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...

Castillo declines option for 2018 (updated with quote)

Castillo declines option for 2018 (updated with quote)
Catcher Welington Castillo severed his ties to the Orioles today, as expected, by declining the $7 million player option on his contract. They could reconnect later this winter, with both sides leaving the door open, but it's unlikely to happen. Today was the deadline for Castillo to inform the club, which I'm told he still hadn't done this morning. It seemed to be a formality. Castillo immediately becomes one of the top catchers on the free agent market, rivaled only by Jonathan Lucroy and...

Six Orioles elect free agency

Six Orioles elect free agency
While the Orioles decide which non-roster players to protect in the Rule 5 draft in December, six of their minor leaguers elected free agency and are eligible to sign with another organization. Pitchers Logan Verrett, Vidal Nuño and Jason Wheeler, catcher Francisco Peña and infielders Johnny Giavotella and Rubén Tejada can test the market, according to a list provided by Major League Baseball and published yesterday by Baseball America. The Orioles could attempt to re-sign any or all...

More on trade deadline and roster expansion (O's down 11-8)

More on trade deadline and roster expansion (O's down 11-8)
The last trade deadline is less than five hours away and the Orioles haven't consummated any deals. They've been known to strike postgame, however, so don't relax. "Some things that we've been kicking around, but nothing imminent," manager Buck Showalter said earlier today. "Tried but didn't fit, didn't work." The Orioles seem more enthusiastic about roster expansion on Friday. "We've had to try to work through having the Rule 5 guy (Anthony Santander) here and we've had to work...

Duquette continues search for pitching as trade deadline nears

Duquette continues search for pitching as trade deadline nears
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette continues his search for pitching as the latest trade deadline approaches at midnight. Players must join the organization by the deadline to be eligible for the playoffs, and they first have to clear waivers. "I don't know if anything will come together," Duquette said this afternoon. "We've talked with a number of clubs and we've been active actually all month, but we'll see if we match up with anybody." The Orioles have won seven straight...

More on Britton, tonight's game and Castillo's injury

More on Britton, tonight's game and Castillo's injury
While the Orioles begin a three-game series tonight against the Rays at Camden Yards, a brief homestand before hitting the road again next week, closer Zach Britton will continue his injury rehab assignment at Single-A Frederick. Britton will enter toward the end of the game, putting him in more of a late-inning mindset as he nears a return to the active roster. Pitch tonight at Frederick, pitch Monday at Triple-A Norfolk and rejoin the Orioles' bullpen on July 5. Britton's return will take...

Machado improved, Britton progressing and Castillo playing

Machado improved, Britton progressing and Castillo playing
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter thinks that third baseman Manny Machado may be able to remain on the active roster. The outlook took a dramatic shift upward today. Machado is out of the lineup for the third consecutive night, but his left wrist and hand apparently are feeling much better. "Manny's good. He improved again," Showalter said this afternoon while talking to the media in the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium. "It looks like he's got a chance to miss the DL. It's just...

Castillo comes off DL, Machado remains out of lineup

Castillo comes off DL, Machado remains out of lineup
NEW YORK - The Orioles activated catcher Welington Castillo from the 10-day disabled list this afternoon and again designated catcher Francisco Peña for assignment. Castillo caught seven innings last night at Double-A Trenton and went hitless in three at-bats in his brief injury rehab assignment with the Bowie Baysox. Castillo sustained a testicular injury on May 30 against the Yankees. Peña also was designated for assignment on May 17, but he cleared waivers and accepted an outright...

Francisco Peña on key throwing error and Chris Tillman on his outing

Francisco Peña on key throwing error and  Chris Tillman on his outing
Orioles catcher Francisco Peña saw a great chance to get a key out this afternoon and he took it. But he didn't get the result he wanted. In the sixth inning of a 3-3 game, his costly throwing error allowed two Boston runs to score and the Red Sox went on to a 7-3 victory in the series finale. With two outs, Chris Tillman had an 0-2 count on No. 9 hitter Devon Marrero and wanted to try and get him to chase a curveball to end the inning. Even with the bases loaded, Tillman wanted to bounce a...

Orioles settle for split with 7-3 loss

Orioles settle for split with 7-3 loss
A pitch in the dirt, a wild throw and a broken tie. It happened that quickly. The Red Sox scored two unearned runs off Chris Tillman in the sixth inning on catcher Francisco Peña's error to take the lead and they kept the Orioles in third place with a 7-3 victory before an announced crowd of 31,819 at Camden Yards. Andrew Benintendi recorded his first multi-homer game, his solo shot off Mike Wright in the seventh inning expanding Boston's lead. Benintendi added an RBI single off Richard...

O's get three early runs but nothing after and lose series finale

O's get three early runs but nothing after and lose series finale
The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning today off Boston left-hander Chris Sale. But they could not muster any offense after that. Then a costly throwing error gave Boston the lead and the Red Sox beat the Orioles 7-3 to split the four-game series. It was a disappointing last two games of the series for the Orioles that leaves them at 29-26 and 1 1/2 games behind Boston for second place. The Orioles fall to 19-10 at home and are 4-3 on this homestand that resumes Tuesday. Boston has...

Orioles outright Fry to open 40-man spot (O's lose 7-3)

Orioles outright Fry to open 40-man spot (O's lose 7-3)
The Orioles have cleared a spot on their 40-man roster. Feel free to speculate on how they're going to fill it. Left-hander Paul Fry cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles made the announcement during today's game against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Fry is 1-0 with a 6.56 ERA in 14 relief appearances with Norfolk. He has a 1.50 WHIP in 23 1/3 innings. The Orioles acquired Fry from the Mariners on April 14 for international bonus slot No. 105, which is worth...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
Francisco Peña is catching this afternoon and the Orioles are breaking out another right-handed lineup against Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale. Joey Rickard is in right field and Trey Mancini is in left. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter. Chris Davis is batting .354 (17-for-48) when leading off an inning. For the Orioles Joey Rickard RF Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo DH Chris Davis 1B Trey Mancini LF Jonathan Schoop 2B Francisco Pena C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHPFor the Red...

Orioles focus on own splits vs. Rodriguez (O's up 7-1)

Orioles focus on own splits vs. Rodriguez (O's up 7-1)
The splits suggest that the Orioles should be stocking their lineup with left-handed hitters for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox. The splits belonging to left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, their former farmhand. Not necessarily the batters on the Orioles roster. As I wrote this morning, left-handers are hitting .289 against Rodriguez this season and .273 in his career. Right-handers are hitting .190 this season and .232 lifetime. Rodriguez is the ultimate reverse-splits guy, according...

Injuries, suspensions, opt-outs and tonight's game

Injuries, suspensions, opt-outs and tonight's game
The Orioles crammed a lot of news into a few hours yesterday, if a 14-minute rain delay to start the game also falls into that category. It's old news, for sure. Seems to rain here every day. The official mascot should be moss. Catcher Welington Castillo was placed on the disabled list, and it's - you pick the word - that his testicular injury occurred exactly one year after the one sustained by catcher Caleb Joseph. "An eerie coincidence" is three words. So is "a painful reminder." If...

Welington Castillo goes on disabled list (O's lead 9-4)

Welington Castillo goes on disabled list (O's lead 9-4)
The Orioles have placed catcher Welington Castillo on the 10-day disabled list with a testicular injury and selected catcher Francisco Peña's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. The 40-man roster is full. Castillo spent much of last night in the emergency room after being hit in the groin by a pitch that first struck Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius and caromed. "Most of the times, the ones that are really a problem are the angle, when you get a different angle," manager Buck Showalter said...

Castillo may be headed to disabled list again

Castillo may be headed to disabled list again
The Orioles may place catcher Welington Castillo on the 10-day disabled list later today. Castillo spent last night in the emergency room after he was hit in the groin by a deflected pitch that initially struck Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius on the arm. The head athletic trainers for both teams raced onto the field to attend to the injured players. Castillo stayed in the game, but he later required medical attention. Manager Buck Showalter said Castillo has a "hematoma" and the injury...

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Ervin Santana at Oriole Park

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Ervin Santana at Oriole Park
Now 1 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East, and with eight losses their past 11 games, the Orioles (25-19) host Minnesota tonight in the second game of a three-game series. The Orioles lost the series opener 14-7 last night despite taking an early 5-0 lead. The Twins (23-18) scored four runs in the fifth for a 6-6 tie and six runs in the sixth inning. It was the Orioles' first loss in a series opener at home and they are 7-1. Minnesota's 21 hits last night were the most...

Duquette on Katz, Jackson, Bourn, Britton and more

Duquette on Katz, Jackson, Bourn, Britton and more
The Orioles continue to use their international signing bonus slots to acquire pitchers for their system. In a move announced earlier this afternoon, the Orioles obtained left-hander Alex Katz from the White Sox in exchange for bonus slots No. 45 and No. 75. Katz was assigned to Single-A Frederick, where he'll be used as a reliever. Katz has appeared in 62 career minor league games and posted a 3.09 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 102 innings. The White Sox drafted Katz in the 27th round in 2015...

Sizing up the latest loss, bullpen additions and catcher stats

Sizing up the latest loss, bullpen additions and catcher stats
The Orioles have now fallen 1 1/2 games off the pace in the American League East after they lost at Detroit 5-4 last night while New York was winning 11-7 at Kansas City. The Yankees (24-13) are 8-1 in their last nine road games, while the Orioles (23-15) are 1-5 on their current road trip, which ends this afternoon. It's a road trip marked by five one-run losses featuring blown leads, some ineffective bullpen pitching and short outings by starting pitchers. It's a problem we've seen before,...