The Atkins diet
The Atkins diet
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
MLB.com is reporting that the Colorado Rockies thinned their roster (see what I did there?) by non-tendering third baseman Garrett Atkins, a move that had been anticipated for months Atkins, who made $7.05 million this season, was offered a multi-year deal two years ago. He should have taken it. Now he's a free agent and anyone can sign him. The Orioles have some interest and didn't engage in serious trade talks with the Rockies because they anticipated that he would hit the open...
A little housekeeping
A little housekeeping
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Before we move on from the winter meetings, let's take a look back. Try not to get misty. DECEMBER 7 Atlanta Braves - Designated OF Ryan Church for assignment. Colorado Rockies - Released OF Matt Murton. Detroit Tigers - Acquired a player to be named later for LHP Clay Rapada. Milwaukee Brewers - Signed C Gregg Zaun to a one-year contract. Claimed INF Luis Cruz off waivers from the Pirates. Minnesota Twins - Designated RHP Boof Bonser for assignment. New York Yankees - Acquired a player to be...
A Marquis pitcher on the market
A Marquis pitcher on the market
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters before leaving Indianapolis that he'd still like to add another pitcher despite the trade for Kevin Millwood. The Orioles, he reminded us, are in the pitching business. A recently published report includes the Orioles among the teams interested in veteran right-hander Jason Marquis, but they're more likely to sign a pitcher who's coming off injury to an incentive-ladened deal. Marquis' agents are Sam and Seth Levinson, who...
Leaving Indy
Leaving Indy
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I arrived at my gate at 5:30 a.m. for the flight home. Time once again to question why I didn't go to medical school. The guy working security kept struggling to pronounce my first name as he studied my drivers license. I finally assisted him after wondering why it mattered. I'll naturally be away from the laptop for a large chunk of the morning, but I'll get to your comments as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'm pretty much out of Orioles news at the moment. Agent Adam Katz told me...
Getting to third base
Getting to third base
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
As I walked through the lobby of the Westin around noon today, I saw president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and other team personnel gathering for the drive to the airport and their trip back to Baltimore. I was tempted to ask whether MASNsports.com could shoot video of him going through security, but I figured he needed a break from us. MacPhail believes in letting the market play out at certain positions if Player A isn't deemed significantly better than Player Z. Pedro Feliz,...
And so it ends (almost)...
And so it ends (almost)...
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
It feels like I just got here. The 2009 Winter Meetings are drawing to a close. That 5 p.m. Southwest flight back to Baltimore will be packed. Unfortunately, I'm not on it. Roch and ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick recap the 2009 Winter Meetings Maybe it's just paranoia, or bad planning, but I'm staying here in case something breaks late. It's not expected, but I'm always reminded of the meetings a few years ago when shortstop Miguel Tejada, interviewed in the Dominican, "suggested" that a...
MacPhail talks about the Rule 5
MacPhail talks about the Rule 5
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Seventeen players were selected in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Most Orioles fans only care about one. Pitcher Steve Johnson, acquired with third baseman Josh Bell from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the George Sherrill trade, was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 23rd pick in the first round. "We knew it was a possibility," said Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations. "The kid is clearly a prospect. I don't think there's any question about that. The...
More minor picks
More minor picks
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles lost another player in the Triple-A phase of the draft. The San Francisco Giants selected pitcher Jake Stevens from Double-A Bowie's roster. Keep in mind that these players don't have to stay on the major league roster. That's what distinguishes the minor league phase from the major league phase. Stevens will be placed on the Giants' Triple-A roster. The Orioles declined to take a player in the Double-A phase of the draft.
More on Johnson
More on Johnson
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles gambled that Steve Johnson, the son of former Orioles pitcher and current 105.7 broadcaster Dave Johnson, would slip through the Rule 5 draft because he isn't a power arm. Wrong. To me, it wasn't necessary to protect infielder Pedro Florimon. He's a definite prospect, but it's hard to imagine a team trying to stash him on it's 25-man roster all season. Keep in mind that Johnson could easily end up back in the organization. That's a common occurrance. And Johnson is looking...
More Rule 5
More Rule 5
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The San Francisco Giants used the 23rd pick to take pitcher Steve Johnson from the Orioles. More on that later. This won't be well-received in Baltimore.