MLB Network analyst talks about possible winter plan for the Orioles
Steve Melewski
Orioles
One thing that has been true about fans throughout Birdland for a long time: They love it when national media reporters and outlets say nice things about their team, and some get really hacked when they do not. Or say something perceived as a slight. My opinion is that MLB Network was on the O’s bandwagon pretty much throughout the 2023 season. The
Versatile Vargas will be asked to do many things in 2024
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
PLAYER REVIEW: ILDEMARO VARGAS Age on Opening Day 2024: 32 How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, May 2022 MLB service time: 4 years, 7 days 2023 salary: $975,000 Contract status: Signed for 2024, arbitration-eligible in 2025, free agent in 2026 2023 stats: 86 G, 286 PA, 262 AB, 32 R, 66 H, 13 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 1 SB, 1 CS, 19 BB, 20
Do Orioles prioritize a closer for 2024?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
It used to be said that the Orioles worrying about a closer was akin – as opposed to Keegan Akin, which wasn’t said – to putting shiny hubcaps on a rusted Ford Pinto. They had far bigger issues than worrying about ninth inning leads. Like, trying to get a ninth inning lead. But we’ve moved past bad teams. The Orioles won 101 games this season. They
Ciolek leaving Orioles for position with Nationals
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Mike Elias confirmed this week that he’s returning as Orioles executive vice president/general manager, and Brandon Hyde remains the manager following a 101-win season. However, the scouting department won’t go untouched. An industry source confirmed today that director of draft operations Brad Ciolek is joining the Nationals as senior director of
Nats bolster scouting department with hiring of Orioles' Ciolek
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
The Nationals are adding another experienced name to a revamped scouting department, hiring Brad Ciolek away from the Orioles to serve as senior director of amateur scouting, a source familiar with the move confirmed. Ciolek spent 12 of the last 13 seasons with the Orioles in a variety of roles, most recently as director of draft operations. Owner
Kieboom got another chance, but was it his last?
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
PLAYER REVIEW: CARTER KIEBOOM Age on Opening Day 2024: 26 How acquired: First-round pick, 2016 draft MLB service time: 2 years, 167 days 2023 salary: $733,400 Contract status: Under club control, arbitration-eligible in 2025, free agent in 2028 2023 stats: 27 G, 94 PA, 87 AB, 12 R, 18 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, 6 BB, 27 SO, .207 AVG,
Kyle Bradish's big season should earn him some AL Cy Young consideration
Steve Melewski
Orioles
For Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish, who pitched like an ace during the 2023 season, a key start along the way to doing that came on the West Coast in early June. He faced the San Francisco Giants. He would last just four innings and allow seven hits and three runs. It was not a terrible start, but a short one, and it left Bradish with a 4.13 ERA
Orioles have lots of decisions to make with arbitration players
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Matt Swartz at MLBTradeRumors.com created a model to project salaries for arbitration-eligible players, which the site has published for 13 years. Is it 100 percent accurate? Of course not, because that would be impossible. But he nails some and comes darn close with others. That's to be expected with an algorithm that, as the site describes it, “l
Sky's the limit for Abrams after season of improvement
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
PLAYER REVIEW: CJ ABRAMS Age on Opening Day 2024: 23 How acquired: Traded with MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, Jarlin Susana and Luke Voit from Padres for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, August 2022 MLB service time: 1 year, 130 days 2023 salary: $724,200 Contract status: Under team control, possibly Super 2 arbitration-eligible in 2025, f
Some rotation talk and other notes on season-ending press conferences
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the Orioles went to a six-man rotation late in the season this year it proved to be pretty important. How much so? At his season-ending press conference yesterday manager Brandon Hyde didn't pull punches on it. Said Hyde: “For me, when we decided to go to a six-man rotation, that possibly was a season-saver. Because I feel like all those guys,