Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

Pondering Zach Britton's future as Orioles' closer

Pondering Zach Britton's future as Orioles' closer
It would appear almost a certainty that Orioles closer Zach Britton will return to the team in that role for the 2016 season. But there are some fans and readers who have wondered if Britton could help the team as a starting pitcher. Others wonder what he could bring back in a trade after seeing the Craig Kimbrel deal. On Nov. 13, the Red Sox acquired Kimbrel from San Diego and gave up a package of four prospects - a haul some felt was too much for Boston to give up. Boston traded two of its...
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Steve Melewski

Some discussion on Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Darren O'Day

Some discussion on Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Darren O'Day
Pondering some questions today. They are about three key members of the 2015 Orioles, only two of whom we can be fairly certain will be on the 2016 team. Is there any reason to be concerned about Adam Jones?: He did hit .269, his lowest batting average since 2007, and produce his fewest doubles (25) and homers (27) since 2010 and 2011, respectively. But Jones played banged-up for several periods of time during the 2015 season and clearly played at less than 100 percent. He probably even played...
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Steve Melewski

Orioles have a solid core group of players to build around

Orioles have a solid core group of players to build around
The hot stove season is about to really heat up and there is so much focus on potential additions to all teams. Which players can they add and how much better will that make them? There has been plenty of discussion about the Orioles and whether they can retain some of their own free agents. If not, which players might they pursue through trades and/or free agency? But what about the core group the Orioles to have to build around and/or add to? Is that at least a good starting point for the...
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Steve Melewski

In need of outfielders, will O's stay in house?

In need of outfielders, will O's stay in house?
He became the 1,000th player in Orioles history when he made his debut with the club on Aug. 1. But now will he will be among the first to leave this offseason? What to do with free agent outfielder Gerardo Parra? The day before that debut, Parra was acquired from Milwaukee for Triple-A right-handed pitcher Zach Davies to help shore up the O's corner outfield. While Parra struggled at times with the Orioles, the 22-year-old Davies went 3-2 with a ERA of 3.71 in six starts with Milwaukee. He...
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Steve Melewski

Another look at how three O's pitchers got added to the 40-man roster

Another look at how three O's pitchers got added to the 40-man roster
On his way to making the Orioles' 40-man roster, 24-year-old right-hander Parker Bridwell may have found some consistency. He has heard the criticism often. Some nights, he has electric stuff and then a week later he gets rocked. He was called inconsistent. It is a label he'd like to leave in the rear-view mirror. Added to the 40-man roster yesterday along with pitchers Chris Lee and Andrew Triggs, Bridwell went 4-5 with an ERA of 3.99 in 18 starts for Double-A Bowie this season. But it was...
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Steve Melewski

It's an exciting day for the newest members of O's 40-man roster

It's an exciting day for the newest members of O's 40-man roster
That first call-up to the major leagues is always a very special day in any player's career. But a big day that comes before that is when a player is added to the organization's 40-man roster for the first time. It happened to three Orioles minor league pitchers today as the club added left-hander Chris Lee and right-handers Parker Bridwell and Andrew Triggs. This means none of the three can be lost in next month's Rule 5 draft and that all three will report with the rest of the big league...
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Steve Melewski

Some Chris Davis and 40-man roster talk

Some Chris Davis and 40-man roster talk
Are the Orioles facing a possible either/or scenario with first baseman Chris Davis? Are they looking at a situation where they can either sign him, or not sign him and add two or more players with that money? Recently, we looked at an early projection for an Orioles 2015 payroll. With the club looking for starting pitching and outfield help, not to mention possibly re-signing Davis and maybe more of their own free agents, it seems it will be hard to do all of that and still keep the payroll in...
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Steve Melewski

A look at a pitcher who once didn't look like a Cy Young winner (plus an O'Day take)

A look at a pitcher who once didn't look like a Cy Young winner (plus an O'Day take)
You would think a pitcher that wins a Cy Young Award would probably be a high draft pick, got a big-dollar signing bonus and never pitched to an ERA of 5.00 or more in the majors leagues. You might think that, but then check out Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros. The bearded one won that award last night. Jim Stevenson is the scout that signed Dallas Keuchel and told Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle that Keuchel was never considered a top prospect. He said of Keuchel's American League...
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Steve Melewski

When is the right time to lock up a core player?

When is the right time to lock up a core player?
The San Francisco Giants made a move yesterday that seems to be playing to solid reviews, locking up one of their core players for the future. They signed shortstop Brandon Crawford to a six-year contract extension worth $75 million. The Giants signed him for his two remaining arbitration seasons and bought out four free agent years. Crawford is a homegrown player, drafted by the Giants in round four in 2008. He pulled off a rare trifecta this year when he was an All-Star and also won a Gold...
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Steve Melewski

A look at Orioles players in the Arizona Fall League

A look at Orioles players in the Arizona Fall League
For six players from the Orioles minor leagues, their time in the Arizona Fall League is almost over. They've played for the Peoria Javelinas, who are 12-12 with three games left and cannot finish in first place. But the six have gained valuable high-level experience. Orioles director of player development Brian Graham was recently in Arizona and I asked him about the O's prospects out there. Adrian Marin is a 21-year-old infielder who was the Single-A Frederick Keys' shortstop the past two...
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Steve Melewski

A look at some Orioles payroll math

A look at some Orioles payroll math
One look at the Orioles' projected payroll for next year leads me to this conclusion: To get what they need to get done, the payroll very likely will have to increase in 2016. The Orioles have four players with salaries locked in for the 2016 season: * $16.3 million - Adam Jones * $15.8 million - Matt Wieters * $13.0 million - Ubaldo Jimenez * $12.5 million - J.J. Hardy They have 11 arbitration-eligible players and their salaries for 2016 were projected by MLBTradeRumors.com recently: * $6.9...
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Steve Melewski

Bowie hitting coach talks about some minor league batters

Bowie hitting coach talks about some minor league batters
About a week ago, I wrote about Double-A Bowie hitting coach Keith Bodie and how he fit in very well in his first season in the Orioles organization in 2015. Bodie has had a long and strong career in pro ball. During my visit with Bodie, we talked about a few Bowie hitters during the Eastern League playoffs. To no surprise, Bodie is pretty high on first baseman Trey Mancini. "I've been around a lot of good and special players and what he has done this year is very special," Bodie said. "He...
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Steve Melewski

A look at Matt Wieters taking the qualifying offer and Boston's addition of a closer

A look at Matt Wieters taking the qualifying offer and Boston's addition of a closer
When news of Matt Wieters accepting the Orioles' qualifying offer spread yesterday afternoon, some fans immediately feared this meant the Orioles would have less money to sign Chris Davis or other free agents. Well, Wieters made $8.3 million last year and through arbitration, had he been an arbitration-eligible player this year, his salary probably would have increased to $10-$11 million. So this is no huge overpay, here but Wieters will play for $15.8 million in 2016. Dan Duquette said the...
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Steve Melewski

Can teams win without an ace pitcher? (Plus a take on Wieters)

Can teams win without an ace pitcher? (Plus a take on Wieters)
Here are two pitching stats for a team in the 2015 regular season. This team had a starting rotation ERA of 4.34 to rank 12th in the American League. The same team got 912 2/3 innings from its starting pitchers this year to rank last in the AL. Was the team the Orioles? No, the team is the Kansas City Royals and they won the World Series. In ranking 12th in starting pitcher ERA in 2015, Kansas City was ahead of only Boston, Baltimore and Detroit in the AL. The Royals blew the doors off two...
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Steve Melewski

A few notes and quotes with Dan Duquette, Chance Sisco and Wei-Yin Chen

A few notes and quotes with Dan Duquette, Chance Sisco and Wei-Yin Chen
A few notes and quotes in today's entry: The Duke: Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette was a guest Wednesday on MLB Network with host Chris Russo from the general managers meetings and was asked if some moves are expected to happen fast in the trade and free agent markets: "Well, this is going to happen pretty quickly between now and the Winter Meetings (in early December), I think. Teams are lining up and aligning their interests with each other. I think you'll see some trades in...
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Steve Melewski

Will the Orioles make a big play for Darren O'Day?

Will the Orioles make a big play for Darren O'Day?
It seems there is already substantial interest in free agent reliever Darren O'Day, an Oriole for the last four seasons and one whose highest ERA with the club was the 2.28 he posted in 2012. He's had a rock-solid four years with the club and he even made the All-Star team in 2015 as a set-up man. That is rare. O'Day went 6-2 with a 1.52 ERA and many other impressive stats in 2015. How about a 0.934 WHIP or a walk rate of 1.9 batters per nine innings to go along with a career-best 11.3...
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Steve Melewski

Manny Machado wins AL Gold Glove at third base (with quotes)

Manny Machado wins AL Gold Glove at third base (with quotes)
For the second time in his career, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is a Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner. The results were announced tonight during a live broadcast on ESPN2. Machado won over the other two American League finalists - Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays and Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers. Machado also won a Gold Glove at third in 2013 when he also was awarded a Platinum Glove, which goes to the best fielder in each league. His Gold Glove two years ago made him the first...
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In free agency, the timing is pretty important, too

In free agency, the timing is pretty important, too
We've seen predictions about where some of the key free agents may sign and predictions for the contract values, but one element we would have a hard time predicting is exactly when these contracts will be signed. The timing of the deals could impact other moves teams make. Take the Orioles, for instance. If they are truly going to be a player for first baseman Chris Davis, they must be prepared first of all to sign a player to a deal in excess of $100 million for the first time. But what if...
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Steve Melewski

Dylan Bundy scratched from today's AFL start

Dylan Bundy scratched from today's AFL start
Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy has been scratched from his scheduled start today in the Arizona Fall League. It was to be his third outing in the AFL. "He has a little tightness in his forearm," said Orioles director of player development Bran Graham, who is in Arizona today. "He's fine, no injury. Just some tightness, so we backed off. It's day to day. With tightness in his forearm, obviously, we're not going to push him through that. There is no major concern." Bundy had...
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Steve Melewski

A look at players the Orioles may protect from the Rule 5 draft

A look at players the Orioles may protect from the Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is the last event of the Winter Meetings and it is now about a month away. This year it takes place on Dec. 10 in Nashville. Any player selected in this draft must remain on the selecting team's 25-man roster for the entire 2016 season or be offered back to his original club. Players are eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft when they are not on their organization's 40-man roster and: * were signed at 19 or older and have been in the organization for four years; or *...
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