Orioles release Bourn again (O's down 4-1)

Orioles release Bourn again (O's down 4-1)
The Orioles released outfielder Michael Bourn from his minor league contract today, making him a free agent who can sign with any team. Bourn reached the opt-out date on his deal and the Orioles didn't have a spot for him on their four-man bench. He was batting .220/.373/.317 in 11 games. Bourn re-signed with the Orioles on Feb. 22, was released on March 27 after breaking his right ring finger in spring training and signed again on April 11. The broken finger occurred while Bourn was catching...

O's game blog: Does winning streak get extended? (Nope, Nats win 7-6)

O's game blog: Does winning streak get extended? (Nope, Nats win 7-6)
They have the majors' best record and a six-game winning streak, and the Orioles open a two-game series at Nationals Park tonight. The Orioles (22-10) swept the two-game series in Baltimore against the Nationals (21-12) by scores of 6-4 and 5-4. The club's six-game win streak is the longest active winning streak in the majors and is the longest for the Orioles since June 22-29, 2016, when they won seven in a row. They rallied from 4-1 down in the eighth last night, scoring once in the eighth...

O's game blog: O's face Boston in series finale (O's win 8-3)

O's game blog: O's face Boston in series finale (O's win 8-3)
A rather eventful road trip for the Orioles through New York and Boston comes to an end tonight at Fenway Park. The Orioles went 1-2 at Yankee Stadium and are 1-2 at Boston as the four-game series ends tonight. The trip began with the Orioles leading New York by one game for first place in the American League East. They begin play tonight at 16-10, one game behind New York (17-9). The trip began with the Yankees scoring 26 runs and winning last Friday and Saturday over the Orioles in the Bronx....

Who's up first? Smith's hamstring gives Showalter dilemma

Who's up first? Smith's hamstring gives Showalter dilemma
CINCINNATI - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is expected to change leadoff hitters tonight with the Reds sending right-hander Scott Feldman to the mound. But Seth Smith's hamstring again could put anyone in play. A healthy Smith stays atop the order. If he can't go, Showalter might turn to Hyun Soo Kim or stick with Trey Mancini, depending on whether the rookie remains in the lineup. Not having a designated hitter is a huge complication. Showalter probably wants to keep Mark Trumbo in right...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
SARASOTA, Fla. - Does anyone want to be the Orioles' fifth starter? I'd do it, but it might interfere with my blogging. I considered Mike Wright to have the edge before last night, and it still could hold true, but he allowed five runs and seven hits in two innings against the Twins in Fort Myers. It's important to remember that the competition doesn't have to be decided when the Orioles break camp. They don't need a fifth starter until April 15. Perhaps it comes down to whichever pitcher...

Orioles make four cuts, wrapping up 7-1 loss

Orioles make four cuts, wrapping up 7-1 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made four camp cuts today following their 7-1 loss to the Tigers. They optioned pitcher Jesus Liranzo to Double-A Bowie and reassigned outfielder Logan Schafer, infielder/outfielder David Washington and catcher Austin Wynns to minor league camp. The spring roster is down to 46 players, and two more cuts are expected on Monday. There are 12 non-roster invitees remaining. Liranzo gave up a two-run homer to John Hicks in the ninth inning and hit two batters, but it...

Early notes on Tillman, Flaherty, Machado, Castillo and more

Early notes on Tillman, Flaherty, Machado, Castillo and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman will wait until next Sunday to begin long-tossing, his throws coming from a distance of 60 to 90 feet. The Orioles first scheduled Tillman to throw on Wednesday, but doctors want to give the cortisone injection a few more days to work. Manager Buck Showalter said there hasn't been a setback. Tillman will throw every other day once he's back on the field. Infielder Ryan Flaherty's shoulder is much better and he'll play in Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays...

Rickard and Mancini forcing Orioles to notice them

Rickard and Mancini forcing Orioles to notice them
SARASOTA, Fla. - Want to guess which players will start in the outfield for today's game against the Rays? Left-hander Blake Snell will be on the mound, which could send Hyun Soo Kim to the bench. Kim and Chris Johnson are tied for the team lead in at-bats with 35. Kim needs to demonstrate whether he can stay in the lineup instead of platoon. You must decide whether this is the right day to go left-on-left. Seth Smith probably needs another day for his hamstring to heal and he's not going to...

More on Dariel Álvarez's conversion to reliever

More on Dariel Álvarez's conversion to reliever
SARASOTA, Fla. - Less than two weeks after standing at his spring training locker and saying the idea of pitching wasn't on his mind, Dariel Álvarez will stand on a mound at the minor league complex and make the conversion to reliever. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that Álvarez agreed to try pitching, a role he filled for parts of three seasons in Cuba before the Orioles signed him as an outfielder. "Alvy needs to get down to start the pitching program," Showalter said....

Showalter, Machado and Castillo on WBC and 3-2 win

Showalter, Machado and Castillo on WBC and 3-2 win
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles scored twice in the seventh inning today to take the lead, with Paul Janish lifting a sacrifice fly and Logan Schafer lining into a fielder's choice that plated the go-ahead run, and the bullpen shut out the Phillies down the stretch in a 3-2 win at Ed Smith Stadium. Darren O'Day and Donnie Hart each retired the side in order in their respective innings, and Parker Bridwell stranded a runner in the ninth after a two-out walk to record his first save. Mike Wright...

Dickerson taking another swing at the majors

Dickerson taking another swing at the majors
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Dickerson remembers sitting on the MLB Network set as an analyst, checking the monitors for game updates and wondering how he got there. A shoulder injury kept him off the field and moved him into a studio, but he wasn't ready to make the transition. Not when he truly believed that he still could play, no matter how much his body fought him. The Orioles put Dickerson back on the field, signing him to a minor league deal on Aug. 20 and re-signing him four months later....

Wilson retires all six batters he faces in debut (O's win 2-0)

Wilson retires all six batters he faces in debut (O's win 2-0)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 2, Tigers 0 Recap: Tyler Wilson retired all six batters he faced, striking out one and throwing 14 of 21 pitches for strikes. ... Johnny Giavotella singled in all three of his at-bats. ... Ryan Flaherty drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Need to know: Jayson Aquino struck out two batters in two scoreless innings. ... Right fielder Chris Dickerson recorded three putouts in the first two innings. He also had a walk and stolen base...

Orioles claim outfielder Adam Walker off waivers

Orioles claim outfielder Adam Walker off waivers
The Orioles exhibited their love of power again today, claiming minor league corner outfielder Adam Walker off waivers from the Brewers. Lots of power and contact issues. Walker, a 25-year-old right-handed hitter, led the minors this year with 202 strikeouts in 531 plate appearances with Triple-A Rochester in the Twins organization. He also had 22 doubles, five triples, 27 home runs and 75 RBIs to go with a .243/.305/.479 slash line in 132 games. Walker totaled 31 doubles, seven triples, 27...

Hearing from Duquette and Showalter leading into Winter Meetings

Hearing from Duquette and Showalter leading into Winter Meetings
The Winter Meetings officially start on Monday, though everyone rolls into town the previous day to get settled and soak up the atmosphere. And I'm bringing the sarcasm hard on that last part. I sat down yesterday with Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette to touch on a few topics, including tonight's 8 p.m. deadline to tender contracts to the 10 arbitration-eligible players. "We've got a good idea what we're going to do," Duquette said. "I think last year we went down to the...

Orioles sign outfielder Logan Schafer (plus other notes)

Orioles sign outfielder Logan Schafer (plus other notes)
The Orioles acquired a left-handed hitting outfielder today as the Winter Meetings approach, though it involves a minor league deal. The club announced that it signed Logan Schafer, 30, to a minor league contract. He will receive an invitation to spring training. Schafer is a career .214/.292/.318 hitter in 318 games over parts of six major league seasons, the first five spent with the Brewers. He batted .238/.342/.317 this year in 26 games with the Twins. A former third-round pick, Schafer...

Martinson reassigned to minors, Schafer granted release

Martinson reassigned to minors, Schafer granted release
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals trimmed their spring training roster a bit more Saturday, reassigning infielder Jason Martinson to minor league camp and granting outfielder Logan Schafer his unconditional release. Martinson hit .292 (7-for-24) with two RBI, four walks and 11 strikeouts this spring as a non-roster invitee. The 27-year-old infielder, a fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft, spent last season at Triple-A Syracuse, where he hit .218 with 19 homers, 56 RBIs and a .299 on-base percentage in...

Playing the field with the non-roster invitees

Playing the field with the non-roster invitees
Dan Uggla and Clint Robinson were among a host of veterans brought to Nationals spring training on minor league deals last year with seemingly no shot to crack a packed roster fresh off a division crown. Longtime major league outfielder Reed Johnson joined them in final days of camp. After years as one of the game's best power-hitting second basemen, Uggla's offense had dropped off a cliff in the couple of seasons prior and his appearance was considered more of a charity case when he showed...