Trying to make sense of the Puig report

Trying to make sense of the Puig report
The hot stove doesn't have much cooking with the Orioles. Rebuilding teams tend to sit on the national media's back burner. And clubs that tend to do some of their heaviest lifting in spring training are going to get lighter coverage in November and December. The Orioles finally are tied to a free agent, with MLB.com reporting again per sources that there's interest in veteran outfielder Yasiel Puig. Makes even less sense to me now than earlier in the year. Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith...
    

Which minor league free agents should re-sign with Orioles?

Which minor league free agents should re-sign with Orioles?
The beauty of becoming a minor league free agent is the freedom to go back to the organization if given an offer. It can be "see you later" rather than "goodbye." Or it can be "no thanks" and the player moves on to the next phase of his professional life. Baseball America published a complete list of free agents in baseball, including 16 in alphabetical order from the Orioles minor league system: Cristian Alvarado, Danny Barnes, Malquin Canelo, Martin Cervenka, Brian Gonzalez, Tyler Herb,...
    

Five things we learned about Orioles fall instructional league

Five things we learned about Orioles fall instructional league
A five-item list is like air to a sportswriter. Not four, not six, not more. "Five things we learned" can't be altered or you'll be reassigned to the mailroom. And you don't get five warnings. We must have learned five things yesterday about the fall instructional league. I'll take a stab at it. * The plan to have all of the draft selections in Sarasota, Fla. was ruined. Outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the second overall pick from the University of Arkansas, can't make it to the Ed Smith...
    

Improved depth providing Orioles with playoff push

Improved depth providing Orioles with playoff push
If Austin Hays is able to come off the injured list next week, as he's projecting, manager Brandon Hyde will be tasked with figuring out how to occupy center field. Decisions must be made regarding Hays and Cedric Mullins, who collected two more hits last night and has been an outstanding replacement. Whether or not Hays is back in center field on a full-time basis, he's going to be plopped in the middle of a pennant race. He's been watching from the alternate camp site in Bowie, where he's...
    

Williams and Hess rejoin Orioles

Williams and Hess rejoin Orioles
The Orioles have summoned outfielder Mason Williams and pitcher David Hess from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Williams can only return if he's replacing an injured player, making his arrival likely tied to outfielder Anthony Santander, who left the early game of yesterday's doubleheader with a sore oblique. Santander was undergoing tests earlier today. The 40-man roster had two openings, so no corresponding move would be necessary to accommodate Williams. The Orioles outrighted Williams...
    

Orioles roster moves and lineup

Orioles roster moves and lineup
Rather than bring in another reliever this afternoon, the Orioles have selected the contract of infielder Dilson Herrera from the alternate camp site in Bowie, recalled outfielder DJ Stewart and designated outfielder Mason Williams for assignment. The 40-man roster currently has 38 players and the 60-man pool has 57 players. The moves were made following yesterday's trade of reliever Miguel Castro to the Mets for minor league left-hander Kevin Smith and a player to be named later or cash...
    

Last chance to be selected as a Maryland Lottery "Contestant of the Game"

Last chance to be selected as a Maryland Lottery "Contestant of the Game"
Time is running out to enter the Maryland Lottery's FAST PLAY "Contestant of the Game" promotion. The final drawing to pick contestants for the remaining Orioles games is this Tuesday, Sept. 1. Two contestants are selected for each Orioles game. The Lottery has awarded $72,000 in cash prizes to winners so far this season, including $2,500 to both Teresa Martin of Whiteford and Dina Pierelli of Dundalk. They were the "Contestants of the Game" for the Aug. 6 game versus the Miami Marlins....
    

Dwight Smith Jr. outrighted to alternate camp site

Dwight Smith Jr. outrighted to alternate camp site
Outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. is staying in the Orioles organization. Smith has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the alternate camp site in Bowie, according to an industry source. The 60-man pool is holding 58 players. It had been reduced to 57 with left-hander Wade LeBlanc going on the 60-day injured list. The Orioles designated Smith for assignment on Saturday and selected outfielder Mason Williams' contract from the secondary camp. Smith was batting .222/.306/.365 with three doubles and...
    

Givens could go as trade deadline gets closer

Givens could go as trade deadline gets closer
As the Orioles prepare for a two-city road trip that begins tonight in St. Petersburg, Fla., reliever Mychal Givens must wonder whether he's pitched in his last game at Camden Yards as a member of the team. He hears the rumors every year. Trade chip talk follows him like baby chicks. He'd probably feel lonely without it. Baseball's deadline version of separation anxiety. The Orioles were willing to move Givens last summer, but they couldn't find the right partner. The days of being...
    

More on Smith's designation and the trade deadline

More on Smith's designation and the trade deadline
The evolution of the Orioles roster has moved Dwight Smith Jr. outside the organization. After Smith was designated for assignment earlier today, the Orioles were able to select Mason Williams' contract from the alternate camp site in Bowie and upgrade defensively in the outfield. "It's a guy that can play three outfield spots, be able to defend, run, obviously the left-handed bat," manager Brandon Hyde said during his Zoom conference call. "I think he offers us some versatility in the...
    

Dwight Smith Jr. designated for assignment

Dwight Smith Jr. designated for assignment
The Orioles made more changes to their outfield prior to tonight's game. Dwight Smith Jr. has been designated for assignment and the club has selected Mason Williams' contract from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Smith was batting .222/.306/.365 with three doubles and two home runs in 21 games and he experienced a few more lapses in left field. He got a late start in summer training camp based on a positive test for COVID-19 and rushed to make the opening day roster. Smith was 2-for-18 in...
    

Orioles promoting Mountcastle for tonight's game

Orioles promoting Mountcastle for tonight's game
The long-awaited arrival of prospect Ryan Mountcastle to the majors is happening tonight. The Orioles are recalling Mountcastle from the alternate camp site in Bowie, according to an industry source. He's going to be in uniform for tonight's game against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. The team hasn't announced the move or offered confirmation. Mountcastle is the organization's No. 5 prospect per Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com and the most recent Most Valuable Player of the International...
    

Hyde meets with team to review fundamentals

Hyde meets with team to review fundamentals
The Orioles won't jog onto the field for the start of tonight's game until manager Brandon Hyde holds a meeting that's intended to review some basic fundamentals that were neglected earlier this week. Breakdowns on defense and the bases made it much harder for Hyde to accept the Blue Jays' three-game sweep and his team's tumble to the .500 mark. Play properly and move on to the next opponent. Hyde didn't see it happening against the Jays. One sequence lingered for him, when Renato...
    

Shepherd outrighted, Alberto leading off

Shepherd outrighted, Alberto leading off
Reliever Chandler Shepherd has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to the alternate camp site in Bowie. The 60-man pool is holding 59 players. The Orioles designated Shepherd for assignment on Sunday to create a roster spot for John Means, who was reinstated from the bereavement list. Shepherd could have declined the assignment and become a free agent based on a previous designation. Hanser Alberto returns to the leadoff spot for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox at Camden...
    

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles shouldn't go streaking while José Iglesias has a sore quad. (A failed attempt to reference "Old School") This team has played eight series. Six have resulted in sweeps - the Orioles on the good side of three and the bad side of three. And now their losing streak has reached four games to lower their record to 12-12. The alternate cap should have a broom on the front. Players that live by the clichéd "one game at a time" motto are handling the losses in the same manner as...
    

Orioles can't get Grichuk or avoid sweep (updated)

Orioles can't get Grichuk or avoid sweep (updated)
Randal Grichuk keeps homering against the Orioles as if his contract provides incentives for it. Just one team. No one else. Grichuk hit two more today off left-hander Tommy Milone, raising his total to four in the series and 16 in 33 career games versus the Orioles. His leadoff shot in the second inning gave Toronto an early lead. His two-run shot in the sixth gave them a new one. One ball cleared the center field fence, the other bounced off an orange awning in the home bullpen. The Orioles...
    

Caleb Joseph on return to Baltimore, plus other notes

Caleb Joseph on return to Baltimore, plus other notes
It is a very familiar sight but in an unfamiliar uniform. Catcher Caleb Joseph, the Orioles' seventh-round draft pick in 2008 who spent five seasons with the big league club, returned to Baltimore this week. He's on the Toronto Blue Jays' taxi squad after spending last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After spending a few years wondering if he would ever move past Double-A Bowie on the farm - he played there parts of four seasons - Joseph finally broke into the majors in 2014. At the...
    

Santander's two homers still leave Orioles short in 8-7 loss (updated)

Santander's two homers still leave Orioles short in 8-7 loss (updated)
The pose has become familiar. He just needs paparazzi to capture the moment. Anthony Santander unloads on another ball and admires its flight, tosses his bat and beings a slow trot to first base. He'll glance at the dugout and gesture to teammates. A pointed finger, a few words. A celebration after crossing home plate with fists and elbows sometimes touching only air. The hard contact's already been made. Santander extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games tonight with a two-run...
    

Means makes short return start in 6-5 Orioles loss (updated)

Means makes short return start in 6-5 Orioles loss (updated)
John Means threw his last warm-up pitch this afternoon, waited for the ball to return to him and fired a 94 mph heater that missed his target. Baseball was back in his life. The question was how long he'd stay in his first game since leaving the bereavement and injured lists. On the mound for the first time in 12 days, Means issued an 11-pitch leadoff walk to Trea Turner and was victimized by three soft singles before retiring a batter. The first out came on his 29th pitch, a line drive to...
    

Orioles use unconventional lineup to beat Nats (updated)

Orioles use unconventional lineup to beat Nats (updated)
The Orioles broke out their Sunday lineup a little early. Or maybe it was too late. They should have tried it last night. An injury to his starting center fielder and an opposing left-handed starter had manager Brandon Hyde digging into his bench and providing opportunities that eluded a few players. Chris Davis and Dwight Smith Jr. sat against Nationals southpaw Patrick Corbin. Bryan Holaday served as the designated hitter for the first time in his career. Pat Valaika made his third start in...