LAS VEGAS - The lack of a buzz surrounding the Orioles at baseball's Winter Meetings, the heavy silence that's pervasive beyond the managerial chatter, has been deafening.
The only interesting note so far today was agent Scott Boras revealing during his annual media scrum that he met with team officials yesterday, but not to pitch a client.
Rather, to assist in getting more production out of one.
Boras said he talked to the Orioles last night regarding first baseman Chris Davis, who has four...
LAS VEGAS - Ryan Meisinger was driving from his Richmond, Va., home to Baltimore on Monday morning when he received a phone call from an Orioles official. He had no idea that it would change the direction of his trip and his life.
Tripp Norton, the club's director of baseball operations, alerted Meisinger that he had been placed on waivers, with the Orioles hoping to sneak him through and keep him in the organization, but the Cardinals put in a claim.
"Then, probably two minutes later after...
LAS VEGAS - Today marks the last full day of the 2018 Winter Meetings, with the Rule 5 draft on Thursday morning providing the final buzzer.
Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said the Orioles won't leave Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino with a new manager, a press conference or "introduction" coming to Baltimore at a later date. If that's the case, they're going to maintain their streak of not getting to the podium.
This is why I don't bother to dress up.
An...
LAS VEGAS - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias disputed reports today that he's chosen Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde as manager - including one airing on MLB Network and shown on the television inside his suite at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino as he sat down with the local media.
Elias was able to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, the intensity of breaking news spliced with some humor.
"I will say very clearly it's a premature report," Elias said. "And,...
LAS VEGAS - Former Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh has been hired as hitting coach with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. Coolbaugh accepted the offer this week and signed his contract earlier today.
Coolbaugh replaced Jim Presley as hitting coach prior to the 2015 season. His contract ran out on Oct. 31 and he wasn't expected to return under a new manager, who's expected to be hired later this month from a field of six candidates.
I've heard that Coolbaugh also...
LAS VEGAS - Orioles shortstop prospect Cadyn Grenier lives 10 minutes from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He never had a reason to show up at the Winter Meetings until today.
Grenier conducted a few interviews with local media and hoped to meet later with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. Make a full day of it.
"It works out well for me that I live here, that they're coming in," he said. "And with Mike being the new GM and everything, to be able to be in the same...
LAS VEGAS - The Orioles aren't expected to shop Dylan Bundy at the Winter Meetings, with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias referencing the right-hander in a letter sent out to season ticket holders. However, some of the executives who have gathered at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino are curious about the availability of Alex Cobb, who has three years and $43 million remaining on the deal he signed in spring training.
I spoke with one executive yesterday who thought the...
LAS VEGAS - The Orioles will choose a manager from among six candidates, according to executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. However, it's possible for two hires to come out of the process.
Elias seems to be leaning more toward experience, preferring someone who's managed in the majors, but he also could hire Diamondbacks director of player development Mike Bell in a coaching capacity.
Bell, 44, could serve as bench coach or third base coach under Chip Hale, Brandon Hyde or...
LAS VEGAS - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias arrived at the Winter Meetings this morning with his focus primarily on the hiring of a new manager, which would lead to the completion of the coaching staff. The roster isn't being ignored, but there are more pressing matters, including replacements for director of player development Brian Graham and director of scouting Gary Rajsich.
Elias praised the work done by assistant Sig Mejdal, director of baseball operations...
LAS VEGAS - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias confirmed this afternoon that he's conducted six in-person interviews for the managerial position and hopes to name a replacement for Buck Showalter later this month.
Elias, meeting with the media for about 20 minutes inside his suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, said the process is "pretty far" along and there won't be a second round of interviews. He has all of the information that he needs.
Though Elias...
LAS VEGAS - The Orioles subtracted Maryland native Ryan Meisinger from their 40-man roster today and claimed infielder Rio Ruiz off waivers from the Braves.
The Cardinals claimed Meisinger before he could clear, ending the feel-good story of the local kid pitching for his favorite team. Meisinger attended Northern High School in Calvert County and made his major league debut on June 29 at Camden Yards.
Ruiz, 24, is a left-handed hitting third baseman taken by the Astros in the fourth round of...
LAS VEGAS - The Orioles are providing fans with an opportunity to have lunch with two of their players next year, assist the grounds crew and enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience at Camden Yards.
It's also for a good cause, a win-win situation before the first pitch has been thrown.
Major League Baseball revealed this morning that its annual charity auction at the Winter Meetings will benefit The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. And the Orioles are offering...
LAS VEGAS - The first official day of baseball's annual Winter Meetings finally has arrived, though the lobby of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino began to fill up yesterday.
The chatter surrounding the Orioles, and there hasn't been much of it, centers on the unique circumstances of team representatives arriving without a manager in tow. The expectation is that they will leave in the same manner, but could draw closer to making a decision.
No manager for the media sessions or Wednesday's...
LAS VEGAS - The first nugget of news has rolled through baseball's Winter Meetings this afternoon at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. And it picked up a couple of former Orioles.
Longtime outfielder/designated hitter Harold Baines and reliever Lee Smith have been chosen for induction in the Hall of Fame by the Today's Game Era Committee. The announcement was made a few minutes ago on MLB Network.
Six former major league players, three managers and one executive comprised the list of...
The Orioles will leave the Winter Meetings with at least one selection in Thursday morning's Rule 5 draft. This is the only lock. They're holding the first overall pick and intend to use it.
Only the names change. Of the players chosen and the executives in charge of making the decisions.
Everything else that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias will invite the media into his suite each afternoon beginning on Monday. Dan Duquette used to...
Without a manager in place to offer an opinion, it really falls upon executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias to decide whether the Orioles should concentrate on finding a veteran catcher as the Winter Meetings commence in Las Vegas.
They can continue negotiations with Caleb Joseph, who's attracting plenty of interest in free agency. Elias also can sit down with other executives to discuss trade proposals and representatives who are pitching their catching clients.
Rookies...
Dylan Bundy already knows the numbers. He's seen them or had them recited to him. I wasn't breaking news.
Bundy, a call-in guest last night on the "Orioles Hot Stove" show on 105.7 The Fan, managed a chuckle as I cited his issues with the longball. The career-high 41 home runs allowed that led the majors.
Let's start there and slowly work our way toward the positive.
When I said that Bundy is likely to reflect on the home runs while examining areas that need improving, he replied,...
As we move closer to the start of the Winter Meetings, we can rehash the items on the Orioles' shopping list that don't include a new manager and a coaching staff. The need for a middle infielder, with shortstop seemingly the preference. Veteran pitchers who could be plugged into the rotation or bullpen, because no team really has enough. A veteran catcher after Caleb Joseph was non-tendered.
Negotiations with Joseph didn't die after the deadline passed.
Do the Orioles need to find another...
Starter Dylan Bundy and left fielder Trey Mancini are calling into Thursday's "Orioles Hot Stove" show on 105.7 The Fan, which already has my mind racing to come up with the appropriate questions.
The inappropriate ones are saved for later.
OK, seriously, I'll want to know their feelings on the changes rippling throughout the organization. How Bundy feels about the possibility of a new pitching coach and Mancini a new hitting coach.
Do they have a preference for manager? Do they know any...
Yefry RamÃrez celebrated his 25th birthday last week in the Dominican Republic by making it a typical day in his offseason life. Lots of sweat. A sharpened focus on his conditioning. And all of it done with the same infectious smile.
A hunk of cake, with its sugary temptations, came with a slice of guilt.
Save the rose for someone else.
RamÃrez dived into a new program as soon as he returned home following his rookie season with the Orioles, when he made 12 starts among his 17 appearances...