Spring training games delayed until at least March 5

Spring training games delayed until at least March 5
What had already been widely understood was made official by Major League Baseball this afternoon: Spring training is delayed due to the ongoing labor battle that has yet to produce a new collective bargaining agreement. With camps across Florida and Arizona supposed to open earlier this week, and with the Grapefruit and Cactus league schedules set to commence Feb. 26, a postponement had become inevitable. In its formal announcement today, MLB - which enacted a lockout of the players when the...
    

Six Orioles elect free agency

Six Orioles elect free agency
While the Orioles decide which non-roster players to protect in the Rule 5 draft in December, six of their minor leaguers elected free agency and are eligible to sign with another organization. Pitchers Logan Verrett, Vidal Nuño and Jason Wheeler, catcher Francisco Peña and infielders Johnny Giavotella and Rubén Tejada can test the market, according to a list provided by Major League Baseball and published yesterday by Baseball America. The Orioles could attempt to re-sign any or all...
    

Faulkner outrighted, Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Faulkner outrighted, Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Left-hander Andrew Faulkner cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Faulkner joins Logan Verrett, Tyler Wilson and Jayson Aquino as pitchers who were outrighted since Sept. 5 after the Orioles designated them for assignment. Faulkner, 24, was 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 34 games with Triple-A Norfolk. He allowed only one home run in 38 2/3 innings and opponents were batting .216. Left-handers posted a .208 average. The Orioles acquired Faulkner from the Rangers on April 6 for...
    

Orioles outright Wilson and Verrett

Orioles outright Wilson and Verrett
Pitchers Tyler Wilson and Logan Verrett have cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles announced the moves earlier today. The Orioles designated Verrett and Wilson for assignment on Friday, the same day that they purchased reliever Richard Rodríguez's contract from Norfolk. Verrett went 2-6 with a 5.10 ERA in 40 games with Norfolk, including two starts. He won both decisions with the Orioles while posting a 4.22 ERA in four appearances over 10 2/3 innings. Wilson,...
    

Notes on Hardy, roster moves, bullpen, Álvarez, Sisco and more

Notes on Hardy, roster moves, bullpen, Álvarez, Sisco and more
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy arrived at Camden Yards early this afternoon and likely will receive a cortisone injection in his right elbow to combat the soreness that developed from hitting. He's waiting to meet with team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs. Manager Buck Showalter likened the sensation to "tennis elbow" and said Hardy could be activated from the 60-day disabled list by Monday. A corresponding move will need to be made on the 40-man roster. "He said he's had it before and got an...
    

Dan Duquette on trade deadline and today's additions

Dan Duquette on trade deadline and today's additions
The Orioles did not make a trade last night as midnight came and passed with no deal. The Orioles have made late August trades in the past and any player acquired before the calendar turns to September is eligible for the playoff roster. No deals were made, but executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said the Orioles came close. "We tried to supplement our pitching staff, but we couldn't find the right fit," Duquette said. "We had three or four options that we were...
    

Orioles DFA Logan Verrett and Tyler Wilson (plus Orioles lineup)

Orioles DFA Logan Verrett and Tyler Wilson (plus Orioles lineup)
The Orioles have selected the contract of reliever Richard Rodriguez from Triple-A Norfolk as part of their September call-ups. Needing two openings on the 40-man roster, they designated pitchers Logan Verrett and Tyler Wilson for assignment. The club also announced that it selected the contracts of catcher Chance Sisco and designated hitter Pedro Álvarez and recalled outfielder Joey Rickard and reliever Jimmy Yacabonis. Rodriguez is 4-4 with a 2.42 ERA, 10 saves and 1.05 WHIP in 42 games...
    

Showalter: "The trust factor has to come into play"

Showalter: "The trust factor has to come into play"
The Orioles failed again last night to get a quality start. To find a reliever in their system who was ready for the responsibility placed in front of him. To unload at the plate and cover for the shortcomings on the mound. To return to their winning ways and begin the long climb up their division. They're left to wonder exactly when this slide will come to a merciful end. And when they will more closely resemble the team that offered such promise in April. "It's the same group that was...
    

Possible roster moves and Duquette on rotation

Possible roster moves and Duquette on rotation
Every team has its own injury complaints and complications, but the Orioles especially can be excused for cursing their fate. Closer Zach Britton, set-up man Darren O'Day, first baseman Chris Davis and utility player Ryan Flaherty remain on the disabled list. Catcher Welington Castillo returns from the DL and third baseman Manny Machado is able to avoid it, but outfielder Seth Smith and reliever Mike Wright could be headed to it. The Orioles didn't intend to keep taking the new 10-day DL for...
    

Orioles recall Miguel Castro

Orioles recall Miguel Castro
The Orioles made another roster move today while continuing their search for fresh arms and perhaps some continuity in their bullpen. Miguel Castro has been recalled from Double-A Bowie to replace Logan Verrett, who was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk one day after the Orioles brought him back to the majors. The shuttle never sleeps. Castro, 22, is 2-0 with a 5.59 ERA in five appearances with Bowie. He's allowed 12 earned runs (13 total) and 20 hits in 19 1/3 innings. The Orioles have been...
    

Jones: "Just keep your heads up, keep grinding"

Jones: "Just keep your heads up, keep grinding"
NEW YORK - The solution to what's ailing the Orioles is right in Adam Jones' wheelhouse. He preaches the need to keep grinding, and now more than ever with his club tumbling into fourth place and only one game above .500. "Just keep your heads up, keep grinding," Jones said following a 14-3 loss to the Yankees that completed a sweep. "Obviously, the scoreboard doesn't look pretty, standing out there ain't pretty, it ain't fun, but we all believe in each other. I know the three days up...
    

Orioles forcibly swept out of the Bronx

Orioles forcibly swept out of the Bronx
NEW YORK - The first inning fiasco happened again today to the Orioles. Blink an eye and five runs were on the board. Wind was lost in the sails. What about another game? The Orioles tried to claw back against the Yankees bullpen, which sprang into action in the third inning after Chad Green's early departure. Manager Joe Girardi was letting them pass the baton. The Orioles were hoping and praying that someone would drop it before they dropped 6 1/2 games out of first place in their...
    

Jackson on DFA; Yacabonis, Verrett on arrivals (O's down 14-3)

Jackson on DFA; Yacabonis, Verrett on arrivals (O's down 14-3)
NEW YORK - The Orioles ran out of time to let Edwin Jackson work through his issues. They needed two fresh arms today and Jackson and Stefan Crichton had worked on back-to-back nights. They didn't get results or another chance. Jackson was designated for assignment today after allowing seven runs (four earned) and 11 hits in five innings since the Orioles purchased his contract. Crichton was optioned after allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings this weekend. "It's tough," said manager Buck...
    

Roster moves, Britton and Machado updates and lineups

Roster moves, Britton and Machado updates and lineups
NEW YORK - The Orioles designated Edwin Jackson for assignment today and optioned Stefan Crichton to Triple-A Norfolk as part of their latest bullpen maneuvering. Logan Verrett was recalled from Norfolk and the Orioles selected Jimmy Yacabonis' contract. Yacabonis is wearing No. 54 in his first trip to the majors. Jackson said he's going to stay in Baltimore for a few days and see what happens. He isn't sure whether he'll accept an outright assignment if he clears waivers. Closer Zach...
    

Welington Castillo goes on disabled list (O's lead 9-4)

Welington Castillo goes on disabled list (O's lead 9-4)
The Orioles have placed catcher Welington Castillo on the 10-day disabled list with a testicular injury and selected catcher Francisco Peña's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. The 40-man roster is full. Castillo spent much of last night in the emergency room after being hit in the groin by a pitch that first struck Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius and caromed. "Most of the times, the ones that are really a problem are the angle, when you get a different angle," manager Buck Showalter said...
    

Castillo may be headed to disabled list again

Castillo may be headed to disabled list again
The Orioles may place catcher Welington Castillo on the 10-day disabled list later today. Castillo spent last night in the emergency room after he was hit in the groin by a deflected pitch that initially struck Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius on the arm. The head athletic trainers for both teams raced onto the field to attend to the injured players. Castillo stayed in the game, but he later required medical attention. Manager Buck Showalter said Castillo has a "hematoma" and the injury...
    

Chris Tillman knocked out early as Yankees win 8-3

Chris Tillman knocked out early as Yankees win 8-3
It had to be at least a bit concerning to the Orioles when Chris Tillman gave up four early runs in his last start against Minnesota and lasted just five innings. But he had a rougher outing tonight. Tillman gave up solo homers to two of the first three batters he faced and allowed five runs over 2 2/3 innings. The Yankees went on to an 8-3 win to even the series at a victory each. Brett Gardner and Matt Holliday each hit two solo homers as New York scored two in the first, one in the second,...
    

Tillman surrenders three home runs in 8-3 loss (with quotes)

Tillman surrenders three home runs in 8-3 loss (with quotes)
Chris Tillman went four starts and faced 95 batters this season without allowing a home run. Some streaks end. Other are obliterated. Yankees leadoff hitter Brett Gardner homered tonight on the third pitch thrown by Tillman, a 90 mph fastball. Matt Holiday, the third batter in the order, drove Tillman's 86 mph slider into the left field seats. And so it went. Holliday got Tillman again leading off the third inning, Gardner homered off reliever Logan Verrett leading off the fourth and the...
    

Logan Verrett on riding the shuttle and his slider usage

Logan Verrett on riding the shuttle and his slider usage
When 26-year-old right-hander Logan Verrett was selected by the Orioles in the December 2014 Rule 5 draft, he had hopes of making the O's roster for the 2015 season. But he didn't make it to opening day that year and wasn't on the opening day roster this year, either. But he was recalled Sunday from Triple-A Norfolk for the third time this year. After staying just one day for the first time (recalled April 30) and four days the second (recalled May 6), maybe his stay will be longer now. He...
    

Jones close to lineup return, and other notes (O's down 8-4)

Jones close to lineup return, and other notes (O's down 8-4)
HOUSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter sounded confident today that Adam Jones will return to the lineup for Monday afternoon's series opener against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Jones remains out of the lineup with soreness in his left ankle and hip. "He's doing well. He's getting better," Showalter said. "Could have pushed the envelope today if we wanted to. I expect him to be back in the lineup starting tomorrow if he continues to feel like he does today." No tests have been...