O's Mike Snyder and Kent Qualls on today's additions
O's Mike Snyder and Kent Qualls on today's additions
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles added two right-handed starting pitchers today in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. And they added two-right handed pitchers and a catcher in the Triple-A phase of the draft. While it cost $100,000 to make a pick in the major league phase and that player must stay on the selecting team's big league roster all year or be offered back to his former club, no such rules apply in the minor league phase. Each selection costs $24,000 there and the player is now fully part of the...
The Orioles' week in review
The Orioles' week in review
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The normal Winter Meetings would have wrapped up yesterday following the Rule 5 draft. The virtual version, however, keeps rolling along. No checkout times, stops at the front desk or luggage to be dragged through the lobby and toward the exits, where fresh air is breathed for the first time in four days. What I miss most is my annual lap around the lobby after filing my Rule 5 story. The sense of calm as media and executives race to the airport. The thought in my head that whispers, "Well,...
Reichard: Nats players will love the hospitality of Rochester
Reichard: Nats players will love the hospitality of Rochester
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals announced their minor league affiliate invitations for 2021 on Wednesday, and the list did not include the Hagerstown Suns, signaling the end of a 13-year relationship. Kevin Reichard, the editor and publisher of Ballpark Digest, believes Suns owner Bruce Quinn might consider becoming an independent-league team going forward. "I don't know what Bruce is going to do, quite honestly," Reichard said. "He's got various business interests. I haven't heard much out of his camp as...
Orioles select two pitchers, lose two in Rule 5 draft (Snyder quote)
Orioles select two pitchers, lose two in Rule 5 draft (Snyder quote)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles again made two selections in today's Rule 5 draft and they again focused on pitching. The fifth overall pick turned into right-hander Mac Sceroler, the nephew of former Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald. The Orioles took right-hander Tyler Wells in the second round to fill out their 40-man roster. Sceroler, 25, came from the Reds organization, where he posted a 3.69 ERA and a 1.111 WHIP in 26 games (20 starts) at high Single-A Daytona in 2019 and averaged 9.8 strikeouts per nine...
Rule 5 draft success stories are few and far between (updated)
Rule 5 draft success stories are few and far between (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The first virtual Rule 5 draft is set to be held today at noon Eastern, and who isn't excited about that? Well, hardly anyone's excited about it. Unless you work for a major league club's player development unit, are a rabid follower of third-tier minor league prospects or are one of the players whose livelihood is actually at stake today, you really have no good reason to pay more than glancing attention at this event. This is especially true for the Nationals, who essentially have been...
Juan Soto honored as All-MLB first-team outfielder
Juan Soto honored as All-MLB first-team outfielder
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Had there been a 2020 All-Star Game, Juan Soto and Trea Turner almost certainly would've found their way to Dodger Stadium to join the rest of baseball's best for a couple of days. But with no Midsummer Classic during a 60-game season that didn't even begin until late July, Soto and Turner are left to be honored in a different fashion for their standout performances this season: Soto was named tonight as a 2020 All-MLB first-team outfielder, while Turner was recognized as one of three...
Prepping for the Rule 5 draft
Prepping for the Rule 5 draft
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
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...
Looking at Frederick's immediate baseball future, while Aberdeen moves up
Looking at Frederick's immediate baseball future, while Aberdeen moves up
Steve Melewski
Orioles
So yesterday, as it turned out, was the day. We finally got some clarity on the Orioles minor leagues for 2021. We hope that we get to see a full season of baseball as the country recovers from the pandemic. What we do know now is the likely makeup of the O's farm moving forward. Four teams were invited to be O's full-season affiliates. They are Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, high Single-A Aberdeen and low Single-A Delmarva. Major League Baseball is asking the clubs to sign Professional...
O's hire scout Quincy Boyd, Chris Davis talks about offseason
O's hire scout Quincy Boyd, Chris Davis talks about offseason
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Today's virtual Winter Meetings activity for the Orioles on its third day impacts the scouting department, the kind of behind-the-scenes move that's common during the traditional in-person gatherings. According to an industry source, the Orioles are hiring Quincy Boyd as an area scout. Boyd has served as a national scouting supervisor with the Red Sox since February 2018. He was promoted to regional crosschecker in December 2012 after working as an area scout for North Carolina and South...
Orioles extend minor league affiliate invitations for 2021
Orioles extend minor league affiliate invitations for 2021
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles today announced invitations for their four full-season affiliates for the 2021 season. They have invited the Norfolk Tides to continue as their Triple-A affiliate and the Bowie Baysox to remain their Double-A team. They invited their previously short-season Single-A team, the Aberdeen IronBirds, to serve as their high Single-A affiliate and the Delmarva Shorebirds to remain as their low Single-A club. O's executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias confirmed yesterday...