More thoughts on yesterday's trades

More thoughts on yesterday's trades
Sometimes it works precisely as intended. The Orioles signed veteran left-hander Tommy Milone to a minor league deal in spring training, one of their typical late moves under the Florida sunshine. Never make roster projections until after everyone reports to camp. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias had the same vision as his predecessors. Bring in a pitcher or player on a shortened and inexpensive deal and hope for the type of production that benefits the club on the field and...
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Elias on trades, departed players and status of rebuild

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The Orioles made two trades today and remain open for business less than 24 hours before the deadline.

Executive vice president Mike Elias sent left-hander Tommy Milone to the Braves for two players to be named later and Mychal Givens to the Rockies for corner infielder Tyler Nevin, middle infielder Terrin Vavra and a player to be named later.

He isn't necessarily done.

"Our group is still working and is very active during this trade deadline tonight and tomorrow, and we expect the conversations to continue and we'll see if anything else takes place," Elias said in today's Zoom conference call with the media.

Elias noted how the Orioles are a young team "playing their hearts out every night," but today's 6-5 loss was their 11th in 13 games and knocked them five below .500. Once nipping at the Blue Jays' heels, they're now in danger of being left in the dust.

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Mountcastle homers twice in 6-5 loss

Mountcastle homers twice in 6-5 loss
The Orioles took a break from their trading this afternoon to play a baseball game. They shuffled two pitchers out of Buffalo and held an audition for right-hander Jorge López. One of their busiest and most important days. No one pretended that López wasn't pitching for a job. Wade LeBlanc is out for the season with an elbow injury. Tommy Milone is starting tonight for the Braves. There are several candidates, but López had first dibs. Ryan Mountcastle doesn't need to audition. He's...
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Orioles trade Givens to Rockies, more on Milone deal (updated)

Orioles trade Givens to Rockies, more on Milone deal (updated)
The Orioles have swung their second trade of the day, sending reliever Mychal Givens to the Rockies. MLB Network's Jon Heyman first reported the trade, which has been confirmed. However, the return is currently unknown and this story will be updated shortly. Givens, 25, was a second-round pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft who made the successful conversion from light-hitting shortstop to reliever. He allowed two runs this summer with 19 strikeouts in 13 innings. Over six seasons and 296...
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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Mason Williams is starting in center field today as the Orioles try to break a four-game losing streak. Cedric Mullins is on the bench today in Buffalo. And José Iglesias is the designated hitter, with Andrew Velazquez playing shortstop. Ryan Mountcastle stays in left field. Jorge López is making his first start with the Orioles. Left-handed hitters are slashing .310/.373/.536 against him in 63 career games. López has made three appearances against the Blue Jays and allowed six runs...
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Orioles trading Milone to Braves (updated)

Orioles trading Milone to Braves (updated)
The Orioles will need a starter for Monday's series finale against the Blue Jays. Left-hander Tommy Milone is headed to the Braves for two players to be named later. An industry source has confirmed multiple reports of the deal. The trade deadline is 4 p.m. Monday and Milone became an attractive chip with a 3.99 ERA, only 1.2 walks per nine innings and a career-high 9.5 strikeouts. Milone, 33, agreed to a minor league deal in spring training, made the club and rotation and provided two quality...
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Orioles remain intact as trade deadline looms

Orioles remain intact as trade deadline looms
The trade deadline is 4 p.m. Monday and the Orioles haven't made any moves. Alex Cobb and Tommy Milone are still in the rotation. Mychal Givens and Miguel Castro are still in the bullpen. Hanser Alberto is still in the lineup at second or third base. Milone is starting Monday afternoon against the Blue Jays. Could be his last with the Orioles. Cobb made it through last night's game. No one was pulled from the on-deck circle. Is there a hug watch during social distancing? What's happening in...
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Orioles shut out for third time with 5-0 loss (updated)

Orioles shut out for third time with 5-0 loss (updated)
Randal Grichuk chased a split-change from Alex Cobb tonight in the first inning, the ball diving toward the dirt, shook his head and walked back to the dugout. He looked mortal. Just a guy striking out in a major league game. Nothing to see here, except the Orioles actually kept him in the ballpark. The on-field ceremony was canceled with no fans in attendance to see it. Manager Brandon Hyde had Cole Sulser pitch to Grichuk in the 10th inning last night because of the guy on deck. The guy who...
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Orioles place Armstrong on injured list (and other notes)

Orioles place Armstrong on injured list (and other notes)
The Orioles have placed reliever Shawn Armstrong on the 10-day injured list with soreness in his lower back. Evan Phillips has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Armstrong has a 2.19 ERA and 0.892 WHIP in 11 appearances, with three walks and 12 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. He hasn't pitched since last Saturday and the IL move is retroactive to Wednesday. The team is calling the injury "left SI joint inflammation." "It's just a flare up," manager Brandon Hyde said during...
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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Chance Sisco is catching tonight and Pedro Severino is the designated hitter as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays in Buffalo. Hanser Alberto moves back to second base and Rio Ruiz is at third. Ryan Mountcastle stays in left field. The Orioles have lost three games in a row and nine of 11 and are 2 1/2 behind the Blue Jays, who hold the eighth playoff spot in the American League. They're three games under .500 for the first time this season. Alex Cobb faced the Blue Jays...
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Hyde hearing players, maturity of Mullins and Tate, rotation and more

Hyde hearing players, maturity of Mullins and Tate, rotation and more
One of manager Brandon Hyde's finest traits is his ability to communicate with his players. Maybe it's an age thing. Maybe it's just his personality. But he's earned praise for it. Hyde also scores points because he listens. There's so much to dissect and digest from events this week. The hard discussions and postponed games. The raw emotion, which Hyde showed Thursday evening on a Zoom conference call while attempting to convey how he's been able to guide the club through difficult and...
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Orioles burned again by Grichuk in 5-4 loss in 10 innings (updated)

Orioles burned again by Grichuk in 5-4 loss in 10 innings (updated)
Pennant race baseball in Buffalo. Another unexpected touch to the 2020 season. The Orioles are playing meaningful games in the last weekend of August for the first time in three years. They trailed the Blue Jays by 1 1/2 games for the last playoff spot as the teams prepared to get back on the field after their respective postponements. The expansion of qualifiers made the impossible seem a little more attainable. The rest was up to the Orioles. Four games above .500 on Aug. 15 and beginning to...
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Notes on Harvey, Valdez, playing in Buffalo and more

Notes on Harvey, Valdez, playing in Buffalo and more
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has been saying that reliever Hunter Harvey should be activated from the injured list during the current road trip. There are four games left before the club returns home. Harvey is still expected to be activated. "There's a really good chance you'll see him toward the end of the series," Hyde said during today's Zoom conference call with the media. The latest Harvey update remains positive, and they come in almost daily increments. He was facing hitters at the...
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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Orioles catcher Pedro Severino is healthy again and behind the plate for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Sahlen Field in Buffalo. Severino left Sunday's game against the Red Sox with tightness in his right hip, but he avoided the injured list. He wasn't in yesterday's lineup against the Rays before the Orioles decided not to play. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing third base. Shortstop José Iglesias, activated from the injured list yesterday, returns as the No. 3...
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Mullins at his best when bunting

Mullins at his best when bunting
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde will post his lineup again this afternoon, with a game expected to be played. In a minor league ballpark in Buffalo. There's a first time for everything. They keep coming in 2020. Cedric Mullins was supposed to be in center field last night before the Orioles voted not to play. He's likely to stay there tonight and bat leadoff or last. He has impressive range in the field and the lineup. Mullins leads the majors with six bunt hits, four more than the next closest...
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Orioles decided not to play following second team meeting

Orioles decided not to play following second team meeting
The initial decision by the Orioles and Rays to play tonight's series finale at Tropicana Field didn't hold. Conversations during batting practice led the Orioles to conduct a second team meeting, with only the players, who later invited manager Brandon Hyde into the room and shared their desire to skip the game. Hyde phoned Rays manager Kevin Cash and the sport had another postponement. And there would be more as the fight to eliminate racial injustice intensified after Sunday's police...
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Orioles decide to play tonight after emotional team meeting (updated)

Orioles decide to play tonight after emotional team meeting (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde left it up to his players whether they wanted to take the field tonight or pack up and leave. He was going to support their decision. Whichever way it leaned. The team has decided, without any resistance, to finish the series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. At least two more games have been postponed tonight to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. To bring more awareness to racial inequality. To make the boldest statement that sports can...
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Dwight Smith Jr. outrighted to alternate camp site

Dwight Smith Jr. outrighted to alternate camp site
Outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. is staying in the Orioles organization. Smith has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the alternate camp site in Bowie, according to an industry source. The 60-man pool is holding 58 players. It had been reduced to 57 with left-hander Wade LeBlanc going on the 60-day injured list. The Orioles designated Smith for assignment on Saturday and selected outfielder Mason Williams' contract from the secondary camp. Smith was batting .222/.306/.365 with three doubles and...
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Hyde working to keep trade rumors from becoming distraction

Hyde working to keep trade rumors from becoming distraction
Players are kept in confinement this summer beyond their trips to the ballpark, where interactions are unavoidable but also narrowed. Arrive later than usual, dress for the games, have the option of showering or heading out immediately and repeat the process the next day. What can't be done is shielding them from trade rumors and speculation that builds as the deadline approaches. They swirl around the subjects, who find out via social media or friends and family. Manager Brandon Hyde is...
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Givens surrenders late home run in 4-3 loss (updated)

Givens surrenders late home run in 4-3 loss (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had "an idea" last night, as he put it, that Trevor Richards would start for the Rays in the second game of the series. He was waiting for confirmation, which can be a sluggish process. They stick with TBD for as long as possible while sorting through their available candidates in the bullpen. Hyde thought the Rays might go with an opener in front of Richards. He didn't post the lineup until later, which made sense anyway because he had to check on the status of...
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