Orioles lose Burdi on waivers and outright Lakins
Orioles lose Burdi on waivers and outright Lakins
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles began work this afternoon on a 40-man roster that must undergo significant changes to accommodate injured players and prospects eligible for the Rule 5 draft. One spot opened up when reliever Zack Burdi was put on waivers and claimed today by the Diamondbacks. The 40-man now holds 39 players. Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 30 and made his lone appearance with the Orioles on Sept. 6, tossing a scoreless inning against the Royals. He was optioned the next day. The...
With strong finish, Ruiz showed he's ready to be No. 1 catcher
With strong finish, Ruiz showed he's ready to be No. 1 catcher
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
PLAYER REVIEW: KEIBERT RUIZ Age on opening day 2022: 23 How acquired: Traded with Josiah Gray, Gerardo Carrillo and Donovan Casey from Dodgers for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, July 2021 MLB service time: 64 days 2021 salary: $570,500 Contract status: Under team control, arbitration-eligible in 2025, free agent in 2028 2021 stats (LA/WSH): 29 G, 96 PA, 88 AB, 10 R, 24 H, 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, 6 BB, 9 SO, .273 AVG, .333 OBP, .409 SLG, .742 OPS, 104 OPS+, 1 DRS, 0.3 fWAR, 0.5...
Three more injuries ruin another season for Hunter Harvey
Three more injuries ruin another season for Hunter Harvey
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The latest injury appeared like so many others in Hunter Harvey's professional life. Without warning and with total disregard for what he's endured since the Orioles drafted him in the first round and predicted greatness. Harvey was working through his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk after recovering from a strained right latissimus dorsi. The Orioles transferred him to the 60-day injured list on Sept. 7, a paper move to create space on the 40-man roster. He was eligible to return any...
Prospect check-in: Robert Neustrom on his big 2021 season
Prospect check-in: Robert Neustrom on his big 2021 season
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It could not have been easy to do, but in 2021, on the way to a breakout season, Orioles outfield prospect Robert Neustrom made some in-season swing adjustments. Adjustments that took his offense to a higher level as he ended the year among the top hitters on the O's farm. But at the end of May while with Double-A Bowie, he had an OPS of .608 with one homer. It was then that he and Baysox hitting coach Ryan Fuller went to work. He was a power hitter putting the ball on the ground way too much....
Nolin, Baldonado, Fuentes dropped from 40-man roster
Nolin, Baldonado, Fuentes dropped from 40-man roster
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals removed three players off their 40-man roster this afternoon, assigning pitchers Alberto Baldonado, Steven Fuentes and Sean Nolin outright to Triple-A Rochester. Baldonado and Fuentes remain in the organization. Nolin, who previously in his career had been outrighted to the minor leagues, elected to become a free agent. Baldonado and Nolin ended the season in the Nats bullpen, while Fuentes spent much of the summer on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. The...
After another down year, will Kieboom get another shot?
After another down year, will Kieboom get another shot?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
PLAYER REVIEW: CARTER KIEBOOM Age on opening day 2022: 24 How acquired: First-round pick, 2016 draft MLB service time: 1 year, 86 days 2021 salary: $570,500 Contract status: Under team control, arbitration-eligible in 2024, free agent in 2027 2021 stats: 62 G, 249 PA, 217 AB, 26 R, 45 H, 6 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, 25 BB, 62 SO, .207 AVG, .301 OBP, .318 SLG, .619 OPS, 72 OPS+, minus-8 DRS, minus-0.7 fWAR, minus-1.1 bWAR Quotable: "It's a matter with him of making adjustments. He...
Harvey on Rutschman: "Ain't no joke with him. He's got everything"
Harvey on Rutschman: "Ain't no joke with him. He's got everything"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
In December 2020, the Orioles signed Nick Ciuffo to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training as their annual move to improve their catching depth and increase competition for the backup job. Only, in this instance, they didn't target the typical veteran experience. They signed Bryan Holaday and Taylor Davis to minor league deals on the same day in January 2020. They broke camp with Jesús Sucre and Pedro Severino in 2019. Austin Wynns was on the injured list. He could be...
Fry on struggles, confidence, why Rays had his number, more
Fry on struggles, confidence, why Rays had his number, more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The truest reset for Paul Fry didn't start until he returned to his Michigan home. Fry never got back to Camden Yards after the Orioles optioned him following another disastrous outing against the Rays on Aug. 29. He figured to make a pit stop at Triple-A Norfolk, with a few scoreless appearances leading to his recall, but his command remained an issue until time ran out. The left-hander registered a 1.78 ERA in his first 26 appearances and briefly served as closer, but he had a 11.05 ERA over...
Birdland hopeful that wins start trending up next season
Birdland hopeful that wins start trending up next season
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Maybe it is a real thing about baseball fans, particularly Orioles fans. Can there be rebuilding fatigue? Can the losses mount so much that fans just get worn out by rebuilding? And while they may understand it is needed and could very well lead to better days, the patience to get to those better days starts to wear thin? It is probably only natural. But Orioles fans are a pretty loyal group. We see that in so many coming to this website day after day after day. Fans still watching and...
Can Escobar repeat success from surprising season?
Can Escobar repeat success from surprising season?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
PLAYER REVIEW: ALCIDES ESCOBAR Age on opening day 2022: 35 How acquired: Traded from Royals for cash considerations, July 2021 MLB service time: 10 years, 3 days 2021 salary: $1 million Contract status: Signed for $1 million in 2022, free agent in 2023 2021 stats: 75 G, 349 PA, 319 AB, 53 R, 92 H, 21 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 3 SB, 0 CS, 17 BB, 56 SO, .288 AVG, .340 OBP, .404 SLG, .744 OPS, 105 OPS+, minus-4 DRS (at SS), 1 DRS (at 2B), 1.7 fWAR, 1.5 bWAR Quotable: "Ever since the first moment I...