More thoughts on Graham's departure from Orioles

More thoughts on Graham's departure from Orioles
I woke up yesterday morning feeling quite confident that Brian Graham was staying with the Orioles, whether as director of player development or with an adjusted title and set of duties. His knowledge of the organization, straight down through the farm system, was valued by new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. He was doing the heavy lifting before Elias' arrival and continued to take on big responsibilities. Graham woke up yesterday with the same sense, given no...

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...

Rajsich won't return to Orioles in 2019

Rajsich won't return to Orioles in 2019
The sweeping changes within the Orioles organization have impacted director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Rajsich won't return to the Orioles next season, according to multiple sources. The decision was made before his contract expired on Friday. New executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias is in charge of making hires within each department, and scouting is undergoing a major overhaul. Former executive vice president Dan Duquette hired Rajsich in November 2011 as one of his first...

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...

Leftovers on Mike Elias and his plunge into the rebuild

Leftovers on Mike Elias and his plunge into the rebuild
The most impressive trait that Mike Elias exhibited yesterday during his introduction as Orioles executive vice president and general manager was the ability to convey his thoughts on the rebuild, the process that brought him to Baltimore, his knowledge of the city and roster, and the appeal of the job at hand while his head continued to spin. Elias is bound to come across as more relaxed and personable once he's done being pulled in every direction. He sat through a 40-minute session with the...

Questions awaiting Elias at Monday's introduction

Questions awaiting Elias at Monday's introduction
With the news on Friday that Mike Elias had been hired by the Orioles as executive vice president and general manager, anticipation spun into reality, the next set of questions can be tackled at Monday morning's introduction inside the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. Among the points that Elias can address: * Is it true that former Astros sabermetrics analyst Sig Mejdal will join the organization as Elias' top assistant? * What are the statuses of vice president of baseball operations...

Elias hired as executive vice president and general manager

Elias hired as executive vice president and general manager
The wait is over. To fill the top vacancy in the Orioles' front office and to reveal his identity and title. The Orioles have hired former Astros assistant general manager Mike Elias as their executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager, with the announcement made this afternoon. He will be introduced to the media at a Monday morning press conference at Camden Yards that will include John and Louis Angelos and air live on MASN and 105.7 the Fan beginning at 11 a.m. Elias...

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...

Orioles announce departures of Duquette, Showalter (updated)

Orioles announce departures of Duquette, Showalter (updated)
The Orioles announced tonight that they won't retain executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter beyond contracts that run out at the end of the month. They also laid out the plan moving forward. The club will hire an executive from outside of the organization to lead the baseball operations department, an important distinction following today's moves. The Orioles stated in a release that this individual will have the final determination on all baseball matters "that he...

O's reach agreement with Cadyn Grenier, close in on Blaine Knight

O's reach agreement with Cadyn Grenier, close in on Blaine Knight
They were on competing teams in the College World Series finals, which ended Thursday night. But very soon, Oregon State shortstop Cadyn Grenier and right-handed pitcher Blaine Knight of Arkansas will be on the same team. They will be Orioles and start their pro careers on the O's farm. The Orioles have reached an agreement on a signing bonus with Grenier. He was their second draft pick, taken No. 37 overall in Competitive Balance Round A. The slot value for that pick is $1,923,500. The...

Top pick Grayson Rodriguez talks about signing with Orioles

Top pick Grayson Rodriguez talks about signing with Orioles
The Orioles today officially signed their top draft pick, prep pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, who was just introduced at a Camden Yards press conference where he was joined by Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich. It was not long after the Orioles selected Rodriguez 11th overall in round one on June 4 that they were closing in on agreement to a signing bonus. Rodriguez will head to Florida tomorrow for an orientation and to throw some bullpens before he joins the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League...

Wrapping up the draft with O's scouting director Gary Rajsich

Wrapping up the draft with O's scouting director Gary Rajsich
The Orioles completed three days of the First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday. As we reported here yesterday, they've made a lot of progress on getting agreements already, with most of their top 10 selections, including first round pick prep pitcher Grayson Rodriguez and their second pick, Oregon State shortstop Cadyn Grenier. Both are expected to sign for slightly under-slot bonuses. From a draft pool of $8,754,400 for the Orioles, the slot value of the No. 11 pick for Rodriguez is $4,375,100....

O's make progress on draft signings and Rajsich on day two

O's make progress on draft signings and Rajsich on day two
The implementation of the slot bonus amounts, that began in the First-Year Player Draft a few years ago as part of a new collective bargaining agreement, means that teams can reach agreements very quickly with draft picks. The Orioles have done just that. The Orioles are very close to signing multiple draft picks they have selected in the first two days of the draft including their top pick, prep right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from Nacagdoches, Texas. The listed slot for the No. 11 pick is...

Leftover thoughts on early rounds of draft

Leftover thoughts on early rounds of draft
FLUSHING, N.Y. - While wondering if the Eagles will invite Alanis Morissette to sing "Uninvited" before their home opener ... I'm getting asked about the Orioles' decision to select Texas high school pitcher Grayson Rodriguez with their first pick in the draft. It felt like a reach considering the more highly rated pitchers still on the board, including Matthew Liberatore, Brady Singer, Cole Winn and Shane McClanahan, but let's not pretend that this is an exact science. It is not - more...

O's Gary Rajsich and club's top two picks talk about the draft

O's Gary Rajsich and club's top two picks talk about the draft
For the first time, the Orioles have selected high school pitchers in back-to-back years with their top pick in the First-Year Player Draft, which has been held since 1965. With the No. 11 pick last night, the Orioles selected prep right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas. He is 6-foot-5 and 230 lbs., and has a college commitment to Texas A&M. Scouting reports indicate his fastball often sat 92 to 94 mph this season, touching 97 and 98 mph....

Orioles select Grayson Rodriguez in first round of draft (updated)

Orioles select Grayson Rodriguez in first round of draft (updated)
The Orioles chose another high school pitcher tonight with their first pick in the First-Year Player Draft. Just not a name that had been linked to them. The Orioles used the 11th overall pick on right-hander Grayson Rodriguez of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas. Rodriguez is listed at 6-foot-5 and 230 lbs. and has been lauded for improving his conditioning over the winter while working with a trainer. His fastball can touch 97-98 mph, according to Baseball America, and...

Draft day arrives: The Orioles will pick No. 11 and No. 37 tonight

Draft day arrives: The Orioles will pick No. 11 and No. 37 tonight
The three-day, 40 round First-Year Player Draft begins tonight. The first round, which will be televised live on MLB Network, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET. Tonight, teams will draft through the second round and the completion of compensation picks after that round, so that takes the draft through 78 selections. The draft resumes at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday with round three through 10, and concludes at Noon ET on Wednesday with selections in rounds 11 through 40. The Orioles will make two...

Feeling a draft: Orioles have the 11th pick on Monday

Feeling a draft: Orioles have the 11th pick on Monday
We are now less than a week from the First-Year Player Draft. The Orioles have the No. 11 pick in round one and they have two other selections in the top 100, with picks at No. 37 and No. 87. Major League Baseball has set the Orioles' allotted total pool for signing their picks in the first 10 rounds at $8,754,400, the 13th highest amount of any club. The allotted amount to sign the No. 11 overall pick is $4,375,100. This will be Gary Rajsich's seventh draft as Orioles director of scouting....

Two O's go from down the board on draft day to award finalists

Two O's go from down the board on draft day to award finalists
All big league teams strive to hit on players later in the First-Year Player Draft. There is always pressure on first-round picks, and they get the most bonus money and the most attention from media and fans. But you need more than the highest drafted players to come through for long-term big league success. In that regard, 2017 wasn't bad for the Orioles as a 2016 third-round pick, outfielder Austin Hays, was a finalist for Baseball America's minor league Player of the Year. And a 2013...