But the math says it's still a possibility. Let the math play the Yankees and Indians. See how it feels. No one is quitting in the Orioles' clubhouse, but they know exactly what they're up against. No one is delusional. This was a huge series, same as the last one against...

With latest loss, the Orioles are falling back in the wild card race

With latest loss, the Orioles are falling back in the wild card race
How many times this year has it looked like the Orioles were in big trouble in the standings? Well, the latest is now after the club's 5-0 loss last night in Cleveland. They are facing nine more games on this road trip and now they are three games behind Minnesota for the second American League wild card with 21 games to go. They are 27-40 on the road where they will play 14 of those remaining 21 games. So yeah, it could be looking better and they could be positioned better. The Orioles won...

Altoona beats Bowie 8-4 to take 2-0 series lead

Altoona beats Bowie 8-4 to take 2-0 series lead
BOWIE, Md. - Double-A Bowie center fielder Cedric Mullins had three hits, including a homer, but three Baysox pitchers had a rough night as Altoona beat Bowie 8-4 tonight to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern League playoff series. After two straight losses at Prince George's Stadium, the best-of-five series moves to Altoona tomorrow night. Bowie will now have to win three straight on the road to advance to the championship series for the second time in three seasons. Altoona No. 7 hitter Elvis...

Eastern League playoff notes and quotes from Bowie

Eastern League playoff notes and quotes from Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - It has been an exciting few days here in Bowie. On Tuesday, the Double-A Bowie Baysox sent outfielder Austin Hays to join the Orioles. Today, Bowie's Garabez Rosa was named the Eastern League Most Valuable Player. But tonight's scheduled playoff series opener between Bowie and Altoona has been rained out. The first two games in Bowie are now scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights at 7:05 p.m at Prince George's Stadium. Go to baysox.com for ticket information. Rosa joins Calvin...

Pregame notes on division race, Gentry, Hardy and Asher (O's down 7-3)

Pregame notes on division race, Gentry, Hardy and Asher (O's down 7-3)
The Orioles begin today trailing the Twins by 1 ½ games for the second wild card and the Yankees by 3 ½. They're seven behind the first-place Red Sox, the team that they consider their ultimate target. They're not conceding the division and home field. And they're not obsessing over the standings. "We're chasing ourselves. That's what we're chasing," said manager Buck Showalter. "We know that if you don't get to X-number of wins, it doesn't matter, so regardless of who you're...

Asher optioned, updates on Gentry and Hardy, and more

Asher optioned, updates on Gentry and Hardy, and more
The Orioles have recalled pitcher Gabriel Ynoa from Triple-A Norfolk and are putting him in the bullpen for today's series finale against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Pitcher Alec Asher was optioned to Double-A Bowie, with the Baysox's season extending into the Eastern League playoffs. Ynoa appeared in four games with the Orioles this season and was 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 12 2/3 innings. He tossed six scoreless innings against the White Sox after replacing Wade Miley on May 5...

Orioles bats chilled again in 7-2 loss to Blue Jays (with quotes)

Orioles bats chilled again in 7-2 loss to Blue Jays (with quotes)
The Orioles defeated the weather tonight, with rain unable to interrupt their game. The forecast took a beating. The Blue Jays were a much more stubborn foe. Don't be fooled by the standings or the number of players making their major league debuts in this series. Kevin Pillar broke a scoreless tie with a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth, and the Orioles couldn't generate much offense in a 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 14,815 at Camden Yards. After tallying...