O's Duquette: Machado is "coveted by a lot of teams"

O's Duquette: Machado is "coveted by a lot of teams"
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette does not say the club is looking to trade pending free agent third baseman Manny Machado. But in an interview this afternoon with MASNsports.com, he did confirm that teams are asking about Machado. He said Machado is "coveted by a lot of teams." Machado has one year left on his Orioles contract before he can hit the open market via free agency and perhaps cash in a on a deal that will prove to be too rich for many clubs,...
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ESPN's Keith Law on Manny Machado and the search for pitchers (with video)

ESPN's Keith Law on Manny Machado and the search for pitchers (with video)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - ESPN analyst Keith Law is not a fan of the Marlins' trade of outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees. "I was kind of disgusted actually, that Major League Baseball would let an ownership group buy the Marlins when it's pretty clear they can't afford to field a competitive team," Law said. "Or simply are choosing not to do so. They moved two valuable players (Dee Gordon and Stanton) and got very, very little in return in young talent." Law compared...
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Checking in with O's Brian Graham at Winter Meetings

Checking in with O's Brian Graham at Winter Meetings
LAKE BUENVA VISTA, Fla. - Pitching prospect Hunter Harvey's path toward the big league rotation took another big step last month when he was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. Now the club anxiously awaits his 2018 season. It could be a season that ends for him in the majors. Even if it doesn't, the Orioles are excited that Harvey is healthy again after his 2016 Tommy John surgery and the club can now foresee a day coming when he joins Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy to head up a mostly...
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If O's look to make trades, will the return be higher in July?

If O's look to make trades, will the return be higher in July?
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the Winter Meetings begin today, the Orioles continue to absorb the news that Giancarlo Stanton is going to be a Yankee. Meanwhile, Boston has won back-to-back division championships and figures to add a big bat of its own. The Orioles have to fill out their rotation, but they may not do it with signings of the top-tier free agent pitchers - and even the second tier may find deals out of the Orioles' comfort range. So how to catch New York and Boston under that...
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In the AL East, the rich (in talent) often get richer

In the AL East, the rich (in talent) often get richer
Just when Orioles fans may have been breathing a sigh of relief that two-way player Shohei Ohtani was not going to become a Yankee, yesterday's news came. National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton is going to be a Yankee. He joins a lineup that already featured Aaron Judge and a lineup that helped the Yankees produce a major league-leading 241 homers last year. I guess it was fun while it lasted, but New York and Boston are back on top of the American League East and don't look ready to...
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As O's look to build a solid rotation, some of their own fans doubt they can

As O's look to build a solid rotation, some of their own fans doubt they can
To say the least, there is some skepticism out there that the Orioles' decision to reload and not rebuild is the right one. Fans have seen the Chicago Cubs go from 101 losses in 2012 and 96 the next year to World Series champions in 2016. The Houston Astros lost 106 games in the 2011 season, then followed that by losing 107 and 111 the next two years. But they won 101 games and the World Series this past season. Both clubs went from the outhouse to the penthouse. They made a lot of good moves...
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Smoltz on the Orioles, Machado talk and more

Smoltz on the Orioles, Machado talk and more
It was an interesting comment on the Orioles made by a Hall of Famer and commentator for MLB Network. It came from former big league pitcher John Smoltz. It was a compliment for the organization, but sounded like he ended it with a warning that trouble could be looming. In sizing up the Orioles over the last few seasons while also looking ahead to next year, Smoltz said: "It seems they are the Rodney Dangerfield of the (American League) East. They kind of find a way and they have a chip on...
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Does inexperienced manager in the Bronx help the Orioles?

Does inexperienced manager in the Bronx help the Orioles?
Not long after the Yankees named Aaron Boone their new manager, we heard from some Orioles fans here that Buck Showalter would "school" the rookie skipper next year. No doubt hiring Boone was a risk. He has never managed in the pro ranks - in the minors or majors. He has never coached in the majors. His most recent experience in the game came in the ESPN broadcast booth. He could certainly make mistakes due to a lack of experience. But before we assume the Orioles will take advantage of...
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Another Oriole facing an uncertain future

Another Oriole facing an uncertain future
While fans and reporters debate what the Orioles need to do to improve for the 2018 season, the debate often seems to turn to the future for Manny Machado and Zach Britton. Will the team be able to sign either player beyond 2018, when they can become free agents? Will the team consider trading either player before they can hit the open market? But there is another key Oriole whose contract is up after the 2018 season, and he is seldom discussed in this conversation: center fielder Adam...
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Ohtani not heading east (is pitching market about to move?)

Ohtani not heading east (is pitching market about to move?)
Is Japan's Shohei Ohtani too good to be true? He sounds like it. His move to the major leagues is unique in two huge ways. First, some team will get a player that might be worth $200 million or more on the open market for perhaps $25 million or less, counting the posting fee. Second, Ohtani is a two-way player who might impact games as both a pitcher and a hitter. While Orioles fans are probably disappointed that their team is not on his final list of seven teams, there was never an indication...
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Prospect profile: Steve Wilkerson elevates his game with a solid year

Prospect profile: Steve Wilkerson elevates his game with a solid year
When the Orioles drafted senior second baseman Steve Wilkerson in the eighth round out of Clemson in 2014, the odds seemed long that he would ever make the major leagues. But coming off his best year yet - which ended with a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League - Wilkerson's big league dream is within reach at this point. He showed defensive versatility this year, leading to the possibility to compete in the future for a big league utility role. He's a switch-hitter with some speed...
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Week in review: Britton trade talk, Machado possibly to short and more

Week in review: Britton trade talk, Machado possibly to short and more
In reviewing a week's worth of stories and comments here over the past several days, we had some interesting discussions. Today, we will take a look back at three of them. On Tuesday, we looked at the cases for and against trading Orioles closer Zach Britton. The lefty is projected to earn a salary of $12.2 million through arbitration this coming season. He has just one season left of team control before he hits free agency. The Orioles could deal the lefty, put some salary savings toward...
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Will Manny Machado wind up at shortstop in 2018?

Will Manny Machado wind up at shortstop in 2018?
Now that J.J. Hardy is no longer on the team, which player on the Orioles would be the best defensive shortstop? The answer to that is almost certainly Manny Machado. But would the Orioles move a player who has proven to be an elite defender at third base over to short? There has been some discussion among national reporters recently on the topic and it was discussed during a segment Friday morning on MLB Network's "Hot Stove." We have yet to hear the thoughts on this from either manager...
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Ranking several free agent pitchers

Ranking several free agent pitchers
Over the last few weeks, we have taken a look at nine different free agent starting pitchers in three different entries here. Today, let's take another look and rank them one through nine. I'm ranking mostly on my opinion of their talent level, while also taking into consideration the contract terms that might be needed to get it done. Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta are not on the list. It would be a real surprise if the Orioles are willing to commit to the years and dollars those two will...
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A look at one free agent lefty bat

A look at one free agent lefty bat
As the Orioles look to add left-handed hitting and some balance to their lineup versus right-handers, they could do a lot worse than Adam Lind. Yes, Adam Lind, who is a free agent and won't come at a big price. He has a good track record versus right-handed pitchers. What he doesn't truly offer is a good fit on an Orioles roster that already has several first base-designated hitter types. Lind, though, has played the outfield and played some in left field for the Nationals in 2017. While no...
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Prospect profile: Ademar Rifaela had breakout '17 (plus other notes)

Prospect profile: Ademar Rifaela had breakout '17 (plus other notes)
When you talk about outfield prospects on the Orioles farm, he can get overlooked among players like Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and DJ Stewart. But Ademar Rifaela had a breakout 2017 season. Producing much better stats than he had earlier in his career, the 23-year-old corner outfielder was named the Carolina League MVP at Single-A Frederick. Over 126 games, he hit .284/.358/.500 with an OPS of .858, which was well above the .717 he posted in 2015 or the .713 from 2016. Rifaela hit 23 doubles,...
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The cases for and against trading closer Zach Britton

The cases for and against trading closer Zach Britton
His name came up in trade rumors at the general managers' meetings and figures to come up again at the Winter Meetings. It could be a winter of trade speculation involving Orioles closer Zach Britton. Of the four key players on the club whose contracts are up after the 2018 season - Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Brad Brach and Britton - Britton might be the most replaceable. Fellow free-agent-to-be Brach is a potential replacement for Britton for the 2018 season. The Orioles also have...
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Strong finish ends solid year as David Hess makes the 40-man

Strong finish ends solid year as David Hess makes the 40-man
Right-hander David Hess has pitched in spring training games before for the Orioles. But that was always as one of the minor league pitchers added for a game as a just-in-case guy. But next season, he'll begin spring training with a locker in the home clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium. The 24-year-old Hess was recently added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. So he'll report with the other pitchers and catchers in February and he could possibly get a long look from a club that needs starting...
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Week in review: Cobb versus Lynn, roster additions and WAR

Week in review: Cobb versus Lynn, roster additions and WAR
We had a few solid conversations and debates in the comments section over the last week as we touched on a variety of topics. We'll revisit a few today and please weigh back in or comment for the first time if you like. As always here, anything about the Orioles is the topic, even if it is not presented in the story. So please throw it out there, so to speak. On Monday, we debated which free agent pitcher is the better choice - Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn? Lynn went 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA over 186...
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Some free agent contracts just may be too risky

Some free agent contracts just may be too risky
Any free agent contract for a pitcher can be risky. The bigger the contract, the riskier. But two current free agent pitchers present greater risk than some others. That is according to Dave Cameron on FanGraphs in his listing of 2018 free agent landmines. It is not that Cameron sees the pitchers in question as poor pitchers. But in relation to the contracts they are likely to get, he sees them as risky to sign at those prices. Last year, Cameron listed Mark Trumbo as his No. 1 free agent to...
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