Anticipating some Orioles camp competitions
Anticipating some Orioles camp competitions
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Is it too early to start plucking favorite storylines from the spring training tree? I'll reach for some of the low-hanging ideas that may come to fruition. (Let's pause here and fully appreciate that last sentence.) This is a topic worth revisiting in a month or two. Perhaps after the locks are removed from the free agent market. In the meantime, here are four: Who's in the rotation behind John Means and Jordan Lyles? This feels like a mailbag question. Tracking the competition is a yearly...
Infield is totally revamped, but is anyone a long-term answer?
Infield is totally revamped, but is anyone a long-term answer?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals roster has undergone massive changes in the last two years, but it may be more noticeable in the infield than anywhere else on the field. Consider this: On the night the Nats won their first World Series title, they started an infield of Ryan Zimmerman, Asdrúbal Cabrera, Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon, with Howie Kendrick serving as designated hitter, and Brian Dozier and Matt Adams coming off the bench. At this moment, only 25 1/2 months later, not one of those players is...
Taking another look at Orioles' hires and promotions
Taking another look at Orioles' hires and promotions
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
One of the most important tasks of the offseason is done. The Orioles set their major league coaching staff for 2022. Business that the lockout couldn't touch. Upon review, there isn't anything unexpected in the composition beyond a new title for Fredi González, who becomes the first bench coach under manager Brandon Hyde after serving as major league coach for two seasons. There won't be a dramatic shift in his duties. He pretty much handled the responsibilities in the past. Major league...
Tommy Wilson back in a team's future plans after Orioles trade
Tommy Wilson back in a team's future plans after Orioles trade
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Tommy Wilson's interest in the Triple-A Rule 5 draft hovered at such a low level that it kept him away from the online broadcast and couldn't interrupt his daily workouts at Cal State-Fullerton. He grabbed his phone and checked social media on a couple of occasions, wondering whether he'd leave the Mets organization. Much closer to curiosity than obsessing. "I didn't know if I was protected or not, so I was kind of waiting to see or waiting to hear," he said. "Then I found out on...
Orioles announce 2022 coaching staff
Orioles announce 2022 coaching staff
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have completed their 2022 staff under manager Brandon Hyde, going with co-hitting coaches and changing titles for Fredi González and José Hernández. Some of the moves were previously reported, including the promotion of Double-A Bowie hitting coach Ryan Fuller, who also served as the full-season hitting coordinator, and hiring of Matt Borgschulte from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints in the Twins organization. They replace hitting coach Don Long, who wasn't retained after...
Orioles announce 2022 major league coaching and clubhouse staff
Orioles announce 2022 major league coaching and clubhouse staff
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles today announced their 2022 Major League Coaching and Clubhouse Staff. The club has named Matt Borgschulte and Ryan Fuller Co-Hitting Coaches. Fredi González shifts from Major League Coach to Bench Coach and José Hernández shifts from Assistant Hitting Coach to Major League Coach. All other coaches remain in their same positions: Tim Cossins as Major League Field Coordinator/Catching Instructor, Darren Holmes as Assistant Pitching Coach, Chris Holt as Pitching Coach/Director...
Important 2022 season awaits top 2021 draft pick House
Important 2022 season awaits top 2021 draft pick House
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
We spend the majority of our time here talking about major leaguers, but with the lockout now preventing teams from making any transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, let's take an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Nationals' top minor leaguers. We continue this weekly series with the organization's No. 2 prospect ... SS BRADY HOUSE Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. Age on opening day 2022: 18 How acquired: First-round pick, 2021 draft, Winder-Barrow (Ga.) High...
Orioles pull off a few surprising moves since final game
Orioles pull off a few surprising moves since final game
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles can be predictable in many aspects of the operation, especially after years of covering the team, but they also possess the skills to go left when I'm shaded toward the right. Stay bent at the knees and be prepared to pivot. I've been burned in offseason coverage a few times. Here are a half-dozen 2021 examples off the top of my head: Pitcher Chris Ellis outrighted Pretty much every early bullpen projection for 2022 had Ellis in a bulk relief role if he wasn't starting. Which, of...
Weekend additions suggest a developing pattern
Weekend additions suggest a developing pattern
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
While the rest of the baseball world pretty much locked itself indoors and watched football all weekend, the Nationals made two somewhat surprising moves, signing veteran infielders Dee Strange-Gordon and Maikel Franco to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training. And as the sun comes up to begin this new work week, it's probably safe to admit we're seeing a pattern developing from the office on South Capitol Street. At a time when clubs are prohibited from signing players...
Some reasons why Nottingham netted a minor league deal
Some reasons why Nottingham netted a minor league deal
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles had a quiet weekend, at least on the transactions wire. They could have been working on their minor league coaching staffs or engaging in negotiations with representatives for minor league free agents. But nothing public to digest. Their work isn't done behind the plate, but Jacob Nottingham is a heavy favorite to make up half the catching duo on opening day because he's under contract. It doesn't take much more than that. The 40-man roster is lacking a backstop and that won't...