Checking on Orioles minor leaguers who became free agents

Checking on Orioles minor leaguers who became free agents
The current offseason for the Orioles may not seem typical with hires pending in the front office, no manager in place and promises to revamp the entire scouting operation. This isn't business as usual across the board. However, there are certain tasks that await the club and aren't influenced by other circumstances. Building up minor league depth is one of the priorities. Trying to find hidden and inexpensive gems. The Orioles also might try to keep a few of their own. The list of Orioles...

Waiting for the next reliever to join the Orioles

Waiting for the next reliever to join the Orioles
With the Orioles coming upon the second open date on their schedule, I feel supremely confident that their streak of roster moves will end at five days in a row. Unless, of course, they decide to announce the corresponding move for pitcher Yefry Ramirez, optioned last night to Triple-A Norfolk, instead of waiting until Friday. So much for supremely confident. I was blindsided yesterday by the decision to recall utility infielder Engelb Vielma, but it made sense considering that Hunter Harvey...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado is serving as the designated hitter tonight, Luis Sardiñas is the shortstop and Danny Valencia is the third baseman for the Orioles' 6:05 p.m. game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Anthony Santander is the right fielder and Craig Gentry is in center. Chris Davis continues to accumulate at-bats as the leadoff hitter. Chris Tillman is starting tonight and the bullpen includes Joely Rodriguez, Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo, Andrew Faulkner, Lucas Long and James...

Edgin stays in the mix for left-handed relief

Edgin stays in the mix for left-handed relief
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Josh Edgin is expected to leave Orioles camp this week, but not because he's included among the cuts. It's probably too early to make a final determination on his status. Edgin will join his wife for the birth of their child. She's due on Thursday and the doctor may induce labor. His baseball life will beckon and he'll return to the complex with a full heart and the same opportunity to make the club. Though he hasn't received much attention, Edgin is in the thick...

Orioles announce more roster cuts

Orioles announce more roster cuts
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles have reduced their camp roster to 55 today with five more cuts. Pitchers Stefan Crichton, Michael Kelly and Yefry Ramirez have been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, and left-hander Andrew Faulkner and outfielder Jaycob Brugman have been reassigned to minor league camp. The yearly reminder that players on the 40-man roster are optioned and non-roster players are reassigned. Also, the assignments to Norfolk can be adjusted later, with Double-A Bowie always a...

Reviewing the first half of spring training

Reviewing the first half of spring training
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have inched past the halfway point of spring training. More players will be removed from the camp roster, the competition for various jobs will be narrowed. Manager Buck Showalter said it's too early for a noticeable increase in "tempo." But it's coming. "After the off-day, I don't think we're quite that far into it yet," he said. "We've got 20-something days after the break." With Erick Salcedo reassigned to minor league camp, the in-house choices for...

Orioles lineup vs. Cardinals

Orioles lineup vs. Cardinals
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Darren O'Day will make his spring debut in today's 1:05 p.m. game against the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. Pedro Álvarez is listed among a group of reserves that also includes outfielder Jaycob Brugman, catcher Andrew Susac and infielder Éngelb Vielma. Outfielder Austin Hays is counted, too, though he was scheduled to receive an MRI today on his right shoulder/lat. Colby Rasmus is leading off and playing right field. Tim Beckham is batting...

Joining Orioles a breath of fresh air for Susac

Joining Orioles a breath of fresh air for Susac
SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Susac has a plan. And a color scheme. Susac feels right as home with the Orioles, who acquired him on Feb. 2 to compete for a job as backup catcher. It isn't strictly his welcoming teammates or a hankering for grouper. Orange and black work for him. "I think it's awesome," he said. "It seems like I can't get out of an orange and black jersey. Ever since Little League. I played for the Orioles in Little League. Funny story. From there to Oregon State and then the...

Choosing this year's spring training dark horse candidate

Choosing this year's spring training dark horse candidate
We're down to six days before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex for spring training, though it's expected that the place will be filled with early arrivals. Not a lot of feet drag into Sarasota. The time has come to offer my dark horse candidate to make the team. The challenge, of course, is doing it with so much uncertainty surrounding the roster. I could pick a left-handed hitting corner outfielder and he might be ousted by a future signing or...

Forecasting Orioles' 25-man roster remains a source of frustration

Forecasting Orioles' 25-man roster remains a source of frustration
With exactly one week remaining before pitchers and catchers must report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, the task of submitting a mock 25-man roster hasn't grown much easier since my attempts two months ago. The rotation still has openings behind Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy, with only in-house candidates in the mix. The bullpen includes only one left-hander, Richard Bleier, who seems assured of breaking camp with the team if he stays healthy. There's supposed to be another...

Mountcastle, Stewart and Mullins among 19 O's non-roster invites

Mountcastle, Stewart and Mullins among 19 O's non-roster invites
The Orioles are inviting 19 non-roster players to their major league camp later this month, increasing to 35 the number of pitchers filtering into the Ed Smith Stadium complex. More starters are expected to show up later with Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman the only confirmed members of the rotation. The club also might want to add a couple of mounds. The list of non-roster invitees includes outfield prospects DJ Stewart and Cedric Mullins and third baseman Ryan Mountcastle. The complete list is...

Can Faulkner provide left-handed relief for Orioles?

Can Faulkner provide left-handed relief for Orioles?
The annual Orioles minicamp gives manager Buck Showalter an opportunity to become more familiar with some of the minor league pitchers and the media a chance to figure out which ones grabbed his attention, intrigued him and can be viewed as potential contributors over the summer. Certain names come up without prompting, sometimes on multiple occasions during a single interview. Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. was the hottest topic for three days, a scorching subject due to his ability to "spin...

Dariel Álvarez nearing return to mound

Dariel Álvarez nearing return to mound
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dariel Álvarez no longer is resistant to making the switch from outfielder to pitcher. He's embracing the idea with a surgically repaired elbow and a new attitude. Álvarez is playing catch at minicamp, which wraps up later today, and said via translator Ramon Martinez that he's scheduled to throw off a flat mound by the end of the month. "I've been doing the rehabilitation and I feel pretty good so far," said Álvarez, who had the procedure in April, was released...

Previewing next week's minicamp in Sarasota (updated twice)

Previewing next week's minicamp in Sarasota (updated twice)
While the extended forecast calls for snow possible later this week and temperatures so low that they can turn your thoughts to ice, the highs in Sarasota are stuck in the 50s until Sunday. Until the Orioles begin trickling into the Ed Smith Stadium complex for their annual three-day minicamp. Temperatures are supposed to climb back into the 70s by Monday's first workout with only a 10 percent chance of rain before everyone returns home. The guys living up north may leave kicking and...

Orioles sign four to minor league contracts

Orioles sign four to minor league contracts
The Orioles announced four minor league signings, including three players who stay in the organization after becoming free agents. Left-handers Jayson Aquino and Andrew Faulkner and corner infielder Aderlin Rodriguez agreed to terms, as did right-hander Tim Melville, the lone outsider in the group. Melville, who's 28 and a former fourth-round pick, has appeared in six major league games with the Reds, Twins and Padres since 2016. He made one start for the Twins this summer, allowing five runs...

The Dariel Álvarez pitching experiment will continue

The Dariel Álvarez pitching experiment will continue
The Orioles will resume their attempts to transform Dariel Álvarez from an outfielder to a pitcher. They haven't bailed on the idea. Álvarez is rehabbing his right elbow following ligament-reconstructive surgery in April. Don't forget about him. The Orioles remain committed to seeing this experiment through. "He's doing great," said director of player development Brian Graham. "He's coming back to spring training. And by the end of spring training, he'll be close to being able to...

Faulkner outrighted, Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Faulkner outrighted, Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Left-hander Andrew Faulkner cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Faulkner joins Logan Verrett, Tyler Wilson and Jayson Aquino as pitchers who were outrighted since Sept. 5 after the Orioles designated them for assignment. Faulkner, 24, was 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 34 games with Triple-A Norfolk. He allowed only one home run in 38 2/3 innings and opponents were batting .216. Left-handers posted a .208 average. The Orioles acquired Faulkner from the Rangers on April 6 for...

Orioles activate Hardy and DFA Faulkner

Orioles activate Hardy and DFA Faulkner
CLEVELAND - The Orioles reinstated shortstop J.J. Hardy from the 60-day disabled list today and designated left-hander Andrew Faulkner for assignment. Hardy hasn't played for the Orioles since being hit by a Lance Lynn pitch on June 18 at Camden Yards and sustaining a fractured bone in his right wrist. He's batting .211/.248/.308 with 11 doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 64 games. Manager Buck Showalter may choose to use Hardy as a late-inning defensive replacement for Tim Beckham, who...

Hardy's return, tonight's game, Frederick's feat and good call by umps

Hardy's return, tonight's game, Frederick's feat and good call by umps
The Orioles' latest roster move should come today and involve shortstop J.J. Hardy, who's been throwing and hitting without any issues following a cortisone injection Friday in his right elbow. Hardy is expected to be activated from the disabled list. The popular response to this news from fans on Twitter goes something like this: "Why?" As in, why do the Orioles need Hardy while Tim Beckham is mashing at the plate, including a leadoff home run yesterday while fans were given his...

Mancini breaks slump, notes on Hart, minors award winners

Mancini breaks slump, notes on Hart, minors award winners
Any hitter who is having a good offensive season has probably had times during the year when he minimized a cold streak at the plate and got right back to hitting well again. Orioles rookie Trey Mancini has had to do this a few times. From Aug. 13 through 20, Mancini went 2-for-26 (.077), and that dropped his average to .282. Since then he has gone 14-for-27 (.519) with a homer and eight RBIs. Mancini is 10-for-17 (.588) with five RBIs in his last four games. "It takes a while when you're...