Nuño's departure and more on Orioles minor league free agents

Nuño's departure and more on Orioles minor league free agents
Vidal Nuño didn't give us much of a chance to become attached to him. Left camp for 10 days to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, spent a small portion of the summer with the Orioles, became a minor league free agent and found a new team. Nuño has signed a minor league deal with the Rays, as first reported by Baseball America's Matt Eddy. He elected free agency last month, joining pitcher Logan Verrett, catcher Francisco Peña and second baseman Johnny Giavotella. Infielder Rubén...

A look at the Orioles' list of pending minor league free agents

A look at the Orioles' list of pending minor league free agents
To put in perspective how long Garabez Rosa has been in the Orioles organization, when Adam Jones was traded to the club in February 2008, Rosa was about to begin his second season on the O's farm. Signed out of the Dominican Republic at 17 in November 2006, Rosa has played 1,154 games over 11 seasons in the Orioles' minor league system. Save for a few games at Triple-A Norfolk, he's been at Double-A Bowie since the 2013 season. He is the Baysox's all-time leader in games (590), hits (650),...

Orioles avoid sweep in Bronx with 6-4 win

Orioles avoid sweep in Bronx with 6-4 win
NEW YORK - Tim Beckham was slumping, the Orioles were sinking, and their shortstop figured he just needed to keep swinging. It felt good to get back to winning. Beckham's three-run homer off Sonny Gray in the top of the fourth gave the Orioles a little breathing room and Ubaldo Jiménez struck out 10 batters in five innings in a 6-4 victory over the Yankees before an announced crowd of 38,189. It didn't qualify as a Bronx beating, with the Yankees rallying to within two runs, but the...

Scott promoted: "Wow, I wasn't expecting that" (O's up 6-4)

Scott promoted: "Wow, I wasn't expecting that" (O's up 6-4)
NEW YORK - Tanner Scott had returned to his home in Ohio following the Eastern League playoffs, figuring that his next pitch would come in the Arizona Fall League. He never expected to receive a phone call informing him of his promotion to the Orioles. Director of player development Brian Graham delivered the news, which led to Scott's placement yesterday on the taxi squad. The Orioles selected his contract this morning from Double-A Bowie and he's in the bullpen for the series finale at...

Orioles DFA Richard Rodriguez (plus notes and lineups)

Orioles DFA Richard Rodriguez (plus notes and lineups)
NEW YORK - The Orioles selected the contract of left-hander Tanner Scott this morning, removing him from the taxi squad, and designated pitcher Richard Rodriguez for assignment. The club will know by 1 p.m. whether Rodriguez cleared waivers. He posted a 14.29 ERA in five relief appearances this month. Adam Jones is out of the lineup again today due to some soreness in his legs. The turf in Toronto wasn't kind to him. Austin Hays is in center field. Trey Mancini is batting fourth. The Orioles...

O's take beating in the Bronx with 13-5 loss (with quotes)

O's take beating in the Bronx with 13-5 loss (with quotes)
NEW YORK - If a starter falls on hard times in the Bronx and doesn't make a sound, did it really happen? Left-hander Wade Miley turned in the shortest outing of his career tonight, allowing six runs and retiring only one batter, and the Orioles suffered another embarrassing defeat to the Yankees, 13-5, before an announced crowd of 37,128. The PA system was on the fritz until Miley was on the bench, his 19th and final pitch resulting in Todd Frazier's three-run homer. Miley faced seven batters...

Gausman goes three, Hays makes debut in 9-1 loss to Yanks

Gausman goes three, Hays makes debut in 9-1 loss to Yanks
The Orioles lost their off-day and an important series. Forced to play this afternoon after yesterday's postponement, the Orioles fell behind by three runs in the first inning and seven in the fourth and never threatened the Yankees in a 9-1 loss before an announced crowd of 14,946 at Camden Yards. So much for Manny Machado's dramatic walk-off home run Tuesday night somehow creating momentum for the Orioles. Again, it's dependent largely on the starting pitching, and Kevin Gausman turned in...

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,...

Orioles take early lead and lose 7-4 to Yankees (with Showalter quotes)

Orioles take early lead and lose 7-4 to Yankees (with Showalter quotes)
After playing 12 innings the previous day, regulation eluding them again, the Orioles really needed a typical Dylan Bundy start this afternoon against the Yankees. He didn't have to twirl a one-hit shutout. Just offer the usual quality and limit the number of relievers. It didn't work out that way. Bundy matched his shortest start of the season, leaving with no outs in the fifth following Starlin Castro's tie-breaking two-run homer, and the Orioles gave up seven unanswered runs in a 7-4 loss...

The bullpen, Rodriguez, Sisco, Castillo and Stewart

The bullpen, Rodriguez, Sisco, Castillo and Stewart
The Orioles begin the next series of their homestand tonight only 1 ½ games behind the Twins for the second wild card. They keep getting to that point, moving back a game and pushing forward again. Perhaps they can bust through the wall tonight against the Yankees. They're going to need more cooperation from the teams in front of them. I roamed the ballpark yesterday after filing my early notes, watching the beginning and ending from the club level. It provided a nice view of Mark Trumbo's...

Orioles bats chilled again in 7-2 loss to Blue Jays (with quotes)

Orioles bats chilled again in 7-2 loss to Blue Jays (with quotes)
The Orioles defeated the weather tonight, with rain unable to interrupt their game. The forecast took a beating. The Blue Jays were a much more stubborn foe. Don't be fooled by the standings or the number of players making their major league debuts in this series. Kevin Pillar broke a scoreless tie with a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth, and the Orioles couldn't generate much offense in a 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 14,815 at Camden Yards. After tallying...

Showalter on Rodriguez: "He's a guy that's really graduated"

Showalter on Rodriguez: "He's a guy that's really graduated"
The three non-roster players who arrived yesterday at Camden Yards received the bulk of the attention. Each brought his own equipment bag and storylines. Pedro Álvarez had to spend most of the summer at Triple-A Norfolk before finally making it back to the majors, his power bat and track record unable to entice another team into take advantage of the opt-out clause in his contract. Manager Buck Showalter wanted Álvarez, but understood the challenges of carrying a player who projected as a...

Hearing from Álvarez, Sisco, Rodriguez on promotions (Jones ejected)

Hearing from Álvarez, Sisco, Rodriguez on promotions (Jones ejected)
Pedro Álvarez walked to the back of the clubhouse this afternoon, his locker in the same spot as last season, and immediately felt right at home. Manny Machado got a huge smile on his face upon seeing Álvarez and threw his arms around the veteran slugger. Jonathan Schoop rose from his chair and did the same. Kevin Gausman walked over and continued the hugfest. In one move, the Orioles added a power bat and a popular teammate. "It feels good to be here, obviously," Álvarez said after...

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...

Another loss mixed with some facts and opinions

Another loss mixed with some facts and opinions
The latest Orioles game just produced more frustration for players and fans alike. Now at 40-45 after falling 6-4 at Minnesota, the Orioles are tied for fourth and fifth in the American League East with Toronto. So that means they are tied for last place. They have lost four in a row and six of seven. They are 18-35 since May 9, when they were 22-10 and had the best record in Major League Baseball. The team since then has seldom looked like a good team, much less a winning team. They are...

Oliver Drake gets final roster spot, plus more after O's-Tides tie

Oliver Drake gets final roster spot, plus more after O's-Tides tie
NORFOLK, Va. - The one remaining roster spot that was an Orioles mystery no longer is. Right-hander Oliver Drake will be the eighth member of the Orioles bullpen on opening day. Manager Buck Showalter announced that after today's 3-3 tie at Harbor Park with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, concluding the exhibition season. Showalter also provided more clarity on right-hander Chris Tillman's upcoming schedule. It is one that could allow him to pitch for the Orioles as soon as May 2. Showalter told...

Showalter on Bleier, plus other notes

Showalter on Bleier, plus other notes
SARASOTA, Fla. - With the first off-day now behind us, we're ready for the first night game and another opportunity to catch up on sleep. No alarms are set unless you enjoy watching the sun rise. The clubhouse opens to the media at 1 p.m., followed by the traditional posting of the lineup and the drive to Fort Myers for a 6:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox. Ubaldo Jiménez makes his third start after allowing one run in two innings against the Yankees and no runs in three innings against the...

More on Álvarez and Rodriguez being removed from camp

More on Álvarez and Rodriguez being removed from camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are down to 55 players in major league camp after optioning outfielder Dariel Álvarez to Triple-A Norfolk yesterday and reassigning pitcher Richard Rodriguez to the minor league complex. Here's the yearly reminder that players on the 40-man roster are optioned and the rest are reassigned and later placed with an affiliate or released. Pitching coach Roger McDowell summoned Rodriguez to manager Buck Showalter's office following yesterday's game. It's the...