NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - While still trying to get used to the wonderful news that he is headed to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Baltimore native John Schuerholz took some time this morning to remember his Orioles roots.
It began when he glanced across the street from his high school, hoping to one day play at Memorial Stadium. That didn't happen, but in 1966 a letter to he wrote to then-Orioles owner Jerold Hoffberger led to the team hiring Schuerholz. He instantly worked with some of the...
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - As the first day of the Winter Meetings is now underway at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko and I took a look at the what the next few days could hold for the Orioles.
In this video, we discussed the club's interest in free agent outfielder Michael Saunders, the situation with Mark Trumbo and more.
#orioles have definite interest in Michael Saunders as they try to find a RF. Helps that he's a LH hitter.
-- Roch Kubatko...
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Baltimore native John Schuerholz, who began his long baseball career with the Orioles, is headed to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Today's Game Era candidates Schuerholz and former commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig were elected to the Hall tonight, becoming members 313 and 314 of the Cooperstown shrine.
They will join any members from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot who gain election on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. The Class...
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Orioles contingent had to leave its city but not its state for the latest edition of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings.
The pursuit of a corner outfielder, a catcher and perhaps more continues this week inside the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.
On Sunday afternoon, before the official start of the meetings, I interviewed former Orioles executive Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM Radio.
While most do not expect a major signing by...
As Major League Baseball general managers, managers and other executives get ready to convene for another Winter Meetings, the Orioles are still looking for outfield additions.
The Orioles currently have six outfielders listed on their 40-man roster: Adam Jones, Hyun Soo Kim, Joey Rickard, Dariel Alvarez, Christian Walker and Adam Walker. Meanwhile, Mark Trumbo, Michael Bourn and Nolan Reimold are free agents.
Right now, the Orioles don't seem inclined to give considerable playing time to...
A team that has featured a few hitters with both big home run and strikeout totals added another such player Friday afternoon.
The Orioles claimed right-handed hitter Adam Walker off waivers from Milwaukee, which on Nov. 18 had claimed him off waivers from Minnesota. After this offseason plays out, we should have a better idea how much Walker could impact the big league roster in 2017.
From 2013-2015, Walker led three minor leagues in home runs, RBIs and total bases, while also racking up big...
A few thoughts as more and more details emerge about the new five-year collective bargaining agreement in Major League Baseball.
The All-Star Game: It will no longer decide home field advantage in the World Series. This was a terrible idea from the start and now the team with the best record will hold the home-field advantage. It was a surprise to me that MLB stuck with such a bad idea in the first place for so long.
The international signing rules: MLB did not get an international draft, but...
The Orioles have acquired pitcher Logan Verrett again. They took the right-hander as one of two Rule 5 picks they added in December 2014. Verrett was selected from the Mets. He eventually made it back to New York and the O's added him in a deal yesterday from the Mets for cash considerations.
In this space Wednesday, we wondered if the Orioles could part with right-hander Vance Worley, who is arbitration-eligible, and Verrett's addition would seem to make it tougher for the O's to now keep...
Right-hander Vance Worley was valuable for the 2016 Orioles. He could pitch as a starter or a reliever. He could pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen. He could get out both left- and right-handed batters. He could sit idle for days, then come into a game and be effective.
But will the Orioles even make Worley a contract offer for the 2017 season? He is arbitration-eligible and MLBTradeRumors.com projects he would earn $3.3 million in arbitration. The Orioles could non-tender Worley and...
He managed Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop and the 2011 Frederick Keys to the Single-A Carolina League championship. Now, after a 52-year career in baseball, Orlando Gomez is retiring.
Gomez was named the recipient of the Orioles' Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award after leading Frederick to a 80-59 record in 2011. He has worked for the Orioles for 12 years, managing three of the last four seasons as skipper of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team.
Gomez managed Frederick from 2010-12...
There were some rumors recently about a potential trade of outfielder J.D. Martinez from Detroit to San Francisco. If the Orioles lose free agent Mark Trumbo to another team, Martinez and his solid bat might play well in right field in Baltimore.
A Tigers team that is looking to get younger and cut payroll might be willing to deal Martinez, who will be a free agent after next season. He is due to earn $11.75 million for 2017.
Several teams should be attracted by that reasonable price for a...
In late October, Baseball America released a new list of the Orioles' top 10 prospects, coming off the 2016 season. Today, we'll look at a few players that might make the second 10.
But first, another look at Baseball America's Orioles top 10:1. Chance Sisco2. Cody Sedlock3. Ryan Mountcastle4. Hunter Harvey5. Trey Mancini6. Keegan Akin7. Austin Hays8. Jomar Reyes9. Chris Lee10. Tanner Scott
Here are three players that seem likely to make the second 10, which has not been released or...
We've had a lot of payroll talk on this blog this weekend. In this entry yesterday, we took a look at some of the Orioles' payroll obligations for 2017. Today, let's take a look at how big spending in baseball doesn't always get the job done.
The 2015 World Series was played between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets. The Royals began that season with the 17th highest payroll in the majors and the Mets ranked 19th.
The 2016 World Series was played between the Chicago Cubs and...
After putting together an 89-win team on a payroll in the $150 million range in 2016, will the Orioles be spending a similar amount on talent in 2017?
We are just guessing here, since no team is going to provide their budget and/or payroll information. There is no edge to be gained in doing so, so teams will not do it. But based on available information, we can at least take a look at projected payroll obligations for the Orioles for next season.
Guaranteed dollars for 2017: $17 million - Chris...
Did the Orioles make a trade of pitching coaches earlier this week? Not really, but while Dave Wallace and Dom Chiti are heading back to the Atlanta organization, the Orioles hired Roger McDowell as their new pitching coach. For the last 11 years he was the pitching coach ... in Atlanta.
McDowell said Wallace is a mentor and Chiti is a friend. He has a strong relationship with both.
"I learned everything I know about being a pitching coach probably from Dave Wallace and I think from that...
Happy Thanksgiving, Birdland!
I hope everyone has a great day and holiday weekend with family and friends. I am very thankful for many things today. But I am always thankful that I get to cover my hometown team as a reporter, and that so many readers come here and take the time to leave comments and thoughts. Even if we disagree, I appreciate the input and it keeps a great conversation going during the cold winter months while we wait for more baseball.
If you have time to leave any comments...
There has been labor peace for so long in baseball that the word "lockout" hasn't surfaced for a long time. Neither has the word "strike," unless we are talking about the possible result of a pitched ball.
But yesterday afternoon, Ken Rosenthal's story on FOXSports.com had a stunning headline:
"Sources: Baseball's 21-year run of labor peace could be in jeopardy. Owners will consider voting to lock out players if they cannot reach a new CBA by Dec. 1."
What the heck is going on here?...
Teammates on an Orioles team that advanced to the American League Championship Series in 1996, Roger McDowell and Alan Mills are now reunited in Baltimore. Today, McDowell was hired as the club's pitching coach and Mills as bullpen coach.
While McDowell will have to get to know the Orioles pitchers coming from Atlanta, Mills is already quite familiar with many of them. He was the pitching coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen from 2012-13, at Single-A Delmarva in 2014 and with Double-A Bowie...
While this has the potential to be a quieter offseason than most for the Orioles, it also seems like it will be an offseason without the pursuit of a starting pitcher. At least one that can step right in on the big league level.
Right now, the Orioles have six starters for five spots. Some feel the rotation gets off to a good start with Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy. But then it falls off a cliff with the veterans Yovani Gallardo, Ubaldo Jimenez and Wade Miley.
Let's start with...
Are the Chicago White Sox having a fire sale? Are they telling other teams in baseball that almost all of their players can be had in a trade?
If the reports are accurate that any players with less than four years of team control are available, then they have a player that technically has less than four years remaining that is very attractive. A player that a team looking for a leadoff hitter, right fielder and good on-base guy might covet. Know any team that needs a player like that?
The...
