The Orioles cleared a spot on their 40-man roster this afternoon in preparation for opening day in two weeks. The Giants have claimed right-hander Ashton Goudeau off waivers from the Orioles, paring the 40-man to 39 players. Goudeau appeared in two exhibition game, the most recent on Saturday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, and allowed two runs and one hit in four innings. He walked two batters and struck out five. A rotation spot didn't seem available to Goudeau, but he was a candidate to...

Veteran starter Félix Hernández left today's start against the Rays with discomfort in his right elbow. He's undergoing an examination and the Orioles should have more information in the morning. Hernández retired the side in order with two strikeouts, but manager Brandon Hyde sensed that there was an issue. "I thought the velo was the same," Hyde said following a 7-1 seven-inning loss in Port Charlotte. "He was getting outs, he had a good slider. I just thought the body language...

Offensive support from the Orioles wasn't in vogue again today. Manager Brandon Hyde is trying to remain patient while wondering when it might come back in style. The Orioles were no-hit today in Dunedin, four walks their only noise, until Adley Rutschman's two-out double in the seventh that completed a 10-pitch at-bat against Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano. Rutschman fouled off five in a row, per the Gameday pitch tracker, and drove a slider to center field in a 5-0 loss. He's 3-for-9...

The likelihood of Hunter Harvey going on the injured list prior to opening day creates the latest curiosity in Orioles spring training. Exactly how the Orioles choose to replace him in the bullpen. Hyde could pivot and carry an extra bulk-type reliever rather than concentrate on a back end, one-inning type. The latter scenario would appear to make more sense with the team prioritizing length and having an abundance of candidates to fit the description. Folding another closer candidate into the...

The Orioles won't really sink their teeth into their camp roster until they get closer to opening day. The first round of cuts was more like a nibble. There are decisions to be made that are going to challenge them. Others shouldn't consume hours and run late into the night. For example: Easy: Outfielders Yusniel Diaz and Ryan McKenna head to the alternate camp site in April and await their major league debuts later in the summer. The Orioles, meanwhile, celebrate their outfield depth that...

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis remains unavailable due to soreness in his lower back and is being examined by other doctors, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Davis had two at-bats in the first game and felt a twinge in his back. "Davis' back is still sore," Hyde said during today's Zoom call. "He is seeing some doctors about it. I don't have a timeline on that." Outfielder DJ Stewart is out of the lineup again with a sore hamstring, but his condition is improving. "We hope to see...

The Orioles are flashing their outfield depth in spring training. Reports of its impressive nature weren't exaggerated. Same with the level of intensity in the competition. Austin Hays, trying to win the center field job, had a single, two-run homer and stolen base today in an 8-1, seven-inning victory over the Braves in North Port, Fla. DJ Stewart is at his best, he insists, when he's spraying line drives and concentrating on base hits instead of home runs. The power just seems to come...

Tyler Nevin finished a round of batting practice last month in Orioles camp and caught the eye of executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, who offered a hint at how the organization viewed him in the field. "I got here and I was hitting and Elias was behind the cage watching," Nevin recounted this morning in his Zoom conference call. "I got out and rolled around the cage and he goes, 'Hey, did you bring all your gloves?' I said, 'Yep,' and he goes, 'OK, you're going to need...

A spring training camp with a roster that's grown to 73 players is bound to have a lot of moving parts. Fold in the influences of a pandemic that's turned the sport on its ear, and those parts can leave a vapor trail. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde knows that he's allowed to construct a 26-man roster, but he's open to any ideas. One of them is breaking camp with six starters. Hyde confirmed on Wednesday's Zoom conference call that it's a viable option. "I think anything's possible this...

When you look at the list of 73 players the Orioles have heading to spring training this week, there are 37 pitchers among that group of players. Of that group of 37, there are 15-20 that might have at least a remote shot at breaking north in the season-opening starting rotation. Realistically, the number is less, but still large. Let's take a look at groupings of pitchers that we could see in the rotation come April. TOP TIER This group includes lefty John Means, the likely opening day...

The signing of a veteran starting pitcher was a certainty as the Orioles attempted to set their camp roster. Could have been a major league deal, could have been a minor league deal. Could have been one major league and one minor league deal. Could have been two minor league deals. But an experienced starter was going to be slotted into the rotation. Deal with it. Wade LeBlanc reached agreement last week on a minor league contract, followed by former Cy Young Award winner Félix Hernández...

If we are to presume that two slots in the 2021 Orioles rotation are pretty much set and two others are somewhat set, that still leaves at least one spot open in the starting five for next season. The Orioles have some decisions to make before opening day next season, whenever that turns out to be. Do Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer return to the rotation where they ended last summer and join mainstays John Means and Alex Cobb? Where does this leave Jorge López? Can one or both of the Rule 5...

The Orioles took a deliberate approach to filling their 40-man roster, but the deed is done. It's stuffed like a holiday turkey. Just don't assume that it's staying that way. Anyone who signs a major league contract is going to bump a player off the roster, and the Orioles are at least willing to consider it. In the meantime, it's impossible to make an exact prediction about the roster when you wake up in the morning and find pitchers Ashton Goudeau, Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells on...

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...