Hyde on learning more about his players and competing

Brandon Hyde can speak in general terms about the players in the Orioles organization. He's been their manager for only a week. The specifics will come later after he's more familiar with everyone, a task that's going to occupy much of his winter.

A full plate includes an education on personnel, which feels more like a crash course.

That's why he's embarking this weekend on a working vacation.

"I've got iPads loaded up right now in my hotel room," he said Thursday night on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "I've got a flight to Hawaii on Saturday and I'm going to be watching a lot of film.

"That's pretty much it. It's get on the phone and watch as much video as I possibly can to get to know these guys as much as I possibly can. Maybe read some reports, talk to people, try to see some guys before spring training starts. You're going to try to know the club as well as you can before spring training hits in the middle of February."

Hyde won't need to be introduced to Andrew Cashner. They already crossed paths back in 2009 in the Arizona Fall League when Cashner was in the Cubs organization and seven months away from making his major league debut.

"I loved him," Hyde said. "He was a kid with a great arm. Back then it was upper 90s with a nasty curveball and he threw strikes. He was a really good prospect at that time. And he was really good out of the Cubs bullpen like two years after that, and then went in the trade for (Anthony) Rizzo to San Diego. But I always got along really good with Cash and I look forward to reconnecting with him."

Cashner is penciled into the rotation again with one more year left on the $16 million deal he signed in February, the last $3 million deferred from 2020-2023. He makes $8 million next season.

If no trades are consummated, Hyde can decide where to slot Cashner in a rotation that might welcome a veteran later or simply hold a couple of younger, more inexperienced starters.

Hyde repeated on Thursday that he isn't operating with a timeline to complete the rebuild and for the Orioles to regain contender status. No three-year plan, no five-year plan, no way to pin down Hyde, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias or anyone else in the organization.

"Total process-based," Hyde said. "We're going to try to get better every single day. You're going to get sick of me saying it, but I'm not putting any kind of timeline on it. It's about getting the right staff together, it's about getting the player buy-in, it's about getting relationships going and we're just going to try to get better."

The talk of a rebuild will be muted around Hyde. He doesn't want to hear it.

Plug your ears while holes are plugged in the roster.

"I'm not into the word 'rebuild,' to be honest with you. I'm into the word 'compete,'" Hyde said.

"We're going to compete. We're going to lay it out there. So, 'rebuild' for me is a word that might be thrown around media-wise, but it's about competing for me and trying to get better every day."

Hyde unintentionally is coming up with T-shirt slogans, including his statement on Monday about being "patient and positive."

"Well, I'll tell you what, Joe Maddon is the king of T-shirts. I've got about 75 in my attic right now from all the T-shirts we get," Hyde said.

"I believe in that. I believe we're going to be patient with these guys and we're going to have a positive atmosphere, we're going to have a positive coaching staff and we're going to be behind these guys 100 percent. The players are going to know it. And now it's their job to go out and get better and compete every night."

Notes: The Cardinals designated former Orioles pitcher Ryan Meisinger for assignment yesterday to make room for left-hander Andrew Miller on the 40-man roster. The Cardinals claimed Meisinger, a Maryland native, off waivers during the Winter Meetings.

The Padres signed former Double-A Bowie first baseman Aderlin Rodriguez, 27, to a minor league deal and extended an offer to spring training. Rodriguez batted .286/.335/.478 with 20 doubles, two triples, 23 home runs and 92 RBIs in 128 games with the Baysox.