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...

Orioles select Goudeau off waivers and outright Wynns

Orioles select Goudeau off waivers and outright Wynns
The Orioles made their first virtual Winter Meetings move this afternoon by claiming right-hander Ashton Goudeau off waivers from the Pirates and outrighting catcher Austin Wynns to Triple-A Norfolk. The 40-man roster still holds 38 players heading into Thursday's Rule 5 draft. Goudeau, 28, made his major league debut this summer with the Rockies. He allowed seven runs and 15 hits in four relief appearances covering 8 1/3 innings. The Royals selected Goudeau in the 27th round of the 2012...

Checking the 40-man roster again before it inflates

Checking the 40-man roster again before it inflates
With the Orioles on the verge of adjusting their 40-man roster, this seems like an opportune time for a final scroll of the current edition. There are 35 players listed and at least three prospects are expected to join them by today's deadline. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is likely to make further subtractions later as he attempts to plug holes or increase depth via the free agent and trade markets - though minor league deals would delay the process. Here are the 15...

What's next for Orioles?

What's next for Orioles?
The conclusion of the World Series, with the crowning of a 60-game COVID champion, opens the door for free agency and trades. The official offseason is underway. As always, please continue to breathe normally. Players enter free agency the day after the World Series. For the Orioles, it's a short line at the moment with only pitcher Wade LeBlanc and catcher Bryan Holaday, according to Baseball-Reference.com. A two-man stampede doesn't make much noise. LeBlanc will be removed from the 60-day...

A tale of two seasons for Orioles catchers

A tale of two seasons for Orioles catchers
The catcher position is historically one that does not produce much offense. Of course, there are always exceptions, but generally speaking, teams are happy if they get modest offense from their catchers. For a good portion of the shortened 2020 season, the Orioles had to be delighted with the offense coming from their catchers. They used three players at the position with Pedro Severino making 32 starts, Chance Sisco 22 and Bryan Holaday six. In late August, the O's catching trio was...

Light free agent winter workload for Orioles

Light free agent winter workload for Orioles
Part of a team's offseason agenda is attempting to retain its own free agents. Hold onto the players who are deemed irreplaceable and affordable. The Orioles won't be bogged down by this type of business. The current list of Orioles free agents is a brief read. Left-hander Wade LeBlanc and third catcher Bryan Holaday are the only ones assured of hitting the market. The $3.5 million option on shortstop José Iglesias' contract is going to be picked up unless there's a monumental,...

Looking back at some non-roster invites

Looking back at some non-roster invites
The Orioles won't know whether they'll be able to open their spring training camp in February until the world gives its approval. Or Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association if they choose to ignore the world. First comes the fall instructional league, which so far has gone uninterrupted for two weeks. If we're lucky, the Orioles will reach the point where they can extend spring training invites and avoid another shutdown of the Ed Smith Stadium complex. It's interesting to...

Giving Orioles the business now that season ended

Giving Orioles the business now that season ended
The next step after waking up without baseball is to gauge your own interest in the playoffs - hard for me to root against the Padres with those familiar faces - and wonder what's next for the Orioles beyond the fall instructional league. Will they be active at the Winter Meetings? Will there be a Winter Meetings? At least remotely, I'd assume. Hold onto that Zoom account. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is going to determine the interest in his trade chips, including...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Orioles reliever Dillon Tate tossed a scoreless inning in Sunday's game at Camden Yards and showed no signs of an injury. Nothing happened at the ballpark that led to his placement on the injured list with a sprained finger on his pitching hand. A fall in his apartment the following day was responsible, the final blow in a 2020 season that brought pains and gains. Tate didn't have the best luck. He was struck on the right arm by a Pat Valaika comebacker during a July 10 intrasquad game at...

Orioles surrender Carson Fulmer on waiver claim

Orioles surrender Carson Fulmer on waiver claim
Carson Fulmer's stay in Baltimore was brief. The Orioles lost Fulmer today on a waiver claim by the Pirates after he made three relief appearances. He's headed back to the organization that lost him on a waiver claim by the Orioles two weeks ago. Reliever Cody Carroll was placed on outright waivers, cleared them and will remain assigned to the alternate camp site in Bowie. The moves leave the Orioles with only 37 players on the 40-man roster and 59 in the 60-man pool. Fulmer, the eighth...

Orioles complete Castro trade with Mets, release Shepherd (plus lineups)

Orioles complete Castro trade with Mets, release Shepherd (plus lineups)
The Orioles announced the completion of another trade, receiving shortstop Victor González from the Mets as the player to be named later in the Miguel Castro deal. González has been added to the 60-man pool and the Orioles released pitcher Chandler Shepherd from the alternate camp site in Bowie. The pool is holding 60 players. González, 17, was originally signed by the Mets on July 2, 2019, as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He hasn't played...

Cobb's quality can't control outcome in 2-1 loss (updated)

Cobb's quality can't control outcome in 2-1 loss (updated)
Alex Cobb took his turn tonight, the senior member of a rotation that's filling up with freshmen. A bend in a popular September storyline. If Cobb is going to impact the rebuild, it's likely to be as a mentor for the rookies. Maybe as a trade chip over the winter or at next summer's deadline. Or perhaps he lessens the pain of it with a standout 2021. He has one season left on the four-year, $57 million deal he signed in March 2018. He has one start remaining after tonight. He needs to take...

Orioles lineup vs. Rays

Orioles lineup vs. Rays
José Iglesias is out of tonight's lineup, whether due to a sore quadriceps muscle or shin. Andrew Velazquez gets the start at shortstop as the Orioles try to rebound from yesterday's doubleheader sweep. Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman and cleanup hitter and Chance Sisco is the designated hitter. Bryan Holaday is catching. Austin Hays is in left field. Third baseman Rio Ruiz is on the field today for early work on his throws. Alex Cobb is making his penultimate start of the season....

The rotation, today's starters and latest on Austin Hays

The rotation, today's starters and latest on Austin Hays
The Orioles are going to need a starter for Tuesday night's game against the Braves. Manager Brandon Hyde already has eliminated the idea of rookie Keegan Akin working on short rest. One potential candidate eliminated. Akin threw 39 pitches in two-thirds of an inning in the second game of Friday night's doubleheader. Hyde won't disrupt his rest and routine. If the roster is unchanged from its current state, Hyde most likely is going to choose between Thomas Eshelman and Asher Wojciechowski...

Early defensive breakdowns doom O's in 10-1 loss (updated)

Early defensive breakdowns doom O's in 10-1 loss (updated)
The losses are easier for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde to stomach when his team is playing crisp baseball. When the mental and physical mistakes are removed from the equation. They were front and center tonight in the first inning in the second game of the doubleheader. The Orioles weren't charged with an error, but fielding data is influenced by other factors. So are outcomes. The Yankees responded to the latest DJ Stewart homer with four runs in the bottom of the first, chasing rookie Keegan...

Because You Asked - Risk Addiction

Because You Asked - Risk Addiction
A day without baseball is like a day without sunshine. Except the forecast is calling for it today in Baltimore. Lots of it. A day without sunscreen could lead to a nasty burn. There's always the risk of a nasty burn when I sort through my mailbag. And the sarcasm doesn't require extra postage. You know the drill. You keep asking the same stuff and I keep answering it. Or I just make it up as I go along. I don't like stale bread - unless it's used for my mother's homemade stuffing - or...

Kremer crushes major league debut and O's win series (updated)

Kremer crushes major league debut and O's win series (updated)
Seven Orioles bolted out of the dugout for the start of today's series finale against the Yankees, but Bryan Holaday stayed back and waited for the kid he was going to catch. Holaday stood on the top step, glancing over his shoulder until it was time. And then another piece of the Orioles' future emerged. In the present. With longish hair and flowing confidence. Dean Kremer had finally come out, under a bright blue sky, with Holaday jogging behind him. They separated at the appropriate point,...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
Ryan Mountcastle is elevated to the cleanup spot this afternoon as Orioles manager Brandon Hyde makes more adjustments to a lineup that's missing key players to injuries. Renato Núñez and Cedric Mullins remain out of the lineup, with Pat Valaika playing first base today and Mason Williams getting another start in center field. Pedro Severino is the designated hitter and Bryan Holaday is behind the plate. Shortstop José Iglesias is on the bench with a sore quadriceps muscle. His...

A closer look at Keegan Akin's start, plus a trade note

A closer look at Keegan Akin's start, plus a trade note
Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin threw a very strong game today against Toronto in Buffalo. In fact, he became just the third O's starter on the year to not allow an earned run. He gave up two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision. The Orioles broke a five-game losing streak and avoided a four-game sweep and winless road trip. They beat Toronto 4-3 in 11 innings on RBI doubles by José Iglesias and Bryan Holaday in the 11th. In the last of the 11th, Toronto scored one...

Givens surrenders late home run in 4-3 loss (updated)

Givens surrenders late home run in 4-3 loss (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had "an idea" last night, as he put it, that Trevor Richards would start for the Rays in the second game of the series. He was waiting for confirmation, which can be a sluggish process. They stick with TBD for as long as possible while sorting through their available candidates in the bullpen. Hyde thought the Rays might go with an opener in front of Richards. He didn't post the lineup until later, which made sense anyway because he had to check on the status of...