UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - The bus has been rolling throughout Maryland. The Orioles have been coming to their fans during two days of the Birdland Caravan that continues with more stops today in Westminster and Frederick. Over two days, O's players, coaches and staff have made their way to Aberdeen, Fallston, Timonium, White Marsh, York, Pa., Annapolis, Bowie, Ellicott City and Fort Meade. I've watched fans cheering on the Orioles at the Green Turtle in White Marsh on Friday and yesterday at...

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - It seems for most teams in baseball, acquiring pitching is a never-ending process. The same applies to the Orioles. Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias talked pitching and other topics today during the second day of the Birdland Caravan. The last stop today for players and club officials was at a packed Calvert Brewing Company here. It's just a few miles from Prince George's Stadium, home of the club's Double-A Bowie affiliate. And many...

While the Orioles work in spring training to round out a rotation that so far holds John Means, Alex Cobb, most likely Asher Wojciechowski and a bunch of questions, they also need to figure out what to do at Triple-A Norfolk. They can't finish that task until they know which starters are heading north with them. There could be some cuts due to overflow. And we know that executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is trying to sign one more veteran. The Tides rotation has the potential...

We've reached the final countdown to spring training, so we're counting down the most important storylines surrounding the Nationals this spring. We begin today with the status of Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez's contracts ... If there's one subject a defending World Series champion shouldn't have to think about, it's the future of its general manager and manager. Really, why would anyone spend a second wondering how secure Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez's jobs are? Why? Because at this...

Yes, that was the Orioles represented on a top 100 international prospects list recently published by Baseball America. It was a list of the top 100 international prospect signings for the period that began July 2, 2019 and will end on June 15. The Orioles had two players on this top 100. The author of the list saw some players play in the Tricky League, where some international amateurs play right after signing. It runs concurrent with the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, but is not a...

Trey Mancini made 79 starts in right field last season to lead the Orioles, but he also made 52 at first base to rank second behind Chris Davis (86) and five in left field. He served as the designated hitter in 17 games. The super-utility competition in camp won't involve Mancini, but he has a tendency to move around in various versions of the lineup. Mancini won't express a position preference, but he knows where we won't find him in 2020. "I can confidently say I don't think you'll be...

The Birdland Caravan made its final stop this afternoon in White Marsh, with two more days of touring ahead. Shortstop Richie Martin knew where he'd be going today based on the schedule laid out by the Orioles, the bus slicing through heavy winds to reach its destinations, but where he starts the 2020 season is a much cloudier forecast. The Orioles signed free agent shortstop José Iglesias to a one-year deal with an option for 2021 and basically have handed him the job. Martin can compete...

Florida's population this week swelled with the arrival of pitchers and catchers throughout the Sunshine State, including Sarasota, where one of the least predictable spring training competitions in the majors has begun to unfold. As you begin counting down to opening day in earnest, you'll want to catch as much as you can of the next seven days' worth of "Orioles Classics." Most of these episodes come from Orioles playoff seasons, and the ones that don't will feature major league...

He ranks third on the Orioles with 33 starts the last two seasons. He trails only Dylan Bundy (61) and Andrew Cashner (45). But as of right now he may be a longshot to significantly add to that in 2020. That is because right-hander David Hess took a big step backwards last year, going 1-10 with a 7.09 ERA in 23 games of which 14 were starts. The Orioles went 2-12 in those starts. It was just a year before that when Hess pitched much better and ended his season with a solid finish. In 2018, the...

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series concludes today with the outfield ... The Nationals infield may be chock full of questions entering spring training, but the guys who will line up behind them are firmly locked into place. All three starting outfielders - plus the primary backups - from last season return. And there's every reason to believe that group will be highly productive again, with room for...