Orioles announce 44 of 60 players in pool

Orioles announce 44 of 60 players in pool
The Orioles are preparing for their second spring training, or first summer camp if that's the preferred description, by revealing the majority of their 60-player pool earlier today. Forty-four players have been announced and outfielder Trey Mancini goes on the 60-day injured list to leave the 40-man roster at 38 players. The injured list eventually will be reduced to 45 days, but Mancini won't play in 2020 while undergoing chemotherapy treatments following his colon cancer surgery in...

More questions pertaining to Orioles roster

More questions pertaining to Orioles roster
We'll reach a point, if the 2020 season is to be played, when rosters no longer will be frozen. The Orioles can chip away at their 50. How much chipping is the question. Take a 30-man roster with a 20-man taxi squad and you've got 50. The math is indisputable. But the taxi squad could include pitchers and position players who were optioned prior to camp shutting down or shortly after it happened. We are waiting for the rules and the plan to be explained to us. People in the organization...

Flores on Mountcastle's defense and Núñez at third base

Flores on Mountcastle's defense and Núñez at third base
With the exception of the 37 minor league players released last week, the Orioles haven't done much with their personnel since returning home from spring training. The sport is on hold and the camp roster is on ice. Infielder/outfielder Ryan Mountcastle, pitcher David Hess, infielder Ramón Urías and outfielder Cedric Mullins were the last players cut, and those moves became official back on March 19. Five days after I boarded a flight out of Tampa. Mountcastle received most of his work...

Because You Asked - The Island of Lost Dreams

Because You Asked - The Island of Lost Dreams
I'm wearing rubber gloves today while sorting through my mailbag. All of my clothes are made out of Glad trash bags. Safety first. Don't use the scented brand. They'll give you a headache. I'd keep a six-foot distance from the mail, but my vision is pretty bad. Also, my arms wouldn't reach it. You know what's also a reach? Trying to convince anyone that there's an actual bag. But treat it as you would "Rocky IV" and suspend disbelief. (The Soviet crowd chanting his name at the end?...

Updates on season status and another childhood heartbreak

Updates on season status and another childhood heartbreak
The constant speculation over Major League Baseball's return and in what form is doing little besides confusing fans and spreading rumors. Separating truth from fiction is requiring a lot more muscle these days. Implement it into your workouts while gyms are closed. We don't know if or when baseball will be played. We don't know how long spring training 2.0 will last and whether teams would head back to Florida and Arizona. We don't know if the schedule will be packed with doubleheaders. We...

Orioles should be playing last exhibition game today

Orioles should be playing last exhibition game today
I should have been flying home this morning from spring training. Should have been waking up at the Marriott inside the Tampa International Airport - a veteran move to drop off the rental car and switch hotels the night prior to departure - and stumbling to my gate after six weeks in Sarasota with only a single day off. The Orioles would be playing the Mets later today at the Naval Academy in one last exhibition game - a substitute for the usual workout day. Major League Baseball requires teams...

How it might look in 2020: The O's rotation

How it might look in 2020: The O's rotation
Over the next few weeks, let's take a look at some aspects of the Orioles and how they were shaping up at the time that spring training was halted. Today, a look at the rotation. To me the rotation was setting up this way: No. 1 - John Means: He was slated to be the opening day starter if the opener was going to be on March 26. Everything was pointing to that and Means was on schedule for that start. It just had not been announced yet. Means had a solid spring and looked confident and ready to...

Notes on LeBlanc opt-out date, minor league compensation and more

Notes on LeBlanc opt-out date, minor league compensation and more
The Orioles trimmed their camp roster to 50 players yesterday afternoon and reached an important date involving left-hander Wade LeBlanc. Well, it seemed to carry a lot more significance prior to the opening of camp and baseball's complete shutdown. LeBlanc's minor league deal, agreed upon in late January, included a March 19 opt-out clause. He could request his release and the Orioles would have 48 hours to add him to their 40-man roster or allow the veteran to reenter free agency. There...

Elias on roster moves, draft, Mancini and more

Elias on roster moves, draft, Mancini and more
The Orioles haven't emptied their spring training complex in Sarasota, but the number of players are dwindling. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias indicated this afternoon in a conference call that most of the Orioles returned home due to the coronavirus pandemic. They also were given the choice of going to Baltimore for informal workouts. "The general state of affairs in the Orioles organization is we have a small group of players that is still in Sarasota," he said. "Many...

Orioles option four players

Orioles option four players
The Orioles whittled their camp roster to 50 players this afternoon while making their first moves since baseball's shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pitcher David Hess, infielder/outfielder Ryan Mountcastle, outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Ramón Urías have been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. No cuts had been announced since left-hander Keegan Akin was optioned to the Tides back on March 10. A few competitions gained some clarity today. Mullins was a candidate to make the...

Hector Velázquez prepping for Orioles debut

Hector Velázquez prepping for Orioles debut
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Hector Velázquez isn't quite set to make his Orioles debut. Maybe it comes over the weekend. The reliever anticipates a second bullpen session before he's cleared to pitch in a game for the Orioles, who claimed him off waivers from the Red Sox earlier this week. He's waiting for manager Brandon Hyde to give him more information. "I think that I'm going to need to throw one more bullpen," he said through interpreter Ramón Alarcón. "After that, the manager is going...

Valaika homers, LeBlanc gets win, bullpen strong late as O's beat Miami

Valaika homers, LeBlanc gets win, bullpen strong late as O's beat Miami
JUPITER, Fla. - On a day when the Orioles got just three hits, they beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 to split two games on their swing through the east coast of Florida. They head back to Sarasota with a record of 7-5-1 after a loss to Washington and win over Miami. Today they scored two runs on Pat Valaika's third spring homer and two more on a throwing error. Four bullpen pitchers put up zeros from the sixth on to lock down the win. Non-roster invitee lefty Wade LeBlanc continued his bid for a...

Orioles lineup vs. Marlins (updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Marlins (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Richie Martin is starting at second base today as the Orioles continue their East Coast trip with a 1:05 p.m. game against the Marlins in Jupiter. Austin Hays is leading off and playing center field - another hint, perhaps, of where he'll be slotted on opening day. José Iglesias, who had three hits yesterday against the Nationals, is batting second. Anthony Santander remains the designated hitter. Pat Valaika is playing first base while vying for a utility job. Stevie...

Hays and Mountcastle making spring statements (O's win 11-4)

Hays and Mountcastle making spring statements (O's win 11-4)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Austin Hays didn't have a seat on the team bus this morning, his workout schedule keeping him back in Sarasota while the Orioles made the 20-minute trek to play the Pirates. Ryan Mountcastle peeled away from his friend and handled first base and cleanup duties at LECOM Park. They both cleaned up yesterday at Ed Smith Stadium. Hays doubled twice and had two RBIs, made two diving catches and was on the front end of an 8-4-2 putout. Mountcastle doubled twice, hit a long home...

Wynns on Rule 5 picks: "They have great big league stuff"

Wynns on Rule 5 picks: "They have great big league stuff"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Internet makes pitching statistics easily accessible to the public and there are multiple sites offering full scouting reports. Video can be found in only a couple of keystrokes. It's reached the point where leaving your couch no longer is a prerequisite. Then there are those opportunities to hang out at a catcher's locker and pick his brain. Still one of my favorite activities, and especially in spring training with so many arms in camp. Austin Wynns turned 29 in...

Chandler Shepherd named starter for first exhibition game

Chandler Shepherd named starter for first exhibition game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chandler Shepherd is starting Saturday's exhibition opener against the Braves in North Port, marking the end of the workout grind and moving spring training into its next phase. Left-hander Ty Blach will follow Shepherd, who's supposed to work two innings. "He's one of the guys that we're stretching out and it just kind of fell on that day," said manager Brandon Hyde, who shared his decision with the media. "See him go a couple innings." Shepherd started the final game...

Hess gaining information in camp

Hess gaining information in camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The workout that's unfolding later this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex includes live batting practice sessions from 13 pitchers and regular bullpen sessions from 13. David Hess is in the latter group while he awaits his first Grapefruit League assignment. The opener is Saturday against the Braves in North Port and he hasn't been told whether he's involved in it. Hess has been pleased with his side work and first live batting practice round. The work done over the...

Orioles back on field for second day of full-squad workouts

Orioles back on field for second day of full-squad workouts
SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini has returned to the field this morning after sitting out yesterday's workout due to the illness that's knocking down Orioles like bowling pins. Mancini is dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. This is a light workout for Mancini, who isn't back to full strength. But at least he made it out of the clubhouse and wasn't sent back home. The Orioles finished their Photo Day obligations and three fields are being used for live batting practice sessions. Ty Blach threw on...

Orioles agree to terms with Milone on minor league deal

Orioles agree to terms with Milone on minor league deal
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles found a veteran pitcher to compete for a spot in their rotation and it didn't cost them a major league contract. Left-hander Tommy Milone has agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to an industry source. Milone, who turns 33 later this month, has pitched for six teams since debuting with the Nationals in 2011. Primarily a starter for the first five years, Milone has transitioned into more of a relief/bulk guy role. Only six...

Hyde on Cobb, LeBlanc, Lakins, position players and more

Hyde on Cobb, LeBlanc, Lakins, position players and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have completed their second day of workouts, with two players still unable to participate. Pitcher Brady Rodgers was supposed to throw in the bullpen with the second group, but he's being held back due to soreness in his right arm. Pedro Severino hasn't caught due to an illness. Severino arrived in camp yesterday wearing a mask. But not the kind he's going to use when he's behind the plate. Alex Cobb threw with the first group and manager Brandon Hyde remains...