Duquette: "Still looking for opportunities to build the club"

Duquette: "Still looking for opportunities to build the club"
The Orioles maintained interest in free agent outfielder Ben Revere this winter, engaging again in talks with his representative. However, there doesn't appear to be a financial fit and Revere is expected to sign with another team - perhaps as early as today. The Nationals non-tendered Revere after he batted .217/.260/.300 in 103 games, but he hit .306/.342/.377 in 2015 with the Phillies and Blue Jays. A strained oblique in April pretty much ruined his final season in D.C. Revere, 28, bats...

Wasdin expected to join Orioles minor league staff

Wasdin expected to join Orioles minor league staff
The Orioles are leaning toward hiring John Wasdin as their minor league pitching coordinator, according to sources. I'm making an assumption on the title, but Wasdin appears to be their choice. Wasdin, 44, would replace Rick Peterson, who was hired in January 2012 as director of pitching development. He previously served as pitching coach of the Double-A Midland Rockhounds in the Athletics organization. The Rockhounds have won three straight Texas League championships. In 12 major league...

Orioles sign outfielder Logan Schafer (plus other notes)

Orioles sign outfielder Logan Schafer (plus other notes)
The Orioles acquired a left-handed hitting outfielder today as the Winter Meetings approach, though it involves a minor league deal. The club announced that it signed Logan Schafer, 30, to a minor league contract. He will receive an invitation to spring training. Schafer is a career .214/.292/.318 hitter in 318 games over parts of six major league seasons, the first five spent with the Brewers. He batted .238/.342/.317 this year in 26 games with the Twins. A former third-round pick, Schafer...

More on changes in Orioles farm system

More on changes in Orioles farm system
The Orioles are busy without actually making any big moves or announcements. Besides executive vice president Dan Duquette's work at the general managers meetings, intended again to lay the groundwork for deals and agreements at the Winter Meetings, and the ongoing interviews for pitching and bullpen coach, the Orioles are making a few changes in their farm system. I reported yesterday that Rick Peterson was out as director of pitching development. The Orioles want to go in another direction,...

Rick Peterson won't return to Orioles in 2017

Rick Peterson won't return to Orioles in 2017
The Orioles are making changes in their minor league system while continuing their work on the major league coaching staff. Rick Peterson won't return as director of pitching development for the 2017 season. I heard from multiple sources that Peterson was gone, and executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed it this afternoon. Peterson was hired for the position in January 2012 after serving as pitching coach with the Brewers, Mets and Athletics. He also worked as the Blue Jays minor...

Peterson honored with Dr. James Andrews Award

Peterson honored with Dr. James Andrews Award
If you thought all the offseason baseball hardware had been handed out, think again. Earlier this week, Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson was honored with the Dr. James R. Andrews, M.D. Award for Excellence in Baseball Sports Medicine. Peterson's connection to Dr. Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert, dates to 1989, when Peterson was with the White Sox organization and served as pitching coach with the Double-A Birmingham Barons....

Which free agents will re-sign with the Orioles?

Which free agents will re-sign with the Orioles?
While wondering if Orioles manager Buck Showalter can relate to the heat that John Harbaugh is catching from Ravens fans this season ... I'm heading back home this morning after a weekend filled with love, laughs and calories. Nothing beats family. The Orioles will begin interviewing candidates this week for the vacant pitching coach position. I'm not going to anoint a favorite because we don't have the complete list and there are so many factors in play, including the impression made...

Memo to minor league pitchers: When you throw, keep it low

Memo to minor league pitchers: When you throw, keep it low
In the minor leagues, the Orioles want their pitchers to develop consistent and repeatable mechanics and deliveries. They prefer they have a good fastball and changeup combination along with a breaking pitch, and they really want their pitchers to work hard on pitching down in the strike zone. Sounds like good advice. It makes sense that it is easier for a batter to drive a ball that is elevated over one that is down in the strike zone or even low and out of the strike zone. If you watch...

Orioles can benefit from using six-man rotations for some of the minor league teams

Orioles can benefit from using six-man rotations for some of the minor league teams
Last season, the Orioles had some of their minor league affiliates at times use six-man starting rotations. This season, the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds and Single-A Frederick Keys are expected to begin the season using six-man rotations and it's possible that Double-A Bowie may as well, O's director of player development Brian Graham confirmed recently. Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson said there are several benefits gained from this. "The advantage, quite simply,...

Hobgood throws off mound and other scenes from minor league camp (and note)

Hobgood throws off mound and other scenes from minor league camp (and note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Ed Smith Stadium complex is closed today, but there's plenty of action at Twin Lakes Park, where minor league pitchers and catchers are working out. Position players who reported to the early camp also took the field today - guys that manager Buck Showalter wanted to be ready in case they were needed in Grapefruit League games. Matt Hobgood, the fifth overall selection in the 2009 First-Year Player draft, threw off a mound today for the first time since instructional...

Pitching prospect check: Jason Gurka has been flying under the radar

Pitching prospect check: Jason Gurka has been flying under the radar
He was not a high draft pick and he has made just one start in 89 career pro appearances. Jason Gurka hasn't garnered much attention during his Orioles minor league career, but after back-to-back very solid seasons, he has slowly but surely worked his way up and is someone worth watching in 2013. Gurka was the Orioles' 15th-round pick out of Angelina (Texas) Junior College in 2008. The Houston native turned 25 on Jan. 10. In his O's career, he is 8-8 with an ERA of 3.38 over 160 innings...

Checking on another pitching prospect: A look at right-hander Mike Wright

Checking on another pitching prospect: A look at right-hander Mike Wright
He is mentioned often as being one of the Orioles' top pitching prospects. After this past season, Baseball America rated right-hander Mike Wright as the club's No. 8 prospect and he ranks fourth among pitchers after Dylan Bundy (No. 1), Kevin Gausman (No. 2) and Eduardo Rodriguez (No. 5). Wright began this past year at Single-A Frederick and went 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA in eight starts for the Keys. He moved to Double-A Bowie in late May, but after just two Baysox starts, he spent about five...

A look at another pitching prospect: Pinales shows early promise and potential

A look at another pitching prospect: Pinales shows early promise and potential
In some ways, left-hander Elias Pinales is just like a lot of young pitching prospects over the years from the Dominican Republic. He is tall and lean, and throws hard. He is a decent prospect, but has a lot of developing to do to try and work his way up through the Orioles farm system. Pinales, from Bajo de Haini, turned 20 in November. The 6-foot-4, 155-pounder was signed by David Stockstill as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 27, 2010. For the Dominican Summer League Orioles in 2011, he...

A look at a minor league reliever with three solid seasons on the O's farm

A look at a minor league reliever with three solid seasons on the O's farm
Chris Petrini has never started a game on the mound in three seasons pitching in the Orioles' minor leagues, but after putting up more solid numbers again in 2012, maybe he's now starting to make a nice impression on the team brass. The 25-year-old lefty has been overlooked at times because he was not drafted and spent five seasons in college at the University of California. He took a redshirt season in 2007 after Tommy John surgery. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in June 2010 by scout...

Taking a look at a top O's pitching prospect not named Bundy or Gausman

Taking a look at a top O's pitching prospect not named Bundy or Gausman
He is one of the Orioles' top young pitchers, but like most pitchers in the O's organization this past season, he got overshadowed by Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. But Eduardo Rodriguez had a third straight strong season in 2012 and most consider him the club's best pitching prospect after the Bundy-Gausman duo. In November, Baseball America rated Rodriguez, a 19-year-old lefty from Valencia, Venezuela, as the Orioles' fifth-best prospect in its top 10 ranking. After pitching to an ERA...

A look at Josh Hader and his stunning velocity increase last summer

A look at Josh Hader and his stunning velocity increase last summer
When the Orioles drafted pitcher Josh Hader out of Old Mill High School in Anne Arundel County in June, they knew they were getting a kid with impressive high school stats, but not yet an impressive fastball. But that changed this summer. The 18-year-old left-hander, who went 10-0 with an ERA of 0.39 as a senior, was pitching in the mid 80s during his high school season but ended up touching 93 and 94 by the end of his first pro season, surprising even some seasoned members of the Orioles'...

Rick Peterson talks about Boston interview and possible future with O's

Rick Peterson talks about Boston interview and possible future with O's
Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson remains with the organization after interviewing for the Boston Red Sox pitching coach job, a position that went to Juan Nieves. Peterson continues to say how much he loved working with the club this year, but at the same time, does admit that he would likely have interest if any other big league pitching coach positions come open. "I love the Orioles," he said tonight during a phone interview. "I love the energy, the people, everything...

Nieves has ties to the Orioles

Nieves has ties to the Orioles
The Red Sox surprised the baseball world by hiring Juan Nieves as their pitching coach. All signs pointed toward Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson, a long-time friend and former minor league coach of new Boston manager John Farrell. Farrell reportedly favored Peterson. Maybe he didn't have the final vote. Peterson has his supporters and detractors within the Orioles organization. Not everyone is buying into his methods and philosophies. It would be erroneous to assume...

Peterson reportedly favorite for Red Sox job (Astros add Dennis Martinez to staff)

Peterson reportedly favorite for Red Sox job (Astros add Dennis Martinez to staff)
Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson is the leading candidate to be named the Red Sox's pitching coach, according to this report from ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes. Peterson apparently is the choice of new Red Sox manager John Farrell, who was tutored by Peterson at Double-A Waterbury in 1986 and Triple-A Buffalo in 1987. An announcement is expected to come Tuesday. Peterson has declined to comment on his interview with the Red Sox, which took place on Saturday, and Orioles...

This and that

This and that
I'm drying off my pumpkins this morning, and I really wish that were a euphemism. The local news outlets continue to remind us to stay indoors. Amazing that anyone needs to be told. I'll pass along my own suggestions. Don't stick a fork in a light socket - once your power is restored, of course - and never kiss a rabid dog on the mouth. Common sense, folks. Seriously, though, I hope everyone made it through the worst of Hurricane Sandy. Continue to be safe. The sun has to come out...