Duquette on Winter Meetings priorities, the pitching market and more

Duquette on Winter Meetings priorities, the pitching market and more
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - After Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with the Baltimore reporters during a pre-Winter Meetings briefing tonight, he took a few minutes to answer a few more questions with MASNSports.com What is the top priority right now? "The Orioles are going to look to build their pitching staff. So that means we are trying to sign a starter and reliever, and we are also looking for a left-handed hitter." You mentioned that some offers have been made to...
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Gausman in the bullpen next year? Don't think so

Gausman in the bullpen next year? Don't think so
When the 2014 season begins, will Kevin Gausman pitch as a starter or reliever for the Orioles? If he begins the year in the major leagues, I would expect that to happen with him in the rotation. I would guess Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette feel that way too, but Duquette did not 100 percent rule out a bullpen role for Guasman when asked about that earlier this week. "We can decide that in spring training," Duquette said. "I think long-term, he is more valuable to the club as a starting...
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As Winter Meetings approach, some O's fans are becoming impatient

As Winter Meetings approach, some O's fans are becoming impatient
The natives are getting restless. Orioles fans are watching other teams sign players, watching 2013 Orioles sign elsewhere and not seeing their own team make what they feel are significant acquisitions. Some fans were not happy with the Jim Johnson trade. Yesterday, pitcher Scott Feldman signed with Houston and outfielder Nate McLouth with Washington. Some fans see those players leaving and feel their team is not as good now as it was at end of a 2013 season, which did not conclude with a...
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Comparing Jones to Ellsbury, plus a take on Cano and the Yankees

Comparing Jones to Ellsbury, plus a take on Cano and the Yankees
It was big news earlier this week when free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury went from the Red Sox to the Yankees. He agreed to a seven-year, $153 million dollar deal with New York with a 2021 option at $16 million. That is a whopper of a deal. I think the Yankees got a heckuva player, but paid way too big a price. There is a reason that his own team, which has some of its own very deep pockets, didn't offer Ellsbury that much. I can only imagine the outrage in Baltimore if an Orioles star...
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Dylan Bundy has begun a light tossing program

Dylan Bundy has begun a light tossing program
Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy recently began a light throwing program in Florida and he is ahead of schedule in his return from June surgery. In the last few days, Bundy began a light tossing program of 25 throws from about 60 feet every other day. His rehab throwing program will ramp up a bit more in January when he makes more throws at longer distances. Bundy underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews on June 27. Dr. Andrews and O's minor league...
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Dan Duquette on Orioles' window of opportunity

Dan Duquette on Orioles' window of opportunity
Is the Orioles' window of opportunity closing after the next season or two? Shortstop J.J. Hardy will be a free agent after the 2014 season, which could also be Nick Markakis' last season in an O's uniform. Matt Wieters and Chris Davis can be free agents after the 2015 season. Those are four key Orioles starters that could be gone after the 2014 season or the year after. That has led some reporters and fans to look at the next season or two as the Orioles' window of opportunity to make...
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Duquette on Weeks, the closer role and more, plus PTBN possibles

Duquette on Weeks, the closer role and more, plus PTBN possibles
Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette was a guest on MASN's "Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" yesterday and talked about the Jim Johnson trade. He said when you look at the trade you'll have to look at other players the O's sign in the next few weeks. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweeted this yesterday: "Jim Johnson trade was an obvious salary dump for Baltimore. Source said Orioles could be using money to pursue outfielder Nelson Cruz." Cruz was among 13...
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More on J. Johnson and Gamboa, plus some Wieters speculation

More on J. Johnson and Gamboa, plus some Wieters speculation
The trade of Jim Johnson sure brought on an avalanche of reaction, much of it questioning the return the Orioles got in Jemile Weeks from Oakland. In acquiring Weeks, the Orioles got a player who didn't even play much in the majors last year and has not been able to duplicate his big league success of 2011, when he hit .303 in 97 games. It appears Weeks is not being handed the second base job, so the O's did not get back a top prospect or a player guaranteed to be a regular in exchange for...
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What is your take on the Jim Johnson trade?

What is your take on the Jim Johnson trade?
The early reaction to tonight's trade via my Twitter account has not been real positive, but feel free to add your two cents here as well. Those that wanted Jim Johnson gone got their wish tonight, as the Orioles traded him to the Oakland A's for infielder Jemile Weeks, which was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. The Orioles also get a player to be named later. Weeks had a slash line of .282/.375/.402 in 361 minor league games and has a line of .258/.319/.677 in 223 major...
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Checking on a few items in the baseball news

Checking on a few items in the baseball news
See, the Orioles are busy. They even made a trade during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. OK, they didn't deal Matt Wieters, and it was not exactly a blockbuster. Will their offseason hot stove really take fire this week? This time next week we'll be in Orlando for the start of the Winter Meetings. While we wait for that fun to begin, let's look at a few items in the news in the baseball world. Item: The Yankees and free agent Robinson Cano are still $80 million dollars apart, as Cano...
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Looking back on a flurry of roster moves and at some catching split stats

Looking back on a flurry of roster moves and at some catching split stats
Taking time this morning to ponder that the Auburn player that ran back that missed field goal to beat Alabama yesterday was named Chris Davis. The baseball-playing Davis crushed baseballs while the football-playing Davis crushed the hopes of Alabama's fan base. In the last two weeks, the Orioles have added eight players to their 40-man roster with three coming from their own organization. Here is a recap: * Nov. 18 - Orioles sign left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz to a one-year...
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Orioles acquire catcher Monell from San Francisco Giants

Orioles acquire catcher Monell from San Francisco Giants
The Orioles have acquired catcher Johnny Monell from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations, according to a tweet from Andrew Baggarly of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. The 27-year-old Monell has spent his entire career in the Giants' minor league system, but was designated for assignment earlier this week. In 641 games over seven minor league seasons, the left-handed batter has posted a .267/.351/.456 line. He has spent most of the past four seasons at Double-A and Triple-A. He's...
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How much can Kevin Gausman impact the 2014 rotation?

How much can Kevin Gausman impact the 2014 rotation?
When I look ahead to the 2014 Orioles season, I can foresee the team's rotation getting a potentially big boost by someone already on the staff. Can Kevin Gausman be a real X factor for the 2014 Orioles? Gausman made just five starts for the Orioles last season with 15 appearances out of the bullpen. While some fans look at the stat sheet and see a player that is not yet ready for consistent major league success, I think back to a pair of starts the 22-year-old right-hander made in June that...
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How will O's fans feel if Mussina gets the call to the Hall?

How will O's fans feel if Mussina gets the call to the Hall?
They say time heals all wounds, but when it comes to baseball and the Orioles-Yankees rivalry, that may not be completely true. It was announced this week that former Oriole Mike Mussina's name will appear on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time and, at some point, it appears Mussina could get the call to the Hall. But if elected, will he go in as an Oriole or z Yankee, and how will fans of the club feel about that? Even after all this time, I don't think the wound of...
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Time to give thanks for baseball and more

Time to give thanks for baseball and more
Happy Thanksgiving, Birdland! Today and every day I am so thankful I get to make my living in the great sport of baseball. Most of us here have a love affair with the game and we share that bond for sure. While I am thankful for that, I'm even more thankful that I get to work covering the team I fell in love with at age 6 and the team I've loved ever since. I've always felt my long history being an Orioles fan long before I became an O's reporter has been nothing but a real plus in...
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10 questions for O's fans: Offseason edition No. 2

10 questions for O's fans: Offseason edition No. 2
It has simply been too long. We haven't done this for weeks and weeks, and that is weak on my part. So today it's time for another edition of "10 questions for O's fans." It's not hard to figure out what we are doing here. I'll ask you 10 Orioles-related questions and you provide the answers. Per usual, answer one, two or all 10. Provide a one-word answer or provide a lengthy answer if the mood strikes. But please do participate. I look forward to reading all your answers. Now on to...
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A take on Reimold's return and reliever additions

A take on Reimold's return and reliever additions
Wait, Jhonny Peralta won't be playing left field next year for the Orioles, but Nolan Reimold might? Plenty of fans have written Reimold off, and after seeing him play just 56 games the last two years, he's become somewhat of a forgotten man around here. But for a projected $1.2 million, the O's are taking a low-risk gamble that Reimold may be able to stay healthy next year. Dan Duquette said yesterday that Reimold will be tendered a contract by the club for 2014. I might be the last one...
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A look at minor league catching depth and a take on Jim Johnson

A look at minor league catching depth and a take on Jim Johnson
This may surprise you, but the position in the Orioles' minor leagues that may currently feature the most depth is catcher. There was a time a year or two ago when we certainly could not say that. But now the Orioles may have five catchers among their best 25 or 30 prospects. This comes after a season where two catchers - Caleb Joseph and Michael Ohlman - had big years on offense, and the club drafted three other high school catchers, all of which are already showing some promise. Among the...
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More on Boras and the Birds

More on Boras and the Birds
Earlier this week here I wrote about the Scott Boras factor. Baseball's most well-known and powerful agent is a key guy when it comes to the Orioles this winter. If the club seeks a contract extension with Chris Davis and/or Matt Wieters, they'll be dealing with Boras, who represents both players. Years ago, there was talk that the Orioles and Boras had a frosty relationship. If that was true then, it certainly doesn't appear to be any issue now. Former Orioles executive Jim Duquette...
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Gary Kendall on AFL championship: "The Orioles made a statement that day"

Gary Kendall on AFL championship: "The Orioles made a statement that day"
It was a week ago today that the Surprise Saguaros charged the mound to celebrate their Arizona Fall League championship. It was a championship won with a big Oriole flavor. The Surprise team was managed by Double-A Bowie skipper Gary Kendall. Short-season Single-A Aberdeen pitching coach Alan Mills was one of two pitching coaches on the team that also featured eight O's prospects. For the winning players and coaches, it was a wonderful baseball experience and they'll get championship rings...
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