Updating Brach trade talks and O's interest in Mesa (O's up 12-3)

Updating Brach trade talks and O's interest in Mesa (O's up 12-3)
As the Orioles focus on trying to move the rest of their pending free agents following trades this month that sent shortstop Manny Machado to the Dodgers and reliever Zach Britton to the Yankees, they are talking to multiple teams about reliever Brad Brach while attempting to complete a deal by Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline. The Cubs, Rockies and Indians are maintaining interest in Brach, according to a source. Brach is 1-2 with 11 saves, a 4.85 ERA and 1.769 WHIP in 42 games over 39...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Danny Valencia gets the start at third base tonight and Joey Rickard is in right field as the Orioles continue their series against the Rays at Camden Yards. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate again. Andrew Cashner has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts, but is 0-1 with two no-decisions. He faced the Rays on May 26 and allowed five runs and 11 hits in five innings in a 5-1 loss. Cashner has registered a 2.14 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in three career starts against the Rays...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
While the Orioles are fielding calls from numerous teams on a variety of players, they still seem more intent on moving their veterans who are pending free agents, a stance they've taken since early in the process. There's been interest in second baseman Jonathan Schoop, starters Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy and reliever Mychal Givens. Only Schoop can leave via free agency after 2019. Again, executive vice president Dan Duquette will listen on anyone. His phone isn't set up to cut off...

Cobb can't catch break and Orioles can't rally past Rays (updated)

Cobb can't catch break and Orioles can't rally past Rays (updated)
This is Alex Cobb's pitching life with the Orioles. Winless at home and trying to divert his eyes from the 13 losses attached to his record, Cobb retired the first eight batters tonight and faced the minimum through three innings. The split-changeup was working for him, but the Orioles couldn't give him a lead. The Rays scored twice in the fourth on ground balls through a drawn-in infield and against the shift. More a case of bad luck than poor pitches. More of what Cobb has grown accustomed...

Showalter on Jones and last night's controversy (O's down 4-3)

Showalter on Jones and last night's controversy (O's down 4-3)
The drama surrounding Adam Jones extends beyond the possibility of a trade by Tuesday's non-waiver deadline and whether he'd be willing to re-sign with the club over the winter. Would he remain in center field this season if he isn't dealt? The Orioles have Cedric Mullins waiting in the wings - or actually at Triple-A Norfolk. "I think Adam's always willing to do what's best for the club, but he still plays center field well," said manager Buck Showalter. "The respect that I have for...

Rotation adjustment and injury updates

Rotation adjustment and injury updates
By throwing only 30 pitches last night before rain washed away his start, Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy will come back on short rest Sunday in the series finale against the Rays at Camden Yards. Rookie Yefry Ramírez will be pushed back to Tuesday night against the Yankees in the Bronx. Bundy surrendered three home runs to the Red Sox last night in only 1 2/3 innings, but the stats no longer count. "With an off-day (Monday), we don't want Dylan sitting around that long," said manager...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Jace Peterson gets the start at third base tonight as the Orioles open a four-game series against the Rays at Camden Yards. Mark Trumbo is in right field and Danny Valencia is the designated hitter. Chris Davis is batting fifth. Alex Cobb is facing his former team for the third time this season. He's allowed eight earned runs (nine total) and 17 hits in 10 1/3 innings. Cobb hasn't been credited with a win since June 5 and both of his victories have come on the road. His 13 losses lead the...

No longer necessary to question O's willingness to deal with Yankees

No longer necessary to question O's willingness to deal with Yankees
The time has come, and it's long overdue, to bury the narrative that the Orioles won't consummate trades with the Yankees. Dig the hole until you strike oil. The Orioles were willing to do it at the Winter Meetings despite reports to the contrary. Executive vice president Dan Duquette made the declaration in his suite at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in a room full of media members. Everyone heard it. It was written and repeated over the airwaves. And it wasn't just lip...

Orioles-Red Sox game postponed due to rain (Aug. 11 doubleheader)

Orioles-Red Sox game postponed due to rain (Aug. 11 doubleheader)
Ten batters into tonight's start and it became apparent that relief would come to Dylan Bundy only via the weather or the bullpen. Bundy surrendered three home runs and fell behind by five runs before the latest storm hammered the Baltimore area. The game finally was postponed after a delay lasting 2 hours, 33 minutes, also washing away the statistics. The makeup date will be announced shortly. The teams have a mutual off-day on Aug. 13 after concluding their series at Camden Yards. Bundy has...

Orioles hire Murray as special advisor (O's down 5-0, delay)

Orioles hire Murray as special advisor (O's down 5-0, delay)
Less than two weeks after Brooks Robinson informed the media of his hiring by the Orioles as a special advisor, another Hall of Famer is back in the fold. Eddie Murray has been named special advisor to John and Lou Angelos, the organization again reaching into its past while also moving forward with its rebuilding effort. Standing on the track next to the home dugout at Camden Yards, Murray explained how the Orioles contacted him a few months ago to set the wheels in motion. He had breakfast...

Hess on returning, Showalter on Britton leaving

Hess on returning, Showalter on Britton leaving
The Orioles announced today that they recalled right-hander David Hess from Triple-A Norfolk and he's headed to the bullpen, filling the roster spot that belonged to closer Zach Britton. And Chris Tillman has been released, which allows him to become a free agent and attempt to latch on with another team. Left-hander Donnie Hart wasn't eligible to rejoin the Orioles because he hadn't been down for the minimum 10 days. Tides manager Ron Johnson told Hess late last night about his promotion....

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (Hess recalled)

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (Hess recalled)
Danny Valencia and his .600 career average against left-hander David Price are in tonight's lineup as the Orioles close out their series against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Valencia, who's 15-for-25 versus Price, is batting fourth as the designated hitter. The Orioles continue to audition Renato Núñez at third base. Mark Trumbo is in right field and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop has homered in three consecutive games and four of the last five. He's...

Chris Tillman to elect free agency

Chris Tillman to elect free agency
Given the option of staying in the organization and resuming his career in the minors, right-hander Chris Tillman has declined the Orioles' offer and will become a free agent. An official confirmed Tillman's decision, which allows the veteran right-hander to sign with any club later this week. The Orioles designated Tillman for assignment on Friday following the All-Star break and selected the contract of third baseman Renato Núñez from Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman was told that he could...

Brach on Britton: "It's going to be sad to see him leave"

Brach on Britton: "It's going to be sad to see him leave"
The Orioles will need to make another roster move after last night's trade of closer Zach Britton to the Yankees. They can replace the name on the lineup card, but the intangibles supplied by the longest-tenured player in the organization aren't as easily transferrable. Darren O'Day was the bullpen leader, but he's out for the season following hamstring surgery. Britton has been mentoring the younger pitchers, but his pending free agent status and the club's rebuild assured that he'd be...

Zach Britton: "It's been a great 12 years"

Zach Britton: "It's been a great 12 years"
Zach Britton started to say his goodbyes to teammates tonight during the rain delay, his trade to the Yankees not official but the certainty undeniable. He checked his cell phone and knew exactly what was transpiring. Standing at his locker late tonight, his eyes reddened, Britton tried to sum up the feelings coursing through him after meeting with manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette. He's leaving the organization that drafted him in the third round in 2006 and...

Ramírez gets first major league win as O's defeat Red Sox 7-6

Ramírez gets first major league win as O's defeat Red Sox 7-6
Yefry Ramírez picked the night that the Orioles were finalizing a Zach Britton trade to earn his first major league win. He may be overshadowed, but it's still a nice achievement. Give the young man a hand and maybe a shaving cream pie. Orioles manager Buck Showalter can't promise Ramírez a set number of starts through the remainder of the season. He won't base his decisions on a start-to-start basis. The leash won't be advertised as especially long or short. Ramírez will take the...

Orioles close to dealing Britton to Yankees (updated)

Orioles close to dealing Britton to Yankees (updated)
The Orioles and Yankees have made substantial progress tonight toward a trade that would send left-hander Zach Britton to the Bronx and finally close out a sweepstakes that has taken on various forms over the past few weeks. A source confirmed that talks have escalated quickly and a deal is nearing completion that would bring back three players to the Orioles, including Double-A Trenton right-hander Dillon Tate, but it isn't done. There's the whole medical review process and other points that...

Latest on Britton trade talk (O's lead 2-1)

Latest on Britton trade talk (O's lead 2-1)
The tarp has been peeled off the infield at Camden Yards while the grounds crew rakes the dirt and applies the drying compound. Dark clouds are hovering, but the rain has stopped. The tarp hasn't been rolled up. It's just folded in the outfield. The gates opened about 30 minutes later than usual as head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry continued to monitor the radar. As always, the Orioles will try to play tonight and avoid losing an off-day or being subjected to another doubleheader. Meanwhile,...

Injury updates and Showalter talks about Jones' latest award

Injury updates and Showalter talks about Jones' latest award
The light rain that's been falling at Camden Yards finally has stopped, but the tarp remains on the field due to an ominous forecast. Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays, who hasn't played since May 24 due to an ankle injury, continues to do baseball activities and is expected to begin a rehab assignment at short-season Single-A Aberdeen within the next day or two. Manager Buck Showalter said Bowie right-hander Hunter Harvey is close to pitching in games. The former first-round pick could...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
The Orioles are going with another outfield alignment tonight while continuing their series against the Red Sox, with Mark Trumbo in right field while Danny Valencia serves as the designated hitter against left-hander Drew Pomeranz. Trey Mancini is in left field. Chris Davis is batting seventh as the first baseman. Renato Núñez continues to play third base. Yefry Ramírez is making his fifth major league start and sixth appearance as he bids to stay in the rotation. He's 0-3 with a...