Showalter on Tillman's side session, outfield defense (updated)

Showalter on Tillman's side session, outfield defense (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Colby Rasmus is taking his physical in Sarasota today and his minor league deal won't be announced until the Orioles have the results in hand. Update: The Orioles announced the deal. Rasmus increases the camp total to 63 players. Rasmus opened the 2017 season on the Rays disabled list following surgery on his left hip and he developed tendinitis in June. The Orioles must be convinced that his head is all right. The Rays placed Rasmus on the restricted list in July...

Orioles agree to terms with Rasmus on minor league deal

Orioles agree to terms with Rasmus on minor league deal
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' search for a left-handed hitting corner outfielder has led them to Colby Rasmus. Rasmus and the Orioles have agreed to terms on a minor league deal pending the completion of a physical, according to a source. Rasmus, 31, could platoon in right field and back up at all three spots. He's a career .252/.318/.463 hitter against right-handers and a .211/.290/.366 hitter versus lefties. Most of Rasmus' experience is in center field, where he's made 724 starts, but...

Tillman: "It feels good to finally be able to join the team"

Tillman: "It feels good to finally be able to join the team"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman no longer will be a spectator in spring training. Hidden behind the walls of the Ed Smith Stadium complex while negotiations continued on a new contract, Tillman is free to join the workouts and prepare to join a rotation that's added two starters in less than a week. "It is a relief," he said this morning while standing outside an entrance to the clubhouse. "I've been stuck inside looking out the windows for the last three days, so it feels good to finally...

Still looking for outfielders, as some names come off the board

Still looking for outfielders, as some names come off the board
It can be easy to feel that time is running out on the Orioles to add an outfielder now that the calender has flipped to 2017. But while there is still plenty of time to make an addition or two, several outfielders have come of the board. When the free agent season began, the Orioles were certainly unlikely to pursue the bigger dollar options and apparently were indeed not in the hunt for Yoenis Cespedes, Dexter Fowler or Ian Desmond. Other outfielders that have signed for 2017:* Josh Reddick...

More on Wieters' market and the search for a right fielder

More on Wieters' market and the search for a right fielder
Trying to figure out the market for catcher Matt Wieters is becoming one of the most popular endeavors of the offseason. And one of the most perplexing. I was prepared to tab the Braves as the favorites, and I wouldn't be alone in this prognostication, but ESPN's Buster Olney reported yesterday on rampant industry speculation that Wieters will sign with the Nationals. Wieters and the Braves always were deemed a logical fit. He played at Georgia Tech. He bought a house in the Atlanta area. I...

Is Rasmus no longer an option for the Orioles? (Rasmus signs for $8 million)

Is Rasmus no longer an option for the Orioles? (Rasmus signs for $8 million)
Free agent outfielder Colby Rasmus is taking a physical in Houston, according to multiple reports, and could be on the verge of signing with the Astros. Rasmus confirmed that he's in Houston, telling FOX 26 sports director Mark Berman (via Twitter), "Jeff (Luhnow) being the scouting director that drafted me, it's pretty enticing." The Orioles were believed to be the frontrunners for Rasmus, a career .246/.313/.438 hitter in six major league seasons. Manager Buck Showalter flew to Rasmus'...

More on Orioles' search for left-handed hitter and arbitration hearings

More on Orioles' search for left-handed hitter and arbitration hearings
It may be a relatively quiet Saturday for the Orioles compared to yesterday, when they settled with four arbitration-eligible players, exchanged salary figures with six others, outrighted catcher Ryan Lavarnway to Triple-A Norfolk and announced details on the autograph stations at FanFest. Still no word on a left-handed hitting outfielder, however, which remains a top priority. Nori Aoki reached agreement with the Giants yesterday on a deal reportedly worth $4 million in 2015 that includes a...

In their search for an outfielder, is the O's guy already here?

In their search for an outfielder, is the O's guy already here?
It is a fair question that some fans have been asking: If the Orioles have an outfielder like Dariel Alvarez that is almost ready for the majors, why not turn right field over to him come April rather than sign another outfielder? After all, Jonathan Schoop won the second base job at spring training last year. Could Alvarez do that in Sarasota this year? While that seems possible, it doesn't seem likely. Alvarez has just one full minor league season under his belt and has played just 44 games...

This and that

This and that
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Ravens are done playing and more attention now falls upon the Orioles. No more distractions unless you're really into college hoops. The Orioles won't announce their minor league staffs until they hire a field coach at Single-A Frederick. If it's keeping you awake nights, we need to talk. Nothing new to report on Colby Rasmus. If he wants to sign with the Orioles so badly and use a one-year deal as a platform, what exactly is preventing the sides from reaching an...

Quick updates on Young and Rasmus

Quick updates on Young and Rasmus
Outfielder Delmon Young reached agreement on his one-year deal on Dec. 24. He completed most of his physical yesterday and just needed his bloodwork done today. However, we still don't have an announcement from the Orioles and it may not come until Friday. The last time that I checked, the Orioles still were waiting to hear back from the doctors. They also were working to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. It's possible that the deal will be made official later tonight, but you reach a point...

Notes on Hank Peters, speed-up rules and free agent outfielders

Notes on Hank Peters, speed-up rules and free agent outfielders
Checking in on a few Orioles and baseball topics this morning: Hank Peters' passing: The Orioles lost a treasured family member and team Hall of Famer Sunday when former general manager Hank Peters died Sunday morning. The O's GM from 1975-87, Peters built the Orioles' last World Series-winning team in 1983. A few times over the years, I had a chance to meet Mr. Peters and found him to be every bit the gentleman everyone said he was. What a polite and nice man, who managed to stay that way...

Rasmus, Aoki and Ethier still among Orioles' outfield options

Rasmus, Aoki and Ethier still among Orioles' outfield options
While the Orioles apparently still rate Colby Rasmus as their likeliest choice among available left-handed hitting outfielders, they haven't eliminated two others from the discussion. They maintain a lower level of interest in free agent Nori Aoki and have engaged in trade talks with the Dodgers regarding Andre Ethier, according to an industry source. Earlier this winter, the Orioles checked on Matt Kemp but decided against pursuing him due to his contract and health issues, and the Dodgers'...

"Mutual interest" in Tillman extension, and other notes

"Mutual interest" in Tillman extension, and other notes
With so much attention placed on the Orioles' attempts to craft their roster for the upcoming season, it's easy to forget that they need to give raises to their 11 arbitration-eligible players. Players can file for arbitration on Jan. 13, and the sides exchange salary figures three days later. Hearings take place between Feb. 1-21 if agreements aren't reached. Here's the list of the Orioles' 11 arbitration-eligible players with their salaries last season and MLBTradeRumors.com's...

A look at Colby Rasmus and the ISO power stat

A look at Colby Rasmus and the ISO power stat
If the Orioles do sign outfielder Colby Rasmus, in one sense, maybe he fits right in. He is a player that can deliver home runs while also striking out a lot. The O's have some players that do that. But one stat I read about Rasmus was rather surprising and it is how he fared last year in Isolated Power. In a writeup about Rasmus and his free agent outlook for this winter, MLBTradeRumors.com's profile included this excerpt: Despite seeing only 376 plate appearances in 2014, Rasmus...

What's next for the Orioles?

What's next for the Orioles?
Now that we've made it past the holidays, the Orioles could make a flurry of moves before opening day. Not a blizzard. The plow won't be driving through your neighborhood. But the baseball forecast in Baltimore is calling for flurries. The Delmon Young signing is just one of the moves. The Orioles will add at least one left-handed bat for the outfield, with Colby Rasmus the current favorite if manager Buck Showalter is satisfied with their meeting. A catcher and right-handed reliever also...

A new year brings a new set of Orioles notes

A new year brings a new set of Orioles notes
Welcome to the first day of 2015. I hope you're not spending it in a holding cell. The ball dropped in Times Square, but I fully expected Adam Jones to run it down. Maybe his range is diminishing. As the Orioles continue their search for another left-handed bat, a source confirmed yesterday that they're interested in outfielder/first baseman Chris Parmelee, who became a free agent this week after declining his outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester. The Twins designated Parmelee for...

Showalter meeting with Rasmus this week

Showalter meeting with Rasmus this week
If the Orioles are going to sign free agent outfielder Colby Rasmus, he's got to pass the eye test of manager Buck Showalter. Showalter is planning to meet with Rasmus this week at the outfielder's Georgia home, according to a source. An agreement could be reached soon after on a one-year deal. The Orioles believe they can get Rasmus in the range of $5 million to $8 million. He wants to come to Baltimore, according to a source, and use a one-year deal as a platform for a bigger payday. Rasmus...

A few thoughts on 25-man and 40-man rosters

A few thoughts on 25-man and 40-man rosters
The Mariners reportedly have acquired Seth Smith from the Padres, removing another outfielder from the Orioles' list of possible winter acquisitions. The Orioles have been in discussions with the Padres while continuing their search for a left-handed hitting outfielder who also can rotate into the designated hitter slot. I'm not close to the Padres, but I assume that they'll hold onto Will Venable, who also has drawn interest from the Orioles. They can't have a roster filled with...

Orioles have real interest in Rasmus

Orioles have real interest in Rasmus
I'm still hearing that the Orioles don't have serious interest in free agent Ichiro Suzuki. However, they do hold legitimate interest in another left-handed hitting outfielder, Colby Rasmus, and have maintained a dialogue with agent Casey Close since the Winter Meetings in San Diego. This is more than just rumor or speculation. The Orioles need a left-handed hitting outfielder who can rotate into the designated hitter slot in the lineup, which is why they've also been linked to Nori Aoki. I...

What's left for the Orioles on the outfield market?

What's left for the Orioles on the outfield market?
The weekend is over and the Orioles lost another outfield candidate with Melky Cabrera agreeing to a three-year, $42 million deal with the White Sox. Where do they turn? Executive vice president Dan Duquette has made it clear that the Orioles are more likely to sign free agents than make trades. They still need outfielders who bat from the left and right side, but the list of appealing options is paper thin. Peter Gammons tweeted yesterday that the Orioles "are being pushed to take Colby...