Predictions on opening day rosters keep placing Anthony Santander in right field, which seems logical at the moment. The action on him over the winter didn't produce a trade and the Orioles aren't trying to dump him. That isn't the point.
They'll listen to any offers on any players, as they should. It would be foolish to screen calls or hang up.
You can't operate with closed minds while open for business.
If Santander can fetch a prospect or two while his salary rises beyond $2 million and...
The Orioles aren't playing this afternoon and get to enjoy a legitimate off-day, however it's done with pandemic restrictions.
That's a long time to sit in a hotel room.
No intrasquad nonsense that removes the "off" from their day. A few pitchers will be allowed inside the complex to throw. Otherwise, stay away and find something safe to do.
There isn't much risk digging into my mailbag, unless I suffer a virtual paper cut. I'll try again to respond to the questions that are asked on a...
Orioles left-hander John Means made it through the first inning today. Manager Brandon Hyde stayed in the dugout. There were no surprises or unexpected visits.
The rest of his day can be categorized as getting in his work in spring training.
Means was on the verge of watching the second inning roll over, with the Pirates scoring three runs and extending him to 27 pitches in the Orioles' 13-1 loss in Bradenton. He came out at 48 pitches after issuing a leadoff walk in the third.
Hyde removed...
Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays are sharing the outfield for this afternoon's game against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla.
Manager Brandon Hyde is giving Hays back-to-back starts, putting him in left field today. Mullins is in center.
Two catchers also are in the lineup, with Pedro Severino used as the designated hitter and Chance Sisco stationed behind the plate. Severino caught last night.
Yusniel Diaz is in right field after his two-run double last night.
Jahmai Jones is the second...
The center field competition between Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins won't necessarily push one of them to the bench.
Manager Brandon Hyde is willing to put them in the same lineup with their ability to handle all three outfield spots, which would strengthen the defense.
The designated hitter role comes with a revolving door now that Renato Núñez has left the organization. On any given day, Ryan Mountcastle or another outfielder could land in that spot.
"I think I'm going to move all...
The first round is complete in the veteran starter battle in Orioles camp.
Wade LeBlanc tossed two scoreless innings in his debut outing against the Braves, allowing only one hit. The Blue Jays worked Matt Harvey for three runs and four hits yesterday in two innings.
Félix Hernández took his first turn tonight against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium and retired the side in order in the first inning. He issued back-to-back walks in the second and surrendered two runs in a 6-5...
Exactly one year ago, top Orioles prospect Adley Rutschman sat down in manager Brandon Hyde's spring training office and heard that he was reassigned to minor league camp. News that he understood was coming to him.
Rutschman reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex today and found his name on the lineup card as the designated hitter against the Tigers. His stay has been extended.
The Orioles don't plan on taking Rutschman to Boston for the opening series. His reassignment is pending. And the...
Shortstop Freddy Galvis has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight after being a late scratch Thursday with a sore hip.
Trey Mancini is batting second again, making the start at first base. Chris Davis remains day-to-day with lower-back stiffness.
Ryan Mountcastle is the cleanup hitter and Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter.
Cedric Mullins takes his turn in center field.
Félix Hérnandez makes his Orioles debut and is expected to pitch two innings.
For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF...
The business beyond evaluating players in exhibition games, organizing workouts and keeping everyone safe includes daily checks of the free agent market and discussing how to set up the alternate camp site and how to fill it.
The Orioles haven't dismissed the idea of adding to their spring training roster, with pitching always a priority, but they are shifting their focus to the waiver wire as cuts are made in the coming weeks and tracking which minor leaguers have opt-out clauses in their...
The contract was signed and workouts monitored. The ball was handed to him today in Dunedin, Fla. But Matt Harvey wouldn't really fit in with the Orioles until he faced Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk.
Now he's truly a member of the club.
Making his debut appearance, Harvey loaded the bases in the first inning and Grichuk drove in two runs with a double in Toronto's 13-4 win in Dunedin.
Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle homered for the Orioles, who are 2-3-1. Catcher Nick Ciuffo drove in...
Confidence isn't running in short supply for Zac Lowther.
He didn't pitch in 2019 because COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the minor league season. He hasn't faced hitters above the Double-A level. Every projection for this summer places him at Triple-A Norfolk, where he'll be playing the waiting game between starts.
But ask Lowther how close he is to being a major league pitcher and the answer comes firmly and without hesitation. But also not cocky in nature.
"I feel like I'm there....
Tyler Nevin gets the start at first base and Brett Cumberland is the designated hitter for today's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.
Ramón Urias is making back-to-back starts, being a late replacement for Freddy Galvis at shortstop yesterday and starting at second base today.
Galvis remains day-to-day with a sore hip. Pat Valaika is the shortstop today.
Ryan Mountcastle is in left field and Austin Hays is in center.
First baseman Chris Davis remains out of the lineup with a...
Brandon Hyde won't overreact to individual production in early exhibition games. Like any manager, he'll place his judgments on hold until later.
In the meantime, there are players assured of roster spots on opening day who just want to get ready. Players on the fringes who can get bumped in either direction. Important that they know the difference.
The latter group can't be sluggish coming out of the gate, no matter how patient the manager is and how measured his reactions.
Left-hander...
Freddy Galvis was going to play shortstop today. Ramon UrÃas was supposed to wait his next turn.
Manager Brandon Hyde scratched Galvis from the lineup with a sore hip and inserted UrÃas, who belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 6-3 win over the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium.
The Orioles improved their record to 2-2-1. UrÃas didn't hurt his chances of making the team, though a decision is pending on the length of the bench.
UrÃas is...
The injury news in Orioles camp seems to be improving, with one notable exception.
Pitcher Alexander Wells reported to the complex with a sore oblique, similar to his ailment last spring, but he's able to play catch as he inches closer to his first game.
Wells was placed on the 40-man roster to protect him in the Rule 5 draft. He was throwing and facing hitters in Australia before traveling to the United States.
The Orioles are intrigued by Wells' control - he's averaged only 1.4 walks per...
Ryan McKenna is starting in left field today as the Orioles host the Red Sox.
Cedric Mullins is back in center field and atop the order, alternating with Austin Hays. Yusniel Diaz gets his first start in right field after twice playing left field.
Trey Mancini is the first baseman. Rylan Bannon is at third base instead of Rio Ruiz.
For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF Trey Mancini 1B Anthony Santander DH Pedro Severino C Freddy Galvis SS Yusniel Diaz RF Yolmer Sánchez 2B Rylan Bannon 3B Ryan...
The Orioles knew that the Triple-A season could be pushed back at least a month, along with the other affiliates in baseball. The ESPN.com report Wednesday night didn't really blindside anyone in the organization. Only the timing enabled it to sneak up on some people.
They were told that it could be announced by mid-March, but the news came a little bit earlier than that.
How the Orioles deal with the latest changes due to COVID-19 and the need for more vaccinations is a work in progress....
The Orioles are flashing their outfield depth in spring training. Reports of its impressive nature weren't exaggerated.
Same with the level of intensity in the competition.
Austin Hays, trying to win the center field job, had a single, two-run homer and stolen base today in an 8-1, seven-inning victory over the Braves in North Port, Fla.
DJ Stewart is at his best, he insists, when he's spraying line drives and concentrating on base hits instead of home runs.
The power just seems to come...
Tyler Nevin finished a round of batting practice last month in Orioles camp and caught the eye of executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, who offered a hint at how the organization viewed him in the field.
"I got here and I was hitting and Elias was behind the cage watching," Nevin recounted this morning in his Zoom conference call. "I got out and rolled around the cage and he goes, 'Hey, did you bring all your gloves?' I said, 'Yep,' and he goes, 'OK, you're going to need...
After catching knuckleballer Mickey Jannis yesterday, Orioles top prospect Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter this afternoon against the Braves in North Port.
The Orioles (0-2-1) also have Jahmai Jones in their lineup as the second baseman. Ryan Mountcastle is in left field.
Austin Hays is leading off and playing center field. DJ Stewart is the right fielder and cleanup hitter.
Chance Sisco is catching today, getting at least one at-bat against Braves left-hander Drew Smyly....