Orioles outright Austin Wynns
Orioles outright Austin Wynns
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles performed more work on their 40-man roster this afternoon, outrighting catcher Austin Wynns after he cleared waivers, according to sources. Wynns can become a free agent. The 40-man is down to 38 players, the most recent move before today coming last week when the Diamondbacks claimed reliever Zack Burdi off waivers. Wynns, 30, batted .185/.232/.308 in 45 games, with four doubles, four home runs and 14 RBIs in 139 plate appearances. He threw out 11 of 29 runners attempting to steal...
Orioles to host Play Ball Days for Maryland youth
Orioles to host Play Ball Days for Maryland youth
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
Expanding upon Major League Baseball's Play Ball campaign, the Orioles will host Play Ball Days, presented by Nike, at local Maryland Title I schools to continue to grow the game of baseball, inspire recreational play in underserved areas, and teach life lessons including teamwork, perseverance, and resilience. From October 25 through October 29, the Orioles will host the outdoor Orioles-themed Play Ball Days in Title I elementary and middle schools in Baltimore City and their surrounding...
A little more on Mateo
A little more on Mateo
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
No one is handing a job in 2022 to the batch of Orioles in-house infield candidates beyond first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, which pretty much makes for a typical offseason in the rebuild. I'm confident that they'll sign at least one free agent, and perhaps to a major league deal. They could make another waiver claim, as they did with second baseman Yolmer Sánchez. Perhaps this time they'll keep him beyond spring training. I've made Ramón Urías a heavy favorite to stay with the...
Still the O's ace: A look at John Means' strong season
Still the O's ace: A look at John Means' strong season
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In 2019, left-hander John Means emerged as a surprising staff ace for the Orioles. No, he was not an ace, meaning a No. 1 pitcher, to rival the very best in the game, but he sure was the Orioles' ace. In 2021, were there still any doubters, Means proved he is still that. Outside of his own won-loss record, Means' stats in 2021 look a lot like his numbers in 2019 with a few improvements. You could look at his year broken into about three different seasons - there was a sizzling hot start to...
Mancini, Mullins and Mountcastle are MLBPA award finalists
Mancini, Mullins and Mountcastle are MLBPA award finalists
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles have three finalists for the Major League Baseball Players Association's Players Choice Awards, which were announced today. Cedric Mullins and Trey Mancini are finalists, along with Mitch Haniger of Seattle, for the American League Comeback Player Award. Ryan Mountcastle joins Randy Arozarena of Tampa Bay and Adolis García of Texas as finalists for the MLBPA's Outstanding Rookie Award. A year after missing the entire 2020 season after treatment and chemotherapy for cancer,...
Is there one more shot for Robles or will Nats move on?
Is there one more shot for Robles or will Nats move on?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
PLAYER REVIEW: VICTOR ROBLES Age on opening day 2022: 24 How acquired: Signed as international free agent, July 2013 MLB service time: 3 years, 32 days 2021 salary: $614,000 Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2022, free agent in 2025 2021 stats: 107 G, 369 PA, 315 AB, 37 R, 64 H, 21 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 8 SB, 6 CS, 33 BB, 85 SO, .203 AVG, .310 OBP, .295 SLG, .605 OPS, 69 OPS+, minus-1 DRS, minus-0.5 fWAR, minus-0.3 bWAR Quotable: "I've said this before, and I mean this with all my...
Zimmerman can play another season, but does he want to?
Zimmerman can play another season, but does he want to?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
PLAYER REVIEW: RYAN ZIMMERMAN Age on opening day 2022: 37 How acquired: First-round pick, 2005 draft MLB service time: 15 years, 32 days 2021 salary: $1.35 million (with incentives) Contract status: Free agent 2021 stats: 110 G, 273 PA, 255 AB, 27 R, 62 H, 16 2B, 0 3B, 14 HR, 46 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, 16 BB, 77 SO, .243 AVG, .286 OBP, .471 SLG, .756 OPS, 104 OPS+, 5 DRS, 0.4 fWAR, 1.2 bWAR Quotable: "Do I want to keep playing? I think I can keep playing. I think I had a really good year with the...
Another look at players in the fall instructional league camp
Another look at players in the fall instructional league camp
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The fall instructional league camp is entering its fourth day down in Sarasota, Fla., more activity at the Ed Smith Stadium complex before pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 15. Here are a few more participants who caught my eye when the Orioles shared their list with the media: * They loaded up their camp roster with 17 of the 2021 draft picks, and they included outfielder/first baseman Billy Cook, a 10th-rounder out of Pepperdine University. Cook, 22, led the West Coast...
For starters, many of these guys don't pitch a lot of innings
For starters, many of these guys don't pitch a lot of innings
Steve Melewski
Orioles
There are 10 teams that have played at least one postseason game this month in the majors. Of those 10, only four have used their starting pitchers more than their bullpen. Only those four - through Tuesday's games - have more innings coming from their starting pitchers. This should no longer be a surprise. The building up of bullpens has been an arms race for years now - the race to get multiple flame-throwers in the mid-to-late innings who blow fastballs by hitters. And when they can't do...
Is 34-year-old Hernandez a left fielder, pinch-hitter or DH?
Is 34-year-old Hernandez a left fielder, pinch-hitter or DH?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
PLAYER REVIEW: YADIEL HERNANDEZ Age on opening day 2022: 34 How acquired: Signed as international free agent, October 2016 MLB service time: 1 year, 28 days 2021 salary: $570,500 Contract status: Under team control, arbitration-eligible in 2024, free agent in 2027 2021 stats: 112 G, 289 PA, 264 AB, 33 R, 72 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 3 SB, 0 CS, 22 BB, 59 SO, .273 AVG, .329 OBP, .413 SLG, .742 OPS, 103 OPS+, minus-8 DRS, 0.2 fWAR, 0.1 bWAR Quotable: "We don't know - I don't know - what's...