Day Three of the Winter Meetings

Day Three of the Winter Meetings
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Just as the Orioles haven't totally moved away from catcher Matt Wieters, they remain in the mix to re-sign outfielder Mark Trumbo. He just needs to come down to them. It's a steep drop. The sides agree on four years, but they're far apart on money and the Orioles won't give a full no-trade clause. But you already know this if you've been paying attention. In the meantime, the Mariners reportedly are making a strong push to get him back. The market expanded just as...

Zach Britton on Wei-Yin Chen: "A great teammate"

Zach Britton on Wei-Yin Chen: "A great teammate"
Wei-Yin Chen's former teammates and coaches made sure to text or call him following the news on Tuesday that he agreed to a five-year contract with the Marlins, officially ending his tenure as an Oriole. Chen spent four years in Baltimore. He could make it through six in Miami, including a vesting option that brings the total value of the contract to $96 million. Of course, the Marlins have been known to trade players shortly after handing out extravagant contracts. They gave Chen an opt-out...

O's add local product Greg Ross on minors deal, plus other notes

O's add local product Greg Ross on minors deal, plus other notes
The Orioles have added a local product to their farm system, signing 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Greg Ross to a minor league contract. Ross projects to begin the 2016 season on the Double-A Bowie roster. A native of Baltimore and current Towson resident, Ross is a 2007 graduate of Loch Raven High School and was drafted by Atlanta in Round 18 in 2011 out of Frostburg State in western Maryland. At Frostburg in 2011, Ross was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association First Team...

More thoughts on losing Wei-Yin Chen and Gerardo Parra

More thoughts on losing Wei-Yin Chen and Gerardo Parra
SARASOTA, Fla. - As the free agent market was set to open, I listed left-hander Wei-Yin Chen as the least likely of the six Orioles to re-sign with the team. Chen yesterday became the first to leave, though Gerardo Parra followed so closely, he almost stepped on his former teammate's heels. This isn't so much an I-told-you-so as a reminder that the Orioles don't normally spend lavishly on starting pitchers. It was quite a reach giving Ubaldo Jimenez four years and $50 million. Chen was...

A look at O's draft picks, Colorado outfielders and more

A look at O's draft picks, Colorado outfielders and more
At the moment, the Orioles have, by my count, six of the first 90 picks in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft next June. In the 2014 draft, after losing picks for signing Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez, the O's first pick was No. 90. The Orioles should currently be slated to get the No. 28 overall pick in the draft for losing pitcher Wei-Yin Chen via free agency to Miami. Four teams have lost first-round picks for signing free agents that turned down qualifying offers: the Cubs, Nats,...

Notes on Chen, Parra and more offseason moves for the Orioles and Nationals

Notes on Chen, Parra and more offseason moves for the Orioles and Nationals
The Miami Marlins have signed pitcher Wei-Yin Chen and the Colorado Rockies have added outfielder Gerardo Parra, so that puts the Orioles in the middle of trade speculation and free agent signings with pitchers. The news focus is left-handed batting outfielders, whether it is the Nationals or the Orioles. Parra, who played for the Orioles last season, gets three years and $27 million. He gives the Rockies four left-handed hitting outfielders along with Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon and...

Wei-Yin Chen and Gerardo Parra no longer on market

Wei-Yin Chen and Gerardo Parra no longer on market
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Marlins reportedly have reached an agreement with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen on a five-year contract, making him the Orioles' first free agent to leave the organization. Outfielder Gerardo Parra quickly became the second, reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $27.5 million contract with the Rockies. FOXSports.com first reported that Chen's deal included a vesting player option for a sixth year. Multiple reports have Chen receiving approximately $80 million over five years,...

Did the Dodgers create a poor precedent with Scott Kazmir signing?

Did the Dodgers create a poor precedent with Scott Kazmir signing?
So free agent left-hander Scott Kazmir got an opt-out clause. I really don't understand the Los Angeles Dodgers' thinking here. Kazmir signed a three-year deal with the Dodgers that will reportedly guarantee him $48 million. But he has an opt-out clause after the first season. If he pitches poorly, the Dodgers are on the hook for all three years and $48 million. If he pitches well in 2016, he can leave the team and re-enter the free agent market at the end of the year. Must be a great time to...

A take on Wei-Yin Chen, a trade and more

A take on Wei-Yin Chen, a trade and more
A few random thoughts today on a pitcher, a trade and payroll: * If some team is going to give up a five-year, $100 million deal for left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and give up a draft pick, to me that is a big overpay. While Chen had his best year for the Orioles last year, he also has gone 16-19 with a 4.06 ERA in 52 career starts within the American League East. Last season, Chen gave up a batting average of .274, slugging percentage of .496 and OPS of .815 against right-handed batters. In his...

Will there soon be a new pitcher under the O's tree?

Will there soon be a new pitcher under the O's tree?
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, Birdland! Here's a hope that this is your best ever and that you get to spend it with family and friends. Enjoy the season even if you are in the warm Baltimore area, where this weather would be fully conducive for a doubleheader this afternoon. As for a quick baseball thought today, how about comparing two pitchers the Orioles have been linked to in left-hander Scott Kazmir and right-hander Yovani Gallardo? Both were projected to get four-year deals worth...

Who's the next left-handed hitter coming to the Orioles?

Who's the next left-handed hitter coming to the Orioles?
Merry Christmas to everyone who observes the holiday. I hope your stockings are stuffed, your chestnuts are roasted, your lights are blinking only if you want them to and your credit card bill is lost in the mail. The Orioles shopped early and picked up Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim. No assembly required, though I started to wonder as the days passed without any word on his physical. I'm wondering how much we can read into the Orioles' desire to sign another left-handed hitter. When I asked...

'Tis the season for non-update updates

'Tis the season for non-update updates
Santa Claus arrived early today, which leaves me perplexed. I don't have a chimney and I haven't left the house all day. How did this happen? Note to the bearded one: Don't scarf all the Double Stuf Oreos, especially after going into the pantry to get them. If they're not on a plate in the living room next to a glass of milk, they're not for you. One box was marked "non-update updates," which hadn't been on my list. I opened it anyway and found the following: * The warehouse is closed...

Notes on Chen, Davis and the spring training schedule

Notes on Chen, Davis and the spring training schedule
As the free agent market opened for business following the World Series, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen was projected by various outlets to land a contract covering a minimum of four years. The Orioles never were considered serious players for him, in large part because they figured he could squeeze a fifth year out of a team. I've heard that Chen's representative, Scott Boras, is seeking a five-year contract totaling $100 million. Check some of the other deals for starting pitchers this winter and...

Duquette on Davis, extensions and pitching

Duquette on Davis, extensions and pitching
So what exactly do we know about the Orioles' negotiations with first baseman Chris Davis? I reported at the Winter Meetings that they made an offer in the neighborhood of $150 million, which included deferred money. The deal covered seven years. It never was adjusted after the initial round of rejections by agent Scott Boras. And there's no opt-out clause, because the Orioles are strictly opposed to it. Duquette confirmed on Saturday that the offer was off the table, and he replied with a...

Boras doesn't think Orioles have drawn "any lines in the sand" in Davis talks

Boras doesn't think Orioles have drawn "any lines in the sand" in Davis talks
NASHVILLE - According to agent Scott Boras, there is nothing "immediate" in regard to first baseman Chris Davis' contract negotiations. Talks continue as the Orioles' patience is tested. Boras has more meetings planned for tonight with unidentified teams, but an agreement with Davis isn't anticipated. "I've been in talks with a number of teams and, as with most Winter Meeting dynamics, you're kind of moving along and hearing what everyone has to say and just reporting it to Chris,"...

More on Orioles' offer to Chris Davis and leftovers for breakfast

More on Orioles' offer to Chris Davis and leftovers for breakfast
NASHVILLE - Breakfast for me at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center has consisted of egg sandwiches and lattes at Starbucks. I ordered egg whites and turkey bacon on the second day to give the illusion of being healthy. Manager Buck Showalter will speak to reporters this afternoon after the annual reception and luncheon, when the beat crew dines with him at a circular table and audio, video, tweeting and other forms of social media are strictly prohibited. It's an informal...

Dan Duquette discusses attempts to make deals and much more

Dan Duquette discusses attempts to make deals and much more
NASHVILLE - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette focused mostly on the free agent market today while searching for a left-handed bat and the trade market while searching for starting pitchers. With the cost of arms these days, the Orioles are hoping to fill a hole in the rotation and improve their depth by dealing with other clubs. Of course, the challenge is finding a match. "We made a little progress today on the market," Duquette said from his suite at the Gaylord Opryland Resort...

Duquette on today's meeting with Boras (and other notes)

Duquette on today's meeting with Boras (and other notes)
NASHVILLE - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met today with agent Scott Boras and said the discussion centered mostly on first baseman Chris Davis. However, he reminded the media that the Orioles are searching for left-handed bats, suggesting that they also talked about Pedro Alvarez and perhaps Denard Span. It doesn't appear that the Orioles made much progress regarding Davis. Duquette said the club has maintained an ongoing dialogue, but nothing is new today. Does Duquette have...

More leftovers for breakfast

More leftovers for breakfast
The Winter Meetings officially start in two days. I officially start packing a suitcase later this afternoon. My bitterness may not fit in the overhead compartment. Reliever Darren O'Day remains on the free agent market this morning. I checked again late last night and nothing seemed to change on the Orioles' end of it. They're hoping that their offer is good enough while also banking on location and manager Buck Showalter's careful handling of his bullpen as deciding factors. Buck versus...

More on the pitching market and Mark Trumbo

More on the pitching market and Mark Trumbo
The pitching dominoes are falling fast and the Winter Meetings don't officially begin until Monday. You just knew teams would act aggressively once J.A. Happ came off the board. But seriously ... Jordan Zimmermann signs a five-year, $110 million contract with the Tigers and a day later is accused of settling too fast. He's a filthy-rich bargain compared to David Price, who agreed yesterday to a seven-year, $217 million deal with the Red Sox. The annual average value of Price's contract is a...