Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories

Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories
Until the lockout ends and major league spring training camps finally open, I'm left to reminisce about past stays in Florida. The many stories that unfolded, some of which never made it into print. The many mornings spent inside the clubhouse and on the back fields. The road trips, more grueling when the home site was down in Fort Lauderdale. The unexpected arrivals and departures. I'll share a few more today: Betemit's knee injury Media wanting to interview the starting pitcher or a...

One-time O's signee and trade chip cashes in via free agency

One-time O's signee and trade chip cashes in via free agency
It all made sense at the time of the trade on July 31, 2014. The Orioles had a chance to win the American League East for the first time since 1997. At the time of that deal, the Orioles had not reached as far as the AL Championship Series since 1997. But after the deal, they would both win the AL East and advance to the ALCS. The price was steep, though, to get lefty reliever Andrew Miller. The Orioles had to part with their No. 3 prospect and a top 100 pitcher who was then at Double-A Bowie,...

Cashner on his health, Hyde and more

Cashner on his health, Hyde and more
The top three starters in the Orioles rotation will report to spring training without the physical ailments that interrupted or ended their 2018 seasons. Dylan Bundy's sprained left ankle has healed. Alex Cobb isn't bothered by the blisters that surfaced on his right index and middle fingers. Andrew Cashner no longer has bursitis in his left knee. A cortisone injection administered in September didn't provide the necessary relief for Cashner and he was done after his start on Sept. 12. He...

Orioles trade Breyvic Valera to Giants

Orioles trade Breyvic Valera to Giants
The Orioles needed only one day to resolve their situation with infielder Breyvic Valera. Valera has been traded to the Giants for cash considerations, with both teams making the announcement. He was designated for assignment yesterday after the Orioles claimed pitcher Austin Brice off waivers from the Angels. A spot had to be opened for Brice on the 40-man roster and Valera was the casualty. The Orioles could have attempted to pass him through waivers, but they worked out a trade. Former...

Orioles claim Austin Brice off waivers and DFA Breyvic Valera

Orioles claim Austin Brice off waivers and DFA Breyvic Valera
The Orioles have added a right-handed reliever to their 40-man roster while subtracting a player who was set up to compete for a utility job in spring training. Austin Brice has been claimed off waivers from the Angels, with infielder Breyvic Valera designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Brice, 26, is 2-4 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.262 WHIP in 70 relief appearances over the past three seasons. He registered a 5.79 ERA and 1.393 WHIP in 33 games with the Reds over the summer before the...

Orioles hire Brandon Hyde as manager

Orioles hire Brandon Hyde as manager
Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde will be introduced at noon on Monday as the 20th manager in Orioles history. Left behind at the Winter Meetings are the confusion, controversy and criticisms over the reported confirmations coming out of Las Vegas. The club has made it official. Hyde is the replacement for Buck Showalter, who guided the Orioles to three playoff appearances and one division title in 8 1/2 seasons at the helm. Showalter learned on Oct. 3 that his contract would run out and the...

Bundy crunches some numbers

Bundy crunches some numbers
Dylan Bundy already knows the numbers. He's seen them or had them recited to him. I wasn't breaking news. Bundy, a call-in guest last night on the "Orioles Hot Stove" show on 105.7 The Fan, managed a chuckle as I cited his issues with the longball. The career-high 41 home runs allowed that led the majors. Let's start there and slowly work our way toward the positive. When I said that Bundy is likely to reflect on the home runs while examining areas that need improving, he replied,...

Yefry Ramírez: "I'm just trying to improve overall"

Yefry Ramírez: "I'm just trying to improve overall"
Yefry Ramírez celebrated his 25th birthday last week in the Dominican Republic by making it a typical day in his offseason life. Lots of sweat. A sharpened focus on his conditioning. And all of it done with the same infectious smile. A hunk of cake, with its sugary temptations, came with a slice of guilt. Save the rose for someone else. Ramírez dived into a new program as soon as he returned home following his rookie season with the Orioles, when he made 12 starts among his 17 appearances...

Graham won't remain with Orioles in 2019 (with statement)

Graham won't remain with Orioles in 2019 (with statement)
The Orioles are continuing to make dramatic changes throughout the organization, removing director of player development Brian Graham this morning, according to a source. Graham returned to the organization in October 2007 after serving as the Pirates' interim general manager and was named director of player development six years later. He had been handling the GM duties for the Orioles on an interim basis after they decided to part ways with executive vice president Dan Duquette. During his...

Decisions still pending on Rajsich and others

Decisions still pending on Rajsich and others
The Orioles have less than a week to make a decision on director of scouting Gary Rajsich before his contract expires. While the contracts of other employees ended on Oct. 31, Rajsich continues to be paid through November and is awaiting a decision. There have been numerous changes in the baseball operations department, player development and scouting since the Orioles concluded a 115-loss season and began their search for a replacement for executive vice president Dan Duquette. And more are on...

More leftovers before Thanksgiving

More leftovers before Thanksgiving
While new Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias gets more acquainted with the players on the 40-man roster and throughout the minor league system, he offered his approval of the trades that predecessor Dan Duquette orchestrated to begin the teardown. "Those were the right moves,'' Elias said at his introduction held Monday morning inside the home clubhouse at Camden Yards. "The team had left a period of competitiveness. That was clear by the trade deadline. A lot...

Dauer on Elias' ability to build a program "from the bottom up"

Dauer on Elias' ability to build a program "from the bottom up"
Former Orioles second baseman Rich Dauer offered a strong endorsement yesterday of Mike Elias, who's been chosen to head the baseball operations department. Three seasons in Houston as first base coach and infield instructor gave him a nice perspective while Elias rose to assistant general manager and became a hotter commodity. Reached on the phone before attending last night's reunion of the 1983 World Series team, Dauer said the Orioles are "getting a good one." They just haven't made it...

More on Mike Elias' expected hiring by Orioles (updated)

More on Mike Elias' expected hiring by Orioles (updated)
The title handed to the head of the Orioles' baseball operations department likely will be tailored to fit Mike Elias. No one associated with the Orioles has confirmed a late-night tweet from USA Today's Bob Nightengale that the club will hire Elias and finally conclude its extensive and methodical search for a replacement for executive vice president Dan Duquette, whose contract wasn't renewed following a 115-loss season. Nightengale wrote that Elias will become the new GM "barring a...

Bleier: "I should be fully ready to go for games" (plus Elias note)

Bleier: "I should be fully ready to go for games" (plus Elias note)
On the same afternoon that the Orioles activated Richard Bleier from the 60-day disabled list, the reliever was picking up a baseball at Cressey Sports Performance in Jupiter, Fla., and making his first throw since undergoing surgery to repair a Grade 3 tear in his left latissimus dorsi muscle. Bleier posted the video about a week later on his Instagram account, announcing to all of his followers and anyone else with access to it that his rehab was moving along at the proper pace and with the...

Checking on Orioles minor leaguers who became free agents

Checking on Orioles minor leaguers who became free agents
The current offseason for the Orioles may not seem typical with hires pending in the front office, no manager in place and promises to revamp the entire scouting operation. This isn't business as usual across the board. However, there are certain tasks that await the club and aren't influenced by other circumstances. Building up minor league depth is one of the priorities. Trying to find hidden and inexpensive gems. The Orioles also might try to keep a few of their own. The list of Orioles...

How are the Orioles going to address roster needs?

How are the Orioles going to address roster needs?
The following nugget won't cause your head to snap back in disbelief or bring tremors or have you rushing off to tell your friends. It's been an assumption that's backed up by multiple people in the industry as the GM meetings closed this week. The Orioles won't be major players in free agency. Slow your heartbeats. There's been no indication that the Orioles will be "heavily involved" in free agency, as one person worded it. They met with agents at the GM meetings. They won't avoid it...

Qualls staying with Orioles

Qualls staying with Orioles
While there have been significant changes for the Orioles in baseball operations, player development and scouting, the turnover won't touch Kent Qualls. The Orioles intend to bring back Qualls as director of minor league operations. The same title that he's held since coming to the organization prior to the 2013 season. Qualls' past duties have included overseeing the administration of the club's player development department and minor league affiliates. His responsibilities broadened under...

More on front office interviews and another scouting departure

More on front office interviews and another scouting departure
There's a growing perception that the Orioles are drawing closer to hiring a top executive for their front office. It probably won't happen by the end of the week, but the process is moving along. The drama isn't confined to the identity of the hire. The title also is to be determined, which is a major contributor to the confusion. The Orioles were focused on bringing in a president of baseball operations, and that still could happen, but it's dependent on the individual. The title will fit...

Scouts Jim Howard and Dave Engle seem safe with Orioles

Scouts Jim Howard and Dave Engle seem safe with Orioles
The massive shakeup in the Orioles' scouting department hasn't bounced Jim Howard and Dave Engle from the organization. Howard and Engle, serving as major league scouts, are expected to remain with the Orioles. Meanwhile, personnel in the department who no longer will be employed by the club next season include director of professional scouting and special projects Patrick Di Gregory, special assistant Matt Haas, major league scout John Stockstill, professional scout Ron Schueler, East Coast...

Could Trumbo become trade chip later?

Could Trumbo become trade chip later?
The number of Orioles free agents is miniscule, with only Adam Jones and Colby Rasmus representing - and the latter feels like a mere technicality after the club placed him on the restricted list and he headed home to be with his family. Mark Trumbo will be eligible after next year's World Series, with the team he's leaving to be determined. Though he's currently with the Orioles, recovering from surgery on his right knee, he's a potential trade chip at the non-waiver deadline if healthy...