Day One in Dallas

Day One in Dallas
DALLAS - That's technically correct. Yesterday wasn't supposed to count. The Winter Meetings officially begin today. So why am I so tired already? Maybe it's from having to change rooms when I returned to my hotel around midnight. The temperature inside had reached 100 degrees, according to a maintenance guy who used some sort of infra-red light, pointed toward the ceiling vent, to determine that I could roast a chicken in my bed. Talk about a Rotisserie league ... (Sorry, that's the...

Is Duquette interested in Manny Ramirez?

Is Duquette interested in Manny Ramirez?
DALLAS - As soon as news broke earlier today that outfielder Manny Ramirez had applied for reinstatement, everyone here pretty much held the same thought: Would Dan Duquette try to sign him again? Duquette gave Ramirez an eight-year, $160 million deal with the Red Sox back in December 2000. Ramirez could be secured at a much lower rate this winter, and the Orioles are looking to add another bat to their lineup. The designated hitter slot is open, but is Duquette open to a reunion? He...

Dan Duquette: "We're putting the band back together"

Dan Duquette: "We're putting the band back together"
DALLAS - The Winter Meetings haven't officially started, but Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette already has met with a few teams and introduced his two latest front office hires to the media. Duquette is looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder who can back up Adam Jones in center and maybe platoon in left. He also wants to "support" the pitching staff and improve the club's defense - which might take us back to that left-handed hitting outfielder. The local media met with...

Thomas and Ferreira added to Orioles' front office

Thomas and Ferreira added to Orioles' front office
DALLAS - The Orioles confirmed today that they've hired former Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as a special assistant to executive vice president Dan Duquette, and Fred Ferreiera as executive director of international recruiting. Thomas, 75, built the 1993 Phillies team that won the National League pennant - winning Executive of the Year honors that year - but Ed Wade replaced him as GM after four straight losing seasons. He brings over five decades of experience in professional baseball....

Everything's bigger in Texas (updated)

Everything's bigger in Texas (updated)
The above phrase includes all the rumors that will surface at the Winter Meetings. I'm sitting at my American Airlines gate, waiting to board my 7:05 a.m. flight to Dallas. I'm stuck in a middle seat. We're off to a good start. I chose an airline that also filed for bankruptcy, but it's promised to honor all flights. I'll have to serve peanuts and push the drink cart down the aisle, but it's for a good cause. Executive vice president Dan Duquette, manager Buck Showalter, new scouting...

Ferreira and Blakeley among possible front office hires

Ferreira and Blakeley among possible front office hires
I'm hearing that the Orioles could announce more hires in the front office tomorrow, one day before baseball's Winter Meetings begin in Dallas. The restructuring continues, just as Dan Duquette promised after being hired as executive vice president of baseball operations. According to multiple reports, the Orioles have hired former Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as an assistant to Duquette. A deal apparently was reached earlier this week. Another possible hire is Fred Ferreira as...

Giving up pitching for pitching?

Giving up pitching for pitching?
Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie might be the Orioles' biggest bargaining chip this winter. Adam Jones rivals him in that category, but executive vice president Dan Duquette seems intent on holding onto the center fielder and perhaps opening dialogue on a contract extension after the holidays. The Orioles want to acquire a starting pitcher, and they figure that a trade is the best method. But does it make sense to trade a pitcher - especially one who eats up the most innings - for another pitcher? I...

This, that and the other (and more)

This, that and the other (and more)
I wonder whether the Orioles will announce Lee Thomas' hiring as assistant general manager, or whatever title they'll give him, or make us wait until everyone is in place, including scouts and the minor league managers and coaches. My assumption is they'll announce Thomas sooner, since they already confirmed Gary Rajsich as director of amateur scouting. Executive vice president Dan Duquette declined comment on Thomas during yesterday's teleconference. Thomas was the Phillies' general...

Rick Peterson interviews for minor league job

Rick Peterson interviews for minor league job
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette had a busy day today. He completed a trade with the Texas Rangers for backup catcher Taylor Teagarden. He reportedly hired former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as his assistant. And he interviewed a batch of candidates for the minor league pitching coordinator position that Alan Dunn vacated in June. One of the candidates is former Athletics, Mets and Brewers pitching coach Rick Peterson, who met with Duquette at the...

Hearing from Duquette and Teagarden

Hearing from Duquette and Teagarden
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette declined comment on reports that he's hired former Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as a special assistant, but he had plenty to say about new catcher Taylor Teagarden. "Taylor will be 28 at the end of December and he's an established and accomplished major league catcher," Duquette said during a conference call with reporters. "He has an excellent ability to handle a pitching staff. Pitchers like throwing to him, and he's very good at...

Some FanFest information and new front office hire

Some FanFest information and new front office hire
I'll start with the front office. According to multiple reports. the Orioles have hired former Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as an assistant to executive vice president Dan Duquette. I'll get confirmation at 5 p.m., when Duquette and new catcher Taylor Teagarden will be made available to reporters on a conference call. As for FanFest, the Orioles have scheduled the annual event for Jan. 21 at the Baltimore Convention Center. It will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with early entry for...

Pedro Viola removed from 40-man roster

Pedro Viola removed from 40-man roster
The Orioles have designated left-handed reliever Pedro Viola for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for new catcher Taylor Teagarden. The Orioles made the trade official by sending out a press release a few minutes ago. The Rangers acquired minor league pitcher Randy Henry and a player to be named in exchange for Teagarden. Teagarden, who turns 28 on Dec. 21, has appeared in 118 games for the Texas Rangers over the last four seasons, batting .220 (77-for-350) with 16 home runs and...

Orioles acquire Teagarden

Orioles acquire Teagarden
I just returned home from today's video chat with Steve Melewski at the MASNsports.com Web studio, and I wanted to pass along a quick update on the Orioles' catching situation. The Orioles are on the verge of trading for a backup, and it appears to be Taylor Teagarden, a former third-round pick of the Texas Rangers who's a career .220 hitter in parts of four major league seasons. Manager Buck Showalter has ties to Teagarden, who turns 28 later this month, from their days together in...

Corner infielders aren't on Duquette's shopping list

Corner infielders aren't on Duquette's shopping list
The Winter Meetings begin Monday in Dallas, and the common perception among reporters is that Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is more likely to swing a trade or two than sign a free agent. "Well, I hope we do both," Duquette said yesterday. "I hope we can make some trades to help our team, and then also sign some free agent players to help our team. Hopefully, we can do both next week." Duquette indicated during his introductory press conference that the Orioles wouldn't...

Orioles interested in Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes

Orioles interested in Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today that the Orioles are interested in Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and will watch him work out in the Dominican Republic. A date hasn't been set for the workout, but it's on the club's agenda. Cespedes worked out yesterday for Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and international scouting director Johnny DiPuglia. Several other teams have watched him, including the Yankees and Marlins. Cespedes is a 26-year-old right-handed...

Anderson talks about Beerer

Anderson talks about Beerer
I told you earlier this month that the Orioles signed six-year minor league free agent Scott Beerer, 29, a former second-round pick of the Colorado Rockies, and how Brady Anderson helped him make the transition from pitcher to outfielder. Now here's more of the story. Anderson initially had doubts that Beerer could succeed as a position player until watching him launch baseballs off a tee during their first workout together. That's when Anderson, the former Orioles outfielder, changed his...

Orioles release spring training schedule

Orioles release spring training schedule
The wait is over. No more piecing together the Orioles' spring training schedule. The club released it today. The Orioles will face 10 different opponents at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, including the Boston Red Sox three times and the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays twice each. The Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals will each make one visit. The Orioles will play 15 games on the road,...

Orioles interested in Pinto, other notes

Orioles interested in Pinto, other notes
The Orioles have expressed interest in Venezuelan left-hander Renyel Pinto, 29, a free agent who spent parts of five seasons with the Florida Marlins. David Stockstill, the Orioles' director of international operations, scouted Pinto over the past week in the Venezuela Winter League and recently met with him. I'm told that a deal isn't done, but it's a possibility. In his first seven starts for Caribes, Pinto was 5-0 with a 1.42 ERA, 28 hits allowed, 16 walks and 42 strikeouts in 43 2/3...

Coaching staff closer to being finalized

Coaching staff closer to being finalized
I wrote this morning that former Brewers pitcher Bill Castro had emerged as a leading candidate to become bullpen coach, and nothing has changed. He's still the top choice at the moment, but I'm told that a final decision hasn't been made. Castro twice served as bullpen and pitching coach with the Brewers before being fired on Aug. 12, 2009. He was the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic's entry in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. He would give manager Buck Showalter a desired...

Lee MacPhail being reassigned in organization (with quotes)

Lee MacPhail being reassigned in organization (with quotes)
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today that director of professional scouting Lee MacPhail IV will be reassigned within the organization. MacPhail will be given a major league scouting position, according to Duquette, who passed along the news to reporters during a conference call to introduce Gary Rajsich as the new director of scouting. MacPhail's duties included overseeing professional scouting, advance scouting and major league video coaching. He also went on the...