Regular duty for Tejada
Regular duty for Tejada
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail addressed a question during the press conference that was directed at Miguel Tejada. He jumped in like a referee getting between two fighters, though he didn't wave his arms and remove Tejada's mouthpiece. A reporter wanted to know whether Tejada would have any issues with moving off third base to make room for Josh Bell later this summer, if the situation presented itself. More to the point, would he accept a part-time role? "The kind of deal...
This, that and the other
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Miguel Tejada says he has no preference where he hits, so I guess he won't be submitting his own lineup ideas to this blog. "Last year, I went from second to sixth," he said. "Every day I was in the lineup, I was totally happy." According to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, Tejada told him, "Just put me in the lineup. Wherever you see fit is fine with me." "I'm sure Dave Trembley's gone through 14 different versions of what it might be," MacPhail said. "I do like...
Miggy don't lose that number
Miggy don't lose that number
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Miguel Tejada will wear No. 9 this season. Read all about it here on the team's Twitter account - @birdlandinsider. Michael Aubrey wore No. 9 last year, after Gregg Zaun was traded, but I doubt that he'll receive an expensive watch in return. I'm sure he'd settle for a spot on the 25-man roster. He'd probably have an easier time getting the Rolex.
The corresponding roster move
The corresponding roster move
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have designated reliever Dennis Sarfate for assignment, a move made to create room on the 40-man roster for third baseman Miguel Tejada, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract yesterday after passing his physical. The club is expected to make the announcement later today, but Sarfate's agent already has informed him of the move. Sarfate was 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in 20 appearances last season. He spent almost four months on the disabled list with a circulatory condition in his...
More invites and reaction from Sarfate
More invites and reaction from Sarfate
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have invited six more players to spring training, including shortstop Blake Davis. Joining Davis will be catchers Luis Bernardo and Adam Donachie, infielder Miguel Abreu, outfielder Matt Angle and infielder/outfielder Jonathan Tucker. The Orioles also made Sarfate's removal from the 40-man roster official. Sarfate received the news from his agent earlier today that the Orioles had designated him for assignment. He let it sink in, took a deep breath and headed outdoors to throw...
Hendrickson says he's back
Hendrickson says he's back
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
How nice of Mark Hendrickson to announce last night at a sports banquet in Hanover, Pa. that he agreed to terms with the Orioles. Maybe I should have placed my last 12 calls to him over there. I was doing it all wrong. At least he saved me from making No. 13 later today. (I almost made No. 2 when I heard about this, if you know what I mean.) I've been predicting this move since, oh, around October. Three months later, it's happened. If you wait long enough, you'll eventually be...
Trembley on Hendrickson
Trembley on Hendrickson
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Dave Trembley is glad to have left-hander Mark Hendrickson back in his bullpen. Trembley talked about Hendrickson's value as the 2009 season closed, and his opinion hasn't changed. This is a signing that he endorsed from the beginning - one that will become official later this week. "Glad to have Hendrickson," Trembley wrote in an e-mail. "He did well last year as a left-handed guy out of the bullpen. He can pitch in long relief or late in the game as a situational type....
Sorting through the bullpen
Sorting through the bullpen
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Is it true that Kurt Warner will hold a press conference today to announce whether Brett Favre is retiring? Perhaps I misunderstood. The Orioles' news is slowing again, but not because president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is letting the market play out. We're approaching spring training and the camp roster is pretty much set. We'll probably see a left-handed reliever signed to a minor league contract. Try to control your breathing. Erik Bedard reportedly is throwing, but that...
Updating Koji
Updating Koji
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz, calling into last night's Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300, reported that Koji Uehara is throwing in Japan and apparently in good health after going on the disabled list for the last time on June 24 and missing the rest of the season. "Everything I've heard is that he's throwing," Kranitz said. "Obviously, we have to put some eyes on him to really find out how he's doing, because we don't have anybody there to look at him. But knowing...
Kranitz on Bergesen
Kranitz on Bergesen
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
My ears are still ringing from the sound of Billy Butler's line drive smacking off Brad Bergesen's left shin. Imagine how it sounds to Bergesen. He'll be a full-go in spring training after a long and painful recovery, but I keep wondering how he'll react to the first ball that's hit up the middle. And the second and third. I don't know about Bergesen, but I'll be flinching. "I've seen it happen more when guys get hit above the shoulders, somewhere in that area, where it really...