Notes, quotes and video from today's workout

Notes, quotes and video from today's workout
SARASOTA, Fla. - Twelve pitchers threw bullpen sessions today before the Orioles concluded today's workout. Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jiménez and Darren O'Day were in Group 1, followed by Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Logan Ondrusek in Group 2, T.J. McFarland, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy in Group 3 and Chris Lee, Jesús Liranzo and Jed Bradley in Group 4. Welington Castillo caught O'Day and Britton. Manager Buck Showalter wants his new catcher to get acclimated to the top pitchers on the...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Tanner Scott, one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in the Orioles' system, got the full attention of scouts last year in the Arizona Fall League. A left-hander in his early 20s throwing 100 mph fastballs will turn heads - and cause more than a few double-takes. Scott started last night for the Peoria Javelinas in the AFL opener and threw 30 pitches in the first inning. Twenty-seven were four-seam fastballs clocked at 97-99 mph, according to MLB.com's Gameday. He also mixed in three...

Some arbitration talk and the search for a new pitching coach

Some arbitration talk and the search for a new pitching coach
While we wait to find out which teams will play in the World Series and, if you're me, continue to think about how the Orioles could have duplicated the Blue Jays' ouster of the Rangers had they gotten past the wild card round, MLBTradeRumors.com released its projected arbitration figures. The budget for executive vice president Dan Duquette this winter will include raises for a significant portion of the Orioles' 10 eligible players. Here's the list: Chris Tillman - $10.6MM Ryan Flaherty -...

Bundy starting Sunday while Gausman deals with sore intercostal

Bundy starting Sunday while Gausman deals with sore intercostal
The cloud of mystery over the Orioles rotation has lifted. Dylan Bundy will start Sunday afternoon against the Diamondbacks in the final home game of the regular season. He told me earlier today that he felt fine, no injury concerns, and was waiting for his start date to become official. Kevin Gausman is being pushed back due to some soreness in his intercostal that cropped up on Tuesday. The Orioles think they caught it in time, but they aren't taking any chances. Bundy would have been pushed...

Duensing coming off disabled list Monday (and other notes)

Duensing coming off disabled list Monday (and other notes)
The Orioles will make another roster move before Monday afternoon's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Left-hander Brian Duensing is headed to Baltimore today and will fly with the team to Tampa. He's currently on the 60-day disabled list after undergoing elbow surgery. Duensing had cartilage chips removed from his left elbow in June. He appeared in seven games with the Orioles before the surgery and allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. Duensing allowed one run in seven...

Roster expansion and remaining calm

Roster expansion and remaining calm
The media will walk inside the Orioles clubhouse this afternoon and start inspecting the nameplates above the lockers. And there will be temporary lockers in the middle of the room to accommodate the newbies. It must be September. The Orioles will bring up a few guys today, with another wave arriving after the minor league seasons end on Monday. Catcher Caleb Joseph will be welcomed back after appearing in nine games with Triple-A Norfolk and going 10-for-40 with four RBIs - four more than...

Ondrusek and Borbon outrighted

Ondrusek and Borbon outrighted
The Orioles announced today that they've outrighted reliever Logan Ondrusek and outfielder Julio Borbon to Double-A Bowie. Both players cleared waivers. Borbon again has accepted an outright assignment after being designated earlier this season. Ondrusek was designated on Saturday to make room for left-hander T.J. McFarland, who subsequently was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after clearing waivers. Ondrusek allowed seven earned runs in 6 1/3 innings with the Orioles. Borbon rejoined the Orioles...

More notes from Camden Yards

More notes from Camden Yards
Orioles left-hander T.J. McFarland has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and will meet the team later today in Gwinnett. The Orioles designated McFarland for assignment yesterday, but it wasn't the typical DFA where a player is removed from the 40-man roster. One of the complicated transactions in baseball involving optionable waivers. Chris Tillman's throwing session on flat ground went well and he's scheduled to do the same on Wednesday, according to manager Buck Showalter. "That's...

More on yesterday's news and a few notes

More on yesterday's news and a few notes
The news on Adam Jones and Chris Tillman is encouraging, according to reports out of New York. It's mildly disturbing on Steve Pearce. It's quite confusing with T.J. McFarland. Jones remains day-to-day with a strained left hamstring, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters that the center fielder may have been in the lineup yesterday if the Orioles were playing at night. The quick turnaround led to a more cautious approach. My guess is we'll see Jones in center field tonight against the...

Showalter pregame on Hunter, Tillman, Jones and more

Showalter pregame on Hunter, Tillman, Jones and more
NEW YORK - It has been a busy day at Yankee Stadium for the Orioles roster. Tommy Hunter was signed to a major league contract. Oliver Drake was recalled from Triple-A and T.J. McFarland and Julio Borbon were designated for assignment. Hunter was 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 21 relief appearances with the Indians. He hasn't pitched in the majors since July 9 and sustained a non-displaced fracture in his back after falling at his home during the All-Star break. "We need some arms," Showalter said...

Orioles sign Tommy Hunter, recall Oliver Drake (updated)

Orioles sign Tommy Hunter, recall Oliver Drake (updated)
The Orioles added two more pitchers to the active roster today, including Tommy Hunter, their former set-up man and closer who signed as a free agent after the Indians released him last week. Oliver Drake has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, the latest changes to a bullpen that's stayed busy in New York. The lineup card no longer lists left-hander T.J. McFarland, who apparently has been optioned, and outfielder Julio Borbon, who's out of options and must have been designated for...

Gausman vs. Sabathia today in the Bronx

Gausman vs. Sabathia today in the Bronx
Should your main concerns rest upon a rotation that's surrendered 12 earned runs and 13 hits over 5 1/3 innings in the first two games in the Bronx? Or should it be the bullpen with the revolving door and the sudden inability to cover for the rotation? T.J. McFarland, Mychal Givens, Donnie Hart and Brad Brach combined yesterday to allow eight earned runs and 11 hits in four innings. Or should it be center fielder Adam Jones, who remains day-to-day with a strained left hamstring, while Chris...

Clubhouse quotes after a second straight blowout loss

Clubhouse quotes after a second straight blowout loss
NEW YORK - After a second straight blowout loss at Yankee Stadium, the Orioles' recent pitching numbers look bleak. Now the fans have to hope the season outlook doesn't match that. The Orioles fell to 70-59 with today's 13-5 loss to the Yankees. Toronto beat Minnesota, so the Orioles are three games out of first in the American League East and trying to hang onto the second AL wild card. Whatever positives they put forth in winning three of four from the Nationals have been washed away amid...

Showalter pregame on Adam Jones, the roster move and more

Showalter pregame on Adam Jones, the roster move and more
NEW YORK - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones was pinch-hit for in the ninth inning in Washington last night, but he's in the starting lineup tonight for the series opener against the Yankees in New York. Jones was removed from the game due to cramping in his hamstring, but said after that contest at Nats Park that he would play tonight. When asked today about his health, he said simply, "I'm in the lineup, right?" Manager Buck Showalter said Jones has tested the hamstring a few times here...

T.J. McFarland on rejoining the Orioles

T.J. McFarland on rejoining the Orioles
NEW YORK - With his left knee now sound and his sinker back with its normal movement, left-hander T.J. McFarland rejoins the Orioles' bullpen today. In the latest shuffling in the Orioles 'pen today, McFarland was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list. The Orioles also designated right-hander Logan Ondrusek for assignment off the 25-man roster. McFarland, 27, was placed on the 15-day DL on June 30 (retroactive to June 29) with left knee inflammation. Over five rehab games (four starts)...

Orioles reinstate LHP T.J. McFarland from the disabled list; designate RHP Logan Ondrusek for assignment

Orioles reinstate LHP T.J. McFarland from the disabled list; designate RHP Logan Ondrusek for assignment
The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated LHP T.J. McFarland from the 15-day disabled list and designated RHP Logan Ondrusek for assignment off the 25-man roster. McFarland, 27, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 30 (retroactive to June 29) with left knee inflammation. Over five rehabilitation games (four starts) between the GCL Orioles (one game), Class A-Advanced Frederick (two games), and Double-A Bowie (two games), he pitched to a 6.48 ERA (6 ER/8.1 IP) with eight...

Orioles and Yankees lineups, McFarland off DL (updated)

Orioles and Yankees lineups, McFarland off DL (updated)
Adam Jones is in center field tonight in New York after leaving last night's game in the ninth inning with cramping in his hamstring. Francisco Pena is catching Yovani Gallardo in the series opener against the Yankees. The Orioles will activate left-hander T.J. McFarland from the disabled list, as expected. Update: The Orioles announced that they designated Logan Ondrusek for assignment off the 25-man roster. Not the same as a DFA. If memory serves, he stays in the organzation. They're not...

Gallardo vs. Cessa tonight in the Bronx

Gallardo vs. Cessa tonight in the Bronx
The Orioles have fallen into a pattern of swapping out relievers in their bullpen and scrambling to learn about the opposing starter. They've facing another newbie tonight in New York, where right-hander Luis Cessa will make his second major league start and 10th appearance. Cessa joins a recent list that includes the Astros' Mike Fiers and Joe Musgrove, and the Nationals' A.J. Cole and Reynaldo Lopez. Go back to the last West Coast trip and you'll find the Athletics' Zach Neal and the...

Trumbo: "I've had a great time playing here"

Trumbo: "I've had a great time playing here"
The Orioles accomplished the first important step with Mark Trumbo over the winter by acquiring him from the Mariners. Couldn't build a case for keeping him without that first brick. They followed up with the second step, getting him under contract for 2016 without an arbitration hearing. Trumbo is a pending free agent, being paid $9.15 million while leading the majors in home runs with 38. His outstanding timing isn't confined to the plate. Is Trumbo the 2016 version of Nelson Cruz, who led...

Notes on Tillman, roster move, lineup and more (updated)

Notes on Tillman, roster move, lineup and more (updated)
WASHINGTON - Chris Tillman most likely will throw off flat ground on Tuesday in one of the most anticipated games of catch in recent years. Tillman will be testing his right shoulder for the first time since going on the disabled list. Manager Buck Showalter said the throwing session could be held on Monday, but the following day seemed to be the greater possibility. "We've got an idea of when he might start for us again if everything went well, but I'm not going to go out there," Showalter...