Gonzalez avoids arbitration (O's exchange figures with Britton, Matusz)

Gonzalez avoids arbitration (O's exchange figures with Britton, Matusz)
The Orioles are down to two unsigned arbitration-eligible players. Pitcher Miguel Gonzalez has agreed to a $5.1 million deal. He made $3.275 million last season while going 9-12 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.396 WHIP in 26 starts over 144 2/3 innings. Gonzalez made two stops on the disabled list with groin and shoulder injuries. He's healthy now and hoping for a bounceback season. Closer Zach Britton and left-hander Brian Matusz haven't agreed to terms. Britton's agent, Scott Boras, will submit a...

A look at the bullpen arms race in the AL East

A look at the bullpen arms race in the AL East
When the Orioles try to produce late-game comebacks during the 2016 season, they will see some new faces on the mound in the American League East. Since the end of last season, the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays have all acquired late-inning pitchers that could turn out to be part-time, if not permanent, closers. The build-up of American League East bullpens continues. What the Kansas City Royals started - producing a lockdown late-inning 'pen - other teams are following. This all makes the...

Taking a closer look at Matusz versus Bastardo (with Gordon note)

Taking a closer look at Matusz versus Bastardo (with Gordon note)
While we wait for the Orioles to reveal their new assistant hitting coach on Thursday, I've heard that former major league outfielders Milt Thompson and Mark Quinn were finalists for the job. Five candidates were interviewed. Thompson is a career .274/.335/.372 hitter in 13 major league seasons with six teams. He was the Phillies hitting coach during their 2008 championship season and again when they returned to the World Series in 2009. He was fired in July 2010, served as the Astros minor...

Leftovers for breakfast (updated)

Leftovers for breakfast (updated)
Is today the day that the Orioles announce the Hyun-soo Kim signing? I'm no longer making predictions on news releases and conference calls, but I'm expecting the two-year deal to become official today. I've been rearranging my schedule since Friday in anticipation. Who needs Christmas presents anyway? And those holiday parties are vastly overrated. Kim was supposed to fly back to Korea early this week. Let's get this done. * The Orioles have expressed interest in Bronson Arroyo, according...

Brach on O'Day: "Darren's leadership is second to none"

Brach on O'Day: "Darren's leadership is second to none"
There's a pretty good chance today that the Orioles will announce their four-year deal with reliever Darren O'Day. Do it quick before he checks Twitter. O'Day agreed to terms last Monday. He took and passed his physical. I believe there was an insurance issue that needed to be worked out. This is one of the more complicated deals with its deferred money and partial no-trade clauses, but the sides finally may have reached the finish line. "Darren's been huge for my career personally, just...

Dan Duquette on Darren O'Day, a left-handed bat and starter, and more

Dan Duquette on Darren O'Day, a left-handed bat and starter, and more
NASHVILLE - Does stirring up the industry two straight years on the day before the official start of the Winter Meetings actually constitute a streak? Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette isn't being courted by the Blue Jays this year, but he has to address the confusion over an apparent agreement with reliever Darren O'Day on a four-year, $31 million contract. ESPN.com's Buster Olney is now reporting that the final details in O'Day's talks with the Orioles center on...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The Orioles non-tendered infielder Paul Janish prior to Wednesday night's deadline, but they would like to re-sign him to a minor league deal. Janish is highly regarded for his defense and approach to the game. I'll repeat that I expected him to stay on the 40-man roster and he certainly has his share of supporters in the organization. The pitchers at Triple-A Norfolk benefited from having Janish at shortstop, just as the staff at Double-A Bowie benefited from Ozzie Martinez's glove work....

Orioles non-tender Lough and settle with Reimold

Orioles non-tender Lough and settle with Reimold
The Orioles non-tendered outfielder David Lough tonight, allowing the outfielder to become a free agent. They settled with outfielder Nolan Reimold on a contract for the 2016 season. Reimold will receive $1.3 million if he makes the opening day roster, according to sources. He joined pitcher Vance Worley as the two arbitration-eligible players who settled tonight. Reimold, 32, batted .247/.344/.394 with five doubles, a triple, six home runs and 20 RBIs in 61 games. The former second-round pick...

Nearing the non-tender deadline

Nearing the non-tender deadline
Before executive vice president Dan Duquette, manager Buck Showalter and the rest of the Orioles contingent gather in Nashville next week for the Winter Meetings, decisions must be made regarding the contract statuses of their 11 arbitration-eligible players. Here comes another way to clear a spot or two on the 40-man roster. The Orioles must tender contracts by the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Wednesday night. They did it with all 11 of their eligible players last year - Zach Britton, Chris Davis,...

Wondering about the bullpen's flexibility in 2016

Wondering about the bullpen's flexibility in 2016
One issue for the Orioles in 2015 involved a bullpen that didn't provide enough flexibility. Too many relievers without minor league options. Too many instances where the club was challenged to bring up a fresh arm. Tommy Hunter was shipped to the Cubs at the non-waiver deadline to free up a spot. It was a risky move for a team still in contention. A fan suggested Saturday on "Wall to Wall Baseball" on MASN that the Orioles could solve the problem by having seven good relievers, eliminating...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce the Cy Young Award winners in both leagues tonight on MLB Network. My guess is Dallas Keuchel beats out Sonny Gray and David Price in the American League. Four Orioles have won the Cy Young Award, including three-time winner Jim Palmer (1973, 1975, 1976). Mike Cuellar and Denny McLain were co-winners in 1969, Mike Flanagan won it in 1979 and Steve Stone won it in 1980. Stone went 25-7 with a 3.23 ERA and nine complete games in 37...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The general managers meetings start today in Boca Raton, Fla., and executive vice president Dan Duquette will try to lay the groundwork for future deals at next month's Winter Meetings in Nashville. An acquisition this week would come as a surprise. Heck, it's usually pretty quiet at the Winter Meetings except for the Rule 5 draft. As the Orioles search for an outfielder in the early stages of free agency, they also continue to check the trade market and monitor possible non-tenders. Josh...

Wondering about the composition of the bullpen in 2016

Wondering about the composition of the bullpen in 2016
It's apparently safe for me to resurrect my visions of an epic Royals-Blue Jays matchup in the American League Championship Series. Reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated. Love 'em or hate 'em - and I know where most of you stand on the topic - these are two special teams. It's hard to imagine the series ending in fewer than seven games. Which opponent is more challenged to bounce back on the road in Game 5 - the one that blew a four-run lead in the eighth inning (Astros) or the...

Medical update on Brian Matusz

Medical update on Brian Matusz
Orioles reliever Brian Matusz underwent a successful medical procedure yesterday on his right shoulder and has returned home to Arizona. Matusz stayed back in Baltimore and had arthroscopic surgery to repair the AC joint, allowing him to get a head start on his recovery. Ravens physician Dr. Leigh Ann Curl also cleaned out about a centimeter worth of arthritic bone in the shoulder. "Everything went great and just as planned. On the road to recovery," Matusz said in a text message. "From my...

Hearing from Showalter and Matusz after doubleheader split

Hearing from Showalter and Matusz after doubleheader split
The Orioles have four games remaining and are four below .500. The math is simple. A poor performanace in Game 1 of today's doubleheader was followed by an 8-1 win in the nightcap, with Kevin Gausman holding the Jays to a Darwin Barney solo home run over eight innings. Mychal Givens worked the ninth after Gausman threw 98 pitches and struck out a career-high 10 batters. "As poorly as we played in the first game is as well as we played in the second game, and like I've said many times, it...

Notes on Matusz, Machado and more (O's lose 15-2)

Notes on Matusz, Machado and more (O's lose 15-2)
Orioles reliever Brian Matusz will undergo a minor arthroscopic procedure on Monday in Baltimore to clean out his right shoulder. It's outpatient surgery and he will fly home to Phoenix, Ariz., the following day. Matusz had a cortisone injection in the shoulder in spring training. The discomfort has returned, though he remains available to pitch. "It's just something that's been bothering him as he turns," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's in an out, outpatient. They think it's pretty...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Manny Machado told manager Buck Showalter that he wants to play both ends of today's doubleheader at Camden Yards. He also wants to play all 162 games. Machado is starting at shortstop in Game 1, with Ryan Flaherty at third base. Showalter remains hopeful that center fielder Adam Jones will play again this season. He's hoping as early as Game 2. Reliever Brian Matusz will undergo surgery Monday on his right shoulder. Showalter said it's a minor procedure and Matusz remains available to...

Notes on Sunday starter, coaches, suspension, injured players (O's lose 7-0)

Notes on Sunday starter, coaches, suspension, injured players (O's lose 7-0)
BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed this afternoon that Ubaldo Jimenez will stay in turn and start Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Red Sox are sending left-hander Henry Owens to the mound, the third southpaw to face the Orioles in the series. None of the Orioles coaches are under contract beyond the 2015 season. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said today the club still is in the process of working out new deals and he expects the staff to...

Kevin Gausman on his start tonight, plus other clubhouse quotes

Kevin Gausman on his start tonight, plus other clubhouse quotes
Kevin Gausman has pitched well several times this year without a lot of run support. He was in a similar spot tonight, but this time he navigated his way through six innings and actually got a win. Gausman gave up just two hits and got his first victory since Aug. 1 as the Orioles beat Boston 2-0. Gausman has recorded a win in just two of his 14 starts. "Hey, I'm just happy that we won," he said. "I could care less about my statistics as long as we are winning. That is what it is all about...

Showalter speaks after 2-0 win

Showalter speaks after 2-0 win
Don't look now, but the Orioles have sole possession of third place in the American League East. They're not covering the lockers in plastic, but it beats a last-place tie. Kevin Gausman threw 29 pitches in the first inning before settling down and working through the sixth in a 2-0 win over the Red Sox before 19,666 at Camden Yards. The Orioles won for the fifth time in six games and are three under .500 for the first time since Aug. 29. Gausman earned his first win since Aug. 1 and Zach...