Orioles sign Gentry, Machado meets with the media

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have signed outfielder Craig Gentry to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, giving them a defensive upgrade if he makes the club.

Gentry is a career .261/.335/.333 hitter in eight major league seasons, but he appeared in only 26 games with the Athletics in 2015 and 14 with the Angels last season due to injury. The Angels designated him for assignment on July 30 and he rejected an outright assignment and elected free agency.

Gentry, 33, plays all three outfield positions, mostly center, and owns a career 5.4 defensive war in 457 games. He's a right-handed hitter who conceivably could platoon with Hyun Soo Kim in left field or Seth Smith in right.

Joey Rickard, who no longer holds Rule 5 status, also could fill that role.

Gentry spent parts of five seasons with the Rangers and appeared in six World Series games in 2011. He went 0-for-2 against the Orioles in the 2012 American League wild card game in Arlington, Texas.

The Orioles have 53 players in camp.

Meanwhile, it wouldn't be an interview with third baseman Manny Machado unless someone brought up his contract and whether the Orioles have contacted his agent to discuss a long-term extension.

Spring is in the air and the thought of Machado leaving for free agency after 2018 is on the minds of everyone except the player.

"No, not at all," he said, again confirming that talks haven't restarted. "It's something that, I'm not worried about it. I'm trying to play baseball. I'm not going to sit here and answer these questions, because there have been no talks. And when there is, you guys will probably be the first to know. To be honest, you might find out before me.

"I'm not worried about it. I came here to play baseball. Let's just enjoy ourselves. This year they've put a really good group of guys in this clubhouse. It will be really fun to play with them and see what we can do."

It's been a difficult winter for Machado, but not because of his contract or the media's obsession with it.

Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, who brawled with Machado in June after hitting him with a pitch, died in a car accident on Jan. 22 in the Dominican Republic. Machado reached out to the family and contacted players on the team, sharing in their grieving

"It's sad what happened," Machado said. "My condolences go to the family and I know they're still grieving. I know it just sucks. I know we had our altercations on the field, but you know what? You leave stuff on the field. Once you step between those lines, its (the) gridiron.

"We're out there grinding, playing for each other, playing for our team, playing for the name across our chests. You know, once you step (off) the field, those are things you don't want to happen. I was just trying to reach out to the family and see if they needed anything. I wanted to send some stuff out. It's just sad to see a great guy like that and a great baseball player who had a bright future ahead, go down like that."

Here's more from Machado:

On whether playing in WBC changes his routine:
"No, getting ready for baseball. Obviously, these games are a little more important. I've got to get ready a little quicker and mentally, too. Physically, just getting ready for baseball, just like I would any other year. Once the games starts, I'll probably put a little more intensity into it. The first couple games trying to ease my way into it. But other than that, just trying to get ready for baseball, try to get ready for season and just play some baseball."

On playing shortstop here before leaving:
"Yeah, we're going to get in some games and try to get some at-bats early on. See some live pitching, try to get those miscues out of the way and try to get ready for the first couple games. Buck (Showalter) came up to us and set up a nice little program of what games we want to play in. You also don't want to go in and play too many games early on and get tired.

"I know we're going to play quite a few games in the Classic. You don't want to play too many games as well because I don't want to get fatigued for the year. There are a lot of things Buck sees where later on you kind of sit back and realize why he does it, so I kind of put a perspective on that as well."

On whether he's still playing shortstop in WBC despite Adrian Beltre's injury:
"Yeah, I think so. They made it clear I was going to be playing both regardless. Whether (Beltre) is down now, I don't know how long he's going to be. I don't know they said he wants to try to come back and play. I'm under the impression I'm going to play both regardless. We'll see.

"I told them I'll play whatever. I really didn't say one position. I'll play short, I'll play third. I told them I'll play first. It don't matter. I just want to go out there and represent the country and represent my family in the right way."

On feeling like a veteran now:
"Yeah, it's crazy, and I'm just 24. It's crazy how time goes. I look here by my side and it's Dino (Robert Andino). My first spring training was with Andino next to me and when I came up he was the guy to talk to and he showed me the ropes a little bit. He took me under his wing, so it's crazy that now it's six, seven years. This is my, what, seventh spring training? And it feels like my first every year. It's crazy.

"Just keep playing baseball and keep having fun. Nothing changes."

On whether Orioles are equipped to win:
"That's everyone's goal, that's everyone's dream. We all have been in here. Everyone wants to be the last team standing and you know, it's something I think we're getting closer and closer to. I think we have a taste of what it feels like to win and what it takes to get there. That's just a matter of executing and keep playing as a team (for) 162.

"I want to say we have the best group of guys in there to try to make that push. It's not always about the big team or the aces and the horses and the million-dollar contracts you bring in guys (on). It's about who are the 25 guys in this clubhouse who are going to go out there and grind every day. I see it as who do you want to look to your side and know he's going to have your back no matter what and know he's going to grind?

"It's the little things that count in baseball whether it's playing defense or getting the runner over or driving in the guy or hitting a three-run home run or moving a guy on base. So much more of that goes into winning than just having the big knockers or those aces on the mound. Obviously that helps a little bit, but when you put good people around you and people that want it more than anyone else, it counts a lot more."

On J.J. Hardy missing workouts due to back spasms:
"It was weird yesterday having him not on the field. I've come into spring training six, seven years now and it was kind of awkward not having him out there. I know he wants to be out there badly. I'm confident he's going to deal with it. J.J. is a hard worker, he takes the time off he needs and listens to the trainers and people around him to get right. I've been around him for years now and if its 15 days he's got to be off the field he's going to be back on the 16th day. He's grinder, he's going to grind through everything as much as possible to be ready for opening day or whatever it is. If it's nothing serious, I guarantee he'll be there on opening day.

"He's a key note in the infield. When we see him next to us, I'm not downgrading anything else, but J.J. is the captain of the infield, the captain of the team. When he's out there it's a different infield, a different team. We've got to be on pinpoint, we can't be messing up.

"We call him The Godfather. He does (stuff) the right way. When we go out there we try to follow him. He leads by example. He's a key part of this infield, he's a key part of this defense. Anytime he's off the field it hurts us."