Elias waiting for new CBA before detailing roster plans
Elias waiting for new CBA before detailing roster plans
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Exhibition games have been postponed through March 4 due to the lockout. The inevitable became official yesterday afternoon. Shocked faces didn't exist. "We regret that, without a collective bargaining agreement in place, we must postpone the start of spring training games until no earlier than Saturday, March 5th," Major League Baseball said in a statement. "All 30 clubs are unified in their strong desire to bring players back to the field and fans back to the stands. The clubs have...
John Angelos on lockout, lease, concert, rebuild and more
John Angelos on lockout, lease, concert, rebuild and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
As baseball's lockout bleeds deeper into the month of February, threatening an on-time start to the 2022 season, Orioles chairman and CEO John Angelos remains hopeful that his club will be on the field March 31 for opening day at Camden Yards. Negotiations between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association will resume next week, perhaps with daily sessions, as the sides attempt to reach agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement by Feb. 28. Commissioner Rob Manfred has...
Who backs up Bell at first base?
Who backs up Bell at first base?
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
Now that the celebration of Ryan Zimmerman's retirement has had its moment in the spotlight - and don't worry, I'm sure there will be plenty more celebrations this season and in the years to come - it's time for the Nationals to look ahead as to what their future looks like without their face of the franchise. The long-term ramifications are still to be determined. But as it pertains to the 2022 season, Zimmerman's retirement leaves an immediate hole to be filled on the Nats roster: backup...
Paul McCartney to play at Camden Yards on June 12 (updated)
Paul McCartney to play at Camden Yards on June 12 (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are opening Camden Yards to the concert scene again in 2022, with an announcement this morning that Paul McCartney will perform on June 12 as part of his 2022 GOT BACK tour. Presented by AEG and Orioles Entertainment, the concert will mark the first appearance in Baltimore for McCartney since 1964, during The Beatles' first North American tour. Tickets will be on sale beginning Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. American Express Card Members are allowed to purchase tickets before the general...
Orioles to welcome Paul McCartney to Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12
Orioles to welcome Paul McCartney to Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles today announced that legendary singer-songwriter Paul McCartney will perform the second-ever major concert at Camden Yards on Sunday, June 12, as part of his 2022 GOT BACK tour. Presented by AEG and Orioles Entertainment, the performance will be McCartney's first Baltimore concert in nearly 60 years, as he last visited Charm City in 1964 during The Beatles' first North American tour. "As one of the most illustrious and decorated performers of all time, Paul McCartney has changed...
Missing the simple pleasures of spring training
Missing the simple pleasures of spring training
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
An old tweet of mine popped up Thursday. Exactly two years old, to be precise. It featured a slow-motion video of the Nationals holding their now-infamous "Cabbage Race" outside their spring training clubhouse. Sean Doolittle, designated closer for the team captained by Max Scherzer, was last to receive a head of cabbage that made its way all the way down a line of teammates and slammed it to the ground just before Daniel Hudson, closing for Stephen Strasburg's team, slammed his. It set off...
More memories from past Orioles spring trainings
More memories from past Orioles spring trainings
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles pitchers and catchers would be stretching later this morning and undergoing the next round of workouts at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, perhaps joined by some position players who reported early and passed their physicals, except the lockout remains in place and threatens an on-time opening day. Representatives for Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association met again yesterday and the session lasted about 15 minutes, according to reports. Lead negotiators Dan Halem and Bruce...
Nats' offer was reasonable, but so was Soto's response
Nats' offer was reasonable, but so was Soto's response
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The 13-year, $350 million offer the Nationals made to Juan Soto shortly before the lockout began was a reasonable move by the organization. And Soto's decision to turn down that gargantuan offer was just as reasonable a move. What does all that mean in the big picture? It means it's going to take a historic contract to keep Soto in D.C., and it's probably not going to happen until he has the opportunity to field offers from 29 other clubs as a free agent following the 2024 season. And a...
Revisiting the 2020 Orioles draft class
Revisiting the 2020 Orioles draft class
Steve Melewski
Orioles
On the night of June 10, 2020, Major League Baseball was not yet playing regular-season games, but was set to host its First-Year Player Draft. The draft would be limited to five rounds. That night the Orioles selected University of Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad with the No. 2 overall pick in the first round. That selection created some initial confusion, frustration and angst around Birdland. They did not select Vanderbilt's Austin Martin, as many fans had read they would in pre-draft...
Orioles sign Long to minor league deal
Orioles sign Long to minor league deal
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles made their first transaction of 2022 that didn't involve the international market, with an industry source confirming that they've signed Shed Long Jr. to a minor league deal. The lockout prevents moves that impact the 40-man roster. The Mariners outrighted Long, 26, in October after he batted .198/.258/.360 with four doubles, a triple and four home runs in 34 games, and he elected free agency. Long underwent surgery in September 2020 to repair a stress fracture in his right...