This, that and the other
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Before heading to the gym and, later, the Maryland-Florida State football game... It's become a yearly tradition that the Orioles consider pursuing free-agent pitcher Jon Garland. I think we're up to three straight where his name comes up and talks are held at the winter meetings. Garland priced himself out of Baltimore two winters ago. He went 14-12 with a 3.47 ERA for San Diego this season and has logged 200 innings or more in six years. He also has totaled 196 2/3, 192 2/3 and 191 2/3 in...
AFL Batting coach: Harper "something special"
AFL Batting coach: Harper "something special"
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper started and smacked an RBI single to left in Saturday's Arizona Fall league championship game for the Scottsdale Scorpions after a pretty impressive month of fall baseball. Despite being on the taxi squad (maximum two games per week), Harper went 12-for-35 (.343) with three doubles, two triples, a homer and seven RBI in nine games. Scottsdale Scorpions batting coach Alan Zinter did not know what to expect when Harper arrived in mid-October, but he soon...
The 40-man:  A look at who made it and who didn't
The 40-man: A look at who made it and who didn't
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Congrats are in order for Zach Britton, Joe Mahoney and Matt Angle, who were added to the Orioles' 40-man roster on Friday. Now they cannot be taken by another club in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings. But some players were left unprotected and can be taken by another club, however, must stay in the Majors for all of 2011 or they will most likely return to Baltimore. By the way, it should be pointed out that Britton was drafted in round three, Mahoney in round six and Angle in round...
Marrero, Kimball and Carr added to 40-man
Marrero, Kimball and Carr added to 40-man
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals have selected the contracts of right-handed pitchers Adam Carr and Cole Kimball and first baseman Chris Marrero, placing them on the 40-man roster. Here are my recent visits with Cole Kimball from Arizona and Chris Marrero from Puerto Rico. Also, right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime was claimed off outright waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements Friday. Carr and Kimball have pitched...
Quick coaching update (and 40-man update)
Quick coaching update (and 40-man update)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
There's a good chance that the Orioles will finalize their coaching staff by Monday or Tuesday. The club has four of the coaches under contract: Jim Presley, Mark Connor, Wayne Kirby and Rick Adair. John Russell is close. It's just a matter of completing some paperwork. It still hasn't been determined whether Russell will serve as bench coach or third base coach. Again, it depends on the last hire. I'm told that the Orioles are waiting on unspecified "deadlines" that the candidates...
Addressing a few rumors
Addressing a few rumors
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I'm typing this entry over the sound of my dishwasher, which seems to run for hours on the normal cycle. I can't imagine how long it would go on "heavy wash." I'm thinking days. The Orioles aren't likely to bid on Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, despite reports coming out of Japan. Don't believe everything you read - and that includes the translated stuff. Again, the Orioles aren't completely sold on Nishioka and don't think the cost will be worth it. At this time, there are...
Britton on Boras and his offseason plans
Britton on Boras and his offseason plans
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It was about a month ago that O's top pitching prospect Zach Britton sat with agent Scott Boras for lunch. Nearly four hours later they were still talking. "We had a long lunch with Scott and talked baseball a lot, but it was more just getting to know him and I was really impressed," Britton said. So the lefty that was the O's minor league pitcher of the year for the 2010 season, decided it was time to change agents. He moved from the Hendricks brothers, neither of which he had ever...
Cleaning out my notebook
Cleaning out my notebook
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Did I really take Miami - 1 ½ with Tyler Thigpen at quarterback? There must be a gas leak in my house. That could explain the chirping smoke detectors. I was hoping to clean out my notebook this morning, but there isn't much left that we haven't already discussed. I was told late Monday night that the coaching situation could be resolved by the end of this week. Well, today's Friday. The weekend is bearing down on us. I'm ready for the announcement. I'm wearing my...
Britton joins forces with Boras
Britton joins forces with Boras
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles 2010 minor league pitcher of the year, Zach Britton, has become the latest player in the organization to be represented by agent Scott Boras. About a month ago, Britton decided to switch from the Hendricks brothers to the Boras corporation. "I was with Hendricks Sports and dealt with Matt Laird," Britton said. "He was great but I never really had contact with the Hendricks brothers myself, so I just never felt comfortable going forward with people I hadn't met. So I had a...
Gabino, Hughes come off 40-man
Gabino, Hughes come off 40-man
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Reliever Armando Gabino and first baseman Rhyne Hughes cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Gabino appeared in five games for the Orioles, allowing seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. He went 7-0 with a 2.37 ERA and two saves at Norfolk. Hughes hit .213 with four RBIs in 14 games with the Orioles, and .258 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs in 104 games with the Tides. The Orioles have 32 players on their 40-man roster as they attempt to make room for players who must be...