Orioles re-sign INF Cesar Izturis to one-year contract
Orioles re-sign INF Cesar Izturis to one-year contract
Lindsay Rykiel
Orioles
The Orioles today announced that they have re-signed INF Cesar Izturis to a one-year contract. Izturis, 30, batted .230 (109-473) in 150 games with the Orioles in 2010, his second season with the club. He was 2nd in fielding percentage (.985) and 5th in assists (382) and putouts (212) among AL shortstops last season. Izturis has batted .256 with a .619 OPS in 10 major league seasons, during which he has won a Gold Glove (2004) and was a National League All-Star (2005).
Izturis signing official
Izturis signing official
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
It's been weeks since the Orioles confirmed that they reached a verbal agreement on a one-year contract with infielder Cesar Izturis. Well, Izturis finally took and passed his physical, so the deal is official. You can blow out your candle. Izturis will serve in a utility role in 2011, backing up shortstop J.J. Hardy and second baseman Brian Roberts. Considering their past health issues, he might stay busy. Let's hope not. Izturis, 30, batted .230 in 150 games last season, his second...
Kranitz on Gregg and other roster moves
Kranitz on Gregg and other roster moves
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The results of the Hall of Fame voting will be announced at 2 p.m., and I fully expect Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven to receive the necessary 75 percent for induction. I've never seen a better defensive second baseman than Alomar, and he was the best all-around player in baseball for a period of time. Unfortunately, Robbie had that on-off switch. If he lost interest, which happened when his team lost ground in the standings, he could look quite average. Case in point: the 1998 season. But...
Pondering a few Orioles questions
Pondering a few Orioles questions
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If you talk to yourself on the bus or at a restaurant, people might stare. But in a blog, I can ask myself some questions and then answer myself. You are most invited to respond with your answer or answers to one or all of the following questions about 2011 O's baseball. What was the Orioles most significant acquisition? No it probably won't be the addition of pitcher Casey Lambert in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. It could be the pickup of third sacker Mark Reynolds. At 27,...
Preliminary ballistic report could clear Simon (updated)
Preliminary ballistic report could clear Simon (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
While Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon remains in police custody tonight in Santiago, Dominican Republic, his agent says that a preliminary ballistic report shows that the bullet that killed a 25-year-old man on New Year's Eve doesn't match the reliever's gun. Phil Isaac of the Para Sports Group just passed along the news in a text message. Meanwhile, one of Simon's lawyers, Carlos Olivares, told CNN that "The ballistics tests have been favorable. We are waiting for the formal...
Gregg's agent: "Baltimore, for Kevin, has a lot of pluses"
Gregg's agent: "Baltimore, for Kevin, has a lot of pluses"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles' two-year deal with reliever Kevin Gregg includes a vesting option for 2013. Gregg's agent, Danny Horwits, said six or seven teams were involved in serious negotiations at various points during the winter. "Baltimore, for Kevin, has a lot of pluses," Horwits said. "One is all the acquisitions that they've made. Kevin is real excited about Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy and Derrek Lee. He wanted to be part of that. And he's familiar with the team from pitching in the...
Reliever Gregg, Orioles agree on two-year deal (updated)
Reliever Gregg, Orioles agree on two-year deal (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
A team source has confirmed that the Orioles have reached an agreement today with free agent reliever Kevin Gregg on a two-year contract. The deal will become official once Gregg passes his physical. Various reports have placed the value of the deal from $8-$10 million. Manager Buck Showalter must choose between Gregg and Koji Uehara to be the team's closer in 2011. Gregg wanted to sign with a team that would give him that opportunity and he'll go into the camp as the early...
This and that
This and that
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Let's get this out of the way first: Nothing new to report on Alfredo Simon, but I haven't been awake for that long. It's believed that he's incarcerated while police try to determine whether the bullet that killed a 25-year-old man on New Year's Eve came from his gun. The story grows more complicated by the day, including the revelation that the victim, Michael Esteban Castillo, was Simon's cousin. Simon has stated that he was close friends with the victim and the fatal shooting was...
Can Matt Wieters get his bat going in 2011?
Can Matt Wieters get his bat going in 2011?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After tearing it up as a college hitter and then being named the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters had a strong rookie year in 2009. He seemed poise for a possible breakout, all-star-type season in 2010. Instead, Wieters took a step back offensively. While some just felt Wieters was over-hyped and not as good as advertised, it's just too soon to make that call. But I think there was a reason - call it an excuse if you want - for Wieters' statistical dropoff...
Latest Simon update (with update)
Latest Simon update (with update)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
According to this tweet from The Associated Press' Dionisio Soldevila, Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon could be held without bail for one year in his native Dominican Republic until his case goes to trial. Simon's lawyers reportedly will appeal the decision, according to Soldevila. Simon met with law enforcement officials today at national police headquarters in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he was questioned about the shooting that left one man dead and another injured. Simon...