Remembering the ruined relationship with Rochester

Remembering the ruined relationship with Rochester
The news last week that the Nationals were adopting Rochester as their Triple-A affiliate - so much for the gag order intended to withhold announcements until a later date - immediately took me back to the day that the Red Wings severed ties with the Orioles. This was a huge deal. They had been affiliated since 1961 - a span of 42 years that represented the longest relationship between major league and Triple-A teams. So many future stars began to shine in Rochester. It was hard to imagine the...

If O's look to make trades, will the return be higher in July?

If O's look to make trades, will the return be higher in July?
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the Winter Meetings begin today, the Orioles continue to absorb the news that Giancarlo Stanton is going to be a Yankee. Meanwhile, Boston has won back-to-back division championships and figures to add a big bat of its own. The Orioles have to fill out their rotation, but they may not do it with signings of the top-tier free agent pitchers - and even the second tier may find deals out of the Orioles' comfort range. So how to catch New York and Boston under that...

A preview of the Orioles at the Winter Meetings with Jim Duquette (with video)

A preview of the Orioles at the Winter Meetings with Jim Duquette (with video)
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Orioles contingent had to leave its city but not its state for the latest edition of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings. The pursuit of a corner outfielder, a catcher and perhaps more continues this week inside the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. On Sunday afternoon, before the official start of the meetings, I interviewed former Orioles executive Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM Radio. While most do not expect a major signing by...

Revisiting the 2016 payroll projection

Revisiting the 2016 payroll projection
Now that the deadline to tender contracts has come and gone, it's time to take another look at the projected Orioles payroll for 2016. The Orioles have six players with salaries set for the 2016 season: * $16.3 million - Adam Jones * $15.8 million - Matt Wieters * $13.0 million - Ubaldo Jimenez * $12.5 million - J.J. Hardy * $2.6 million - Vance Worley * $1.3 million - Nolan Reimold The Orioles have these eight players that are arbitration-eligible with their projected 2016 salaries from...

Jim Duquette feels Mark Trumbo addition does not end O's pursuit of Chris Davis

Jim Duquette feels Mark Trumbo addition does not end O's pursuit of Chris Davis
The Orioles' trade for first baseman/outfielder Mark Trumbo is a good backup plan in case the club does not re-sign Chris Davis. But it is not necessarily a big indication that the Orioles are concerned that they can't or won't sign Davis. That is the take of former Orioles and Mets executive Jim Duquette. Duquette is now an analyst for MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM Radio. He is also seen on MASN's "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report." "I do think it is going to be uncomfortable, the...

A quick take on O's potential addition of Everth Cabrera

A quick take on O's potential addition of Everth Cabrera
With the news of the Orioles' potential signing of free agent Everth Cabrera, two questions come to mind: What role will he play on the team, and are the Orioles taking a risk on a player with baggage? While Cabrera was an All-Star in 2013 and led the National League in stolen bases with 44 in 2012, he served a 50-game suspension at the end of 2013 season for his involvement in the Biogenisis performance-enhancing drug investigation. Beyond that, he was charged in November with resisting...

Former O's exec Jim Duquette talks about Dan Duquette and the Toronto situation

Former O's exec Jim Duquette talks about Dan Duquette and the Toronto situation
SAN DIEGO - The Toronto Blue Jays are interested in Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette. The Orioles have him under contract through 2018. This could get interesting. For now, he is an Oriole. Dan Duquette just repeated that very comment a few moments ago on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM Radio in an interview at the Winter Meetings with Jim Duquette and Jim Bowden. ESPN first reported today that Duquette was among the Blue Jays' top candidates to replace longtime CEO Paul Beeston. In...

Orioles draft high school pitcher Gonzalez with third-round pick (updated)

Orioles draft high school pitcher Gonzalez with third-round pick (updated)
The Orioles had to wait until the second day of the First-Year Player Draft to make a selection, but in the third round this afternoon, they drafted a high school pitcher from Florida. In the third round: The O's selected left-handed pitcher Brian Gonzalez from Archbishop McCarthy High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Gonzalez is 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds. According to Baseball America's scouting report on Gonzalez, he throws his fastball 87 to 90 mph, touching 91, and throws a changeup and...

Unable to walk away from Balfour controversy

Unable to walk away from Balfour controversy
Reliever Grant Balfour told MLB Network Radio's Jim Duquette and Jim Bowden today that four teams are "excited to have me on board," and he's got at least one offer on the table. Duquette, the former Orioles executive, shared some of Balfour's comments on Twitter. And guess what? Reds physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek chimed in again. More on that later. In case you've been living in a cave, the Orioles reached agreement with Balfour last week on a two-year, $15 million contract, but they...

Jim Duquette's take on the Orioles so far at the Winter Meetings

Jim Duquette's take on the Orioles so far at the Winter Meetings
LAKE BUENVA VISTA, Fla. - Jim Duquette was once a key decision maker for the Orioles. Now, he analyzes what the O's and every other club in baseball does as his role as an analyst for Sirius XM radio. This morning, during a video interview, he mentioned the O's interest in free agent reliever Grant Balfour which has much discussed here today. Duquette said despite not having a move or moves to announce yet, he is hearing the Orioles have been pretty active at these meetings. "When you...

Former O's executive Jim Duquette provides his take on Feldman trade (draft picks debut)

Former O's executive Jim Duquette provides his take on Feldman trade (draft picks debut)
Former Orioles executive Jim Duquette feels the club made a good trade today when it acquired pitcher Scott Feldman from the Chicago Cubs, sending Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to Chicago. "I like it because they took two struggling pieces and turned it into a real consistent contributor in Scott Feldman," Duquette said. "He's not a top-of-rotation starter, but that would have cost you a top prospect like (Dylan) Bundy or (Kevin) Gausman. "The other benefit they got is getting out front...

Jim Duquette talks Hamilton and Reynolds, Dan Duquette talks pitching depth

Jim Duquette talks Hamilton and Reynolds, Dan Duquette talks pitching depth
In case you missed yesterday's edition of "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" - and there's no excuse, since MASN replayed it at 11:30 p.m. - former executive Jim Duquette speculated that free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton might have to settle for a deal in "the four-year range," which could make the Orioles a potential suitor. I immediately thanked Duquette for stirring up the masses again. Then we shared a laugh. You should have been there. "Right now there are a bunch of teams sitting...

Looking at some issues facing Dan Duquette

Looking at some issues facing Dan Duquette
As Dan Duquette becomes the latest top executive to try and turn the Orioles around, many Orioles fans must be hoping the Buck Showalter-Duquette pairing will be the one to finally take this team back to the top of the standings. While no one can blame fans for being doubters and skeptical about that, a new face at the top does provide hope. Hope that this time some things will be different. Hope that Duquette will bring some fresh ideas and/or staff to the front office. Hope that it all will...