What's left to look forward to after the trade deadline?

What's left to look forward to after the trade deadline?
The trade talk is silenced. Another important date is crossed off baseball's calendar. Unless you get excited over expanded September rosters - and only two additional players may be added in 2021 - there isn't much left beyond the actual games. For the Orioles, attention to the minors only intensifies. Like the Adley Rutschman watch as he keeps pushing for a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk. It can't be much longer. And how convenient if he simply has to go from Richmond, where Double-A Bowie...

Orioles trade Armstrong to Rays (Hartman claimed off waivers)

Orioles trade Armstrong to Rays (Hartman claimed off waivers)
The Orioles kicked off the final day of baseball's trade deadline by moving one of the organization's relievers. Not one who's on the active roster or has been riding the waves of rumors and speculation. The Rays have acquired right-hander Shawn Armstrong from the Orioles for cash considerations. A source confirmed that a deal was close and the Orioles just announced it. Armstrong was designated for assignment on June 4 after posting an 8.55 ERA and 1.900 WHIP in 20 games. He accepted his...

Akin back with Orioles and awaiting further instructions

Akin back with Orioles and awaiting further instructions
While the Orioles decide what's next for pitcher Keegan Akin, he's just glad to rejoin the team and continue hoping for a more peaceful stretch in his professional life. His failure to make the club out of spring training was followed by a cut left index finger sustained in a kitchen accident in April that ruined a chance to be recalled. He finally made it back to the team and into the rotation and had to be scratched from a July 21 start against the Rays due to his placement on the COVID-19...

Wondering how holes could be filled if trades go down

Wondering how holes could be filled if trades go down
To keep the activity in its proper order, discussions about filling vacancies on the Orioles roster should be tabled until trades are consummated. But who said anything about being proper? The Orioles are receiving interest in left-handed relievers Paul Fry and Tanner Scott, and removing one likely leads to a promotion from Triple-A Norfolk. They are the only southpaws in the bullpen. This could open the door for veteran Fernando Abad, who has spent the entire season with Norfolk. The 5.23 ERA...

Armstrong reports to Triple-A confident in return to O's

Armstrong reports to Triple-A confident in return to O's
Shawn Armstrong received a phone call that he knew was coming. You don't have this much professional experience and self-awareness and become oblivious to the situation. Armstrong was struggling in the Orioles bullpen. He was out of minor league options. Someone had to step aside to make room for Hunter Harvey's return from the injured list. Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias was on the other end of the line on June 4. Armstrong had been designated for...

Orioles and Indians lineups

Orioles and Indians lineups
Austin Hays and Maikel Franco return to the lineup tonight as the Orioles continue their series in Cleveland. Hays is in right field after staying on the bench last night. Franco is playing third base after delivering a pinch-hit single. Trey Mancini is the first baseman. DJ Stewart is in left field and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. Austin Wynns is behind the plate for the third time in four games. Since being stuck with four unearned runs on May 7, Matt Harvey has surrendered 31...

Leftovers for breakfast (updated)

Leftovers for breakfast (updated)
Yesterday's announcement that reliever Shawn Armstrong cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk had me checking the terminology to make sure I didn't read too much into it. As it turns out, Armstrong being "assigned" is the same as "outrighted." He's reporting to the Tides. I was checking whether he could decline and become a free agent. Armstrong was outrighted by the Mariners in 2018 and could have refused yesterday's assignment, though he'd forfeit his salary. The...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
One of manager Brandon Hyde's favorite descriptions for Ryan Mountcastle's at-bats is how the rookie "snorkels" the ball. Which leads to one very important question: What exactly is snorkeling a ball? Hyde couldn't provide a demonstration yesterday because an afternoon storm canceled batting practice and stuck the media on another Zoom call. Otherwise, he gladly would have grabbed a bat and swung into action. "I guess I use it as when someone throws a breaking ball or slider or...

Means on mound as Orioles try to move win streak to four games

Means on mound as Orioles try to move win streak to four games
John Means is bringing a 2.05 ERA into this afternoon's start against the Indians and he's technically in a slump. This is how good he's been since September 2020. The bar has been raised to such heights that a bump is noticeable. Means had a 1.21 ERA after following up his May 5 no-hitter with six scoreless innings against the Mets at Citi Field. He's allowed nine runs and 16 hits in his last three starts over 18 1/3 innings. Opponents have hit six home runs, giving him 11 to tie Dean...

Notes on Armstrong, Harvey, Hays and more

Notes on Armstrong, Harvey, Hays and more
Orioles reliever Shawn Armstrong began the 2021 season on the paternity list, was transferred to the injured list in a procedural move caused by the intake process and spent two months unable to regain his effectiveness out of the bullpen. The next move for Armstrong could be joining a new organization. The Orioles designated Armstrong for assignment this afternoon while also recalling reliever Travis Lakins Sr. from Triple-A Norfolk, and claiming infielder Domingo Leyba on waivers from the...

Orioles DFA Armstrong and Waddell (plus lineups)

Orioles DFA Armstrong and Waddell (plus lineups)
The Orioles have designated right-hander Shawn Armstrong and left-hander Brandon Waddell for assignment today among a bunch of moves leading into tonight's game against the Indians at Camden Yards. Reliever Hunter Harvey was activated today from the 60-day injured list and he's on the field for early work with the rest of the pitchers. Left-hander Zac Lowther was optioned yesterday to Triple-A Norfolk to make room on the active roster. Infielder Pat Valaika has been placed on the bereavement...

Opener strategy works as Orioles win again 6-3 (updated)

Opener strategy works as Orioles win again 6-3 (updated)
Do two wins in a row constitute a streak? The debate rages on, but does so without any interest from the Orioles. They just want to keep the music blaring inside the clubhouse. Form the handshake line again. Feel a little better about themselves. Make the memories of the 14 losses in a row begin to fade like a tired starter. The Orioles didn't have one of those tonight. Matt Harvey provided more length than anticipated in his one-time role of opener, Rule 5 pick Tyler Wells followed with three...

O's woes grow with 7-4 loss in Game 1 (updated)

O's woes grow with 7-4 loss in Game 1 (updated)
Games shortened to seven innings aren't capable right now of preventing losing streaks from growing. The Orioles must hope that they don't run out of ideas. Another early lead for the Orioles was erased in rapid fashion today after Freddy Galvis hit the first of his two home runs off White Sox left-hander Dallas Keuchel in the first inning. A single by José Abreu tied the game in the first. A pair of Matt Harvey walks and a wild pitch to open the third were followed by Abreu's two-run...

Elias on bullpen changes, pitching plans and the draft

Elias on bullpen changes, pitching plans and the draft
Trey Mancini hopped on a Zoom call after a recent loss and spoke about the frustrating nature of a team that can't get "synced up." His words coming after the Orioles scored six runs and allowed 13. Plenty of offense and no pitching to support it. It also works in reverse. Starter Jorge López completed six innings yesterday for the first time since Sept. 19, 2020. A quality start produced by someone besides John Means. Relievers Shawn Armstrong and Tanner Scott combined to retire all six...

More thoughts on managing the bullpen

More thoughts on managing the bullpen
John Means didn't leave the bullpen many innings to cover Monday night in Minnesota. He worked through the seventh, trailing only because of two solo home runs and an offense that short-circuited with men in scoring position. The game never carried into the bottom of the ninth. The bullpen was responsible only for the eighth, unexpectedly given a lead and coughing up six runs in a demoralizing 8-3 loss. Manager Brandon Hyde wasn't going to use his most effective reliever, left-hander Paul...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The return of Anthony Santander from the injured list gives manager Brandon Hyde more outfield choices. It also gives him a cleanup hitter, the early numbers dismissed with a wave of the bat. Santander was slashing .196/.230/.321 with a double, two home runs, two walks and 17 strikeouts in 62 plate appearances before spraining his left ankle in Miami. But he's a presence in the lineup, someone that the opposition must account for, a threat to produce runs from both sides of the plate. Too bad...

Orioles trying to find some relief

Orioles trying to find some relief
Whether the Orioles make a roster move this morning seems less compelling than exactly how many. Is one reliever sufficient after yesterday's 12-9 loss? Manager Brandon Hyde hinted at the possibility of multiple pitchers joining the team in D.C. today, though as I wrote Friday night, there are 40-man roster complications. Another starter didn't get deep into yesterday's game, with rookie Bruce Zimmermann lasting only three innings and the Orioles surrendering leads of 5-0 and 6-1. Hyde used...

López falters in fifth and offense late to fire up in 4-2 loss (updated)

López falters in fifth and offense late to fire up in 4-2 loss (updated)
The Orioles gambled today by leaving their tired bullpen intact and counting on Jorge López to provide some length. But they didn't necessarily bypass an obvious solution. The pitching staff at Triple-A Norfolk isn't loaded with 40-man options. Hard decisions are pending, with Hunter Harvey's return from the 60-day injured list, perhaps by early June, just one of them. Manager Brandon Hyde wasn't going to use a couple of his relievers tonight after an exhausting homestand. Finding a hot...

Agent's role in convincing Valdez to sign before closing

Agent's role in convincing Valdez to sign before closing
To get César Valdez into the Orioles organization and eventually their bullpen and anoint him the closer based on his usage moreso than spoken words, he first had to be convinced to leave Mexico and trust the people closest to him. To regain his love of pitching in the majors, or at least the idea of it, rather than view the possibility through a skeptical lens. Valdez's success story entertains because of the dead-fish changeup that's just one separator from the traditional closers....

Orioles pitching surrenders five homers in 13-6 loss (updated)

Orioles pitching surrenders five homers in 13-6 loss (updated)
Matt Harvey stood with his back turned to home plate and his right hand on his hip tonight as Austin Meadows' ball sailed over the center field fence for the second three-run homer of the second inning. The second-shortest start of his major league career was happening before his eyes. He had to look. Though perhaps in disbelief. A bloop single by Brandon Lowe with two outs brought manager Brandon Hyde out of the dugout. The Rays were dinking Harvey to death, too, but it didn't hurt as much...