MacPhail named to committee
MacPhail named to committee
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Major League Baseball announced earlier today that commissioner Bud Selig has formed a special committee of baseball managers, general managers, presidents and owners to "review and examine all on-field related issues." Included in the group is Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Also included are managers Tony La Russa, Jim Leyland, Mike Scioscia and Joe Torre; executives Terry Ryan, John Schuerholz, and Mark Shapiro; and owners and presidents Chuck Armstrong, Paul...
Suggestions for replacing Buck
Suggestions for replacing Buck
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Buck Martinez's departure from MASN has left an empty seat in the broadcast booth for about half the games on the Orioles' 2010 schedule, and the network could choose to go in a few directions. Former pitcher/pitching coach/team executive Mike Flanagan is one possibility. The network also could promote from within and expand the role of Dave Johnson, who's part of 105.7 The Fan's pre- and post-game shows and the Wall-to-Wall Baseball program that airs Saturday mornings on MASN. According...
Brian's song
Brian's song
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
OK, let's get the important stuff out of the way. Brian Matusz confirmed that he'll wear No. 17 next season if the Orioles follow through on his request. "I asked for Aubrey Huff's number last year when he got traded," Matusz told me last night after we decided to stop playing phone tag. "I said, 'Would you mind if I took over 17?' And he said, 'No, I'm done.' I asked when I knew he was leaving. "I know I'm still a rookie next year and shouldn't be asking for my own number, but...
Three's company
Three's company
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The much-anticipated, overly tweeted, three-way deal that would shift Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee to new teams appears to be a reality. Once the medical records are reviewed and physicals are taken, we should get the official announcement. You may celebrate Halladay's departure from the American League. He was a royal pain to the Orioles, going 20-4 with a 2.89 ERA in his career. Let the NL East worry about him now that he's heading to the Phillies. Cliff Lee, also a free agent after the...
Confirmation on Capps
Confirmation on Capps
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have expressed interest in free-agent closer Matt Capps, who was non-tendered by the Pirates over the weekend. Agent Paul Kinzer expects to talk to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail later today or tomorrow. The amount of interest hasn't been determined. Maybe they're just kicking the tires. Or perhaps Capps will be given serious consideration. It's difficult to know at this early stage of negotiations. Kinzer estimated that "nine or 10" teams have contacted...
Stop, Luke and listen - Part II
Stop, Luke and listen - Part II
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles outfielder/designated hitter Luke Scott - or maybe it should be the other way around, and I don't mean Scott Luke - labeled the Kevin Millwood acquisition at the Winter Meetings as being a "great trade, if you ask me." I did. Scott also posed his own question. Then he answered it. "Does it fix our problems? No." He's a virtual one-man interview. "We need more than just one starter," he said. "We need a dominant No. 1 if we want to compete in the AL East." He also...
Stop, Luke and listen
Stop, Luke and listen
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles will be announcing a new field coach at Triple-A Norfolk. Dallas Williams isn't returning in 2010. Luke Scott was tendered a contract yesterday, as expected, and he'll likely reach an agreement with the Orioles in January. That's how it played out last winter. He's not guaranteed a roster spot, however. Scott knows he's a trade chip for the Orioles, though president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail isn't concerned about a logjam in the outfield. During the Winter...
No closer to a decision on a closer
No closer to a decision on a closer
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Since the Orioles don't appear to be in any hurry to sign a closer, we can debate the merits of another one that hit the market yesterday, right-hander Matt Capps, who was non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Capps has accumulated 66 saves over the past three seasons on bad teams. His ERA was 2.08 and 3.02 in the two previous seasons before jumping to 5.80 in 2009. He also served up 10 home runs, matching his combined totals in '07 and '08, and he allowed 73 hits in 54 1/3...
Brian Bass non-tendered
Brian Bass non-tendered
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have tendered contracts to their last two arbitration-eligible players, pitcher Jeremy Guthrie and outfielder/designated hitter Luke Scott. Guthrie and Scott can agree to terms or counter with their own proposals. If the two sides can't get a deal done, they'll go to arbitration later this winter. Neither negotiation figures to reach that point. The Orioles have non-tendered reliever Brian Bass, making him a free agent. Bass went 5-3 with a 4.90 ERA in 48 games. "It didn't...
Two down
Two down
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail just confirmed that relievers Matt Albers and Cla Meredith have agreed to terms, leaving Jeremy Guthrie and Luke Scott as the only arbitration-eligible Orioles without contract offers before the midnight deadline. Shouldn't be much drama there. MacPhail could still choose to non-tender a few players who aren't eligible for arbitration. There's been some speculation in the past about Brian Bass and Dennis Sarfate. We'll know for sure later...