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...
The Atkins diet
The Atkins diet
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
MLB.com is reporting that the Colorado Rockies thinned their roster (see what I did there?) by non-tendering third baseman Garrett Atkins, a move that had been anticipated for months Atkins, who made $7.05 million this season, was offered a multi-year deal two years ago. He should have taken it. Now he's a free agent and anyone can sign him. The Orioles have some interest and didn't engage in serious trade talks with the Rockies because they anticipated that he would hit the open...
A little housekeeping
A little housekeeping
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Before we move on from the winter meetings, let's take a look back. Try not to get misty. DECEMBER 7 Atlanta Braves - Designated OF Ryan Church for assignment. Colorado Rockies - Released OF Matt Murton. Detroit Tigers - Acquired a player to be named later for LHP Clay Rapada. Milwaukee Brewers - Signed C Gregg Zaun to a one-year contract. Claimed INF Luis Cruz off waivers from the Pirates. Minnesota Twins - Designated RHP Boof Bonser for assignment. New York Yankees - Acquired a player to be...
A Marquis pitcher on the market
A Marquis pitcher on the market
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters before leaving Indianapolis that he'd still like to add another pitcher despite the trade for Kevin Millwood. The Orioles, he reminded us, are in the pitching business. A recently published report includes the Orioles among the teams interested in veteran right-hander Jason Marquis, but they're more likely to sign a pitcher who's coming off injury to an incentive-ladened deal. Marquis' agents are Sam and Seth Levinson, who...
Leaving Indy
Leaving Indy
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I arrived at my gate at 5:30 a.m. for the flight home. Time once again to question why I didn't go to medical school. The guy working security kept struggling to pronounce my first name as he studied my drivers license. I finally assisted him after wondering why it mattered. I'll naturally be away from the laptop for a large chunk of the morning, but I'll get to your comments as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'm pretty much out of Orioles news at the moment. Agent Adam Katz told me...
Getting to third base
Getting to third base
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
As I walked through the lobby of the Westin around noon today, I saw president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and other team personnel gathering for the drive to the airport and their trip back to Baltimore. I was tempted to ask whether MASNsports.com could shoot video of him going through security, but I figured he needed a break from us. MacPhail believes in letting the market play out at certain positions if Player A isn't deemed significantly better than Player Z. Pedro Feliz,...
And so it ends (almost)...
And so it ends (almost)...
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
It feels like I just got here. The 2009 Winter Meetings are drawing to a close. That 5 p.m. Southwest flight back to Baltimore will be packed. Unfortunately, I'm not on it. Roch and ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick recap the 2009 Winter Meetings Maybe it's just paranoia, or bad planning, but I'm staying here in case something breaks late. It's not expected, but I'm always reminded of the meetings a few years ago when shortstop Miguel Tejada, interviewed in the Dominican, "suggested" that a...