Orioles trade Susac to Royals

Orioles trade Susac to Royals
The Orioles loosened the catching logjam at Triple-A Norfolk. Andrew Susac has been traded to the Royals for cash considerations, with the announcement coming from both clubs. Chance Sisco and Carlos Pérez remain with the Tides and Austin Wynns is at extended spring training while recovering from a strained oblique. Norfolk didn't need a third catcher on the active roster. Martin Cervenka and Cael Brockmeyer were assigned to Double-A Bowie. The Orioles have been seeking a trade partner for...

Notes on the rotation, catching situation and lineup possibilities

Notes on the rotation, catching situation and lineup possibilities
NEW YORK - A rotation that already is going to be slower to evolve than the standard models became more unpredictable with Alex Cobb's groin injury and subsequent trip to the 10-day injured list. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has given Andrew Cashner the opening day assignment this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Cashner and Dylan Bundy were supposed to vie for Saturday's start, but it goes to Nate Karns as the season's first "opener." Bundy takes the mound for Sunday's series finale and...

Sisco and Scott among six players cut from Orioles camp

Sisco and Scott among six players cut from Orioles camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles apparently have decided to carry Jesús Sucre and Pedro Severino as their catchers on opening day. Chance Sisco posted a .382 average in spring training, collecting three more hits this afternoon, but he's included among six roster cuts. Sisco and left-handers Tanner Scott and Josh Rogers were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Catchers Carlos Pérez and Andrew Susac and infielder Jace Peterson were reassigned to minor league camp. Manager Brandon Hyde confirmed...

Peterson scratched from lineup

Peterson scratched from lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Jace Peterson has been scratched from the Orioles lineup today for their split-squad game against the Pirates in Sarasota. Zach Vincej has come over from minor league camp and is starting at second base. Peterson may be the latest roster cut following today's news that the Orioles optioned reliever Evan Phillips. Or it could be injury related. Peterson was hit twice by pitches last night, but he stayed in the game. The utility competition has been one of the more...

Orioles claim Pedro Severino off waivers

Orioles claim Pedro Severino off waivers
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have tossed another competitor into the catching mix today, claiming Pedro Severino off waivers from the Nationals and designating infielder Stevie Wilkerson for assignment. Severino, 25, is out of options and the Nationals were trying to pass him through waivers. The move gives the Orioles six catchers in camp and 35 players overall. Wilkerson already had been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and was on the minor league side. A defense-first player in his four major...

More roster rumblings as Orioles near some important decisions

More roster rumblings as Orioles near some important decisions
SARASOTA, Fla. - The latest roster cuts yesterday, condensed and earlier than usual, left the Orioles with 35 players in camp. Manager Brandon Hyde has to remove 10 more before opening day while knowing that the waiver wire is a potential complication. In a good way, of course. Mark Trumbo is a wild card because he could go on the injured list. Hyde will be asked about it again in a day or two and repeat that the decision is on hold. It's going down to the wire. The Orioles need Trumbo healthy...

Hess recovers after slow start (O's lose 7-5, updated)

Hess recovers after slow start (O's lose 7-5, updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - As Francisco Cervelli circled the bases today, his fly ball to the opposite field dropping on the other side of the fence, Orioles starter David Hess had to be wondering about his hold on a rotation spot. Six home runs allowed in his last two outings. All of them in 3 2/3 innings. None of them a good look for a guy trying to convince the new regime that he can be the fourth starter. Hess spun the story in the opposite direction, making the kind of recovery usually found in...

Notes on Sucre, the Núñez-Ruiz battle and Trumbo (O's up 5-3)

Notes on Sucre, the Núñez-Ruiz battle and Trumbo (O's up 5-3)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Catcher Jesús Sucre appears to have won a job with the Orioles. The opt-out date on Sucre's minor league deal arrives Friday and manager Brandon Hyde said the veteran has "a good shot to make the team." "I've been playing him every other day," Hyde said this morning before heading to Bradenton. "He went down and took a bunch of minor league at-bats a couple days ago to try to catch up on the at-bats. He's catching great, he throws great, does a really nice job...

Sucre getting more comfortable in camp as opt-out date nears

Sucre getting more comfortable in camp as opt-out date nears
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles education of Jesús Sucre continued last night as he caught starter Dylan Bundy for the first time in camp beyond a couple of bullpen sessions. A late arrival following a prolonged work visa issue had Sucre scrambling to learn the staff and make his bid for a roster spot after agreeing to a minor league deal on Feb. 1. "It's going really well," he said. "I've been working in the 'pen with a lot of guys. They're mostly here. And even in the games I've been...

Checking on Orioles camp competitions

Checking on Orioles camp competitions
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde remains uncertain about numerous aspects of his opening day roster. The final rotation spots, the complete bullpen and outfield compositions, the two catchers heading north. The top three starters always have been Alex Cobb, Dylan Bundy and Andrew Cashner. The only drama involved which one would be on the mound March 28 at Yankee Stadium, with Cobb given the honor. Mychal Givens and Richard Bleier were locks for the bullpen, the latter just needing...

Wynns: "I'm trying to get back as fast as I can"

Wynns: "I'm trying to get back as fast as I can"
LAKELAND, Fla. - Austin Wynns remains hopeful that he can get back in the lineup within a few days and continue his fight for a spot on the opening day roster as the Orioles wind down the exhibition portion of their spring training. Wynns hasn't been able to play due to a strained left oblique. He did some defensive work yesterday on one of the back fields and has been hitting in the cage, but he's set to ramp up his activities. "I'm like full-go defensive, throwing running," he said....

Early notes on catchers, Rickard, Araujo and Davis

Early notes on catchers, Rickard, Araujo and Davis
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Austin Wynns provides the latest example of how an oblique injury isn't a day-to-day situation. Players can't rush back from them. Can't test them early without risking a setback. Wynns seems confident that he'll return this week, but he still has to take live batting practice. He's been hitting in the cage, which is where the injury happened. Life as a catcher certainly has its risks, though most of them occur behind the plate. Andrew Susac took a beating...

Elias explains roster decisions on Hays, Santander and Carroll

Elias explains roster decisions on Hays, Santander and Carroll
SARASOTA, Fla. - The message delivered by the Orioles this spring regarding the importance of camp competitions and fighting for available jobs clashed this morning with a round of roster cuts that included outfielders Austin Hays and Anthony Santander and reliever Cody Carroll. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias explained the decisions and more while meeting with the media for about 10 minutes inside the home dugout at Ed Smith Stadium. "I don't think competition in the...

Updates on Karns, Wynns and Núñez

Updates on Karns, Wynns and Núñez
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate Karns and Mychal Givens are staying back at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning to pitch in a simulated game. They're no longer listed on the travel roster for today's Grapefruit League game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Karns didn't know exactly how many pitches he'd throw. He intended to incorporate his "slider/cutter" in order to judge whether it's game ready. "I've been leaving that one in the 'pen," he said. A slider/cutter? "Sometimes it's a...

Updating Núñez and wrapping up a 7-6 loss

Updating Núñez and wrapping up a 7-6 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Renato Núñez is day-to-day with a bruised left shin after being struck by a foul ball while batting in the fourth inning. Núñez stayed in the game and singled into left field. Christopher Bostick pinch-ran after Núñez reached third base. "A little contusion, a bad spot underneath the knee," said manager Brandon Hyde after a 7-6 loss to the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. "It just sounds like he's really sore." Hyde downplayed how...

Orioles and Rays lineups for split-squad game

Orioles and Rays lineups for split-squad game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ryan Mountcastle is starting at first base today and Drew Jackson is at second for the Orioles' split-squad game against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Austin Hays is in center field and Jonthan Villar is playing shortstop. Dylan Bundy is making his third start. He's allowed four runs and nine hits with no walks and five strikeouts in five innings. Andrew Susac is catching Bundy today. For the Orioles Austin Hays CF Eric Young Jr. LF Jonathan Villar SS Rio Ruiz DH Joey Rickard...

Notes on Mountcastle, Young, Yacabonis, catching and coaches

Notes on Mountcastle, Young, Yacabonis, catching and coaches
SARASOTA, Fla. - With so much attention given to Ryan Mountcastle's repetitions and game experience at first base, his slow start at the plate barely drew notice. One hit in 13 at-bats from an upper-tier prospect who usually can roll out of bed and square up a fastball. But what about the glove? How does he look at first? Is he really changing positions again? Talent wins out again. Mountcastle entered yesterday's game with four hits in his last six at-bats. Driving the ball into the gap and...

Sucre is safe away from home and trying to win a job with Orioles

Sucre is safe away from home and trying to win a job with Orioles
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nate Karns will pitch in his second spring training game Tuesday while coming out of the bullpen against the Pirates in Sarasota. Karns didn't experience any discomfort in his right arm following Saturday's bullpen session and will get back on the mound after Alex Cobb makes the start. The Orioles backed off Karns, skipping him Friday night in Tampa in favor of left-hander John Means, after he felt that he didn't bounce back in normal fashion following last Monday's debut...

Wrapping up a 7-5 win

Wrapping up a 7-5 win
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been a bad weekend for pinkies. Second baseman Jonathan Villar came out of today's game in the top of the fourth inning with some swelling in his right pinky finger, the result of a head-first slide into second base and an unfortunate collision with an infielder's spikes. Christopher Bostick replaced Villar, who singled and stole second base in the first inning and drew a walk in the third. "He had a little cleat in the finger and it just started to swell a little bit...

Orioles notes, quotes and anecdotes

Orioles notes, quotes and anecdotes
SARASOTA, Fla. - In evaluating young left-hander Josh Rogers, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can't afford to become distracted. Not for a second. Divert your eyes and another batter is retired. Another inning is completed. "I tell you what, if you go to get a drink with Josh Rogers on the mound, you better have your head up with your eyes on the field because you're going to miss about 10 pitches," Hyde said. "The tempo is unbelievable. He gets the ball and goes, he gets on the rubber and...