Orioles announce 2021 coaching staff

Orioles announce 2021 coaching staff
The Orioles announced their 2021 coaching staff this afternoon, which provided further confirmation that Tony Mansolino is handling third base duties and infield instruction. Mansolino, 38, replaces José Flores, who isn't returning after two seasons in the organization. News of Mansolino's hiring broke last month. He was the Indians' infield instructor and filled in at third base after Mike Sarbaugh moved into the dugout to serve as acting manager Sandy Alomar's bench coach. Mansolino...

Flaherty on Mansolino: "He'll be good, really good"

Flaherty on Mansolino: "He'll be good, really good"
Former Orioles utility player Ryan Flaherty believes that the club made a smart hire in Tony Mansolino, who is replacing José Flores as third base coach and infield instructor. Flaherty has known Mansolino for a long time. They were drafted three years apart from Vanderbilt University and Mansolino managed Flaherty at Triple-A Columbus in the Indians organization in 2019. The Orioles haven't announced the composition of their coaching staff, but a source last week confirmed Mansolino's...

MLB disputes report Elias and Holt linked to potential pension fraud

MLB disputes report Elias and Holt linked to potential pension fraud
A spokesman for Major League Baseball issued a statement tonight disputing a New York Daily News report that Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and director of pitching Chris Holt are being investigated for potential pension fraud. "Major League Baseball is completely comfortable with the Orioles' coaching designations for the 2020 season, which are not only consistent with the terms of the pension plan but were approved in advance by MLB and shared prior to the start...

Wondering whether Orioles stay in-house during coaching search

Wondering whether Orioles stay in-house during coaching search
Past searches for coaching replacements on the Orioles' major league staff involved the casting of a wide net. Most recently, they found first base coach Anthony Sanders in the Rockies system, bullpen coach Darren Holmes after his stint in Colorado and major league coach Fredi González after his tenure in Miami. Third base coach José Flores came from Philadelphia prior to the 2019 season. Tim Cossins, the major league field coordinator and catching instructor, worked for the Cubs....

Brocail and Flores won't return to Orioles coaching staff

Brocail and Flores won't return to Orioles coaching staff
The offseason work conducted by the Orioles has moved past the 40-man roster today and impacted two coaches. The Orioles aren't going to bring back pitching coach Doug Brocail and third base coach/infield instructor Jose Flores, according to multiple industry sources. Potential candidates have not been determined and no other changes are coming to the staff at this time, per a source. Brocail was hired in January 2019 as the replacement for Roger McDowell, who served on former manager Buck...

Cobb's quality can't control outcome in 2-1 loss (updated)

Cobb's quality can't control outcome in 2-1 loss (updated)
Alex Cobb took his turn tonight, the senior member of a rotation that's filling up with freshmen. A bend in a popular September storyline. If Cobb is going to impact the rebuild, it's likely to be as a mentor for the rookies. Maybe as a trade chip over the winter or at next summer's deadline. Or perhaps he lessens the pain of it with a standout 2021. He has one season left on the four-year, $57 million deal he signed in March 2018. He has one start remaining after tonight. He needs to take...

Means masterful and bats muted in 4-0 loss (updated)

Means masterful and bats muted in 4-0 loss (updated)
As more players reported back to Camden Yards today, the ballpark deemed safe again after a few Marlins were retested for COVID-19 and an earlier evacuation was lifted, they were subjected to the latest disruption to their normal preparation and routine. Because the year 2020 hasn't provided enough to satisfy everybody. Pitchers threw in the outfield and headed to the bullpen for their side sessions. Renato Núñez knelt on a towel and fielded grounders in front of the dugout, with third...

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...

Flores on Mountcastle's defense and Núñez at third base

Flores on Mountcastle's defense and Núñez at third base
With the exception of the 37 minor league players released last week, the Orioles haven't done much with their personnel since returning home from spring training. The sport is on hold and the camp roster is on ice. Infielder/outfielder Ryan Mountcastle, pitcher David Hess, infielder Ramón Urías and outfielder Cedric Mullins were the last players cut, and those moves became official back on March 19. Five days after I boarded a flight out of Tampa. Mountcastle received most of his work...

Flores on Martin and the positive influence of Iglesias

Flores on Martin and the positive influence of Iglesias
The Orioles hadn't made a final decision on shortstop Richie Martin prior to baseball's shutdown in spring training. He remained on the camp roster, which is frozen at 50 players. The club could have placed him in a utility role or, more likely, assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk in an attempt to further develop his skills. They had the freedom to go in any direction with Martin no longer holding Rule 5 status. Now what? The minor league season is expected to be canceled due to the coronavirus...

Flores doing his teaching from Puerto Rico

Flores doing his teaching from Puerto Rico
Pitchers who are confined to their homes during the pandemic are challenged to find a mound and perhaps a willing partner to provide a target. Hitters are relegated to batting cages, if they have one built or access to a facility that's open, in order to stay sharp. What's an infielder to do? José Flores, who replaced Bobby Dickerson as Orioles third base coach and infield instructor prior to the 2019 season, is trying to teach and encourage from Puerto Rico. He doesn't know whether...

Martin at third, Harvey back, Rutschman enjoying camp

Martin at third, Harvey back, Rutschman enjoying camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - Richie Martin arrived at the complex this morning, glanced at the board and found out that he's working out at third base. The rotating of Orioles infielders in camp is putting Martin at the hot corner. Manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that Martin would be kept at shortstop and second base, but the former Rule 5 pick is going to take ground balls at a new position. "I've messed around over there, but I've never really learned the position, so that's going to take...

Playing a numbers game with the Orioles

Playing a numbers game with the Orioles
The Orioles are one day away from having their pitchers and catchers report to spring training, though the number of early arrivals since they moved to Sarasota makes the official date seem insignificant. Players start trickling into the facility in January. They've already been throwing. It's become more of a report date for the media. My life is broken down into thirds. I have my spring training, regular season and offseason routines - and family and friends learn to adapt. Manager Brandon...

Can Núñez contribute at third base?

Can Núñez contribute at third base?
Look up Renato Núñez on Baseball-Reference.com and the first "position" listed next to his name is designated hitter. Says a lot more about his defensive reputation than the site. The only glove recommended is for batting. Edgar Martinez made it into the Hall of Fame as a DH, but Núñez just wants to stay in the majors and get his at-bats. The lineup today would include him in the role, with the infield corners reserved for someone else. If manager Brandon Hyde could craft the...

Orioles announce 2020 coaching staff

Orioles announce 2020 coaching staff
The 2020 Orioles coaching staff is now official. The hiring of Anthony Sanders as first base coach, Fredi González as major league coach and Darren Holmes as bullpen coach have been announced after various reports surfaced over the past four weeks. Sanders replaces Arnie Beyeler and González replaces José Hernández, who shifts to assistant hitting coach, the role previously held by Howie Clark. Holmes replaces John Wasdin. Beyeler, Clark and Wasdin weren't retained for next...

Orioles hire Darren Holmes as bullpen coach

Orioles hire Darren Holmes as bullpen coach
The Orioles have completed their major league coaching staff for the 2020 season. According to an industry source, the Orioles have hired former pitcher Darren Holmes as bullpen coach. The team hasn't made an announcement, but the deal is done. Holmes, 53, had served as Rockies bullpen coach since 2015. He didn't have previous experience on a team's coaching staff, but he worked in 2014 as the Braves' biomechanics pitching consultant. The Rockies replaced Holmes last month with minor league...

Hyde on Hays, rotation, rebuild, trades, Martin and more

Hyde on Hays, rotation, rebuild, trades, Martin and more
SAN DIEGO - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can't make roster projections for 2020 without knowing it's exact composition. However, he said this afternoon that center fielder Austin Hays is "definitely" in the mix to bat leadoff. A healthy Hays is going to be on the opening day roster. There's no gray area in center field. Hyde also told the media during his 20-minute session that he'd like to have eight candidates for the starting rotation in camp. The Orioles are pretty much down to three...

Orioles adding Fredi González to coaching staff

Orioles adding Fredi González to coaching staff
The Orioles are nearing completion of the hiring process for their coaching staff, another item to cross off a long list of activities. Former Marlins and Braves manager Fredi González has been chosen as major league coach, according to a source. González inherits the title that belonged to José Hernández, who shifts to assistant hitting coach, per the source. Two of the three vacancies on the staff have been filled, including Anthony Sanders' hiring as first base coach. Sanders...

Orioles promote Chris Holt to director-of-pitching role

Orioles promote Chris Holt to director-of-pitching role
The Orioles remain in the process of building their minor league staffs, including the implementation of an extra coach with each affiliate. In the meantime, they've elevated minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt to a position that more closely connects him to the major league team. Holt has been promoted to a director-of-pitching position that extends his reach from the minor league side and more easily allows him to join Orioles pitching coach Doug Brocail in utilizing the technology...

Orioles decline to renew contract of bullpen coach John Wasdin

Orioles decline to renew contract of bullpen coach John Wasdin
The Orioles made a third and perhaps final change to their coaching staff this afternoon. Bullpen coach John Wasdin has been notified that he won't be invited back in 2020, according to a source. Wasdin, 47, joins first base coach/outfield instructor Arnie Beyeler and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark, who learned yesterday that their contracts wouldn't be renewed. All three coaches were working on one-year deals after the Orioles hired Brandon Hyde as manager in December. Adjustments to...