The Orioles' commitment to analytics as a significant aspect of their rebuild has led to Mike Elias' first hire since being chosen to head the baseball operations department.
Sig Mejdal is joining the organization as assistant general manager, analytics, a move that had been anticipated since news broke last week that Elias was the choice as executive vice president and general manager. Only the title had to be determined.
The press release issued today by the Orioles stated that Mejdal...
The utility competition in Orioles camp next spring is going to include veteran Jace Peterson.
The Orioles have re-signed Peterson to a minor league deal, according to an industry source, and he's likely to receive an invitation to spring training.
Peterson was arbitration-eligible, cleared outright waivers earlier this month and elected free agency. The club has wanted to keep him in the organization, though there was an element of uncertainty attached due to the pending hire of a head of...
While new Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias gets more acquainted with the players on the 40-man roster and throughout the minor league system, he offered his approval of the trades that predecessor Dan Duquette orchestrated to begin the teardown.
"Those were the right moves,'' Elias said at his introduction held Monday morning inside the home clubhouse at Camden Yards.
"The team had left a period of competitiveness. That was clear by the trade deadline. A lot...
The Orioles have adjusted their 40-man roster in preparation for the Rule 5 draft, which will be held on Dec. 13 on the final day of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.
Pitcher Dillon Tate was placed on the 40-man today, his contract selected from Double-A Bowie, to prohibit teams from taking him. With the roster already full, the Orioles created room by designating infielder Engelb Vielma for assignment.
Another spot must be opened later to allow the Orioles to make a selection, which is...
The most impressive trait that Mike Elias exhibited yesterday during his introduction as Orioles executive vice president and general manager was the ability to convey his thoughts on the rebuild, the process that brought him to Baltimore, his knowledge of the city and roster, and the appeal of the job at hand while his head continued to spin.
Elias is bound to come across as more relaxed and personable once he's done being pulled in every direction.
He sat through a 40-minute session with the...
Mike Elias' introduction this morning as Orioles executive vice president and general manager lasted 40 minutes and covered a wide range of topics. He also conducted individual interviews with television and radio outlets and met with the beat crew.
John and Louis Angelos flanked Elias in an informal conversational setting inside the home clubhouse at Camden Yards, an event that was catered with food and drinks available in the back.
There really are a lot of changes happening in the...
It's a little premature to begin printing out T-shirts honoring and promoting Mike Elias, the Orioles executive vice president and general manager. He hasn't made a single move. He hasn't been introduced to the media, though the wait finally ends today at 11 a.m.
However, there are two early nominations for slogans based on what I've heard whenever his name comes up in conversation.
"You guys got a good one."
"You're going to love this guy."
Bobbleheads and gnomes have been created...
With the news on Friday that Mike Elias had been hired by the Orioles as executive vice president and general manager, anticipation spun into reality, the next set of questions can be tackled at Monday morning's introduction inside the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards.
Among the points that Elias can address:
* Is it true that former Astros sabermetrics analyst Sig Mejdal will join the organization as Elias' top assistant?
* What are the statuses of vice president of baseball operations...
The hiring of Mike Elias as executive vice president and general manager doesn't remove all of the uncertainty attached to the franchise. It barely makes a dent.
Elias was the biggest piece, of course, as the person who will run the baseball operations department. Who will assemble the rest of the front office, choose a manager and drag the scouting department into the 21st century. But having so many slots to fill is an example of the work that lies ahead.
The 40-man roster must be set by...
The wait is over. To fill the top vacancy in the Orioles' front office and to reveal his identity and title.
The Orioles have hired former Astros assistant general manager Mike Elias as their executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager, with the announcement made this afternoon. He will be introduced to the media at a Monday morning press conference at Camden Yards that will include John and Louis Angelos and air live on MASN and 105.7 the Fan beginning at 11 a.m.
Elias...
Players who remain in recovery mode from a 115-loss season that left marks on them continue to process the changes that have been made and brace for the ones that are coming.
The Orioles chose Mike Elias, who turns 36 next month and hasn't worked above the assistant level, to replace executive vice president Dan Duquette. He's allowed to hand-pick the next manager, who won't bring the same experience and honors as predecessor Buck Showalter.
None of the coaches are under contract and an...
Former Orioles second baseman Rich Dauer offered a strong endorsement yesterday of Mike Elias, who's been chosen to head the baseball operations department. Three seasons in Houston as first base coach and infield instructor gave him a nice perspective while Elias rose to assistant general manager and became a hotter commodity.
Reached on the phone before attending last night's reunion of the 1983 World Series team, Dauer said the Orioles are "getting a good one." They just haven't made it...
The title handed to the head of the Orioles' baseball operations department likely will be tailored to fit Mike Elias.
No one associated with the Orioles has confirmed a late-night tweet from USA Today's Bob Nightengale that the club will hire Elias and finally conclude its extensive and methodical search for a replacement for executive vice president Dan Duquette, whose contract wasn't renewed following a 115-loss season.
Nightengale wrote that Elias will become the new GM "barring a...
On the same afternoon that the Orioles activated Richard Bleier from the 60-day disabled list, the reliever was picking up a baseball at Cressey Sports Performance in Jupiter, Fla., and making his first throw since undergoing surgery to repair a Grade 3 tear in his left latissimus dorsi muscle.
Bleier posted the video about a week later on his Instagram account, announcing to all of his followers and anyone else with access to it that his rehab was moving along at the proper pace and with the...
Not long ago, I wrote how openings in the Orioles' front office and scouting department were viewed as having tremendous appeal by a significant number of people in the industry. The delays in making hires weren't based on a lack of interest.
To follow up on it, I talked to someone over the weekend who used the term "a goldmine" to describe the situation. Not "a landmine," which illustrates how the perception of the job has changed over the years.
One reason for the positive outlook is...
I'm keeping it simple today while thinking that we could have some news later this week. Just don't hold me to it.
I also predicted that Christmas would come early and now I'm wondering if my source was mistaken.
Go ahead and take the latest quiz while you wait. There's no pressure because I don't grade them. This is more of an exercise without the spandex and sweat.
Chris Davis is going to hit: A). More than 20 home runs B). Fewer than 20 home runs C). The lottery again
If a starter...
The current offseason for the Orioles may not seem typical with hires pending in the front office, no manager in place and promises to revamp the entire scouting operation. This isn't business as usual across the board. However, there are certain tasks that await the club and aren't influenced by other circumstances.
Building up minor league depth is one of the priorities. Trying to find hidden and inexpensive gems.
The Orioles also might try to keep a few of their own.
The list of Orioles...
The following nugget won't cause your head to snap back in disbelief or bring tremors or have you rushing off to tell your friends. It's been an assumption that's backed up by multiple people in the industry as the GM meetings closed this week.
The Orioles won't be major players in free agency.
Slow your heartbeats.
There's been no indication that the Orioles will be "heavily involved" in free agency, as one person worded it. They met with agents at the GM meetings. They won't avoid it...
While there have been significant changes for the Orioles in baseball operations, player development and scouting, the turnover won't touch Kent Qualls.
The Orioles intend to bring back Qualls as director of minor league operations. The same title that he's held since coming to the organization prior to the 2013 season.
Qualls' past duties have included overseeing the administration of the club's player development department and minor league affiliates. His responsibilities broadened under...
The process of hiring a head of baseball operations, whatever the title, didn't interfere with business conducted this week at the general managers meetings.
Orioles director of player development Brian Graham, leading the department on an interim basis, flew home this afternoon from Carlsbad, Calif., after the meetings reached their conclusion. Director of baseball operations Tripp Norton also represented the organization.
The uncertainty over which individual will be calling the shots...
