Taking a closer look at some minor league free agents (updated)

Taking a closer look at some minor league free agents (updated)
No matter if baseball's Winter Meetings proceed as planned next month in Orlando, Fla., or are shelved while a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias will be keeping both eyes on the major and minor league free agent markets. Large sums of cash won't be spent, but there are ways to upgrade the roster and depth at the highest levels of the farm system. Venturing to the minor league side allows the Orioles to increase camp...

More thoughts on yesterday's comeback win in the Bronx

More thoughts on yesterday's comeback win in the Bronx
Say what you will about the 2021 Orioles, and the dialogue fills a lot of pages, but there's no denying that they're playing hard with the season down to its final month and hopes of staying competitive buried a long time ago. You don't overcome a trio of three-run deficits yesterday at Yankee Stadium if you're already booking offseason vacations. You don't win two one-run games in the series. You don't keep grinding. There are obvious signs and more subtle ones, the latter including how...

The former big leaguer serving as Delmarva mentor, plus O's notes

The former big leaguer serving as Delmarva mentor, plus O's notes
When the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds took the field the last two weeks, with their new-look roster featuring a host of 2021 draft picks, an older pitcher ran to the mound four times with them. He kind of fit in with his own youthful look, even though he is 30 and a veteran of 92 major league games. Before the game, some fans may have figured he was one of the coaches, but lefty Ty Blach is still a player. A player just over 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery and pitching with...

Mateo moving fast into Orioles' future plans

Mateo moving fast into Orioles' future plans
The freedom to expand their roster by two players on Wednesday also is going to increase the Orioles' level of health. Lowering the chances of the bench running out of available bodies. Anthony Santander is playing with a sore ankle. Ramón Urías is dealing with soreness in his upper right leg and groin area. Jorge Mateo was unavailable for a few days with discomfort in his lower back. DJ Stewart had a sore knee that kept him on the bench. Pedro Severino also was restricted by a sore knee...

Orioles tie longest losing streak of season at 14 games (updated)

Orioles tie longest losing streak of season at 14 games (updated)
The Orioles bolted to an early lead tonight and lost their offensive touch. Their starter ran up a high pitch count that threatened his removal by the middle innings. Manager Brandon Hyde tries to find new methods to pull the Orioles out of their old ways, whether it's with his personnel or how he gets them to the ballpark. Tonight's lineup underwent drastic changes based more on health than a hunch. What's it going to take to form a congratulatory line after the final out rather than...

O's draft class arrives at Delmarva, ready for next step (updated)

O's draft class arrives at Delmarva, ready for next step (updated)
SALISBURY, Md. - The team that takes the field tonight at Perdue Stadium for the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds will look very different from the team that lost 2-1 at Lynchburg on Sunday. This club tonight is putting a team on the field made up completely of position players from the 2021 First-Year Player draft, along with infielder Coby Mayo, taken in the 2020 draft. Buy a scorecard to watch the Shorebirds this week, as they've added 12 draft picks from the class of 2021, including the...

Orioles and Marlins lineups (plus notes)

Orioles and Marlins lineups (plus notes)
DJ Stewart is in right field tonight and Austin Hays is starting in left as the Orioles begin a two-game series against the Marlins at Camden Yards. Ryan Mountcastle is the cleanup hitter and first baseman, and Trey Mancini is serving as the designated hitter. Mancini is 13-for-33 (.394) with two doubles and two home runs during his eight-game hitting streak. He has multiple hits in five of those games. Domingo Leyba took ground balls at second base before batting practice and that's where...

Inviting conversation about non-roster players in spring training

Inviting conversation about non-roster players in spring training
Is it safe to slip into spring training mode? Is it really going to happen, with Orioles pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb. 16 - one day after most or all of the beat crew arrives in Sarasota, Fla.? Multiple reports are feeding us optimism by the ladle. That's nice. But I'll repeat that teams were told back in October to prepare as though camps would open on time and the season would consist of 162 games. We only know that nothing has changed in that regard. No one has been instructed to...

O's release Blach, set start time for suspended game (updated)

O's release Blach, set start time for suspended game (updated)
The 60-man player pool no longer is full for the Orioles. The team announced this morning that it released left-hander Ty Blach, who was on the injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Blach wasn't on the 40-man roster, which is full, but his removal from the pool allows the Orioles to bring in another player. Pitcher Jorge López was claimed off waivers yesterday from the Royals and tossed into the pool. He's out of minor league options and set to join the team this week after...

Orioles claim López while going for sweep (game suspended)

Orioles claim López while going for sweep (game suspended)
The search for pitching that can provide length and serve in swingman and long relief roles has brought the Orioles to right-hander Jorge López. A team that's trying to get back above .500 fiddling with its roster. The Orioles claimed López off waivers from the Royals earlier today, filling their 40-man roster and 60-man player pool with one transaction. They made the move while also busy building a lead against the Nationals that's been put on hold in the top of the sixth inning due to...

Orioles moving on to finalization of roster for opening day

Orioles moving on to finalization of roster for opening day
The Orioles must turn in their opening day roster by noon Thursday and decide whether anyone else is headed for the injured list. They must sort through the pile of ailing players and figure out if it's smarter to just remove guys from the pool and send them to the alternate camp in Bowie. It's a job so big, they should hire interns. Infielder Richie Martin underwent wrist surgery and is on the 60-day injured list, pitcher Ty Blach had a ligament reconstructed in his left elbow and utility...

Valdez and Herrera making surprising bids for opening day roster

Valdez and Herrera making surprising bids for opening day roster
One of the more startling developments of summer training camp beyond John Means' dead-arm period is the potential crashing of the opening day roster projection party. Who invited César Valdez and Dilson Herrera? It feels like they carpooled and brought their own keg. The odds of Valdez's making the trip to Boston for Friday night's opener were placed at a "hard no" back in March, if such a thing actually exists, as he worked out at the minor league complex in Twin Lakes Park. His five...

O's must get creative again with players shut out of camps

O's must get creative again with players shut out of camps
The Orioles are streaming players from their summer training camp site at Camden Yards to the facility in Bowie, offering some hints about their intentions at a couple of positions. Players aren't trapped inside Prince George's Stadium. The Orioles can bring them back as options for the opening day roster. But they've tumbled down the power rankings. While the Bowie camp is set up to keep guys ready in case a spot opens on the major league club later in the summer or to push along the...

Updates on Tate, Martin, Blach and more

Updates on Tate, Martin, Blach and more
Orioles reliever Dillon Tate remains day-to-day with inflammation in his right elbow, an injury that occurred after he was struck by Pat Valaika's comebacker during Friday night's intrasquad game. Tate is trying to win a job in job in the bullpen, but he's losing valuable innings. "Still having some soreness, still hasn't thrown yet," manager Brandon Hyde said earlier this afternoon in his Zoom conference call. "Hoping he gets a ball in his hand here pretty soon, but there's still some...

Recapping today's workout, Santander's second day on the field

Recapping today's workout, Santander's second day on the field
The Orioles didn't play an intrasquad game today, devoting the hours on the field to live batting practice and workout drills. Alex Cobb threw live BP after John Means started last night. Wade LeBlanc is expected to pitch Thursday night to stay in line for the opening series in Boston. Anthony Santander stood in the box against Cobb and appeared to be tracking pitches rather than hunting for something to hit. He did the same from the right side against Rob Zastryzny. Also throwing today during...

Orioles add Kremer to player pool and option Velázquez

Orioles add Kremer to player pool and option Velázquez
Another Orioles prospect is taking a dip in the player pool. The team announced today that right-hander Dean Kremer has been added to the 60-man pool and is headed to the alternate training site in Bowie. Pitcher Hector Velázquez, viewed as a long relief candidate when summer training camp began, has been optioned to the alternate site. He's no longer in the running for a bullpen role. Also, infielder Richie Martin has been placed on the 60-day injured list and removed from the player pool...

Martin and Blach to undergo surgery (plus other notes)

Martin and Blach to undergo surgery (plus other notes)
Orioles infielder Richie Martin and pitcher Ty Blach are scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday after suffering injuries last week in summer training camp. The truncated 2020 season will go on without them. Martin is having a procedure to repair a fractured bone in his right wrist. Blach is slated for Tommy John surgery after receiving a second opinion on his sore left elbow. Manager Brandon Hyde said the timetable on Martin's recovery is two to three months. The regular season ends on...

Roster reductions out of team's control, Stewart's rotation candidacy

Roster reductions out of team's control, Stewart's rotation candidacy
Camp reductions aren't supposed to happen due to injury. The Orioles would prefer maintaining control of the process, but it keeps slipping from their grasp. Forty-five players in the pool are supposed to be competing for spots on the 30-man roster for opening day. The rest are headed to the alternate camp in Bowie, with the Orioles having the freedom to call upon them. They were counting on Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith Jr. being at Fenway Park for the opener, but the odds keep shrinking...

Martin has broken bone in wrist, three spots in rotation appear set

Martin has broken bone in wrist, three spots in rotation appear set
The utility competition in the Orioles' summer training camp no longer includes Richie Martin, who's been lost in an unexpected manner. Martin underwent X-rays yesterday afternoon that revealed a fractured bone in his right wrist, an injury that occurred after he collided with first baseman Chris Davis while diving back into the bag during Friday night's intrasquad game. The former Rule 5 pick held his left hand while walking off the field, the discomfort caused by a torn fingernail and...

Players unable to work out losing chance for opening day roster

Players unable to work out losing chance for opening day roster
Time is running out for players who can't participate in summer training camp to make the Orioles 30-man opening day roster. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't reference outfielders Dwight Smith Jr. and Anthony Santander, who have been held out of workouts and intrasquad games - the assumption being that it's linked to COVID-19 testing - but there are 13 days left before the beginning of the season. Santander was projected to start in one of the corners and Smith had a shot at the other - or at...