Gold Glove exclusion, Álvarez and AFL updates

The Orioles will be shut out in Rawlings Gold Glove voting for a third consecutive year.

The lack of a finalist in 2018 sealed their fate.

Manny Machado made the final three last year at third base, but was denied his third Gold Glove. He isn't a finalist after a change in positions and teams, but the World Series provides a nice distraction for him.

Yesterday's news was anticlimactic, with the Orioles having no obvious candidates at any position. Machado was traded prior to the non-waiver deadline. First baseman Chris Davis was a finalist in 2016, losing to Mitch Moreland, but his play has slipped and he didn't figure to make it this year.

The Orioles failed to claim a Gold Glove last year for the first time since 2010. They had multiple winners in four consecutive seasons before 2015, when Machado earned his second award.

Machado won a Gold Glove and Platinum Glove, given to the league's best overall defensive player, in 2013. He moved to shortstop this season with J.J. Hardy's contract running out and posted unfavorable defensive metrics before heading to Los Angeles.

Brooks Robinson is the only other Orioles third baseman to win a Gold Glove. He collected 16 in a row from 1960 through 1975.

Right fielder Nick Markakis and catcher Matt Wieters won the award in 2011, Wieters, Hardy and center fielder Adam Jones won in 2012; Machado, Hardy and Jones won in 2013; and Hardy, Jones and Markakis won in 2014.

Jones, a pending free agent who's almost assured of changing organizations, moved to right field this summer after the Orioles selected Cedric Mullins' contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Jones claimed the award in 2009, the first Oriole to be recognized for defensive excellence since pitcher Mike Mussina in 1999.

Markakis was named a finalist yesterday in his fourth season with the Braves. Jon Jay also is a finalist after the Orioles negotiated with his agent over the winter and couldn't reach agreement on a deal.

Jay signed with the Royals in March, settling for a one-year deal that guaranteed $3 million, and was traded three months later.

Gold Glove winners are selected by a vote of major league managers and coaches, accounting for 75 percent, as well as the SABR Defensive Index. They'll be announced on Nov. 4.

Here are the finalists:

American League
Pitchers: Corey Kluber (Indians), Dallas Keuchel (Astros), Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees)
Catchers: Yan Gomes (Indians), Martín Maldonado (Astros), Salvador Perez (Royals)
First basemen: Justin Smoak (Blue Jays), Matt Olson (Athletics), Mitch Moreland (Red Sox)
Second basemen: Jed Lowrie (Athletics), Ian Kinsler (Red Sox), Rougned Odor (Rangers)
Third basemen: Alex Bregman (Astros), José Ramírez (Indians), Matt Chapman (Athletics)
Shortstops: Marcus Semien (Athletics), Andrelton Simmons (Angels), Francisco Lindor (Indians)
Left fielders: Brett Gardner (Yankees), Alex Gordon (Royals), Andrew Benintendi (Red Sox)
Center fielders: Adam Engel (White Sox), Mike Trout (Angels), Jackie Bradley Jr. (Red Sox)
Right fielders: Kole Calhoun (Angels), Mookie Betts (Red Sox), Aaron Judge (Yankees)

National League
Pitchers: Julio Teheran (Braves), Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks), Clayton Richard (Padres)
Catchers: Buster Posey (Giants), Yadier Molina (Cardinals), Manny Piña (Brewers)
First basemen: Joey Votto (Reds), Freddie Freeman (Braves), Anthony Rizzo (Cubs)
Second basemen: DJ LeMahieu (Rockies), Kolten Wong (Cardinals), Javier Báez (Cubs)
Third basemen: Nolan Arenado (Rockies), Anthony Rendon (Nationals), Travis Shaw (Brewers)
Shortstops: Freddy Galvis (Padres), Brandon Crawford (Giants), Nick Ahmed (Diamondbacks)
Left fielders: Christian Yelich (Brewers), Corey Dickerson (Pirates), Adam Duvall (Braves)
Center fielders: Billy Hamilton (Reds), Lorenzo Cain (Brewers), Ender Inciarte (Braves)
Right fielders: Jon Jay (Diamondbacks), Jason Heyward (Cubs), Nick Markakis (Braves)

* The latest round of Baseball America's minor league transactions includes the expected news that veteran Pedro Álvarez again has declared for free agency.

Did you expect the Orioles to re-sign him in October?

The Orioles signed Álvarez on March 10, 2016, March 13, 2017 and Feb. 26, 2018. He broke camp with them this year while Mark Trumbo was on the disabled list and batted .180/.283/.414 with two doubles, eight home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games.

Álvarez was designated for assignment on June 19 while in a 1-for-18 slump.

Another reunion seems unlikely with the club needing to improve its defense and already having an ample supply of first base/designated hitter types, even with Trumbo a possibility for the disabled list again after undergoing knee surgery. Álvarez is only 31 - I always think of him as being older - and should be able to find a job somewhere as a spring training invitee.

The list of players released by the Orioles includes pitcher Christian Turnipseed, a 28th-round pick in 2015 who's blessed with one of the great names in baseball. Unfortunately, he missed the 2018 season after undergoing labrum surgery in December.

Turnipseed began his professional career with 33 2/3 scoreless innings and notched 17 saves at Single-A Delmarva in 2016.

* Ryan McKenna and Martin Cervenka each had four hits yesterday for the Glendale Desert Dogs in a 21-8 win over Surprise in the Arizona Fall League.

McKenna doubled twice, drove in a run, walked twice and scored three runs while raising his average to .371. Cervenka served as the designated hitter and had a double, three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Orioles were well-represented. Steve Wilkerson started at third base and was 3-for-4 with five RBIs, a walk and two runs scored.