Orioles trade Breyvic Valera to Giants

Orioles trade Breyvic Valera to Giants
The Orioles needed only one day to resolve their situation with infielder Breyvic Valera. Valera has been traded to the Giants for cash considerations, with both teams making the announcement. He was designated for assignment yesterday after the Orioles claimed pitcher Austin Brice off waivers from the Angels. A spot had to be opened for Brice on the 40-man roster and Valera was the casualty. The Orioles could have attempted to pass him through waivers, but they worked out a trade. Former...

Orioles claim Austin Brice off waivers and DFA Breyvic Valera

Orioles claim Austin Brice off waivers and DFA Breyvic Valera
The Orioles have added a right-handed reliever to their 40-man roster while subtracting a player who was set up to compete for a utility job in spring training. Austin Brice has been claimed off waivers from the Angels, with infielder Breyvic Valera designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Brice, 26, is 2-4 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.262 WHIP in 70 relief appearances over the past three seasons. He registered a 5.79 ERA and 1.393 WHIP in 33 games with the Reds over the summer before the...

Peterson returns to Orioles on minor league deal

Peterson returns to Orioles on minor league deal
The utility competition in Orioles camp next spring is going to include veteran Jace Peterson. The Orioles have re-signed Peterson to a minor league deal, according to an industry source, and he's likely to receive an invitation to spring training. Peterson was arbitration-eligible, cleared outright waivers earlier this month and elected free agency. The club has wanted to keep him in the organization, though there was an element of uncertainty attached due to the pending hire of a head of...

How are the Orioles going to address roster needs?

How are the Orioles going to address roster needs?
The following nugget won't cause your head to snap back in disbelief or bring tremors or have you rushing off to tell your friends. It's been an assumption that's backed up by multiple people in the industry as the GM meetings closed this week. The Orioles won't be major players in free agency. Slow your heartbeats. There's been no indication that the Orioles will be "heavily involved" in free agency, as one person worded it. They met with agents at the GM meetings. They won't avoid it...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The Orioles' list of arbitration-eligible players will be reduced with the decision to place infielder Jace Peterson on outright waivers. Peterson made $900,000 this season and MLBTradeRumors.com projects a raise to $1.3 million. The Orioles will look to carry a utility infielder at a reduced cost and it could be Peterson under a restructured deal. This is partly about money and partly about the need to clear room on the 40-man roster. The Orioles have five players who will need to be...

Some early roster rumblings and Rule 5 questions

Some early roster rumblings and Rule 5 questions
I've warned in the past that it's much too early to project how the Orioles will fill out their 25-man roster. It's only October and no one has been hired in the front office and as the new manager. There are so many steps ahead that it would fry a Fitbit. Players will be added via trades and/or free agency, fitting into whatever budget has been laid out by ownership. The Rule 5 draft again could be utilized, though perhaps not to the extent of the previous offseason, when three selections...

Orioles won't leave their tender moments alone

Orioles won't leave their tender moments alone
As the organization undergoes its makeover, decisions must be made regarding arbitration-eligible players and whether to extend contracts for 2019. The non-tender deadline is Nov. 30, giving the Orioles plenty of time to figure it out. A new high-ranking executive should be in place to handle it. Starter Dylan Bundy, reliever Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar are the no-brainers to receive contract offers. The Orioles aren't letting them hit free agency. The only questions pertaining...

Valera hopes he's in consideration for next year

Valera hopes he's in consideration for next year
A player trying to impress in the final month of the season and convince his new team that he deserves a roster spot in 2019 needs to do more than hit and field his position. He has to stay healthy. Breyvic Valera provided a reminder to manager Buck Showalter that he owned a career .299 average in the minors. Not that Showalter needed it. One of baseball's most prepared men already perused the stats and recited them to the media after the Manny Machado trade to the Dodgers that brought Valera...

Wrapping up a 6-3 win

Wrapping up a 6-3 win
NEW YORK - Alex Cobb knew his finger was going to flare up today while he warming in the bullpen. It wasn't a sudden occurrence. He didn't have visions of a lengthy start. The signs pointed toward an early exit and non-blistered fingers crossed. Cobb was done after four pitches, but the bullpen covered nine innings in a 6-3 victory that gave the Orioles five victories in nine games at Yankee Stadium for their only winning record in an American League ballpark. "I knew I wasn't going to last...

Bullpen handles nine innings and Beckham homers twice in 6-3 win

Bullpen handles nine innings and Beckham homers twice in 6-3 win
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter always talks about having to prepare for the what-ifs. As in, what if the starting pitcher gets nailed on the shin by a line drive in the first inning? How will the bullpen cover the rest of the game? Showalter sits down with pitching coach Roger McDowell and bullpen coach Alan Mills to ascertain the availability of their relievers. An expanded roster doesn't necessarily provide adequate cover. Alex Cobb's blister issues had the Orioles on high alert...

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
NEW YORK - Adam Jones is out of the lineup today for the series finale at Yankee Stadium. John Andreoli is in right field and Joey Rickard is in left. Breyvic Valera is batting second and playing second base. Jonathan Villar is the shortstop. Tim Beckham is the designated hitter. Chris Davis goes to the bench. Before Steve Wilkerson yesterday, the last Orioles player to get thrown out twice at the plate in the same game while trying to take an extra base was Eddie Murray on June 24, 1988...

Hicks double off Fry in 11th hands Orioles 3-2 loss (updated)

Hicks double off Fry in 11th hands Orioles 3-2 loss (updated)
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said no one is smart enough to have a complete read on a pitcher in only one season. He won't pronounce the book on David Hess complete after 18 starts and 20 appearances. Hess has dazzled and disappointed. He's been a rookie surviving on location and mixing his pitches. He could be a starter, reliever, Triple-A depth or all of the above. No one knows whether DJ Stewart will have a long and productive career after only nine games. He, too, will get...

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
NEW YORK - Chris Davis remains in the lineup today as the Orioles continue their series against the Yankees. Davis is the designated hitter and batting sixth. He's 1-for-32 with 17 strikeouts in his last nine games and 1-for-34 going back to his last 10. DJ Stewart is playing left field and batting second. Breyvic Valera is the second baseman and Steve Wilkerson is the third baseman. Caleb Joseph is catching rookie David Hess. The Orioles secured the first overall draft pick with last night's...

Notes on lineup shuffling, Sisco, Phillips and Fry (O's down 4-0)

Notes on lineup shuffling, Sisco, Phillips and Fry (O's down 4-0)
The Orioles are expected to stick with their latest lineup, the third posted today, if the weather allows them to play. It's pouring at Camden Yards. Breyvic Valera was removed from the original one due to some shuffling that began with Adam Jones going from right field to the designated hitter role. Joey Rickard was inserted into right field, but he's been removed while Chris Davis gets the start at first base. Baseball's version of the trickle-down theory. "Just satisfying all the things...

Early notes from Camden Yards (another lineup change)

Early notes from Camden Yards (another lineup change)
The Orioles may post a third lineup today, with manager Buck Showalter hinting at another change. Adam Jones moved to designated hitter because of the wet field. The switch forced Breyvic Valera out of the lineup. He's a healthy scratch. Chance Sisco isn't available tonight after suffering a deep gash on his chin yesterday on a foul tip. He's also under concussion protocol. Sisco underwent an examination earlier today and he wasn't in the clubhouse while the media was allowed inside. The...

Orioles avoid sweep and record-tying loss with 8-4 win (updated)

Orioles avoid sweep and record-tying loss with 8-4 win (updated)
On the four-year anniversary of the Orioles clinching their first division title since 1997, they managed to avoid tying the club record for most losses in a season. No champagne on ice, no plastic covering the lockers. An Orioles flag wasn't trotted around the warning track, fans didn't stick around to share in a celebration and Adam Jones didn't pie anyone. It was just a nice win on a gorgeous afternoon at Camden Yards following a loss last night that gnawed at Buck Showalter. Embrace the...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
Orioles rookie DJ Stewart is serving as designated hitter today, while searching for his first major league hit. Breyvic Valera is the second baseman and Jonathan Villar is the shortstop. Joey Rickard is in left field and Adam Jones is starting in right. Chance Sisco is catching. On this date in 2014, the Orioles defeated the Blue Jays 8-2 at Camden Yards to win the American League East title for the first time in 17 years. For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF Joey Rickard LF Jonathan Villar SS...

Hess gets another turn, thoughts on Villar and Valera

Hess gets another turn, thoughts on Villar and Valera
The second series of the homestand concludes today with the Orioles starting another rookie, right-hander David Hess, for his first career outing against the White Sox. Hess is back in the rotation after being put in the bullpen to provide insurance as a long reliever. It's done out of necessity with Alex Cobb pushed back due to the blister/cut on his right middle finger. Hess has worked a combined nine innings in his last two starts, the most recent on Sept. 8 at Tropicana Field, and allowed...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
Adam Jones returns to the Orioles lineup tonight and Tim Beckham remains out of it. Jonathan Villar gets another start at shortstop and Breyvic Valera is playing second base. Chris Davis also is back in the lineup at first base, with Trey Mancini the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is in left field and Austin Wynns is behind the plate for Luis Ortiz's first major league start. For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF Jonathan Villar SS Adam Jones RF Trey Mancini DH Chris Davis 1B Renato Núñez 3B...

Dylan Bundy back in the win column as O's take finale (with quotes)

Dylan Bundy back in the win column as O's take finale (with quotes)
Dylan Bundy returned to his early-season form and that was a welcome sight tonight for the Orioles and their fans. He pitched the Orioles past Oakland 5-3 as they avoided getting swept in three straight and snapped a six-game losing streak. Bundy recorded his first quality start since Aug. 4 and his first win since July 29. His slider had its sharp, late break back and he recorded 16 swings and misses, 12 on the slider. That is his most in a start since he got 20 swinging strikes on May...