What's on today's agenda?

What's on today's agenda?
Has everyone moved on from the Nelson Cruz news? Has the depression subsided? No more Cruz blues? This blog was on Cruz control yesterday, judging by the number of comments. I hadn't surrendered hope that Cruz would stay with the Orioles, but I kept warning that he'd need to come down to three years. I'm just surprised that he made the decision a week before the start of the Winter Meetings in San Diego. Did his agent read the market and determine that the Mariners' offer of $57 million...

A tale of two men leaving the Orioles organization

A tale of two men leaving the Orioles organization
You talk about something good happening to a guy who flew under the radar - well, it happened yesterday. Longtime Orioles minor league coach Butch Davis was hired by the Minnesota Twins as their first base coach. Seeing reaction on Twitter, it is clear that Davis had a lot of fans among O's minor league staff and players. They are thrilled he is returning to the show - his eight-year major league career, which included parts of the 1988 and 1989 seasons with the Orioles, ended in 1994 - after...

Appreciating Nelson Cruz as he heads to Seattle (Butch Davis note)

Appreciating Nelson Cruz as he heads to Seattle (Butch Davis note)
One and done. That is it for Nelson Cruz and the Orioles. Cruz repeatedly said he was very interested in re-signing and the team showed interest in retaining him. But in the end, the Orioles were apparently unwilling to offer the 34-year-old Cruz a fourth year and he agreed today to a new deal with Seattle. Cruz had a heckuva one season as an Oriole. He led the majors with 40 homers, posted his highest OPS (.859) since 2010 and could not have handled himself much better on and off the...

Cruz reportedly agrees to terms with Mariners (updated)

Cruz reportedly agrees to terms with Mariners (updated)
Outfielder Nelson Cruz, who led the majors with 40 home runs this season, has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Mariners, according to multiple reports. The Dominican newspaper El Caribe was the first to report that Cruz will receive $57 million from the Mariners, who pursued him last winter before ownership intervened. Cruz settled for a one-year, $8 million deal with the Orioles, which executive vice president Dan Duquette described in October as a "platform" for the outfielder...

Orioles searching for outfield alternatives

Orioles searching for outfield alternatives
There's a perception among some fans that Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is sitting back with his feet on his desk while outfielders Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz decide whether to re-sign with the club or pursue a better offer. I've read the criticisms on Twitter and in the comments section of the blog. Other teams in the division are making bold moves while Duquette lets opportunities pass by waiting on Markakis and Cruz. Pretty soon, it's going to be too late to replace...

Navarro in Baltimore, more on free agents and hitting coach situation

Navarro in Baltimore, more on free agents and hitting coach situation
Infielder Rey Navarro, who agreed to a major league contract over the weekend, flew into Baltimore last night and will take his physical this morning. The Orioles will announce his signing and addition to the 40-man roster once they receive the results. The Orioles will have two open spots on their 40-man. One is reserved for the Rule 5 draft. Keep in mind that the Orioles can create more room at any time. I keep noting how infielder Steve Lombardozzi is likely to be removed. It just hasn't...

Burnett off the board

Burnett off the board
One day after shooting down the A.J. Burnett rumor, I can pass along that the right-hander has agreed to terms with the Pirates. The news has been confirmed by multiple media outlets. Burnett's one-year deal with the Pirates is for $8.5 million, according to reports. He turned down a $12.75 million option with the Phillies in order to sign with a contender. We now live in a world where the Pirates are contenders again. The Orioles didn't make Burnett an offer, according to team officials. The...

Cruz and Jones receive votes for AL MVP

Cruz and Jones receive votes for AL MVP
Angels outfielder Mike Trout ran away with the BBWAA's Most Valuable Player award in the American League, the announcement coming tonight on MLB Network. Trout is no longer a bridesmaid or baseball's version of Susan Lucci. It wasn't enough to be nominated. He finally won - the 10th player in baseball history to be a unanimous selection. Trout batted .287/.377/.561 with 39 doubles, nine triples, 36 home runs, 111 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 157 games. He did lead the AL in strikeouts with...

A few afternoon notes

A few afternoon notes
More awards will be announced tonight on MLB Network with the unveiling of the Most Valuable Players in both leagues. The Angels' Mike Trout, the Tigers' Victor Martinez and the Indians' Michael Brantley are the American League finalists. Trout is expected to win handily. I'll check whether Orioles outfielders Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz received any votes. That's the assumption. Jones finished sixth in 2012 and 13th in 2013. Cruz hasn't crashed the MVP party, but 40 home runs should get...

MLB Network talks Nelson Cruz and MLB looks to help youth pitchers

MLB Network talks Nelson Cruz and MLB looks to help youth pitchers
So one big domino in the free agent market fell yesterday when the Detroit Tigers re-signed designated hitter Victor Martinez to a four-year deal worth $68 million. They made him a top priority and got a deal done quickly. Martinez, who turns 36 next month, is coming off a huge year where he batted .335. He led the American League in OBP at .409 and led the majors in OPS at .974. He hit 32 homers with 103 RBIs and raked from both sides of the plate. Where does that deal leave the Orioles'...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The general managers' meetings conclude today in Phoenix and it's doubtful that any team will trump the Tigers' signing of free agent Victor Martinez to a four-year, $68 million deal. Martinez turns 36 in December. Nelson Cruz turns 35 in July and he wants a five-year deal. Four years may not be out of the question, but it's not likely to come from the Orioles. They just aren't comfortable going beyond three years for Cruz. I won't bore you with all the reasons again. Executive vice...

Orioles met with Markakis' agent at GM meetings

Orioles met with Markakis' agent at GM meetings
The Orioles re-opened contract talks with the agent for right fielder Nick Markakis this afternoon during the general managers' meetings in Phoenix. Executive vice president Dan Duquette met with Markakis' representative, Jamie Murphy, one day after sitting down with Diego Bentz, the agent for outfielder Nelson Cruz. Duquette didn't indicate that a deal with Markakis is close, but it's still expected to be completed after a lull in conversations that lasted more than a week. "We've...

Duquette updates negotiations and more on MLB Network

Duquette updates negotiations and more on MLB Network
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette remains hopeful that the Orioles can re-sign outfielders Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, and he hasn't dismissed the possibility of retaining highly coveted left-hander Andrew Miller. Duquette met with Cruz and agent Diego Bentz yesterday at the general managers' meetings in Phoenix and could sit down with Markakis' representative, Jamie Murphy, later today. Nothing is scheduled at the moment, I've heard, but there are plenty of hours left before...

Showalter's award, negotiations and more

Showalter's award, negotiations and more
As you're going to notice from my Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot, which I've posted below, I have no issues with the Orioles' Buck Showalter being named American League Manager of the Year. Count me among the 25 voters who placed him first. My issue was deciding which manager to omit among the Angels' Mike Scioscia, the Royals' Ned Yost and the Mariners' Lloyd McClendon. Keep in mind that ballots were turned in before the playoffs. After much deliberation, I decided to...

A look at the free agent talk about Nelson Cruz and Andrew Miller

A look at the free agent talk about Nelson Cruz and Andrew Miller
In the Twitter world, where many of us get our daily baseball news in 140-character bursts, ESPN's Buster Olney sent this out yesterday about Nelson Cruz: The Orioles offered Nelson Cruz a three-year deal before he went into free agency. They're positioned to wait out as he talks w/ other teams— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 11, 2014 Later, a Boston reporter tweeted that Cruz wants five years and the Orioles won't go that far. Well, that's a relief. Being sarcastic here,...

"Because You Asked - Money Never Sleeps"

"Because You Asked - Money Never Sleeps"
The Orioles didn't factor into the Baseball Writers' Association of America Rookie of the Year voting, the results revealed last night on MLB Network. The White Sox's Jose Abreu was a unanimous choice in the American League, and none of the Orioles received a vote. The tide turns tonight. Buck Showalter is expected to be named AL Manager of the Year for the third time after being runner-up to the Angels' Mike Scioscia in the Sporting News voting. Showalter, Scioscia and the Royals' Ned...

Notes on Markakis, Cruz, Hamels and more

Notes on Markakis, Cruz, Hamels and more
It doesn't yet appear that Orioles fans have much reason to worry about watching the longest-tenured Oriole, Nick Markakis, play for another team next season. But if Markakis' agent is going to meet with other teams this week to see what is out there, the Orioles management can certainly do the same. One player that may be worth the Orioles looking at is free agent outfielder Nori Aoki. After playing in Japan for eight seasons, he has recorded a slash line of .287/.353/.387 the past three...

Cruz rejects qualifying offer

Cruz rejects qualifying offer
With the deadline passing for players to make decisions on qualifying offers, outfielder Nelson Cruz has rejected the one extended to him last week. Cruz was assured of turning down the Orioles' $15.3 million offer. It just became official this afternoon. The Orioles will receive a compensatory draft pick if Cruz signs with another team. Teams have made 34 qualifying offers over three seasons, including 12 in 2014. None have been accepted. Cruz continues to seek a minimum four-year deal...

Duquette set for start of GM meetings

Duquette set for start of GM meetings
Nelson Cruz still hasn't officially declined the Orioles' $15.3 million qualifying offer. The announcement will come later today. Meanwhile, the Orioles are trying to reach agreement with Cruz and Nick Markakis on multi-year deals. "We're still working on it," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. A deal with Markakis remains the most likely outcome. Cruz will have to come down from four years. The general managers' meetings begin today in Phoenix. Too bad they can't take the place...

Notes on Nelson Cruz, free agent rankings and more

Notes on Nelson Cruz, free agent rankings and more
Nelson Cruz has said several times that he would like to remain an Oriole. But he has not said he would sign with the Orioles if their contract offer is not the best he can get as a free agent. Would he take less money or a contract for fewer years than he could get from another team? That is a whole different story. As I wrote earlier this offseason, Cruz has earned his payday. He batted .271 with 32 doubles, 40 homers, 108 RBIs and a .525 slugging percentage for the Orioles last season. He...