Orioles release Wesley Wright

Orioles release Wesley Wright
NEW YORK - The Orioles have released left-handed reliever Wesley Wright, who was designated for assignment last week. Wright made only two appearances in April before going on the disabled list with a strained left trapezius. He allowed one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings. Wright was transferred to the 60-day disabled list and surrendered 10 earned runs (11 total) and 15 hits in 11 2/3 innings on his injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. He walked seven batters (two intentionally) and...

Wesley Wright designated for assignment (Machado update)

Wesley Wright designated for assignment (Machado update)
The Orioles have designated left-hander reliever Wesley Wright for assignment, according to an industry source. Executive vice president Dan Duquette has 10 days to trade or release Wright, who signed a $1.7 million free-agent contract in December. Wright made only two appearances for the Orioles in April before going on the disabled list with a strained left trapezius muscle. He allowed one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings. Wright lost velocity and was ineffective during his injury rehab...

More on the first half

More on the first half
The Orioles won't strand any runners in scoring position tonight. They won't lose more ground in the American League East. They won't break your hearts or cause you to smash your fine china on the floor. You should get a reprieve unless you have serious coin riding on the Home Run Derby. The Orioles lost 10 of their last 13 games and are a .500 team for the first time since June 14. The Yankees won yesterday, leaving the Orioles four games back in the American League East. This is now a...

Early notes on Wright, roster, Johnson, Garcia and Davis

Early notes on Wright, roster, Johnson, Garcia and Davis
Not much news coming out of today's pregame media session with Orioles manager Buck Showalter. If you've been following along, you know that left-hander Wesley Wright's injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk ends later today. He could re-join the Orioles or extend the assignment for a second time. Wright followed up his most impressive outing with a dud last night, allowing four runs and five hits, walking two and hitting a Charlotte batter in 1 2/3 innings. He's 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in...

Nats starter vs. Orioles, All-Star note, updates on Wright and Garcia (updated)

Nats starter vs. Orioles, All-Star note, updates on Wright and Garcia (updated)
The rotations for the Orioles-Nationals series that begins Friday night at Camden Yards are mostly a blur. Only one pitcher has come into focus. The Nationals announced today that left-hander Gio Gonzalez will start the opener. Max Scherzer also figures to pitch against the Orioles before the All-Star break, though the club is keeping the rest of the rotation a secret. At least the Nats have passed along one name. The Orioles haven't even gone that far. Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez and...

Another roster move, thoughts on Wesley Wright and today's game

Another roster move, thoughts on Wesley Wright and today's game
The Orioles conclude their final road trip before the All-Star break this afternoon while also shaking up their roster again. First baseman Christian Walker is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and I was told a left-handed pitcher could join him. However, T.J. McFarland was in Gwinnett last night. Left-hander Cesar Cabral also is on the 40-man roster and Wesley Wright is on the 60-day disabled list while continuing his injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. Wright apparently...

Pending free agents and tonight's game

Pending free agents and tonight's game
With Delmon Young designated for assignment yesterday, the Orioles are down to eight pending free agents on their roster. They began the season with 11. Young, reliever Ryan Webb and outfielder Alejandro De Aza have been subtracted. The list still includes pitchers Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, Darren O'Day, Tommy Hunter and Wesley Wright, catcher Matt Wieters, first baseman Chris Davis and outfielder Steve Pearce. I'm listing Davis as a first baseman, but he's made five starts in right...

More roster talk, note on Wesley Wright and tonight's game

More roster talk, note on Wesley Wright and tonight's game
Do the Orioles activate second baseman Jonathan Schoop from the 60-day disabled list today or send him to Triple-A Norfolk to continue his injury rehab assignment? No, I really want to know. If you have the information, please pass it along. (I'm a day late in saying that I really want to gnome. Time to put that one to bed.) The Orioles will have to create room for Schoop on the 25- and 40-man rosters. They don't have any other players to transfer to the 60-day disabled list. Of course, a...

Notes on draft signings, rotation, Wright, Joseph and more

Notes on draft signings, rotation, Wright, Joseph and more
The Orioles announced the signings of two more picks from the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, adding left-hander Garrett Cleavinger (third round) and right-hander Gray Fenter (seventh). They've got 30 of their selections under contract. The Orioles are listing Thursday's starter at Fenway Park as TBD, but it's expected to be Miguel Gonzalez, who allowed two runs and four hits over five innings last night at Double-A Bowie. He walked one and struck out four. Ubaldo Jimenez opposes Joe Kelly on...

Notes and quotes before tonight's game (game to start at 7:30)

Notes and quotes before tonight's game (game to start at 7:30)
We've had lots of activity here today with Chris Parmelee being placed on the taxi squad, Jonathan Schoop working out and preparing to start his injury rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Bowie, third baseman Manny Machado being named the American League's Player of the Week and reliever Wesley Wright finally leaving extended spring training. Wright, on the disabled list with a strained left trapezius muscle, will pitch one inning Tuesday at Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles want to take a good...

Showalter provides updates on Gonzalez, Schoop and more

Showalter provides updates on Gonzalez, Schoop and more
Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez took a few steps toward his locker today and noticed that he was being followed by a pack of reporters wanting an update on his groin injury. Gonzalez turned, smiled at us and said he'd know more about his condition on Thursday, but the soreness was lingering. He was in a rush to watch one of his teammates throw a bullpen session. Judging by manager Buck Showalter's comments later in the day, Gonzalez won't be throwing the ball on Sunday. He's expected to be...

Brady Anderson updates Brian Matusz, Jonathan Schoop and more

Brady Anderson updates Brian Matusz, Jonathan Schoop and more
Winning three of their last four games doesn't make the Orioles wish they could skip today's off-day. It's not even close. They're embracing it the way Sidney Ponson treats "National Doughnut Day." The Orioles hadn't found an open date on their schedule since May 18, giving them 22 games over the past 21 days, including the makeup doubleheader on May 28 against the White Sox. A reminder that left-hander Brian Matusz is serving an eight-game suspension, not an eight-day suspension. He's...

Random thoughts

Random thoughts
Let's start with J.J. Hardy. The Orioles shortstop is day-to-day with soreness on his left side. That's dangerously close to an oblique injury, which Hardy experienced in April 2011. He missed a month. He's having flashbacks. Center fielder Adam Jones returned last night from a sprained ankle, and Hardy unexpectedly left the lineup. This team simply can't get healthy. Whatever lineup you envisioned over the winter hasn't appeared this season. Not for one game. Is Jonathan Schoop anywhere...

Wondering how the Orioles make room on their roster

Wondering how the Orioles make room on their roster
As the Orioles rotation is lined up, the next five starters should be Wei-Yin Chen and Chris Tillman against the Mariners and Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright and Miguel Gonzalez versus the Marlins in Miami. Bud Norris is one of eight Orioles currently on the disabled list, joining Matt Wieters, Wesley Wright, Jonathan Schoop, Everth Cabrera, Kevin Gausman, Ryan Flaherty and Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia. Norris can return on May 26. Manager Buck Showalter already is bracing for some difficult roster...

Taking another look at the pending free agents

Taking another look at the pending free agents
Having lost an off-day later this month to a doubleheader against the White Sox, the Orioles will savor today's break in the schedule before focusing on a weekend series against the Angels at Camden Yards. I'm not sure how long it will take for the shock to wear off that they're playing a team outside the American League East. One against the White Sox and two against the Mets. That's the complete list. Asked last night if he's glad to be venturing away from the division, manager Buck...

Showalter says Hunter Harvey should avoid surgery (more quotes)

Showalter says Hunter Harvey should avoid surgery (more quotes)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't offer much detail on Hunter Harvey's MRI today, but he said the young pitching prospect should be able to avoid elbow surgery. Team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs examined Harvey, and the results of his MRI, after the right-hander flew into Baltimore. Harvey lasted only two innings in Sunday's extended spring training start before leaving the game with elbow stiffness. Harvey will be shut down for what appears to be an extended period. "How do you put...

Updates on Flaherty, Gausman, Wieters and more (updated)

Updates on Flaherty, Gausman, Wieters and more (updated)
The Orioles are deciding whether to place infielder Ryan Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list. Team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs is reviewing the MRI. Infielder Rey Navarro is in Baltimore, and the sense is that the Orioles will make a roster move later today. They can't afford to be short an infielder with a bench that's heavy in outfielders. Update: The move is official. Flaherty goes on the DL with a right groin strain and Navarro is recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Kevin Gausman will...

Injury updates from Camden Yards

Injury updates from Camden Yards
Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman said his right shoulder feels much better today after he took an anti-inflammatory on Saturday. "It feels like nothing ever happened," said Gausman, who went on the disabled list retroactive to May 7 with right shoulder tendinitis. Team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs is examining Gausman's shoulder this afternoon. Gausman will undergo an MRI Tuesday morning, but he's confident that there's nothing structurally wrong. The Orioles must decide whether to send...

A few notes before today's game

A few notes before today's game
It's Little League Day at Camden Yards and there appear to be zero security concerns as kids circle the field in their uniforms and we await the start of the series finale between the Orioles and Red Sox. Orioles manager Buck Showalter estimated that shortstop J.J. Hardy will need three or four rehab games before coming off the disabled list. Hardy is shut down until Wednesday after receiving a cortisone injection yesterday in his left shoulder. The Orioles considered the injection a few days...

Morning notes before Orioles-Red Sox game

Morning notes before Orioles-Red Sox game
BOSTON - Not much news to report today, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Orioles are having a quiet morning, with no other players headed to the disabled list. Fingers remain crossed. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop is in Sarasota to begin rehabbing his right knee. Shortstop J.J. Hardy hit off a tee today, but didn't take live batting practice. He'll get back in the cage Monday, and we'll continue to wait for his rehab assignment to start. "We knew it wasn't going to be really...