Is bullpen built to bring everything Orioles want?

Is bullpen built to bring everything Orioles want?
The evolution of the Orioles bullpen over the years has stripped away the veterans and increased option flexibility. More importance is placed on the freedom to shuttle relievers back and forth and to get multiple innings out of them. Less baton-passing. Less stress trying to cover for starters running short on innings. This is amplified in pandemic seasons and with pitchers coming off a 60-game schedule. "Guys being able to throw multiple innings are going to be really valuable," said...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The atmosphere at the Ed Smith Stadium complex would seem a lot stranger if the Orioles hadn't experienced the weirdness of a 2020 regular season. The separation and staggered arrivals became the norm. Getting back together has been celebrated - at the appropriate social distancing. "It's fun to get started again in spring training, Day One, pitchers and catchers," manager Brandon Hyde said during yesterday's Zoom conference call with the media. "We had a great day and looking forward to...

Harvey deal official, Hyde on having veterans in camp

Harvey deal official, Hyde on having veterans in camp
Veteran pitcher Matt Harvey was still in the process of undergoing his physical this morning while Orioles pitchers and catchers took the field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. It's now official. Harvey will report to camp and increase its total to 73 players, two short of the limit. Harvey agreed to terms over the weekend and will earn $1 million if he's on the club. Manager Brandon Hyde said the rest of the pitchers and catchers are in camp. The gathering in misty Sarasota included veterans...

The reconfiguration of spring camp and non-roster candidates

The reconfiguration of spring camp and non-roster candidates
Pitchers and catchers are arriving today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. We've made it this far. Smaller-scale workouts begin on Wednesday and broaden Feb. 22 with more players spread out on the back fields and over at Twin Lakes Park. There will be 73 players on the camp roster after Matt Harvey's deal is announced, two shy of capacity, but they're categorized as 40-man roster, non-roster invites and reserves. They won't be huddled together and making a mockery of the implemented...

Do the Orioles have other trade chips stacked on their table?

Do the Orioles have other trade chips stacked on their table?
The question was delivered with Anthony Santander and Trey Mancini in mind. During a recent Zoom conference call with the local media, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias was asked about the possibility of acquiring players via trades rather than free agency. "Trades where we're adding to the major league team or trades where we're trading veterans for prospects?" Elias asked. Either way, but I was more interested in talks involving Santander and Mancini. "I think...

Penning more thoughts on some relievers

Penning more thoughts on some relievers
Left-hander Fernando Abad, signed by the Orioles to a minor league contract in December, has been exceptional as the closer for Toros del Este in the Dominican Winter League. Abad made 10 appearances prior to the Caribbean World Series and didn't allow a run in 11 innings. He surrendered only three hits, walked one batter, struck out 10 and recorded six saves. Toros del Este is set to compete in the Caribbean World Series beginning Sunday at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal in Mexico. Abad will be a...

Getting back on the spin rate train

Getting back on the spin rate train
It's been about a week since I first wrote in this space about four-seam fastball spin rates. So today, I am jumping back on the spin rate train and presenting more data that is available to all from the baseballsavant.mlb.com website. Once again trying not to hurt myself, pull a hammie or break a hamate and/or injure myself in any way as I jump on the train. Too close to the start of a new season for any reporter setbacks. Today let's look at breaking pitches - sliders, curveballs and cut...

Orioles preparing for arbitration hearing with Santander

Orioles preparing for arbitration hearing with Santander
The Orioles have ceased negotiations with the representatives for outfielder Anthony Santander and are preparing for an arbitration hearing next month. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed the team's stance this afternoon on a Zoom conference call with the local media. Both sides reached the 1 p.m. deadline without an agreement. Salary figures will be exchanged and a hearing date will be set for next month. "We have a file-to-go policy that I've been very consistent...

On this date today and in the past (Mancini update)

On this date today and in the past (Mancini update)
The deadline has arrived for teams to sign their arbitration-eligible players for the 2021 season. The Orioles tendered contracts to outfielders Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander back on Dec. 2. However, the sides will exchange figures later this afternoon if they don't reach agreements by 1 p.m., and hearings will be scheduled for next month. Negotiations are allowed to continue beyond the salary exchange. However, the Orioles could be in file-and-trial mode again, which heightens the...

Noting a few more O's pitchers via spin rate data, plus other notes

Noting a few more O's pitchers via spin rate data, plus other notes
OK, don't panic but I'm going to throw out a few more notes today on four-seam fastball spin rate. Basically just add a few pitchers to the Orioles I listed among the data presented in this entry yesterday. If you recall, the spin rate data yesterday was produced for every big league pitcher last year that threw 250 or more pitches. Not just four-seamers, but total pitches. Of which they had their data for those pitches - to include four-seam fastballs. Last night I lowered the standard to...

Ninth means the last three outs, but not necessarily the biggest outs

Ninth means the last three outs, but not necessarily the biggest outs
Who will be the closer for the 2021 Orioles? Who knows today? But is it really that important for a rebuilding team? Probably not. The Orioles had five pitchers record saves last year. Cole Sulser was 5-for-8 in save chances, while César Valdez was 3-for-3. Miguel Castro was 1-for-3, Tanner Scott 1-for-2, Travis Lakins Sr. 1-for-1 and Thomas Eshelman 0-for-1. Sulser was the only player in the major leagues with two saves of at least two innings each. Scott picked up his first career save...

Orioles facts and what we learned from them

Orioles facts and what we learned from them
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. Hall of Famers John Wooden and Earl Weaver preached it. The phrase serves as the title of Weaver's autobiography. I'm using it this morning to lead everyone into my latest offseason collection of random facts. And most important, what we learned from them. No need to dig too deeply. Sometimes the answers are lying on the surface. Also, don't overlook an orchid while searching for a rose. Or something like that. * The Orioles were 18-11...

Disorder in an early lineup projection

Disorder in an early lineup projection
An offseason exercise that doesn't require a home gym, but makes me sweat as if competing in a triathlon, is creating an Orioles lineup in December. Taking the players on the current 40-man roster and the likely invites to spring training and filling every position. Go nuts and, if you dare, also craft a bench, rotation and bullpen. But only if you've stretched prior to attempting it. A national publication seeks my assistance every winter, with a deadline prior to the Christmas holiday. The...

This, that and the other (with salary update)

This, that and the other (with salary update)
Last night's trade of shortstop José Iglesias was the shocker among a series of moves made by the Orioles. The one transaction that dropped jaws after they picked up his $3.5 million option a month ago. Hanser Alberto was a strong non-tender candidate and the Orioles sent him into the free agent market. They were more inclined to hold onto infielders Yolmer Sánchez and Pat Valaika and reliever Shawn Armstrong. They had no intention of non-tendering outfielders Trey Mancini and Anthony...

Elias discusses today's activity

Elias discusses today's activity
The Orioles are interested in negotiating a new contract with infielder Hanser Alberto, who has been non-tendered and allowed to enter the free agent market. The cost in arbitration was too rich for the club, but they'd like to bring him back on a friendlier deal and expect to maintain contact with his agent. They're also going to be busy finding a replacement for José Iglesias, who was traded tonight to the Angels for minor league pitchers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto. Executive vice...

Orioles trade Iglesias to Angels (updated again)

Orioles trade Iglesias to Angels (updated again)
The Orioles did more today than decide the contract status of their remaining arbitration-eligible players. They also traded shortstop José Iglesias to the Angels after picking up the $3.5 million option on his contract a month ago. An industry source confirmed the trade. The return for Iglesias is unknown, but it marks the second deal between the teams around the non-tender deadline. The Orioles sent pitcher Dylan Bundy to the Angels a year ago for four minor league pitchers, including...

Orioles sign Sánchez

Orioles sign Sánchez
The Orioles whittled their list of unsigned arbitration-eligible players to five this morning by reaching agreement with infielder Yolmer Sánchez on a 2021 contract, according to an industry source. Sánchez is signed for $1 million and waiting to learn whether he's a candidate to start at second or third base. He could land in the utility mix, with his arrival perhaps having a domino effect on the roster. Hanser Alberto could be impacted. Pat Valaika could be impacted. They're also...

The non-tender date approaches for the Orioles

The non-tender date approaches for the Orioles
The deadline for teams to offer arbitration eligible players contracts for 2021 is tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The Orioles have some decisions to make with seven remaining arbitration-eligible players. Let's take a look at them in alphabetical order and list the three projected salaries that MLBTradeRumors.com has listed after the shortened 60-game 2020 season. They came to the three figures this way: The first model dealt only with the stats from the 60-game season. The second...

Latest review of arbitration-eligible O's (Severino update)

Latest review of arbitration-eligible O's (Severino update)
The baseball offseason wouldn't feel complete unless the names of arbitration-eligible players and projected raises were recited weekly until the deadline, which mercifully is arriving on Wednesday. There were seven Orioles on the original list. Yolmer Sánchez increased it to eight, but Renato Núñez came off after being designated for assignment and granted his release. Trades are possible in the coming days, just as the Orioles dealt infielder Jonathan Villar and starter Dylan Bundy...

Sharing some questions and curiosities

Sharing some questions and curiosities
I have questions. The issue is how none of them can be answered and I'm not known for my patience. Pitchers and catchers are supposed to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Feb. 16, but booking travel now seems like wasted energy with the possibility of a COVID-related delay. Not only am I unsure about the chances of spring training starting on the time, I have no idea whether media will be granted access. The whole production could be done again over Zoom. If allowed inside the gates,...