Orioles sign Sucre to minor league deal

Orioles sign Sucre to minor league deal
The Orioles' search for a veteran catcher to toss into the spring training competition led them to Jesús Sucre, who has agreed to terms on a minor league deal. The announcement came this afternoon. Sucre's contract includes an invitation to major league camp and guarantees $850,000 if he makes the club. USA Today reported that the deal also includes a March 22 opt-out date. The 40-man roster still holds only two catchers - Austin Wynns and Chance Sisco, who were rookies in 2018. Non-roster...
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Being on 40-man roster only "small stepping stone" for Kline

Being on 40-man roster only "small stepping stone" for Kline
Time remains in the offseason to break down the top storylines of spring training, the most anticipated interviews, the most intense competitions, the best and worst of everything. The dissections will cut deep. The repetition that usually follows will numb the mind. The locker belonging to pitcher Branden Kline is going to attract media despite the interviews he gave last weekend at FanFest and Thursday night on 105.7 The Fan's "Hot Stove Show." He's talked about his injuries, the...
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FanFest leftovers from Beyeler, Wasdin, Mancini and Trumbo

FanFest leftovers from Beyeler, Wasdin, Mancini and Trumbo
Though the Orioles coaching staff lacks anyone with managerial experience in the majors, resumes include handling the same job and responsibilities in the minors. One example is first base coach Arnie Beyeler, who spent the past three seasons guiding Triple-A New Orleans in the Marlins system. He also managed in the Red Sox system and led Triple-A Pawtucket to the Governors' Cup championship in 2012 before his promotion to the major league staff Beyeler knows rebuilds. He understands the...
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Richie Martin on being a Rule 5 pick and competing for a job

Richie Martin on being a Rule 5 pick and competing for a job
In a spring training that's going to spew its share of storylines and curiosities for the media, one of the major ones involves the Rule 5 picks and how many the Orioles are willing to stash on the 25-man roster. They kept two for the bullpen last year in Pedro Araujo and Nestor Cortes Jr., the latter designated for assignment in April and returned to the Yankees organization after clearing waivers. Outfielder Anthony Santander's status carried over from 2017, forcing the Orioles to keep him...
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Castro would find relief in throwing more strikes

Castro would find relief in throwing more strikes
The two scoreless innings that reliever Miguel Castro worked on Sept. 22 in New York might seem insignificant when cast in the overall picture. The Orioles were barreling toward another loss and destined to finish with the worst record in the majors and in franchise history. Seven batters faced after replacing starter David Hess in the sixth and just one hit allowed on a Gleyber Torres double that was followed by a passed ball and out at the plate on a fielder's choice. But Castro lowered his...
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Stewart and Hays working to get into outfield competition

Stewart and Hays working to get into outfield competition
While revealing at FanFest that finding more pitching is the top offseason roster priority for the Orioles, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias didn't deny that the outfield, infield and catching position also could be addressed before opening day. The Orioles remain in an infield frenzy as they increase the competition for starting and utility jobs. They selected Richie Martin with the first pick in the Rule 5 draft and traded for Drew Jackson, who also must remain on the...
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Hyde: "I know our players are unbelievably energized"

Hyde: "I know our players are unbelievably energized"
The curiosity over manager Brandon Hyde's first spring training with the Orioles is building as the days melt away in the winter cold. How much will it resemble or differ from past years under former manager Buck Showalter? The instruction, hours spent on the field, player availability to the media. All of the important stuff. Hyde explained at FanFest why Orioles camp won't duplicate how the Cubs operated in Mesa, Ariz., while he served as bench coach. He also pinpointed certain areas that...
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Orioles claim Jack Reinheimer off waivers

Orioles claim Jack Reinheimer off waivers
The Orioles keep building infield depth and increasing their options as they move through the offseason. The latest utility candidate arrived today in Jack Reinheimer, claimed off waivers from the Rangers. Pitcher Austin Brice was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Reinheimer, 26, was a fifth-round pick of the Mariners in 2013 out of East Carolina University who appeared in 21 games with the Mets last summer and went 5-for-30 with five walks and nine strikeouts. He was...
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Bonding process continues to unfold in Orioles organization

Bonding process continues to unfold in Orioles organization
New Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is seeking ways to familiarize himself with his players, the minicamp earlier this month in Sarasota and Saturday's FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center providing two convenient and effective methods. The coaches are learning about the players, Hyde as a manager and each other. Much of it happens behind the scenes, but the enthusiasm was put on display over the weekend. From the first floor to the third. Hyde has delivered a message to his staff...
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Getting to know the new coaching staff

Getting to know the new coaching staff
DJ Stewart cut through the media room Saturday at FanFest, spotted Richie Martin and yelled "Noles!" The Rule 5 pick stopped the interview, smiled and replied "Gators!" The trash talk should be fun at spring training. Meanwhile, six of the eight coaches on manager Brandon Hyde's staff participated in FanFest and were introduced to the media. John Wasdin and Howie Clark recognized some of the faces because they already were part of the organization, the former switching from minor league...
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Health news is good for Orioles at FanFest

Health news is good for Orioles at FanFest
The hours that ticked away after the last remnants of the crowd at FanFest had spilled onto the sidewalks outside the Baltimore Convention Center could be spent reviewing and dissecting some of the bullet points from the annual event. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias stressed again that his primary goal is to improve the level of talent throughout the organization. Don't obsess so much over the record, though avoiding another 115-loss season would be celebrated,...
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Chris Davis on willingness to "exhaust all options" and more

Chris Davis on willingness to "exhaust all options" and more
The interview portion of FanFest is wrapping up, with only a few more players being led into the media room on the third level of the Baltimore Convention Center. Chris Davis' session lasted the longest, at more than 14 minutes, as he revisited a nightmarish 2018 season, the changes in his workouts and nutrition, his enthusiasm over being a leader in the clubhouse and how the shift continues to be a thorn in his side the length and width of an oak tree. That could explain the oblique injuries...
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FanFest notes on Harvey, Mancini, Trumbo and more

FanFest notes on Harvey, Mancini, Trumbo and more
Six of the eight coaches on manager Brandon Hyde's staff are present today at FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. Third base coach José Flores and major league coach José Hernández were unable to attend. Vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson is here, but pretty much out of view as he attends meetings. The Orioles announced the FanFest attendance at 8,000, though it's possible that more people trickle into the facility later in the day. Hunter Harvey said his...
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More from Elias at FanFest

More from Elias at FanFest
Mike Elias headed to the third level of the Baltimore Convention Center following the Q&A session with season plan holders. It was the media's turn to ask the questions. On no former manager in the dugout as part of coaching staff: "Definitely, that was a consideration and attractive, but we were working with the people available and the scenarios and the people we wanted to get in. It just didn't happen this year. But it was definitely something that was discussed." On broader...
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Early notes and quotes from Elias and Hyde

Early notes and quotes from Elias and Hyde
Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde spent about 30 minutes this morning fielding questions on the main stage from season plan holders to kick off the latest FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center. Elias repeated that his primary goal in 2019 is to increase the level of talent up and down the organization. The overall record seems like a secondary concern, though improvement would be a welcomed development. And he said the club is...
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Prepping for today's FanFest

Prepping for today's FanFest
The annual FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center is being held today, giving fans an opportunity to grill executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, manager Brandon Hyde and his coaching staff, assistant general manager Sig Mejdal and senior director of international scouting Koby Perez in various forums for Birdland Membership holders and the general public. They won't offer timelines for contention or to have their departments fully staffed. But Elias will be asked...
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Eighteen non-roster players invited to Orioles spring training

Eighteen non-roster players invited to Orioles spring training
The Orioles are inviting 18 non-roster players to spring training, with the possibility of further additions depending on other moves that could be made before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12. The group of invites includes eight pitchers - right-handers Dean Kremer, Gregory Infante, Gabriel Ynoa, Zach Pop, Josh Lucas and Bo Schultz, and left-handers Chris Lee and Sean Gilmartin. Also receiving lockers at the Ed Smith Stadium complex are catchers Martin Cervenka, Carlos Pérez and...
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Latest on Mills and major league coaches

Latest on Mills and major league coaches
The shuffling in the Orioles' minor league system is expected to reach down to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. While the club hasn't made an announcement regarding its affiliates, I've heard that Alan Mills will serve as manager for the GCL team. And this is a new level and role for the former reliever. Mills is replacing Carlos Tosca, who spent the past two summers as manager. Tosca is expected to work as an outfield and baserunning instructor, though again, nothing has been made...
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Orioles announce coaching staff for 2019 season

Orioles announce coaching staff for 2019 season
The Orioles have unveiled their coaching staff for the 2019 season under new manager Brandon Hyde and it includes one holdover from last summer. Howie Clark returns as assistant hitting coach after the Orioles offered him a minor league contract following the expiration of his previous deal on Oct. 31. He'll work with new hitting coach Don Long, who spent the past five seasons with the Reds and replaces Scott Coolbaugh. Tim Cossins has been named major league field coordinator and catching...
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Wondering how Mullins and Villar stack up in lineup

Wondering how Mullins and Villar stack up in lineup
The closer we get to the start of spring training, with the first Orioles workout set for Feb. 13, the fewer chances exist for manager Brandon Hyde to escape the inevitable lineup questions. Hyde has been studying and learning about the personnel in the organization, taking private courses in December during his flights to and from Maui and extending them through the following month. He's watching video, sifting through reports and placing phone calls. Anything to get up to speed after his...
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