What comes next with Triple-A season pushed back?

What comes next with Triple-A season pushed back?
The Orioles knew that the Triple-A season could be pushed back at least a month, along with the other affiliates in baseball. The ESPN.com report Wednesday night didn't really blindside anyone in the organization. Only the timing enabled it to sneak up on some people. They were told that it could be announced by mid-March, but the news came a little bit earlier than that. How the Orioles deal with the latest changes due to COVID-19 and the need for more vaccinations is a work in progress....

Akin seeking consistency in 2021

Akin seeking consistency in 2021
Eight games into his major league career, Keegan Akin has become a go-to guy inside the Orioles clubhouse and on the back fields at their spring training complex. Eight games make him appear worldly in this environment. The camp is loaded with players waiting to make their debuts and seeking advice. They gravitate toward experience. Akin is willing to offer his assistance with just 25 2/3 innings of his own. Akin is paying it forward after John Means mentored him last year. "It's pretty cool...

Mullins abandons switch-hitting, Wells injured and more

Mullins abandons switch-hitting, Wells injured and more
The red ink used this morning to write Cedric Mullins' name on the lineup card, the designation for left-handed hitters, wasn't a mistake. Mullins has decided to abandon switch-hitting, a move he's contemplated in the past, and concentrate on batting from the left side. The splits drove him to it. Mullins slashed .171/.216/.286 from the right side and .305/.348/.448 from the left last year and is a career .251/.305/.394 hitter from the left and .147/.250/.189 from the right. "He's...

Valdez could emerge as starter (and other notes)

Valdez could emerge as starter (and other notes)
César Valdez has become so important to the Orioles, and in such an unexpected manner after his prolonged absence from the majors, that manager Brandon Hyde is open to using the veteran right-hander in pretty much any role. The rotation isn't closed to him. Valdez became a starter in winter ball after one relief appearance with his original team, Tigres del Licey, and dominated for Gigantes and Águilas Cibaeñas - the latter being the Dominican Republic's entrant into the Caribbean...

Could Orioles break camp with a six-man rotation?

Could Orioles break camp with a six-man rotation?
A spring training camp with a roster that's grown to 73 players is bound to have a lot of moving parts. Fold in the influences of a pandemic that's turned the sport on its ear, and those parts can leave a vapor trail. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde knows that he's allowed to construct a 26-man roster, but he's open to any ideas. One of them is breaking camp with six starters. Hyde confirmed on Wednesday's Zoom conference call that it's a viable option. "I think anything's possible this...

As camp begins, another look at rotation candidates

As camp begins, another look at rotation candidates
When you look at the list of 73 players the Orioles have heading to spring training this week, there are 37 pitchers among that group of players. Of that group of 37, there are 15-20 that might have at least a remote shot at breaking north in the season-opening starting rotation. Realistically, the number is less, but still large. Let's take a look at groupings of pitchers that we could see in the rotation come April. TOP TIER This group includes lefty John Means, the likely opening day...

Putting Hernández signing in proper perspective (with note)

Putting Hernández signing in proper perspective (with note)
The return of Wade LeBlanc to the Orioles organization came as a surprise with no access to behind-the-scenes negotiations. LeBlanc walked off the mound on Aug. 23, went on the 60-day injured list, hit the free agent market again and figured to be a fading memory in Orioles history. I don't recall anyone predicting that he'd sign another minor league deal, but he's going back to the Ed Smith Stadium complex later this month. The attention given to his return disappeared as quickly as LeBlanc...

More thoughts on Alex Cobb

More thoughts on Alex Cobb
Immediate reaction to yesterday morning's news that the Orioles were working on a trade to send veteran starter Alex Cobb to the Angels included the following: Why now? How many young pitchers are coming to the Orioles? What happens to the rotation? What is it about the Angels? How about that payroll? Not necessarily in that order, but you get the idea. Cobb might carry more value in early February than at the trade deadline, when he's a rental with free agency approaching. And there are no...

Taking another glance at some prospect lists

Taking another glance at some prospect lists
Various sites are publishing their top prospects lists and the Orioles can't be ignored. No one puts baby Birds in the corner. Baseball America placed five Orioles in its Top 100: catcher Adley Rutschman (No. 2), right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (No. 22), left-hander DL Hall (No. 59), outfielder Heston Kjerstad (No. 62) and outfielder/first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (No. 63). The Orioles have never been represented by more than five players. Mountcastle retains rookie status, which makes him...

Hendriks' time with Orioles is orange and black haze

Hendriks' time with Orioles is orange and black haze
Liam Hendriks is the new White Sox closer after receiving a four-year deal worth $54 million. He was the American League's Reliever of the Year in 2020 after posting a 1.78 ERA and 0.671 WHIP, recording 14 saves in 15 chances, and walking three batters and striking out 37 in 25 1/3 innings. The walk total is one short of the number of teams that have designated him for assignment. The Orioles did it in spring training 2014 and lost him to the Blue Jays on a waiver claim. They had no idea that...

Holt: "My primary job is the major league pitching staff"

Holt: "My primary job is the major league pitching staff"
Giving Chris Holt two titles and sets of responsibilities raised one very interesting question. How would he blend his roles as Orioles pitching coach and director of pitching? Holt made it clear this afternoon in a Zoom conference call with the media that his new assignment as Doug Brocail's replacement is the top priority. "My primary job is the major league pitching staff," he said. "The goal of remaining the director of pitching is to have a top-down approach, make sure there's...

Cueing some curiosities in 2021

Cueing some curiosities in 2021
The Baltimore baseball media often was promised during manager Buck Showalter's tenure that its curiosity soon would be satisfied. Mostly, yes. Sometimes, no. I'm curious whether spring training is going to start on the dates set for each club. Of course, every team is being told to get ready for it. The same message was sent in October. What's the alternative? Better to keep that mindset and adjust later if necessary, rather than assume a delay and then be surprised when camp opens on time....

Seeking a fresh start in 2021

Seeking a fresh start in 2021
It's just another New Year's Eve, another night like all the rest. It's just another New Year's Eve, let's make it the best. (If I can reference Garrett Cleavinger twice within a week, I can sing along with Barry Manilow to close out 2020. There are no rules.) I feel bad for the people who keep acting as though the world is returning to normal after tonight. The "I can't wait for 2020 to be over" crowd. I've got bad news for you. It won't feel any different in the morning or the next...

Christmas list of reasons to be happy

Christmas list of reasons to be happy
'Tis the season to be jolly. If you pretend that 2020 didn't happen. My only advice is to dig deep and unearth the joyous moments in your lives. Hopefully, you'll find many more than you expected. Hopefully, you can use a trowel instead of a bulldozer. For me, it's getting engaged at spring training, less than a week before the shutdown. My plan to propose at the spot where we met outside the Ed Smith Stadium press box would have been ruined if she chose to fly down later. (I'll never know...

Tyler Wells makes impressive first impression

Tyler Wells makes impressive first impression
Tyler Wells won't be able to truly demonstrate what he offers the Orioles as a pitcher until reporting to spring training and getting on a mound. Until he faces hitters in live batting practice sessions and in exhibition games. What he's done so far is prove that he's going to be one of the more thoughtful, open and articulate members of the organization. Wells was credited with a quality Zoom yesterday afternoon in his first media session after the Orioles chose him in Thursday's Rule 5...

Do Akin and Kremer have firm hold on rotation spots?

Do Akin and Kremer have firm hold on rotation spots?
If we are to presume that two slots in the 2021 Orioles rotation are pretty much set and two others are somewhat set, that still leaves at least one spot open in the starting five for next season. The Orioles have some decisions to make before opening day next season, whenever that turns out to be. Do Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer return to the rotation where they ended last summer and join mainstays John Means and Alex Cobb? Where does this leave Jorge López? Can one or both of the Rule 5...

Prepping for the Rule 5 draft

Prepping for the Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft begins at noon today and the Orioles, as usual, are going to participate. It's what they do. It should be named after them. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias appeared on "MASN All Access" on Monday afternoon and offered confirmation. "I would expect some activity in the first round of the Rule 5 draft," he said. That's good enough for me. But he doubled down in a Zoom conference call with the media. "If there are only four players that we feel are worth...

Eshelman elects free agency

Eshelman elects free agency
The free-agent market has gained a former Orioles starter. Thomas Eshelman cleared waivers yesterday and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles announced this morning that he elected free agency rather than remain in their system. Eshelman, 26, has a previous outright assignment, which gives him veto power. The Orioles designated him for assignment on Sept. 2, 2019 while activating Mark Trumbo from the 60-day injured list. The willingness of the Orioles to part with Eshelman this week...

Taking a look at the Pedro Severino agreement

Taking a look at the Pedro Severino agreement
The Orioles provided a vote of confidence yesterday in 27-year-old catcher Pedro Severino. A potential non-tender candidate when the deadline hits tonight, the Orioles made a pre-emptive move to retain a player that has played in 144 games for the club over the last two seasons. The O's agreed to $1.825 million deal with Severino to avoid a possible arbitration hearing and keep him with the club that claimed him off waivers from the Washington Nationals on March 23, 2019. The agreement was...

Wells wondered whether O's would put him on 40-man roster

Wells wondered whether O's would put him on 40-man roster
The Orioles didn't need to remove pitcher Alexander Wells from his home in Australia and dump him into the 60-man player pool over the summer. They were fine with excluding him from the fall instructional league. As executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said a few weeks ago, Wells had "a really good setup" that enabled the team to avoid the hassles of international travel during a pandemic. Wells, a native of Newcastle, was placed on the 40-man roster to protect him from the...