This, that and the other

This, that and the other
As the Orioles continue making their final preparations for this weekend's FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center, they're also nearing the announcements on their major league and minor league coaching staffs and their non-roster invitees to spring training. One domino falls and others will tumble. The list of invitees could include infielders Ryan Mountcastle, Jace Peterson, Engelb Vielma, Sean Miller and Zach Vincej, outfielders Ryan McKenna, Yusniel Díaz and Christopher...

More on Davis and the catchers

More on Davis and the catchers
The Orioles aren't ready to announce their new coaching staff under manager Brandon Hyde, the assistant hitting coach believed to be the final piece. It's expected to happen soon, well in advance of the beginning of spring training. First baseman Chris Davis knows that Don Long is replacing Scott Coolbaugh as hitting coach. He hadn't heard any updates on the assistant hitting coach when we spoke a few days ago and didn't know whether Howie Clark, who held the job last summer, was assured of...

How will the O's handle their catchers in 2019?

How will the O's handle their catchers in 2019?
The Orioles' current catching situation shows Austin Wynns and Chance Sisco on the 40-man roster and recent addition Carlos Pérez and holdover Martin Cervenka as two of the top catchers on the farm. Andrew Susac was designated for assignment on Friday. That leaves the team pretty thin at the position right now, with not much big league experience on the roster. Can the Orioles get enough out of that group of four, or do they need to add a veteran catcher? Caleb Joseph was non-tendered by...

O's reach agreement with catcher Carlos Pérez on minors deal

O's reach agreement with catcher Carlos Pérez on minors deal
The Orioles have made a move to improve their catching depth in the organization. Carlos Pérez, 28, has agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training pending the completion of a physical. He can earn a guaranteed $650,000 if he makes the Orioles roster. Pérez is a native of Venezuela who appeared in eight games with the Braves and 20 with the Rangers last season and was 10-for-70 with two doubles and a home run. He hasn't done much offensively in the majors,...

Leftovers from the Winter Meetings

Leftovers from the Winter Meetings
No longer in Las Vegas for baseball's Winter Meetings, my body is in the process of adjusting to the time change and the lack of slot machines and second-hand smoke. Anyone know where I can score a $40 sandwich? In the span of a couple days, the Orioles indicated that Jonathan Villar was their starting shortstop and then grabbed two shortstops in the Rule 5 draft, selecting Richie Martin with the first overall pick and trading for Drew Jackson. I'm still inclined to believe that Villar will...

Taking stock of the O's current catching situation

Taking stock of the O's current catching situation
The Orioles have three catchers on their current 40-man roster after Caleb Joseph was recently non-tendered. They are Austin Wynns, Chance Sisco and Andrew Susac. What will the Orioles do at the catching position in 2019? Are they going to add a veteran catcher and/or does Joseph still have a shot to come back? Will Sisco have to go back to the farm next April to try to re-ignite his career? Here is the list of current free agent catchers: Drew Butera (35) A.J. Ellis (38) Yasmani Grandal (30)...

More on Joseph's non-tender and his letter to fans

More on Joseph's non-tender and his letter to fans
Catcher Caleb Joseph, non-tendered Friday night by the Orioles and a free agent for the first time in his career, is drawing interest from a handful of teams. It didn't take long. Plenty of clubs are checking on available catchers, but the market is flooded, with MLBTradeRumors.com providing the latest update: Drew Butera Robinson Chirinos A.J. Ellis Yasmani Grandal Chris Herrmann Nick Hundley Caleb Joseph Jose Lobaton Jonathan Lucroy Martín Maldonado Devin Mesoraco James McCann ...

Orioles put Tate on 40-man roster and DFA Vielma

Orioles put Tate on 40-man roster and DFA Vielma
The Orioles have adjusted their 40-man roster in preparation for the Rule 5 draft, which will be held on Dec. 13 on the final day of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Pitcher Dillon Tate was placed on the 40-man today, his contract selected from Double-A Bowie, to prohibit teams from taking him. With the roster already full, the Orioles created room by designating infielder Engelb Vielma for assignment. Another spot must be opened later to allow the Orioles to make a selection, which is...

Looking at a few of the decisions awaiting Elias

Looking at a few of the decisions awaiting Elias
The hiring of Mike Elias as executive vice president and general manager doesn't remove all of the uncertainty attached to the franchise. It barely makes a dent. Elias was the biggest piece, of course, as the person who will run the baseball operations department. Who will assemble the rest of the front office, choose a manager and drag the scouting department into the 21st century. But having so many slots to fill is an example of the work that lies ahead. The 40-man roster must be set by...

Taking a morning quiz

Taking a morning quiz
Rather than dump out the entire mailbag today and try to come up with a fresh sequel title, I'm going to pull out a couple of the heavy repeats and attempt to eliminate whatever confusion lingers in the air like the odor from a hardboiled egg. Let's go with a true or false format. As opposed to truth or dare, which could get weird around here. The Orioles definitely won't be signing any free agents. False. The Orioles don't have a definite starter for right field, third base or behind the...

A look at a catcher trending up with the Orioles

A look at a catcher trending up with the Orioles
He is not currently on the Orioles' 40-man roster, although it seems likely he will be before the 2019 Rule 5 draft. The Orioles might add a catcher to their 40-man roster to avoid him possibly being taken in the Rule 5 draft. They got him in that draft just last year - in the minor league phase of the Rule 5. Credit to the Orioles for adding catcher Martin Cervenka last December in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 from the San Francisco Giants. From the Czech Republic, Cervenka was...

Updating the 40-man roster and pending decisions

Updating the 40-man roster and pending decisions
A full 40-man roster has left the Orioles with another set of decisions to make while creating room for players leading into the Rule 5 draft and eventual outside acquisitions via trades and free agency. The deadline to non-tender players is Nov. 30 and the Orioles must figure out whether to give raises to infielder Tim Beckham and catcher Caleb Joseph. They're the ones who are at risk. Starter Dylan Bundy, reliever Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar obviously are staying on the...

More on Orioles' 40-man roster and personnel changes (updated)

More on Orioles' 40-man roster and personnel changes (updated)
The Orioles' 40-man roster continues to hold 39 players after the Mariners claimed outfielder John Andreoli yesterday afternoon. However, it's going down to 36 with pitcher Sean Gilmartin and infielders Jace Peterson and Corban Joseph also on outright waivers, their names appearing on the wire. Pitcher Gabriel Ynoa is on the 60-day disabled list, but he won't be activated and placed on the 40-man. None of the moves were unexpected. Ynoa didn't pitch for the Orioles this season, opening the...

Orioles lose Andreoli on waiver claim

Orioles lose Andreoli on waiver claim
The Orioles' 40-man roster was full on Sunday, contained an opening on Monday, was filled again yesterday and has more space on it today. The lack of front office hires, still on hold following the World Series, hasn't shut down business. The Mariners claimed outfielder John Andreoli off waivers from the Orioles, who now have 39 players on the roster. Both clubs made the announcement this afternoon. Baseball's circle of life has returned Andreoli to the Mariners after the Orioles selected...

Orioles place Branden Kline on 40-man roster

Orioles place Branden Kline on 40-man roster
Pitcher Branden Kline's return from Tommy John surgery and multiple setbacks has taken him all the way to the Orioles' 40-man roster, with the possibility of further advancement in the coming months. It's been quite a journey. Kline, a Frederick native and second-round pick in the 2012 draft out of the University of Virginia, missed almost three full seasons before making a major breakthrough in the minors. He posted a 1.64 ERA with 17 saves in 65 2/3 innings while splitting the summer...

Gold Glove exclusion, Álvarez and AFL updates

Gold Glove exclusion, Álvarez and AFL updates
The Orioles will be shut out in Rawlings Gold Glove voting for a third consecutive year. The lack of a finalist in 2018 sealed their fate. Manny Machado made the final three last year at third base, but was denied his third Gold Glove. He isn't a finalist after a change in positions and teams, but the World Series provides a nice distraction for him. Yesterday's news was anticlimactic, with the Orioles having no obvious candidates at any position. Machado was traded prior to the non-waiver...

More roster talk, Lee update and former Orioles in October

More roster talk, Lee update and former Orioles in October
Setting the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft won't necessarily be the first order of business for the Orioles' reconstructed front office, with the non-tender deadline set for Nov. 30, but it's going to involve more heavy lifting. The roster is full and the Orioles need to create room for pitchers Dillon Tate and Branden Kline, who are assured of making it. Catcher Martin Cervenka and left-hander Luis Gonzalez also are expected to have spots open to them. As I've pointed out in the...

New hire will want to know commitment to Davis beyond salary

New hire will want to know commitment to Davis beyond salary
Let's push aside for a minute the uncertainty within the front office and in the manager's chair, and how the impact could echo throughout the organization. Anyone who's interviewing to become president of baseball operations is going to wonder how Chris Davis and the $110 million remaining on the richest contract in franchise history can fit into the rebuilding process. How a square peg fits into a round hole. This individual will be told that it doesn't. That giving one player, coming off...

Wondering how Orioles approach rebuild as they continue interviews

Wondering how Orioles approach rebuild as they continue interviews
The individual who replaces Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette or is given a different title already will have relayed his or her vision of the rebuilding process to John and Louis Angelos. There won't be a more important point in discussions. It starts right there. Interviews are underway and it's possible that the Orioles make two hires, including a president of baseball operations. The wheels, as they say, are in motion, and the Orioles really do need to get moving because...

The Orioles' minor league All-Stars for 2018

The Orioles' minor league All-Stars for 2018
Today's let's take a look at some of the Orioles minor leaguers that had the most productive seasons in 2018. Presenting one man's version of the Orioles' minor league All-Stars for this year. This is not a listing simply of the best prospects, but the players who produced the best at each position. In some cases it's clear cut and in some it's not. 1B Aderlin Rodriguez: Rodriguez hit two homers and drove in seven runs on the final day of the season for Double-A Bowie to cap off a third...