One-time O's signee and trade chip cashes in via free agency

One-time O's signee and trade chip cashes in via free agency
It all made sense at the time of the trade on July 31, 2014. The Orioles had a chance to win the American League East for the first time since 1997. At the time of that deal, the Orioles had not reached as far as the AL Championship Series since 1997. But after the deal, they would both win the AL East and advance to the ALCS. The price was steep, though, to get lefty reliever Andrew Miller. The Orioles had to part with their No. 3 prospect and a top 100 pitcher who was then at Double-A Bowie,...

Britton: Don't expect to see October bullpen usage come April

Britton: Don't expect to see October bullpen usage come April
There are some baseball analysts that feel the usage of bullpen pitchers could look a little different during the 2017 regular season. They feel we will see more of what we saw in how select bullpen pitchers were used during the postseason last year. While that seems unlikely to me, we certainly saw some of the top closers and others used in more innings and, in some cases, much earlier in games than we are used to seeing them. Andrew Miller of the Cleveland Indians and Kenley Jansen of the Los...

Domenic Vadala: What's more important, spending or spending wisely?

Domenic Vadala: What's more important, spending or spending wisely?
We can't lend too much analysis to the first week-plus of games in the major leagues, given the fact that it's the first week. The fact that the 2014 Orioles started 1-4 should remind us of that. Furthermore, keep in mind that the 2014 O's hovered around a few games of .500 for the first two months or so of last season. And we all know how that ended. That said, on Monday night Orioles fans were forced to see one of their biggest weapons from 2014 turned on them in Andrew Miller. Yankees...

More pregame notes before first pitch (Gonzalez strikes out 10, O's win 4-3)

More pregame notes before first pitch (Gonzalez strikes out 10, O's win 4-3)
The tarp is off the field at Camden Yards. Players are getting loose, relievers are walking to the bullpen and lineup cards are being exchanged at homeplate. It's almost time for the anthem and first pitch. The AC/DC song "Let's Play Ball" is blaring on the PA system. Sounds like a good idea. Wei-Yin Chen is the 11th left-hander in Orioles history to record 400 or more strikeouts. Who can name the other 10? Andrew Miller threw 28 pitches in 1 2/3 innings last night, but Orioles manager Buck...

Minicamp leftovers for breakfast (updated)

Minicamp leftovers for breakfast (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ryan Webb's had a busy offseason, undergoing surgery on his non-throwing shoulder and getting married. For many people, marriage is far more painful than anything that happens on an operating table, but Webb is an exception. Good for him. Webb, who signed a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Orioles in December 2013, had a procedure done to tighten the shoulder capsule. "I feel great," he said yesterday after the first day of minicamp. "Should be 100 percent ready to go...

The week in review and comparing De Aza to Markakis

The week in review and comparing De Aza to Markakis
The Orioles lost three of their free agents this week after teams reached agreements with Nelson Cruz on Monday, Nick Markakis on Wednesday and Andrew Miller on Friday. Anyone nervous about Sunday or is it safe to go outside? The Orioles never were going to re-sign Miller and they weren't expected to retain Cruz unless he settled for three years. If fans are reeling, it's probably because they didn't anticipate being hit with the news in the same week. I figured that the Orioles would go...

Andrew Miller agrees to terms with Yankees

Andrew Miller agrees to terms with Yankees
The Orioles never were involved in serious talks to keep left-hander Andrew Miller, refusing to get in a bidding war with 22 other teams. Miller will have plenty of opportunities to make them regret the decision. Miller is staying in the American League East after agreeing to a four-year, $36 million deal with the Yankees, who just confirmed it on Twitter. Early speculation had Miller landing a deal in the $40-$48 million range. He settled for less, but still is going to be paid handsomely in...

Markakis expected to undergo surgery on neck (with quotes)

Markakis expected to undergo surgery on neck (with quotes)
Nick Markakis has moved on from the Orioles, but there's another chapter to add before the book closes on his tenure in Baltimore. Markakis is expected to formally sign his four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves this weekend after agreeing to terms on Wednesday. However, he's likely to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in his cervical spine, according to multiple sources. FOXSports.com is reporting that Markakis is leaning toward having the surgery. I've been told that...

Duquette on Markakis and a lot more

Duquette on Markakis and a lot more
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette just finished his Q&A session with fans at the Babe Ruth Museum benefit at Dempsey's Brew Pub at Camden Yards. Duquette won over the crowd despite a week that saw the Orioles lose Nelson Cruz to the Mariners and Nick Markakis to the Braves. I'll pass along a few of the highlights, starting with Duquette's summary of negotiations with Markakis. Keep in mind that he's not going to offer specifics. "We had several discussions with Nick,"...

More on Markakis and a week gone bad

More on Markakis and a week gone bad
Did you really think the Nelson Cruz news was going to be the low point of your week? Nick Markakis will sign his four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves once he passes a physical. You've got more time to process how the longest-tenured Oriole will be wearing a different uniform and playing in a different league. Hopefully, left-hander Andrew Miller's pending agreement with a new team won't become a distraction. That news could come as early as today. (Is it really between the...

Orioles sign Gamboa to major league deal

Orioles sign Gamboa to major league deal
One year after declining to offer Eddie Gamboa a contract and removing him from the 40-man roster at the non-tender deadline, the Orioles have signed the knuckleballer to a major league deal. The Orioles re-signed Gamboa to a minor league contract last winter and he went a combined 5-7 with a 3.81 ERA and a career-high 8.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 19 games (17 starts) with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He's currently pitching in the Mexican Winter League, where he's gone 4-2 with...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
With the Orioles deciding to tender contracts to all 11 of their arbitration-eligible players, we can now look forward to the Winter Meetings that start Monday in San Diego. Another key date has been crossed off the baseball calendar. I'm still searching for my vacation on it. I'll make the usual prediction that the Orioles avoid going to arbitration hearings in February. The sides will exchange figures next month and meet somewhere in the middle. Not that the Orioles are afraid to sit down...

Turkey Day wishes and a few notes

Turkey Day wishes and a few notes
Happy Thanksgiving to all the loyal readers here today and to everyone throughout Birdland! I am thankful for so many things, including a great family, wonderful friends and getting to cover and write about my hometown team. But also that so many come here every day to read what I have to say, take the time to leave comments and engage in daily baseball conversations. This is a great community of Orioles fans and I'm appreciative that you are here today and every day. Here a few quick notes...

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...

Comparing Miller and Robertson, and passing along props to Oliver Drake

Comparing Miller and Robertson, and passing along props to Oliver Drake
During the 2014 season, Andrew Miller pitched better than David Robertson. Miller has the stats to prove it. He had a better ERA, more strikeouts per nine innings, fewer walks per nine innings, a better WHIP and beat Robertson in other statistical categories as well. So will Robertson get a better contract via free agency than Miller? Should he? Ken Rosenthal discussed that question on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" morning show Tuesday. "The answer might not be as obvious as you would think,"...

Duke deal must make Miller want more

Duke deal must make Miller want more
If the floor seems to be vibrating beneath your feet, it's just reliever Andrew Miller jumping up and down. The guy is 6-foot-7. The tremors are going to travel. The White Sox announced today that they signed left-handed reliever Zach Duke to a three-year, $15 million contract. Duke, 31, will be paid $4.5 million in 2015, $5 million in 2016 and $5.5 million in 2017, according to the team's press release. By the way, kudos to the White Sox for announcing the terms of the contract and not...

A sizzling day in the hot stove season, more on Miller and wondering about Wieters

A sizzling day in the hot stove season, more on Miller and wondering about Wieters
The temperature soared on baseball's hot stove yesterday with news that the Marlins signed Giancarlo Stanton to a 13-year extension worth $325 million, the largest contract in the history of sports, the Blue Jays signed free agent catcher Russell Martin and the Braves traded outfielder Jason Heyward to the Cardinals for pitcher Shelby Miller. Pitchers Jordan Walden and Tyrell Jenkins also were involved in the deal, but Heyward-for-Miller was enough to grab the attention of the baseball...

Is a dominant bullpen back end essential or the new "flavor of the month"?

Is a dominant bullpen back end essential or the new "flavor of the month"?
In sports, we see copycats all the time. A strategy that leads one team to a big season or championship is then copied by others in an attempt to repeat the success. The Kansas City Royals are a team that others may look to copy in 2015. If a team can build a bullpen as good, they can shorten the game to six innings. The trick is adding three relievers as good as Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland to pitch innings seven through nine. The Orioles have a good back end of the bullpen,...

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...

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,...