More on Galvis, Martin and shopping list

More on Galvis, Martin and shopping list
The shortstop market unclogged in a hurry. Life comes at you fast. Daniel Robertson signed with the Brewers on Jan. 21 to get the ball rolling. Ehire Adrianza reached agreement with the Braves Tuesday afternoon on a minor league deal, the Blue Jays agreed to terms with Marcus Semien on an $18 million deal and the Twins agreed to terms with Andrelton Simmons on a $10.5 million contract. There was local interest here based on the Orioles' contact with representatives for Robertson and Adrianza,...

Orioles sign shortstop Freddy Galvis to one-year deal

Orioles sign shortstop Freddy Galvis to one-year deal
The Orioles found their shortstop. As expected, they got him on the free agent market. The team announced tonight that it signed veteran Freddy Galvis to a one-year contract. Galvis is guaranteed $1.5 million, per a source, and can receive $250,000 if he's traded. The deal doesn't include an option. Galvis is the starting shortstop after the Orioles traded José Iglesias to the Angels on Dec. 2 for minor league pitchers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto. Iglesias was set to earn $3.5 million...

An anniversary brings questions from a man I miss

An anniversary brings questions from a man I miss
I lost my father exactly two years ago today. I've learned through this crushing ordeal that it won't be any easier typing that sentence after three years. The number is going to change. Not the huge void in my life. And knowing that he never got to see my granddaughter, who would have melted his heart as she's done mine, brings a tremendous amount of sadness. My daughter found out that she was pregnant on this date in 2020. She says that he sent us this little angel. A middle school...

Orioles notes on minicamp and free agent possibilities

Orioles notes on minicamp and free agent possibilities
The Orioles are proceeding as though their pitchers and catchers will report to spring training on Feb. 16. As though there will be a full slate of workouts and exhibition games, followed by opening day on April 1 in Boston. They can't let the unpredictability of a pandemic influence their plans. Adjustments will be made if necessary. In the meantime, it's been deemed safe to hold a minicamp from Monday-Wednesday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, with players and coaches following in-season...

Christmas list of reasons to be happy

Christmas list of reasons to be happy
'Tis the season to be jolly. If you pretend that 2020 didn't happen. My only advice is to dig deep and unearth the joyous moments in your lives. Hopefully, you'll find many more than you expected. Hopefully, you can use a trowel instead of a bulldozer. For me, it's getting engaged at spring training, less than a week before the shutdown. My plan to propose at the spot where we met outside the Ed Smith Stadium press box would have been ruined if she chose to fly down later. (I'll never know...

Roster work doesn't take a holiday break (updated)

Roster work doesn't take a holiday break (updated)
The Orioles are approaching the Christmas holiday with a shopping list that won't be satisfied by a late trip to the mall. Their search for a veteran starting pitcher and replacement for shortstop José Iglesias, to name two of the items, could stretch into January or February. The market is evolving. A drop in prices can expand it. Their last transaction on this date occurred in 2014 with the signing of left-hander César Cabral to a minor league deal. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway was claimed...

Checking in with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde

Checking in with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde held his virtual Winter Meetings interview this morning, providing his own update on Trey Mancini and sharing his thoughts on the spring training rotation and the losses of Renato Núñez, José Iglesias and Hanser Alberto. He also spoke about Chris Davis' health issues over the summer and how the first baseman will be competing for at-bats in 2021. Hyde sat in his spring training office at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He has no idea whether players will be...

Martin back on field after fracturing wrist

Martin back on field after fracturing wrist
Infielder Richie Martin's fractured right wrist must have healed. He's playing winter ball. Confirmation that doesn't require industry sources. Just access to a roster and statistics. Martin is in Puerto Rico with Criollos de Caguas. In his first four games, the former Rule 5 pick was 3-for-15 with two doubles, an RBI, a walk and three runs scored. He was 2-for-6 in his first two games and 2-for-11 after three. The third must have been rough. Martin should be full-go in spring training based...

O's hire scout Quincy Boyd, Chris Davis talks about offseason

O's hire scout Quincy Boyd, Chris Davis talks about offseason
Today's virtual Winter Meetings activity for the Orioles on its third day impacts the scouting department, the kind of behind-the-scenes move that's common during the traditional in-person gatherings. According to an industry source, the Orioles are hiring Quincy Boyd as an area scout. Boyd has served as a national scouting supervisor with the Red Sox since February 2018. He was promoted to regional crosschecker in December 2012 after working as an area scout for North Carolina and South...

Thinking about the Boras scrums and more on trades

Thinking about the Boras scrums and more on trades
The absence of in-person Winter Meetings leaves us with one more burning question during hot stove season: Does agent Scott Boras make house calls? It still wouldn't replicate the circus atmosphere that unfolds in hotel lobbies. Or, in one instance, a hallway with Boras pressed against a gift shop glass window while a nervous security employee attempted to herd the group to a less-congested area. Good luck with that. The scene resembled the one that closed "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," with...

Elias on virtual meetings, shortstop, starting pitching, more

Elias on virtual meetings, shortstop, starting pitching, more
The virtual Winter Meetings are making Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias yearn for the standard setup, which couldn't exist in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Elias couldn't meet with beat writers in his hotel suite this afternoon, instead dispersing the usual nuggets of information via a Zoom conference call. "It's not the same," Elias said. "I think all of us take the Winter Meetings for granted and we groan about some of the repetition of it, but I think...

Iglesias: "Baltimore was special for me"

Iglesias: "Baltimore was special for me"
José Iglesias didn't expect his phone to ring Wednesday night with news that would shake up the professional side of his life and spark emotions on the personal side. He didn't expect to hear from Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias or to be told that he was traded again. He fell in love with the Orioles and felt the sting of a sudden breakup. Elias informed Iglesias that the veteran shortstop was going to the Angels in exchange for minor league pitchers Garrett...

Remembering how the Orioles landed a shortstop in 2010

Remembering how the Orioles landed a shortstop in 2010
The Orioles aren't expected to be nearly as busy retooling the roster this week, which has been advertised as some sort of virtual Winter Meetings, as they were in 2010. Still a tough act to follow. They're in a different place, and I don't just mean home compared to Lake Buena Vista, Fla. They needed a shortstop, as they do now, and traded for J.J. Hardy after almost finalizing a deal for Jason Bartlett - one of the best decisions in franchise history. They also were linked to Cardinals...

Because You Asked - Final Cut

Because You Asked - Final Cut
The mailbag is getting full again, which sends me scurrying to find answers and a new sequel title. You know the drill. You ask, I respond, you ask again, I respond again and our relationship grows stronger. Curiosity killed the cat, but it keeps this blog alive through the dog days of winter. Any surprises at the non-tender deadline? Such a negative person. You could have referred to it as the "tender deadline." Anyway, catcher Pedro Severino went from vulnerable to recipient of a $1.825...

How will the Orioles fill in their infield?

How will the Orioles fill in their infield?
Who's on first. What's on second. I don't know is on third. The Orioles can round out their infield by making us wonder who or what is at shortstop. I don't know. They don't know. We've come a long way from the days of Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Chris Davis - with Ryan Flaherty the primary backup. José Iglesias won't be the shortstop in 2021 because the Orioles traded him and the $3.5 million on his contract to the Angels for two minor league pitchers. They're...

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...

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,...

Searching for reasons to be thankful

Searching for reasons to be thankful
The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us and traditions are being shut down like a spring training camp. Large family gatherings and out-of-state travel are discouraged due to health concerns rather than the bickering and your weird uncle's inappropriate comments. The two football games today interest me about as much as month-old sweet potato casserole, but I'll still watch them. They were supposed to be pigskin appetizers before Ravens-Steelers, which is going to be as satisfying as month-old...