Gilmartin, Peterson and Sucre enter free agency

Gilmartin, Peterson and Sucre enter free agency
The offseason is moving through the period when players who have been outrighted off the 40-man roster can elect free agency. Players with a previous outright or who built up three years of service time in the majors. The market is open and the list of Orioles to enter it includes pitcher Sean Gilmartin, infielder Jace Peterson and catcher Jesús Sucre. The list of surprises is empty. The Orioles designated Gilmartin on June 25, claimed pitcher Tayler Scott off waivers from the Mariners and...

Wynns caught in logjam behind plate

Wynns caught in logjam behind plate
Another game passed last night with Austin Wynns unable to swing the bat beyond the usual cage work. He's healthy and he's ready, but the life of a third catcher on an expanded September roster can be filled with idle time. There's the fast lane and then the cell phone lot. Wynns hasn't received a plate appearance with the Orioles since Game 1 of a June 1 doubleheader against the Giants. He caught an inning on July 19, two in the nightcap of Tuesday's doubleheader and one last night after...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles are starting Gabriel Ynoa tonight and faced with a decision on how to fill the opening on their 25-man roster after optioning reliever Dillon Tate to Triple-A Norfolk. They must have it figured out, but we're left to wonder if they want a fresh arm - especially with Miguel Castro sick - or a third bench player. If it's a bench player, do they bring up an outfielder? The Tides were rained out yesterday. Their lineup included DJ Stewart, Austin Hays and Rio Ruiz. Castro hasn't...

Updating injuries, Sisco's slump, Tate's relief and more (O's down 4-2)

Updating injuries, Sisco's slump, Tate's relief and more (O's down 4-2)
The Orioles are down to one healthy reserve tonight, their short bench reduced further after Stevie Wilkerson and Hanser Alberto took foul balls last night off the right knee and left shin, respectively. José Rondón needs to avoid injury tonight or the Orioles are in a major bind. Wilkerson said the knee feels "OK," which isn't a ringing endorsement. "It's pretty sore, as expected, but I think if they need me tonight I could go in there and play. I think over the next couple of days...

Orioles set to add Shepherd to staff

Orioles set to add Shepherd to staff
The Orioles are prepared to make another roster move later today after pitcher Chandler Shepherd joined them in San Diego last night while they were losing to the Padres 8-1. The corresponding move could involve David Hess, who started last night. Or they could hold onto Hess and keep him in the rotation. Another pitcher could be optioned or the move could involve outfielder Dwight Smith Jr., who aggravated his calf injury last night. Getting a position player to the West Coast for a day game...

Orioles open second half with 16-4 loss

Orioles open second half with 16-4 loss
The All-Star break enabled the Orioles to enter tonight's game with a rested bullpen. They reached a point where it appeared that they might need every reliever - and at least one position player. Dylan Bundy lasted only one inning and allowed a season-high seven runs and every Rays batter collected a hit by the second in a 16-4 victory over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 22,422 at Camden Yards. Eleven batters came to the plate in the first, with the Rays squeezing 37 pitches out of...

Closer look at Orioles' roster usage

Closer look at Orioles' roster usage
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles made it through last night's game without calling upon a 47th different player. They managed to get by with the current group, covering nine innings and heading to Toronto for the final series before the All-Star break. Are 46 players a lot over the course of a season? How about in the first half? Spoiler alert: The first-half number is a club record. So, yes, it's a lot. Consider that the Orioles' record for a season is 56, set last year as they began to...

Orioles critiquing their young catchers

Orioles critiquing their young catchers
While the Orioles are transparent about their primary goals for the 2019 season, outlining the importance of development and talent infusion and devoting a substantial amount of energy toward auditioning players for various roles, they're in a unique position regarding their catching situation. It's common for a rookie or player with limited major league experience and no real track record to be paired with an accomplished veteran, the setup on opening day when the Orioles kept Pedro Severino...

Sisco talks about his return to the Orioles (plus draft update)

Sisco talks about his return to the Orioles (plus draft update)
ARLINGTON, Tx. - Catcher Chance Sisco is listed among the reserves tonight on a three-man bench that's more comfortable to him than a seat on the Triple-A shuttle. Sisco is back in the majors after the Orioles recalled him yesterday from Norfolk. He was batting .289/.383/.530 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs in 44 games. The 10 home runs already are a career high. "I'm definitely excited to be here," he said this afternoon. "Things that were going well, just sticking to my...

Notes on Bundy, Bleier, Hays, Sisco and more (O's lead 5-1)

Notes on Bundy, Bleier, Hays, Sisco and more (O's lead 5-1)
A day after Orioles starter Dylan Bundy raised some concerns over his decline in velocity and poor command, the sense within the organization remains that he isn't hurt. "I feel fine physically and that's the most important thing," Bundy said this morning. Manager Brandon Hyde checked again on Bundy this morning. "His velo was down a little bit all game long," Hyde said. "What we saw, and I talked to him about it - he understood totally, too - in the fifth inning there his velo dropped a...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is staying true to his word in his use of reliever Mychal Givens. It's fine to label Givens as the closer based on his team-leading four saves and how he's the first choice to pitch last. But he won't be saved for the saves. Hyde trusts Givens to get the biggest outs anywhere after the sixth inning. Givens worked the eighth and ninth Wednesday night with the score tied and carried the game into extras. He's exceeded one inning in eight of his 13 appearances. The...

Orioles caught controlling the running game

Orioles caught controlling the running game
The moment easily could have gone unnoticed in a game featuring nine runs scored on homers through the fifth inning. J.D. Martinez strikes out swinging, Mookie Betts breaks for second base and catcher Austin Wynns pops out of his crouch and makes a perfect throw. Tag applied, runner out, another caught stealing for the Orioles. A similar moment last night drew more attention with the score tied in the ninth inning. Eduardo Núñez strikes out swinging, Rafael Devers breaks for second base...

Hyde giving Givens plenty of innings (O's down 8-5)

Hyde giving Givens plenty of innings (O's down 8-5)
The fourth save of reliever Mychal Givens' season last night required him to get the last four outs. It's happened twice this month, with Givens striking out three batters in 1 1/3 innings in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader in Chicago. The extreme already had passed, with Givens facing nine batters and covering the last two innings of a 4-3 win over the White Sox on April 24 at Camden Yards. Manager Brandon Hyde isn't shy about pushing Givens, who's exceeded one inning in seven of his...

Bleier to start rehab assignment in Frederick

Bleier to start rehab assignment in Frederick
Orioles left-hander Richard Bleier is beginning an injury rehab assignment Tuesday night at Single-A Frederick, his recovery from shoulder tendinitis no longer keeping him down in Florida. Bleier said he'll make a couple of appearances for the Keys and a couple with Double-A Bowie and later report to Triple-A Norfolk, estimating that he'll need more than five appearances in the minors before the Orioles will consider activating him from the injured list. "I'm definitely looking forward to...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
Joey Rickard is out of the Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox, but Richie Martin has returned to shortstop. Stevie Wilkerson is in center field. Pedro Severino is catching left-hander John Means. Hanser Alberto is on the bench tonight, with Rio Ruiz at third base and Jonathan Villar at second. Means made an April 14 start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park and allowed one run in five innings in a 4-0 loss. J.D. Martinez is 2-for-2 with a double and home run against...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Anthony Santander lasted only one game with the Orioles after serving as the 26th man in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader in Chicago. Hit a home run and hit the road. He won't be forgotten by the Orioles. Santander was wise to unpack his bags after returning to Triple-A Norfolk, but manager Brandon Hyde expects to write the outfielder's name on the lineup card again during the summer. "I think you're going to see Tony here at some point. I don't know when, but he'll be back up,"...

Hyde on Mancini and injuries, Santander on his return

Hyde on Mancini and injuries, Santander on his return
CHICAGO - The Orioles decided to use an outfielder as the 26th man in today's doubleheader, with Anthony Santander ticketed for a start in Game 2. Santander has joined the club from Durham, where Triple-A Norfolk is playing. "With the rainout yesterday, the off-day tomorrow, we feel good about our pitching situation," said manager Brandon Hyde. "A little bit beat up from the position-player standpoint. There are a couple guys I don't want to go both games, so Tony's going to be in...

Sucre outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk

Sucre outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk
CHICAGO - Jesús Sucre is staying in the Orioles organization, giving them a veteran catcher as insurance for a roster that is susceptible to change. The Orioles announced this afternoon that Sucre cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk rather than becoming a free agent. Sucre was designated for assignment Sunday after breaking camp as the starter. He batted .210/.269/.242 with two doubles and three RBIs in 20 games after agreeing to a minor league deal on...

Latest with Orioles pitching and roster

Latest with Orioles pitching and roster
The Orioles can be thankful that the Twins don't play in their division. Nineteen games against them would be excruciating. The sweep at Target Field over the weekend continued a trend that's seen the Twins win 12 straight games against the Orioles. Someone asked Dylan Bundy, who took the loss yesterday, what makes them so good. "They don't miss pitches over the plate," he replied. No one seems to be missing those pitches, and that's how a staff surrenders 71 home runs in 29 games. And...

Orioles claim Shawn Armstrong off waivers (Ortiz optioned)

Orioles claim Shawn Armstrong off waivers (Ortiz optioned)
A day filled with roster moves and transactions for the Orioles has room for at least one more. The Orioles announced this afternoon that they claimed right-hander Shawn Armstrong off waivers from the Mariners, the latest attempt to settle a pitching staff that's giving up home runs in record proportions. Armstrong, 28, is out of minor league options and will be placed on the Orioles' 25-man roster after he reports to the club, which should happen this week during the series in Chicago that...