Still talking about starting pitching

Still talking about starting pitching
Are the Orioles stockpiling fifth starter candidates? And not just fifth starter candidates, but rotation options that can be optioned. If the Orioles cannot add a more established starting pitcher to their staff, could it be that they intend to have a revolving door of sorts with optionable pitchers in the fifth starter's role? Maybe take a look at several pitchers and/or go with the hot hand in that spot? That list could include Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson, Chris Jones and now Odrisamer...

More Orioles notes and quotes from Day 2 of minicamp

More Orioles notes and quotes from Day 2 of minicamp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles contacted pitcher Gavin Floyd about a tryout at minicamp this week, but he turned down the offer. Floyd, a Severna Park native and graduate of Mount St. Joseph High School, is playing long toss after undergoing surgery on his right elbow for a second consecutive year. He hasn't thrown off a mound. The Orioles could try again later this winter. Hunter Harvey is the only Orioles pitcher scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday before the conclusion of minicamp...

Bridwell healthy and eager for spring training

Bridwell healthy and eager for spring training
SARASOTA, Fla. - Not only did right-hander Parker Bridwell refuse to stress over the possibility of being added to the Orioles' 40-man roster, he had no idea when teams were required to protect players from the Rule 5 draft. The deadline could have been hours or months away for all he knew. The Orioles shocked Bridwell on Nov. 20 by including him on the roster, along with pitchers Andrew Triggs and Chris Lee. "I was very surprised," said Bridwell, 24, who's in Sarasota to attend minicamp....

A look to see if Orioles farm system depth is better than advertised

A look to see if Orioles farm system depth is better than advertised
Is it possible that the Orioles farm system is in better shape than some believe it to be? If you look at the recent Baseball America top 10 O's prospects list, you find some pretty good prospects that did not even make that top 10. To review, here is the O's top 10 per BA that was released Dec. 14: 1) RHP Dylan Bundy 2) RHP Hunter Harvey 3) C Chance Sisco 4) 3B Jomar Reyes 5) RHP Mychal Givens 6) LHP Chris Lee 7) SS Ryan Mountcastle 8) 1B Trey Mancini 9) OF DJ Stewart 10) RHP Mike...

Another look at how three O's pitchers got added to the 40-man roster

Another look at how three O's pitchers got added to the 40-man roster
On his way to making the Orioles' 40-man roster, 24-year-old right-hander Parker Bridwell may have found some consistency. He has heard the criticism often. Some nights, he has electric stuff and then a week later he gets rocked. He was called inconsistent. It is a label he'd like to leave in the rear-view mirror. Added to the 40-man roster yesterday along with pitchers Chris Lee and Andrew Triggs, Bridwell went 4-5 with an ERA of 3.99 in 18 starts for Double-A Bowie this season. But it was...

Hunter Harvey update and reports on Chris Lee, Andrew Triggs and Parker Bridwell

Hunter Harvey update and reports on Chris Lee, Andrew Triggs and Parker Bridwell
After being shut down in September due to discomfort in his right elbow, Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey has been cleared to do some light throwing. Harvey is back home in North Carolina, but he figures to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota later this winter. Dr. James Andrews recommended on Oct. 5 that Harvey rest for four to six weeks before resuming a throwing program. His diagnosis matched the one that came earlier from team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs. Harvey...

It's an exciting day for the newest members of O's 40-man roster

It's an exciting day for the newest members of O's 40-man roster
That first call-up to the major leagues is always a very special day in any player's career. But a big day that comes before that is when a player is added to the organization's 40-man roster for the first time. It happened to three Orioles minor league pitchers today as the club added left-hander Chris Lee and right-handers Parker Bridwell and Andrew Triggs. This means none of the three can be lost in next month's Rule 5 draft and that all three will report with the rest of the big league...

Orioles add Lee, Triggs and Bridwell to 40-man roster

Orioles add Lee, Triggs and Bridwell to 40-man roster
The Orioles purchased the contracts of left-hander Chris Lee and right-handers Andrew Triggs and Parker Bridwell from Double-A Bowie today, adding three pitchers to the 40-man roster and protecting them before the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 10 in Nashville. The roster is now full, but the Orioles can clear room prior to the Rule 5 draft. Count on it. They also can remove players to open spots for trade and free agent acquisitions. Today's deadline prevents other players from within the organization...

Some Chris Davis and 40-man roster talk

Some Chris Davis and 40-man roster talk
Are the Orioles facing a possible either/or scenario with first baseman Chris Davis? Are they looking at a situation where they can either sign him, or not sign him and add two or more players with that money? Recently, we looked at an early projection for an Orioles 2015 payroll. With the club looking for starting pitching and outfield help, not to mention possibly re-signing Davis and maybe more of their own free agents, it seems it will be hard to do all of that and still keep the payroll in...

Showalter on Flaherty, Wieters, Bridwell, Bundy and more (O's win 4-2)

Showalter on Flaherty, Wieters, Bridwell, Bundy and more (O's win 4-2)
Ryan Flaherty isn't in the Orioles' lineup tonight and he's started only once since July 29. He received an at-bat yesterday and struck out looking. He was on deck with first baseman Ike Davis pitching for the Athletics when the final out was recorded. Flaherty could use a favorable matchup. He really could use a hit. Flaherty is in an 0-for-34 slump that's the longest in franchise history since 1974. He continues to work with hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh. "I think Ryan a month or two ago...

O's game blog: Orioles look for four-game sweep against AL ERA leader Sonny Gray

O's game blog: Orioles look for four-game sweep against AL ERA leader Sonny Gray
The Orioles have never swept a four-game home series against the Oakland A's. They have that chance tonight at Camden Yards. Their last four-game road sweep of Oakland was from May 22-25, 1987. It is also fair to say these teams don't often play four-game series. But this is one, and the Orioles have outscored Oakland 30-11 the last three games after Sunday's 18-2 win. Since they were no-hit by Hisashi Iwakuma on Wednesday, the Orioles have scored 30 runs in three games with 48 hits...

Bridwell to seek opinion from Dr. Andrews, minor league rotation notes and more

Bridwell to seek opinion from Dr. Andrews, minor league rotation notes and more
Double-A Bowie right-hander Parker Bridwell was placed on the disabled list Sunday with elbow tendinitis. Bridwell, who turned 24 yesterday, will seek a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, and the Orioles are working to schedule that appointment. Ranked as the organization's No. 22 prospect by Baseball America after the 2014 season, Bridwell is 4-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 18 Baysox starts. He has pitched to an ERA of 3.36 over his last eight starts. Meanwhile Bowie pitcher Branden Kline, out...

Minor league notes on Brandon Snyder, Parker Bridwell, Delmarva pitching and more

Minor league notes on Brandon Snyder, Parker Bridwell, Delmarva pitching and more
The Orioles signed Brandon Snyder to a minor league contract this week and he made his return to the Orioles organization yesterday after an extended absence when he joined the Double-A Bowie Baysox. The O's drafted Snyder in the first round of the 2005 draft, and he's in today's Baysox lineup for the 4:05 p.m. game at Erie, batting fifth and playing first base. Snyder played his last game in the O's organization in 2011 and last played for the Baysox in 2009. He spent the last two seasons...

Talking about the June draft and Rule 5 draft with Jim Callis

Talking about the June draft and Rule 5 draft with Jim Callis
SAN DIEGO - Few if any know the First-Year Player Draft and the Rule 5 draft better than Jim Callis of MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com. With the Orioles holding four picks among the first 73 selections next June, I asked Callis today at the Winter Meetings about the 2015 draft. The O's highest picks are currently No. 26 and No. 33. If more teams sign players that received qualifying offers, the 26th pick could get even higher. "There is depth in the draft," Callis said. "You'd always rather...

Orioles select contracts of Wright and Wilson (with Duquette quotes)

Orioles select contracts of Wright and Wilson (with Duquette quotes)
The Orioles announced today that they selected the contracts of right-handers Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson, protecting them from the Rule 5 draft that will be held on the final day of the Winter Meetings on Dec. 11 in San Diego. The Orioles have 37 players on their 40-man roster. They're expected to make a selection in the Rule 5 draft. Wilson, 25, was chosen as the organization's minor league Pitcher of the Year after going a combined 14-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 28 starts between Double-A Bowie...

A look at the Rule 5 draft and which players O's might add to 40-man roster

A look at the Rule 5 draft and which players O's might add to 40-man roster
The Rule 5 draft is the last event of the Winter Meetings and will take place on Dec. 11. Any player selected in this draft must remain on the selecting team's 25-man roster for the entire 2015 season or be offered back to his original club. This is the draft where the Orioles got Ryan Flaherty three years ago and pitcher T.J. McFarland two years ago. The Orioles selected Michael Almanzar from Boston last year, sent him back and reacquired him, but he is now a minor league free agent. Players...

Mike Griffin on Mychal Givens and Parker Bridwell, plus final AFL stats

Mike Griffin on Mychal Givens and Parker Bridwell, plus final AFL stats
Last year, eight players from the Orioles organization played for the Surprise Saguaros, who won the Arizona Fall League championship. Pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez, Tim Berry, Branden Kline and Jason Gurka, and position players Henry Urrutia, Dariel Alvarez, Jonathan Schoop and Michael Ohlman were on that team. Today, Peoria plays Salt River for the AFL championship, but the season is over for the seven O's that played on the Glendale Desert Dogs, who finished 14-15-2. Right-hander Zach...

Daniel Clark: Recapping O's prospects' performances in Arizona Fall League

Daniel Clark: Recapping O's prospects' performances in Arizona Fall League
The summer of baseball has finished, and while most of the discussion has shifted to free agents, trades and roster moves, many of baseball's best young prospects have just completed play in the Arizona Fall League. Seven of those prospects - four pitchers and three position p layers - were wearing Orioles uniforms. Those seven minor leaguers were playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs, who won 14 games, lost 15 and tied two, finishing in last place in the AFL West Division. Here's how each...

Two Orioles prospects named to AFL showcase game

Two Orioles prospects named to AFL showcase game
Right-hander Parker Bridwell and catcher Michael Ohlman have been chosen to the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game, to be played Nov. 1 in Scottsdale. Bridwell and Ohlman will play for the West Division team. Triple-A Norfolk's Mike Griffin will be the club's co-pitching coach. The game will air on MLB Network at 8:08 p.m. Eastern time. The Orioles must decide whether to protect Bridwell, 23, in the Rule 5 draft after he went 7-10 with a 4.45 ERA in 26 starts at Single-A Frederick....

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette was succinct yesterday when asked about pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. "The only thing, his walk total was up this year," Duquette said, "so obviously we'd like to see him throw a few more strikes." Or a lot more, since his 77 walks ranked second in the American League behind C.J. Wilson's 85. Wilson threw 175 2/3 innings. Jimenez threw 125 1/3, spent time on the disabled list and was moved to the bullpen. Jimenez went 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA in 25...