Minor, Manto among latest dismissals from Orioles (updated)

Minor, Manto among latest dismissals from Orioles (updated)
The changes in various departments in the Orioles organization, reaching down to the lower levels of the minors, continued today with the firings of at least eight more employees. According to sources, the Orioles are parting ways with minor league hitting coordinator Jeff Manto, minor league catching coordinator Don Werner, special assignment pitching instructor Ramón Martinez, Single-A Frederick manager Ryan Minor, Keys pitching coach Justin Lord and hitting coach Bobby Rose, short-season...

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...

More on tonight's deadline and Elias' radio interview

More on tonight's deadline and Elias' radio interview
The latest deadline in baseball's offseason has arrived tonight with teams needing to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players by 8 p.m. I've hit this subject harder than a Chinese food buffet, but hey, let's review it anyway: The Orioles have three obvious decisions regarding Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens and Jonathan Villar. They aren't candidates to be non-tendered and we'll find out later if executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias is willing to trade them...

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...

Peterson returns to Orioles on minor league deal

Peterson returns to Orioles on minor league deal
The utility competition in Orioles camp next spring is going to include veteran Jace Peterson. The Orioles have re-signed Peterson to a minor league deal, according to an industry source, and he's likely to receive an invitation to spring training. Peterson was arbitration-eligible, cleared outright waivers earlier this month and elected free agency. The club has wanted to keep him in the organization, though there was an element of uncertainty attached due to the pending hire of a head of...

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...

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...

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...

Graham wraps up general managers meetings

Graham wraps up general managers meetings
The process of hiring a head of baseball operations, whatever the title, didn't interfere with business conducted this week at the general managers meetings. Orioles director of player development Brian Graham, leading the department on an interim basis, flew home this afternoon from Carlsbad, Calif., after the meetings reached their conclusion. Director of baseball operations Tripp Norton also represented the organization. The uncertainty over which individual will be calling the shots...

Providing president reminders in Orioles' front office interviews

Providing president reminders in Orioles' front office interviews
If you've shifted to the edge of your seat waiting for the Orioles to announce a hiring, sit back and try to relax for at least a few more days. Nothing is imminent. Nothing is likely to happen this week as the GM meetings run their course. The interview process hasn't reached its conclusion, which allows more time for fans to become confused over the reports that keep surfacing. All I can do in the meantime is try to provide at least a modicum of clarity while operating largely in the...

Taking a morning quiz

Taking a morning quiz
Rather than dump out the entire mailbag today and try to come up with a fresh sequel title, I'm going to pull out a couple of the heavy repeats and attempt to eliminate whatever confusion lingers in the air like the odor from a hardboiled egg. Let's go with a true or false format. As opposed to truth or dare, which could get weird around here. The Orioles definitely won't be signing any free agents. False. The Orioles don't have a definite starter for right field, third base or behind the...

What's on today's agenda? (updated)

What's on today's agenda? (updated)
The important offseason dates in Major League Baseball include today's 5 p.m. deadline for teams to extend the qualifying offer to their own free agents, which reportedly has grown to $17.9 million. The Orioles will pass on Adam Jones and Colby Rasmus. A front office that remains under construction also will remove pitchers Richard Bleier and Pedro Araujo and outfielders Mark Trumbo and Austin Hays from the 60-day disabled list. Bleier underwent surgery in June to repair a Grade 3 tear in his...

Orioles place Branden Kline on 40-man roster

Orioles place Branden Kline on 40-man roster
Pitcher Branden Kline's return from Tommy John surgery and multiple setbacks has taken him all the way to the Orioles' 40-man roster, with the possibility of further advancement in the coming months. It's been quite a journey. Kline, a Frederick native and second-round pick in the 2012 draft out of the University of Virginia, missed almost three full seasons before making a major breakthrough in the minors. He posted a 1.64 ERA with 17 saves in 65 2/3 innings while splitting the summer...

Orioles add J'Rudjeanon Isenia to list of international signings

Orioles add J'Rudjeanon Isenia to list of international signings
The Orioles announced their latest international signing this afternoon, 16-year-old outfielder J'Rudjeanon Isenia out of Curaçao. The agreement on a $125,000 bonus was reported back in late August, but now it's official. The club provided the following statement from director of player development Brian Graham, who's handling the day-to-day duties in baseball operations on an interim basis: "Isenia is a right-handed-hitting outfielder with above average tools and a good swing. He is a...

Ron Johnson won't return as Norfolk manager (updated)

Ron Johnson won't return as Norfolk manager (updated)
The changes coming to the Orioles organization will affect the minor league system, including the decision to bring in a new Triple-A manager. Ron Johnson won't return for an eighth season with the Norfolk Tides, with multiple sources confirming the Orioles' decision to move in another direction. Johnson is free to accept any offer that appeals to him. Also, special assistant Matt Haas, East Coast scouting supervisor Kirk Fredriksson, area scout Dana Duquette and director of Dominican...

Orioles announce signings of four international players

Orioles announce signings of four international players
Unable to sign any of the high-profile Cuban prospects featured at a showcase earlier this month, the Orioles announced today that they've reached agreement with four international players while reallocating a portion of the $6.5 million they held in bonus slots. Joining the organization are 19-year-old Dominican right-hander Kelvin LaRoche, 18-year-old Cuban outfielder Kevin Infante, 17-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Angel Gomez and 17-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Gilbert Machado. The amount...

Orioles continue to conduct business despite vacancies

Orioles continue to conduct business despite vacancies
While the Marlins were showing off Victor Victor Mesa and younger brother Victor Mesa Jr. yesterday to their local media, making the international signings official at a press conference, Orioles fans wondered if the lack of top front office executives sabotaged the club's efforts. Don't get the impression that no one is minding the store. Director of player development Brian Graham has been assigned the duties that belonged to executive vice president Dan Duquette. As the Oct. 3 press...