Endy Chavez reportedly agrees to terms with Royals (so does Tejada)

Endy Chavez reportedly agrees to terms with Royals (so does Tejada)
Former Orioles outfielder Endy Chavez has agreed to terms with the Kansas City Royals, according to a tweet from CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. No other details were provided and the Royals haven't confirmed the signing. Instant update: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Chavez signed a minor league deal. Now is the time to frame your Endy Chavez jersey and hang it in your basement. Chavez signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Orioles last winter and batted .203/.236/.278 with six...

Orioles don't have many decisions to make on their own free agents

Orioles don't have many decisions to make on their own free agents
A few days ago, I gave you the rundown of arbitration-eligible Orioles and educated guesses on which players could be non-tendered. There are enough names on the list to keep any team executive busy. The Orioles don't have nearly as many pending unrestricted free agents. The 40-man roster includes outfielders Nate McLouth and Endy Chavez, pitcher Joe Saunders and designated hitter Jim Thome. Pitcher Randy Wolf and first baseman Nick Johnson are on the 60-day disabled list. This group can...

A look at the leadoff position in Orioles' batting order

A look at the leadoff position in Orioles' batting order
In case you don't remember, the Orioles used eight players to bat in the leadoff spot this year. They had varying degrees of success in the role and Nick Markakis and Nate McLouth were the only two players to start more than 20 games in that spot in the order. A lot of you would probably get this question wrong. Among players with more than three starts batting leadoff, which player produced the best winning percentage in his starts there? If you guessed Endy Chavez, you get a gold star,...

Orioles take another swing at Pettitte (updated)

Orioles take another swing at Pettitte (updated)
Andy Pettitte is facing the Orioles tonight. Hold on, this might be an old notebook. Nope, it's the one I've used this summer. Pettitte is starting Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Does this mean Roger Clemens goes in Game 3? The Orioles haven't faced Pettitte since he decided to make a comeback this season. The only player who's had an at-bat against him is Omar Quintanilla, while he was playing for the Mets, but he's not on the Division Series roster. Pettitte is 27-6...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Jim Thome was activated from the disabled list, but he's not in tonight's lineup. Lew Ford is serving as the designated hitter against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Endy Chavez is in right field again. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Lew Ford DH Manny Machado 3B Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Red Sox: Pedro Ciriaco 3B Scott Podsednik CF Dustin Pedroia 2B Cody Ross RF Ryan Lavarnway...

Offense comes alive, O's take series finale at Oakland, clinch winning season

Offense comes alive, O's take series finale at Oakland, clinch winning season
Needing a win to avoid being swept in Oakland and to remain just one game out of first place, the Orioles got one as their offense produced 13 hits in a 9-5 win over the A's. The Orioles won for just the third time in 19 games since 2008 in Oakland and improved to 82-64 on the year. They sit a game behind the Yankees in the AL East and remain 2 1/2 games ahead of the Angels for the AL's second wild card berth. It almost seems a bit of an afterthought but, with this win, the Orioles...

Chavez contributing to Orioles' lead (O's win 9-5)

Chavez contributing to Orioles' lead (O's win 9-5)
For all the Endy Chavez haters out there, well, he's been pretty good today. Chavez is 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, as the Orioles have taken a 7-2 lead over the Athletics. He contributed a two-run single in the seventh inning. Chavez wasn't initially added to the expanded 40-man roster on Sept. 1, but he was told to stay close. Chavez was in New York when the Orioles contacted him after Nick Markakis suffered a broken left thumb that ended his season. The plus-defense in the...

Orioles and Athletics lineups

Orioles and Athletics lineups
Endy Chavez will start in right field tonight for the Orioles, with Chris Davis serving as the designated hitter. Matt Wieters is batting third, and Adam Jones is hitting cleanup. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Zach Britton LHP For the Athletics: Coco Crisp CF Jonny Gomes DH Josh Reddick RF Yoenis Cespedes LF Chris Carter 1B Jason Donaldson 3B Derek Norris...

Gregg released, Adams outrighted

Gregg released, Adams outrighted
The Orioles announced today that they released veteran reliever Kevin Gregg and outrighted minor league second baseman Ryan Adams to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers. No surprises here. Gregg is hoping to catch on with another team and the Orioles couldn't come up with a trade partner over the winter or during the season. He figured to be cut loose after they designated him for assignment Tuesday. Gregg went 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 40 appearances for the Orioles this season. He...

Orioles lacking runs, not chances (O's win in 14th)

Orioles lacking runs, not chances (O's win in 14th)
The Orioles have put at least one runner on base in the last 10 innings. We're still tied, 2-2, but it isn't for lack of opportunities. The Orioles have stranded 11 runners, the Rays eight. The teams are a combined 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Luis Ayala shut out the Rays on one hit, with three strikeouts, over 2 1/3 innings. His season high was 2 2/3 on July 17 in Minnesota. The Rays gave up their designated hitter by putting Evan Longoria at third base. Manager Joe Maddon...

Chavez and Hoes join Orioles, Gregg and Adams DFA'd

Chavez and Hoes join Orioles, Gregg and Adams DFA'd
The Orioles made a series of roster moves today, selecting the contracts of outfielders Endy Chavez and LJ Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk and designating reliever Kevin Gregg and second baseman Ryan Adams for assignment. Chavez was expected here today, and Adams was my guess to be removed from the 40-man roster. However, the Orioles changed their plans with Hoes after Nick Markakis suffered a broken left thumb. Chavez batted .190/.222/.281 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 47 games with the...

The Juan Pierre rumors (and Patton update)

The Juan Pierre rumors (and Patton update)
I made the bold move of detaching myself from Twitter last night, so I'm playing catchup to all the Juan Pierre questions. For example: * Did the Orioles get Pierre? * Have you heard the Juan Pierre rumblings? Any hope of that trade happening? * Any truth to the Juan Pierre rumors? * Is there any truth to the Juan Pierre rumor? (that the O's have acquired him?) * Did the Orioles get Juan Pierre? What did they give up to get him? Is he going to play on Tuesday? Will he be batting...

Another 40-man move is coming

Another 40-man move is coming
Failing to take over sole possession of first place in the American League East while the Yankees were in town, the Orioles will try to accomplish something else today. They will attempt to have a quiet off-day. Or maybe I'm just rooting for one. Nick Markakis' thumb surgery couldn't be scheduled until Tuesday. The Orioles probably will wait until Tuesday to select outfielder Endy Chavez's contract, which will require a 40-man roster move. I thought it would make sense to select LJ...

Game update and pregame Showalter (O's lose 13-3)

Game update and pregame Showalter (O's lose 13-3)
The Orioles are playing from behind again. Zach Britton gave up a run and two hits, walked a batter and was hurt by an error in the top of the first inning. He threw 24 pitches before making it back into the dugout. Derek Jeter reached on another infield hit and took second on Manny Machado's errant throw. Machado has two errors with the Orioles, one of them legit. Alex Rodriguez bounced into a 6-4-3 double play, but Robinson Cano followed with an RBI single. Shortstop J.J. Hardy...

Chavez expected to rejoin Orioles (updated)

Chavez expected to rejoin Orioles (updated)
The Orioles plan on selecting Endy Chavez's contract on Tuesday, giving them an extra outfielder and a plus-defender in Nick Markakis' absence. They had discussed bringing him up from Triple-A Norfolk once rosters expanded on Sept. 1. He's currently in New York because the Orioles wanted him to stay close. Chavez batted .190/.222/.281 with five doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in 47 games. He also went on the disabled list twice and was designated for assignment when the Orioles...

Showalter talks about today's transaction and updates injuries

Showalter talks about today's transaction and updates injuries
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is trying to trade outfielder Endy Chavez, who was designated for assignment today to make room for outfielder Nate McLouth on the 25- and 40-man rosters. "Endy will end up on his feet shortly. I know Dan's going to explore some things with him and we'll go from there," said manager Buck Showalter. "There are still some things that could happen for Endy that would benefit both of us. We'll see." McLouth would have...

Chavez designated for assignment, McLouth here (updated)

Chavez designated for assignment, McLouth here (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have designated outfielder Endy Chavez for assignment and selected the contract of Nate McLouth from Triple-A Norfolk. McLouth, the Pirates' All-Star representative and a Gold Glove winner in 2008, is starting in left field. The 30-year-old was batting .244/.325/.461 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs in 47 games with the Tides. Chavez batted .190 in 47 games with the Orioles. McLouth, who's wearing No. 48, found out yesterday that the Orioles were selecting his...

Yesterday and today

Yesterday and today
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have been held hitless with runners in scoring position in 10 of their last 24 games. They've been limited to one hit in six other games. That's not easy to do, even if you're trying. The current streak is 0-for-22. I don't know if records have been kept, though I'm guessing Elias has them. It will be worth checking if the Orioles take another 0-fer tonight against the Rays. Matt Wieters went 2-for-4 last night and is batting .335 lifetime against the...

Big baserunning blunder in Orioles' 3-1 loss

Big baserunning blunder in Orioles' 3-1 loss
The Orioles had a chance to either tie tonight's game in the eighth inning or put two runners in scoring position with one out. They chose something from column C. In case you missed it, Nick Markakis singled with one out, and Indians manager Manny Acta made a surprising pitching change, removing starter Justin Masterson and bringing in reliever Vinnie Pestano. Endy Chavez followed with a double in the left field corner, and Markakis ran through third base coach DeMarlo Hale's stop sign and...

Quintanilla gets first start with Orioles (and note on Jim Gilbert)

Quintanilla gets first start with Orioles (and note on Jim Gilbert)
Omar Quintanilla will follow up two appearances with the Orioles as a defensive replacement at second base with his first start tonight at shortstop. J.J. Hardy gets a rare breather, and it comes after he collected two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs yesterday afternoon. Ryan Flaherty stays at second base, and Endy Chavez replaces Chris Davis in left field. Davis is starting at first base. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Endy Chavez LF Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt...