Memory Lane trip: The 2011 Carolina League champion Frederick Keys

Memory Lane trip: The 2011 Carolina League champion Frederick Keys
The year was 2011. Two teenaged Orioles prospects were about to play their first full seasons of professional baseball. One was an international signee, the other a No. 3 overall draft pick. They would soon become close friends and would play together in Baltimore. But that year, Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado began the season as teammates at low Single-A Delmarva and ended the year leading high Single-A Frederick to the Carolina League championship. The last two O's farm teams to win...

This reunion seems unlikely for the Orioles

This reunion seems unlikely for the Orioles
Reunions can be nice. In sports we see them often. Would the Orioles be interested in one with a player that once made the All-Star team and finished 12th in the American League MVP voting? The player is second baseman Jonathan Schoop, originally signed by the team out of Curacao in August 2008. He played in 635 games over six seasons as an Oriole and played in the postseason with the Birds in both 2014 and 2016. In 2017, Schoop had a breakout year and at the end of it was voted the Most...

Checking on Villar comparisons to Schoop

Checking on Villar comparisons to Schoop
Former Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop got a late start on his offseason, but he's able to head back home with the Twins swept in the American League Division Series. Schoop is a free agent again after signing a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Twins last winter. He slashed .256/.304/.473 with 23 doubles, a triple, 23 home runs and 59 RBIs in 121 games and he struck out in both plate appearances in the ALDS. The Orioles didn't attempt to re-sign Schoop and won't make an effort...

Red Sox pull away late from pitchers' duel to post 7-2 win

Red Sox pull away late from pitchers' duel to post 7-2 win
The Orioles restored some semblance of order to their pitching staff today. Right-hander Dylan Bundy took a shutout to the sixth. But it got away from him - and then there was the matter of the Orioles getting anything going against Boston left-hander Chris Sale. They got to Sale for a couple of runs in the sixth, ending his run of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run at 22. But the Orioles still were two runs short today until Boston scored three in the ninth for a 7-2 win in...

Jonathan Schoop on his fond O's memories plus other notes

Jonathan Schoop on his fond O's memories plus other notes
Former Oriole Jonathan Schoop has played on the field at Camden Yards often. But he came out of the visiting dugout to play at the Yard for the first time yesterday. After 635 Orioles games between 2013 and 2018, Schoop was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers last July 31. Then, as a free agent, he signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins in December worth $7.5 million plus incentives. So some memories came rushing back before Saturday's doubleheader when Schoop talked to a group of...

Jonathan Schoop on his return to Camden Yards, former team and more

Jonathan Schoop on his return to Camden Yards, former team and more
After a Friday night stop at one of his favorite restaurants - Ruth's Chris Steak House - Jonathan Schoop will take the field at Camden Yards today for the first time since he was traded by the Orioles to the Milwaukee Brewers last July 31. Since that day he went to the playoffs last fall with the Brewers and then signed as a free agent on Dec. 6 with Minnesota. He signed a one-year deal worth $7.5 million with incentives after a season when he hit .233/.266/.416 between the Orioles and...

Notes on Schoop, the rotation, Ortiz and more (O's down 2-1)

Notes on Schoop, the rotation, Ortiz and more (O's down 2-1)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Former Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop took his last swings in the cage this morning at Hammond Stadium, headed down the dugout steps and knew he was being followed. One of Schoop's tools must be eyes in the back of his head. He turned and smiled as a couple members of the Orioles beat crew waited for him to notice. What followed was a four-minute reunion that included his thoughts on leaving the Orioles - and their lack of interest in bringing him back - close friend...

In 2019, two former O's will reunite in Minnesota

In 2019, two former O's will reunite in Minnesota
The Minnesota Twins have added two former Orioles this month. And the addition of one could really help the other. When Nelson Cruz led the majors with 40 homers and helped the Orioles to the 2014 American League East title and a berth in the AL Championship Series, he was a huge positive force in that clubhouse. He was particularly huge for young infielders Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado. Now Schoop and Cruz will be teammates again in Minnesota. The Twins signed Schoop to a one-year deal...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Less than a week before the Winter Meetings begin, if we're counting Sunday's flight to Las Vegas and scant opportunities for media access, and the Orioles seem to be in the phase of their managerial search where they compile a list of candidates to interview. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and his staff have conducted background searches and eliminated names that had grown to more than two dozen, he claimed Thursday night on the "Orioles Hot Stove" show on 105.7...

Orioles non-tender Beckham and Joseph

Orioles non-tender Beckham and Joseph
The Orioles have decided to non-tender infielder Tim Beckham and catcher Caleb Joseph, releasing them into the free agent market and clearing two spots on the 40-man roster. Every other player on the 40-man roster was tendered a contract, including pitchers Dylan Bundy and Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar, who are eligible for arbitration. The Orioles will try to avoid hearings with the trio. Beckham didn't heat up at the plate until September, when he batted .297/.348/.484 with...

A look at liquid analytics and a possible non-tender for Schoop

A look at liquid analytics and a possible non-tender for Schoop
So the additions of Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal will bring the Orioles up to speed with analytics. The team, over time, will no doubt become one of the top clubs at making data-driven decisions. But while analytics have been used by teams to attempt to make good decisions for the future as they evaluate players, the next area of influence is likely to come on game day. And during the game. This is happening now to some degree, and maybe for some teams to a very large degree. Teams are using the...

Could Johnny Baseball have a reunion with the Orioles?

Could Johnny Baseball have a reunion with the Orioles?
Second baseman Jonathan Schoop had a career year in 2017 and was named Most Valuable Oriole. He's had a pretty terrible year in 2018 and didn't start any of the three games for the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series against Colorado. Here's a crazy thought: Has Schoop played so poorly for the Brewers that they will non-tender him, making him a free agent? Could that lead to him re-signing with his old team, the Orioles? If that scenario played out, he could then team...

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves
A year ago, there would have been no inkling that lefty Wade Miley could be a consequential pitcher in the 2018 postseason, not when you consider his league-leading 93 walks and 5.61 ERA last season for the Orioles. But as the postseason begins, Miley, 31, is one of a list of former Orioles and Nationals players with a chance to make the World Series, most of whom were on the rosters of the local nines at the start of 2018. Manny Machado bleeds Dodger blue and Zach Britton wears Yankees...

Hardy resumes life without baseball but doesn't rule out return

Hardy resumes life without baseball but doesn't rule out return
J.J. Hardy is bound to lose cell phone reception as he drives on a stretch of Montana highway. He's headed back to his ranch, where his family has been living for almost two months. The conversation cuts out and returns, which could mimic his playing career. Though he didn't hook on with a team this season as a free agent, the former Orioles shortstop still hasn't filed retirement papers with Major League Baseball. He might give it another try this winter. Or he could continue to move toward...

Orioles push aside their losses to post win over Yankees (with quotes)

Orioles push aside their losses to post win over Yankees (with quotes)
NEW YORK - A sense of loss stayed glued to the Orioles this morning, hours before they registered a rare win on the road. Dylan Bundy spoke of how much he's going to miss Kevin Gausman, his former teammate and a close friend who was traded yesterday to the Braves. Third base coach Bobby Dickerson wiped tears from his cheeks, fought to regain his composure and recounted his days in the minors with second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who was shipped to the Brewers. Players are regarded as "trade...

Five trades bring 15 new players to the Orioles organization

Five trades bring 15 new players to the Orioles organization
The Orioles first trade was a 5-for-1 deal that sent shortstop Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 18. Six days later, the Orioles sent pitcher Zach Britton to the Yankees for three pitchers. On Sunday, pitcher Brad Brach was traded for international signing money. Then yesterday, pitchers Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day were sent to Atlanta for four players and international money. And second baseman Jonathan Schoop was sent to Milwaukee for three players. The Orioles have put a...

Duquette on today's trades (O's lose 6-3)

Duquette on today's trades (O's lose 6-3)
NEW YORK - The newer version of the Orioles is losing to the Yankees tonight 6-0, with Miguel Andújar breaking open the game in the fifth inning with a three-run homer off Yefry Ramírez after Greg Bird's sacrifice fly. Ramírez allowed a two-out RBI single to Gleyber Torres in the first inning and Didi Gregorius' run-scoring single in the third after Tim Beckham's error. Making his first start at Yankee Stadium, Ramírez allowed six runs and six hits in five innings. He walked...

Schoop, Gausman talk about trades and their time in Baltimore

Schoop, Gausman talk about trades and their time in Baltimore
NEW YORK - Jonathan Schoop is taking his 12-game hitting streak and red-hot July to the Brewers. Kevin Gausman is taking his blazing fastball and enormous potential, which showed itself in spurts, to a Braves team loaded with familiar faces. Both players had reddened eyes as they stood outside the clubhouse and talked to the media. Gausman choked up a few times and finally used his T-shirt to wipe them. The excitement of joining a pennant race and the next phases of their professional careers...

Showalter talks about today's trades

Showalter talks about today's trades
NEW YORK - The smoke still hasn't cleared from today's trade activity. The Orioles are fortunate that they didn't set off the sprinkler system at Yankee Stadium. In an impressive late flurry of moves, the Orioles sent starter Kevin Gausman and reliever Darren O'Day to the Braves for right-hander Evan Phillips, infielder Jean Carlos Encarnacion, catcher Brett Cumberland and left-hander Bruce Zimmermann. The Orioles also received $2.5 million in international signing bonus slot money, while...

Looking at today's trades with Atlanta and Milwaukee

Looking at today's trades with Atlanta and Milwaukee
It has been a dizzying day for the Orioles and their fans. As it turned out, the team did trade players who were under team control beyond 2018. They sent pitchers Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day to Atlanta and traded second baseman Jonathan Schoop to Milwaukee. In the deal with the Braves, the Orioles got four players and $2.5 million in international bonus money. They got three players from Milwaukee. On the big league roster in New York this afternoon they have added right-handed relief...