Latest look at 40-man roster and Rule 5 decisions (updated)

Latest look at 40-man roster and Rule 5 decisions (updated)
The task of clearing room on the 40-man roster began as the Orioles worked through the final games on their schedule. No need to wait until the last out. Pitcher Carson Fulmer, the former first-round pick of the White Sox, didn't make it through waivers. Reliever Cody Carroll passed through and was outrighted. The 40-man roster was reduced to 37 players, but the Orioles activated pitcher Kohl Stewart from the 10-day injured list yesterday, per their transactions page, and he goes back on the...

Elias conducts season-ending review on final weekend

Elias conducts season-ending review on final weekend
The standings can't be ignored, no matter how much Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is comforted and encouraged by prospect performance and the work done at the alternate camp site. How he judges a season includes production on the field. "It's very difficult for me to label any season a success where we have a losing record and don't make the playoffs," he said in today's Zoom conference call. "But I see enough positive things where we can a feel good that...

Notes on roster move, homegrown outfield and Sisco

Notes on roster move, homegrown outfield and Sisco
A late-night roster move following the doubleheader sweep, with the Orioles designating Mason Williams for assignment, illustrates how the club is placing more emphasis on pitching depth rather than the luxury of carrying an extra outfielder. The Orioles didn't make any subtractions from their bullpen. Couldn't really afford to do it. "Especially after a doubleheader and some games in a row here going forward, we definitely need the extra arm," manager Brandon Hyde said in today's Zoom...

Crowded outfield a pleasant problem for Orioles in 2021

Crowded outfield a pleasant problem for Orioles in 2021
The Orioles don't know whether their spring training complex in Sarasota will be open and stay that way for spring training 2021. The world could throw them another curve, if it ever straightens out. Playing on the assumption that the team will reconvene at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, manager Brandon Hyde can resume a task that's likely to have been started in the offseason. How to make an excess of outfielders fit on an active roster. He won't work alone, of course. Executive vice...

Harvey surrenders late home run in 7-6 loss (updated)

Harvey surrenders late home run in 7-6 loss (updated)
Cedric Mullins is starting in center field because Austin Hays has a fractured rib. He led off tonight's game with a single and scored the first run. DJ Stewart is playing right field because Anthony Santander has a strained oblique. He singled in the first inning to move Renato Núñez to third base. Ryan Mountcastle is starting in left field because the Orioles no longer had any reason to hold back one of their top prospects. His single in the first scored Núñez to build on an...

Because You Asked - Risk Addiction

Because You Asked - Risk Addiction
A day without baseball is like a day without sunshine. Except the forecast is calling for it today in Baltimore. Lots of it. A day without sunscreen could lead to a nasty burn. There's always the risk of a nasty burn when I sort through my mailbag. And the sarcasm doesn't require extra postage. You know the drill. You keep asking the same stuff and I keep answering it. Or I just make it up as I go along. I don't like stale bread - unless it's used for my mother's homemade stuffing - or...

Elias impressed with Akin, Kremer and Diaz

Elias impressed with Akin, Kremer and Diaz
There was a tremendous amount of fan excitement for Keegan Akin's arrival in the majors, followed by their impatience at the gap between his first day with the club and first trip to the mound. Ryan Mountcastle's stay at the alternate camp site in Bowie was accompanied by daily inquiries about the organization's timetable for him. How long until the Orioles gained an extra year of control. How long until his defense in left field was deemed acceptable and he could increase his walk total...

Alternate camp allowing developmental process to proceed

Alternate camp allowing developmental process to proceed
The gradual dissolving of the 2020 minor league baseball season, a painfully slow execution akin to sporadic drops of water splashed onto a pile of sugar, had the Orioles scrambling to come up with ideas to prevent it from impeding the development of their prospects. Teams set up alternate training camp sites near their home ballparks. Plans were devised to incorporate workouts and games while abiding by rules that prohibited competition with outside clubs. The Orioles had to construct a staff...

Henderson and Gonzalez added to alternate camp site

Henderson and Gonzalez added to alternate camp site
The 60-man player pool is down to one open spot. The Orioles announced today that they added infielder Gunnar Henderson and left-hander Brian Gonzalez to the group that's working out and playing intrasquad games at the alternate camp site in Bowie. Henderson, 19, was an anticipated arrival based on his prospect status. The Orioles selected him in the second round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of John T. Morgan Academy in Alabama and assigned him to the Gulf Coast League, where he...

Thomas Eshelman's latest solid pitch and other notes

Thomas Eshelman's latest solid pitch and other notes
The Orioles could have some big decisions to make later today. They'll check on All-Star left-hander John Means and his availability to make the opening day start Friday night at Boston. Means was scratched from last night's start due to arm fatigue and a case of dead arm. But pitching in his place at Philadelphia, 26-year-old right-hander Thomas Eshelman, he of the 6.50 ERA last year, threw another solid outing. Between four games in the first spring training and three in the current summer...

Santander late arrival in summer training camp due to COVID-19

Santander late arrival in summer training camp due to COVID-19
Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander, made available earlier today to the media, confirmed that he tested positive to COVID-19 after arriving in Baltimore for the intake process and was quarantined for two weeks. Santander said he had "mild" symptoms, which included a low fever, and considers himself lucky. "Now I'm healthy, I'm not contagious, happy to be back on the field with my teammates and ready to work out," Santander said during a Zoom conference call, answering most questions...

Reviewing the weekend's activity

Reviewing the weekend's activity
The past two days have been productive for the Orioles and media covering the team. An announcement was made Saturday afternoon on the signings of draft picks Jordan Westburg, their Competitive Balance Round A selection and the 30th overall pick, and outfielder Hudson Haskin, their second-rounder and the 39th overall. And yesterday brought confirmation on 44 of the 60 players who will be tossed in the pool for spring training 2.0. More players will be announced later in the week. The Orioles...

Looking at some prospects that could make O's player pool

Looking at some prospects that could make O's player pool
This Sunday at 4 p.m. ET is the expected deadline for teams to submit their player pool of 60 names for the 2020 season. It is from this group of 60 that 30 players will be active on opening day. The active roster will be reduced to 28 after two weeks and to 26 after four weeks. It's safe to assume that some teams will include several of their top prospects among the pool of 60 players, and that some will wind up on taxi squads when play begins. Teams will put some players on their taxi squads...

More questions surrounding the Orioles in 2020

More questions surrounding the Orioles in 2020
The 2020 baseball schedule in all of its truncated glory may not become public until after the spring training report date of July 1. That would be Wednesday. Not this weekend. Everything is subject to change this year, including access to bars and public beaches. And spring training complexes, of course. But I'm not expecting to know the identity of the Orioles' first opponent and the location of the series for at least a few more days. Camps open Wednesday, but the Orioles' first workout...

Orioles getting ready for roster redesign

Orioles getting ready for roster redesign
Among the many details to emerge concerning the 2020 baseball season was the unfreezing of rosters today and the ability of team executives to resume making cuts and potential trades. The Orioles must create a 30-man roster for opening day, which will be held on July 23 or 24. It's reduced to 28 players after two weeks and 26 after four. It was so long ago that fans may have forgotten, but the Orioles had 54 players on their camp roster on March 12 when baseball shut down and everyone became...

Because You Asked - The Island of Lost Dreams

Because You Asked - The Island of Lost Dreams
I'm wearing rubber gloves today while sorting through my mailbag. All of my clothes are made out of Glad trash bags. Safety first. Don't use the scented brand. They'll give you a headache. I'd keep a six-foot distance from the mail, but my vision is pretty bad. Also, my arms wouldn't reach it. You know what's also a reach? Trying to convince anyone that there's an actual bag. But treat it as you would "Rocky IV" and suspend disbelief. (The Soviet crowd chanting his name at the end?...

Revisiting the trade of Manny Machado

Revisiting the trade of Manny Machado
When the 2018 season started, the Orioles were trying to make one last playoff run with an opening day roster that included Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Jonathan Schoop, Trey Mancini, Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner, Alex Cobb, Kevin Gausman, Brad Brach and Darren O'Day. Two years previously, they made the American League wild card game, losing in extra innings in Toronto. But in 2017, the club went 75-87. They were trending down, but with Machado in his last year before free agency,...

Taking an Orioles quiz during the shutdown

Taking an Orioles quiz during the shutdown
With no baseball to be played or watched on a Sunday, what better substitute than a pop quiz on the Orioles? Oh, please, no need to thank me. This is the coronavirus edition. Extra credit awarded for expanding on "none of the above" by making a prediction. The Orioles' fifth starter will be: A. Tommy Milone B. Kohl Stewart C. A player who wasn't in camp D. None of the above The backup catcher will be: A. Chance Sisco B. Austin Wynns C. Bryan Holaday D. None of the above The right fielder on...

Hyde on Stewart and impact of shutdown on development

Hyde on Stewart and impact of shutdown on development
The Orioles were supposed to be playing split-squad games tonight against the Twins and Red Sox. The latter would have provided the final division opponent before opening day and the last road trip in the Grapefruit League. I never made it to Fort Myers this spring and that's got to be a first for me. And I've been covering spring training since 1997 in Fort Lauderdale. I missed the Feb. 25 trip to the Red Sox complex because the Orioles also had a home game against the Rays. I was walking to...

Latest on Orioles' spring fleeing and roster decisions

Latest on Orioles' spring fleeing and roster decisions
SARASOTA, Fla. - Night turns to day and there isn't much clarity to the Orioles' plans moving forward since Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association provided three options for teams on Friday. As it pertains to the Orioles, they can: * Stay in Sarasota for informal workouts* Return home* Head to Baltimore for informal workouts Or can they? Personnel on the minor league side at Twin Lakes Park were told to stay. An email arrived early yesterday morning with those orders, a...