Mark Hendrickson had other opportunities available, but the veteran reliever’s main wish all along was to return to the Orioles. The two sides made that happen today by agreeing to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training.

Hendrickson’s choices came down to the Orioles and Colorado Rockies. But his familiarity with the organization, its players and the region won out.

“This is probably the best group of guys I have played with in my career, and my wife says this is the best group of wives and girlfriends she has been involved with in all the years we have been associated with this game,” Hendrickson said. “That says a lot about the people this organization has in it.”

If Hendrickson makes the club, it will mark his third straight season in Baltimore. If he is on the team all year, he will make $900,000. It is a split contract if he plays in the minors.

The veteran lefty has gone 7-11 with a 4.74 ERA over the past two seasons, making 93 of his 105 appearances in relief.

Hendrickson, 36, will compete for one or two available spots in the revamped bullpen. With lefty setup man Michael Gonzalez having had arm issues in 2010, the Orioles were looking to add more bullpen depth from the left side. If manager Buck Showalter decides to keep two lefties, Hendrickson, fellow nonroster invitee Clay Rapada, Troy Patton and Pedro Viola will duel to make the Opening Day roster.

A well-respected presence in the Orioles’ clubhouse the past two seasons whose leadership has been applauded by several of the organization’s young pitchers, Hendrickson also could fit the long-man role. He has made 166 starts during his big league career, which spans five teams and parts of nine seasons.

The 6-foot-9 graduate of Washington State started his career as a professional basketball player and participated in 114 NBA games from 1996 to 2000 before signing with the Toronto Blue Jays. He is one of 12 athletes to play in both the NBA and major league baseball.

Hendrickson and his wife, who live year round in York, Pa., welcomed their first child in December. The big lefty had cited both the proximity to his family and the familiarity with the organization as reasons he wanted to return to the Orioles for another season.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 1:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

Former Orioles outfielder Jeff Fiorentino is returning to his old organization this spring after agreeing to a minor league deal, an industry source said.

Fiorentino, 27, was not extended an invitation to big league camp and is considered minor league depth at this point. This will be his third stint with the organization.

He spent last year in Japan, batting .246 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 44 games with the Hiroshima Carp of the Central League. He was limited by injury and a stint in Japan’s minors.

A third-round draft pick of the Orioles' in 2004, Fiorentino made his big league debut in 2005 at age 22. He also played with the Orioles in 2006 and 2009 and had two games with the Oakland Athletics in 2008.

Overall, the left-handed hitter has batted .270 with a .341 on-base percentage in 58 major league games.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

The Orioles were looking for a starter.

They got one in 33-year-old right-hander Justin Duchscherer, whom they signed Sunday night to a one-year deal pending a physical, which likely will be Tuesday or Wednesday.

Duchscherer is an interesting risk, in my opinion. The guy knows how to pitch. He doesn’t throw hard, but he mixes it up and throws strikes. He has a near 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his career, and he has represented the Oakland Athletics on the American League All-Star team as both a reliever and a starter.

But he has battled health issues for much of his career. He has had three surgeries on his hips (two on his right and one, last June, on his left). He has made just five starts in the past two seasons and only 32 in his career.

It’s why the Orioles structured the big league contract the way they did. He’ll get $700,000 in base salary, and that will move up $1.1 million when he makes the 25-man roster. He then has incentive bonuses based on the number of starts that would make his contract worth $4.5 million if he makes 30 starts.

He is not being viewed as a reliever, so, technically, he’ll be fighting for a rotation spot in spring. But if he is healthy, he’ll have a spot. That simple. And that means one of the young guys, most likely Chris Tillman, will head back to Triple-A, assuming everyone else is healthy.

The way I look at it, competition is good. And the contract protects the team while rewarding Duchscherer if he stays healthy and produces. But I know some of you want the young starters to learn at the major league level since they have all shown they can handle Triple-A.

So I want your opinion here. Do you like this move?

Daily Think Special: Do you like the Justin Duchscherer signing?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (108)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

The Orioles have added the veteran starting pitcher they were seeking this offseason, agreeing to terms Sunday night with right-hander Justin Duchscherer on a one-year, major-league contract pending a physical.

Duchscherer, 33, chose the Orioles over the Washington Nationals and the Seattle Mariners, partially because he wanted to be close to his son in southern New Jersey and also because the Orioles will create a spot for him in their rotation and won't be using him as a reliever, a role he held for much of his eight seasons in the majors.

He will make $700,000 in a base contract that will increase to $1.1 million whenever he is put on the 25-man roster (that will be prorated if it is later than Opening Day). He has incentives based on games started that will continue to build and eventually would bring his salary to $4.5 million if he makes 30 starts in 2011. He also has a standard awards bonus package that includes an additional $100,000 if he is named Comeback Player of the Year. His physical will be either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Read the report that will appear in Monday's newspaper here.

Dan Connolly

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Posted by Baltimore Sun sports at 11:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The Orioles are one of two finalists in the sweepstakes for right-handed pitcher Justin Duchscherer.

According to an industry source, the pitcher has narrowed his choices down to the Orioles and the Washington Nationals after seriously considering the Seattle Mariners.

All three offered one-year deals, and more than one has offered a major league contract.

A source confirmed the Orioles have offered Duchscherer a major league roster spot. That makes sense since the Orioles have a spot left on their 40-man roster and they had been saving it for a starting pitcher.

Duchscherer is expected to make his decision soon, perhaps as early as today. He has interest in relocating to the East Coast because his son lives in southern New Jersey.

The 33-year-old Duchscherer, who is attempting to come back from hip surgery, made just five starts because of a hip injury in 2010 and missed all of 2009 because of injury and a bout with clinical depression.

However, when Duchscherer starts, he can be extremely effective. In his career, he is 14-11 with a 3.01 ERA in 32 starts, all with the Oakland Athletics.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 3:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)
        

Luke Scott made something clear again Saturday at FanFest.

He’ll play left field or designated hitter or first base or wherever manager Buck Showalter wants him in 2011. But he wants to play for the Orioles this season -- and well into the future.

“My personal desire is I want to be here, in Baltimore, when this team turns around and starts contending,” Scott said Saturday. “I would be all for signing a long-term deal, absolutely. It is something I have worked hard for for my entire career, and it is a goal of mine. But it is out of my hands.”

Scott, 32, is arbitration-eligible, and his case has not yet been settled. He is scheduled for a hearing Feb. 14, when a three-person board of arbitrators will decide whether to award him $6.85 million (his filing) or $5.7 million (the Orioles’ filing).

Scott, who is coming off his best season after hitting .284 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs and earning the Most Valuable Oriole Award, can become a free agent after the 2012 season. His representation has spoken to the Orioles about a contract extension.

“We brought it up. They are just not ready to go there,” Scott said. “It’s their decision.”

With his sunny attitude and strong work ethic, Scott has made himself a fan favorite in his three seasons in Baltimore. But he rankled some this offseason when he spoke his mind about politics -- and specifically President Barack Obama -- while at the winter meetings in Florida.

He criticized both the president’s performance and his origin of birth.

Saturday was the first time he appeared before Orioles’ fans since making those comments. And he said there was no backlash at the event.

“All was good. It was all positive. We all have our constitutional rights, and I have always been one to express how I feel. I try to do it in a way that is respectful,” Scott said. “Sometimes people say things that step on my toes, but I respect what they say because that is their right. It’s their right to think that way, ‘OK, that’s fine.’ For me it is the same way. I have my right to think and believe the way I want. We do not live in a Communist America. At least not yet.”

As for the possibility of the Orioles potentially signing Vladimir Guerrero, who would push Scott into left field and perhaps further down in the lineup, Scott said he is on board.

“We’ll see what happens. I feel I should be in the middle of the order somewhere, but that’s going to be Buck’s decision, what he decides to do with me,” Scott said. “As long as I get my at-bats, I’ll play wherever they want me to play and I’ll do whatever they want me to do.”

Regardless, he said he is excited about 2011 at Camden Yards.

“We proved to ourselves first and then to the rest of baseball that we are very capable of competing with the team we had last year,” Scott said. “And now we have added pieces that have kind of bolstered up our team. Things are definitely looking positive.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (65)
        

Earlier today, Orioles outfielders Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Luke Scott -- yes, he was included in this group even though he primarily served as a designated hitter last season -- and Nolan Reimold took their turn answering questions from the FanFest crowd.

Scott, like pretty much everyone else who participated in a forum today, was asked what he thought about the Orioles potentially acquiring free agent Vladimir Guerrero. He was diplomatic in his answer.

"I think competition will bring the best out of people," Scott said. "It'll be a hard decision for our management" in terms of how to allot playing time if Guerrero ends up in Baltimore.

(Scott, by the way, was sporting quite the bushy beard. Asked whether he planned to shave it, he said he would like to keep it but lamented the fact that the Orioles would require him to get rid of it once official baseball activities start. Orioles fans can only hope that the team makes the postseason and the organization revises its facial hair policy to allow playoff beards.)

Applauded for his meeting with owner Peter Angelos last season to discuss the direction of the team and asked whether he wanted to take a similar leadership role this coming season, Markakis said he planned to do more of the same this year but added that he felt the Orioles had several players who could step into that position.

Markakis also had high praise for Baltimore. "I'm grateful to play in what I consider one of the best baseball cities in baseball," the right fielder said.

The panel was also asked which pitchers each of them dreaded facing. Markakis named Boston Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Reimold, who endured a nightmare of a season last year, said that some days, any pitcher can feel like a hitter's worst enemy. He then singled out 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez as someone who gives him a particularly hard time.

And Jones? The always-quotable center fielder said he "can't stand" facing National League Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay, who pitched his first season with the Philadelphia Phillies last year after parts of 12 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. "I'm glad he moved to a different division," Jones added.

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Posted by Steve Gould at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Four Orioles coaches are currently talking at a fan forum: Pitching coach Mark Connor, bench coach Willie Randolph, third base coach John Russell and bullpen coach Rick Adair.

First base coach Wayne Kirby already spoke at an earlier forum; he had to leave for a personal engagement.

Hitting coach Jim Presley did not attend the event. He was hospitalized last week. I'm told the illness wasn't serious and he is better now, but he was excused from the event for obvious reasons.

By the way, Randolph, the old Yankee, got the biggest ovation when he walked onto the stage.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

The Orioles' starting infield, with the exception of first baseman Derrek Lee, just took the stage at FanFest to talk about the 2011 season and answer questions from fans.

Here are some tidbits from new shortstop J.J. Hardy, new third baseman Mark Reynolds, second baseman Brian Roberts and catcher Matt Wieters:

Wieters summed up what he thinks will be the biggest factor in the Orioles' success this season: "At the end of last year, our starting pitching was outstanding. Hopefully, those young guys can continue to improve and we [the infielders] will be as good as they are on the mound."

Reynolds on cutting down on his strikeouts this season: "You realize you got to be consistent in this game. ... I want to do the little things. I've been working this offseason with [former Orioles outfielder] Brady Anderson, and he's really helped a lot." Reynolds, who said he was working with Anderson even before the Arizona Diamondbacks traded him to the Orioles, added, "He throws great [batting practice], too."

Reynolds on his defense at third base: "I take a lot of pride in playing over there and getting better every year."

Hardy said he was excited to play for Buck Showalter, noting the effect the manager had on his players last season. "It seems like the team really responded to him well," Hardy said.

Roberts was effusive in his praise of Showalter. "I didn't think a manager could make that much difference ... and then Buck walked in and there was almost a different aura in our clubhouse."

Roberts, who said he "felt like I was really letting my teammates down" by missing so many games last season, also provided the highlight of the session. Asked about his season-ending injury, suffered when he hit himself in the helmet with a bat in frustration after a strikeout, the leadoff man advised, "Kids, do not do that."

"I suffered a concussion, which was not that cool, so I definitely learned my lesson," Roberts added.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

For all the new offensive acquisitions by the Orioles this offseason, it’s hard to argue that perhaps the biggest addition will be a healthy Brian Roberts.

The Orioles’ leadoff hitter battled back issues most of the year and then missed the last week of the season with concussion symptoms after hitting himself in the head with a bat.

Roberts said he had lingering concussion symptoms up until about Christmastime.

But now?

“I’m great. I feel as good as I have felt in the last year, year and half.”

He said he’s pretty used to the turnaround in the Orioles’ infield, but this year he is the lone returning starter.

“For the most part it is a new infield, and I am excited about it.”

He said he was probably most excited when he heard the Orioles had acquired third baseman Mark Reynolds, because he was the first of the big acquisitions and because Roberts believes the Orioles needed another home run threat in the middle of the lineup.

Regardless, he said, how well the club does depends on a lot more than the offense.

“For me, the key is still going to be our young starters, even with all these acquisitions, these young guys are going to have to pitch well for us.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Orioles fans have turned out in droves for the team's annual preseason celebration (in fact, they were still flowing into the Baltimore Convention Center as I was writing this post). And those fans have high hopes -- and high expectations -- for their club this coming season.

Said Matt Layman, 30, of Dundalk: "I expect them to finish over .500 because they've improved every position except our starting pitching, which was the one real bright spot at the end of last year. I'd like to see one or two of the young guys have a breakout year... It'd be nice to see [catcher Matt] Wieters take another step forward and start living up to his potential."

Layman's brother Andrew, 31, anticipates an enthusiastic atmosphere at Camden Yards in 2011. "I'm looking forward to Orioles fever, some Orioles Magic coming back," he said. "It was upsetting to go to games [last year] and see only 9,000 fans. To have a team where [it's possible to fill the stands again] is exciting,"

Katie Clayton, 25, from Baltimore echoed that sentiment. "It'll be nice to see a packed stadium that's not just packed for [games against] the Yankees, Red Sox and Nationals."

Randy Poist, a bartender at Pickles Pub, across the street from Oriole Park, said he believes increased fan excitement and turnout will be good for business and set the bar high for the Orioles in 2011, "I picked the Orioles to win 94 games this season," Poist, 31, said. "I'd like to see the team have more than one All-Star this year and have the team play well at the start of the season rather than [just] at the end."

Towson's Ed Layfield, 29, thinks the Orioles have hired the right manager to turn the team around. "I like [Buck Showalter's] attitude, and he brings experience. I like that he doesn't back down from the rest of the AL East. He's not going to tiptoe around those guys,"

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Posted by Steve Gould at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Orioles FanFest 2011 is officially under way at the Baltimore Convention Center, and the Orioles got things started with manager Buck Showalter and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail addressing the large crowd and answering questions from fans.

MacPhail said the club is having discussions with about five players who are potential offseason additions, and he and Showalter had some other interesting things to say.

On acquiring free-agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero:
Showalter, in response to a fan's shouting for the Orioles to sign Guerrero: "We're trying. We're taking donations right over there."
MacPhail: "In the event we were fortunate enough to acquire" him, it's likely Luke Scott would move to left field on a full-time basis.

MacPhail on what the Orioles can promise fans after the organization raises single-game ticket prices for the coming season: "I can tell you this: We've already boosted our [player] payroll up significantly higher than it was last year."

MacPhail on bringing back starting pitcher Kevin Millwood, who pitched at the top of the Orioles' rotation last season: "I'm a big Kevin Millwood fan." MacPhail went on to say he certainly hasn't ruled out signing Millwood, but that there's no guarantee the club will add another starting pitcher.

On the Orioles' rotation:
MacPhail: "The key differential when Buck came on board is our starting pitching went from well below average to the second-best in the American League."
Showalter: "When someone tells you it's not about pitching, it is about pitching."

Showalter on pitcher Jim Johnson: "We think J.J. Is a guy who can lock down some innings for us. It's about shortening games in the American League East." Showalter added that in the division, the key is grabbing early leads and holding them. The New York Yankees seem like they "play six innings" a lot of the time, the manager said. Showalter would not commit one way or the other to potentially using Johnson in the starting rotation.

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Posted by Steve Gould at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

The Orioles and an undisclosed team watched a private workout for free-agent right-handed starter Justin Duchscherer on Friday afternoon in Phoenix.

The 33-year-old Duchscherer, who is attempting to come back from hip surgery, ran, did conditioning drills and threw between 50 and 55 pitches in an hour-plus workout, according to his agent, Damon Lapa.

Lapa said his client’s velocity is already in the mid-80s and that he threw all four of his pitches for strikes from the set and stretch positions. Duchscherer will host a public workout in Phoenix on Tuesday and 29 teams have been invited, with the lone exception the Oakland Athletics, his former club.

The Orioles have been looking to sign a veteran starter, and Duchscherer has been an effective one when healthy. He is 14-11 with a 3.01 ERA in 32 starts, but made just five last season and none in 2009 because of injury.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

The Orioles unveiled their minor league coaching staffs today, appointing Gary Allenson (Triple-A Norfolk), Gary Kendall (Double-A Bowie), Orlando Gomez (Single-A Frederick) and Ryan Minor (Single-A Delmarva) as the managers of their prime affiliates.

Allenson, who managed the Tides for the first two months of the 2010 season, returns to Norfolk after serving as the Orioles’ third base coach for the final four months of this past season. His hitting coach will be Brad Komminsk, who had spent the previous four seasons as the manager of the Baysox, and Mike Griffin will be back as Tides pitching coach.

Kendall was promoted to Bowie from Aberdeen following a three-year stint managing there. The IronBirds’ new manager will be announced at a later date, and his coaching staff will include Scott McGregor (pitching) and Moe Hill and Cesar Devarez (field coaches).

Kendall’s staff includes pitching coach Kennie Steenstra and field coaches Denny Hocking and Einar Diaz. Pitching coach Blaine Beatty and field coach Mike Devereaux will work under Gomez in Frederick, while Minor’s staff includes Troy Mattes (pitching) and Jose Hernandez (field).

Brian Graham will continue in his role as the coordinator of minor league instruction, and he’ll be joined by former Orioles bullpen coach Alan Dunn (pitching coordinator), Dave Schmidt (coordinator of Sarasota operations), Felipe Alou Jr. (Dominican Republic coordinator), Mike Bordick (offensive instructor), Don Werner (catching instructor), Butch Davis (hitting), Denny Walling (hitting) and Bobby Dickerson (infield instruction).

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Orioles left-hander Troy Patton will have to leave spring training in Sarasota, Fla., in late February to appear in a courtroom in Houston.

Patton, 25, who was charged with DWI on Sunday night after his vehicle ran over a curb in a Houston city street, made a preliminary appearance at the Harris County Criminal Court on Friday, according to Assistant District Attorney Donna Hawkins.

His hearing was reset for Feb. 25, 11 days after Orioles pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota, Fla., for spring training. Patton, who has an outside chance to make the club as a lefty reliever, has team permission to leave camp to get his legal affairs in order.

“He should do whatever he has to do to make it right with the legal system -- and not do it again,” Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said.

Patton, who has not had a previous drunken driving arrest according to Houston police, could potentially offer his plea on February 25 if the hearing is not reset again, Hawkins said. He also could request admittance into an accelerated rehabilitation program for first-time offenders.

Patton pitched in one game for the Orioles in 2010 after missing most of the past two seasons because of injury.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Orioles agreed to terms today with infielder Nick Green on a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training.

Green, 32, who has played with seven big league clubs including the other four teams in the American League East, will compete with Brendan Harris and Robert Andino for a potential utility infield spot on the Opening Day roster.

Green is a career .237 hitter over parts of six major league seasons. He played in 14 big league games in 2010, five with the Los Angeles Dodgers and nine with the Toronto Blue Jays. His biggest asset is his versatility as he has seen action at every position except center field and catcher. That includes a two-inning pitching stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2009.

That season with the Red Sox, Green played 103 games, batting .236 with six homers and 35 RBIs.

I wrote in December that the Orioles and Green had reached an agreement, and I acknowledged later that day that I erred. As part of their original contract discussions with Green’s agent, the Orioles had an understanding that if they signed other players -- and they did that by acquiring J.J. Hardy and Harris and re-signing Cesar Izturis -- Green would have the opportunity to weigh alternatives. Green did that, but decided that the Orioles were still his best option.

His chance to make the Opening Day roster will depend on whether manager Buck Showalter takes one or two backup infielders. Izturis has the primary utility spot locked up.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

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Posted by Steve Gould at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The Orioles are still in search of the second left-hander for their bullpen.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a deal with Joe Beimel, beating out the Orioles and Boston Red Sox, according to an industry source.

The Pirates did not really enter the mix until Wednesday, but they hold a certain appeal for the 33-year-old lefty. He is from Western Pennsylvania, went to school at Duquesne in Pittsburgh and was selected by the Pirates in the 18th round of the 1998 draft.

He spent three of his 10 big league seasons with the Pirates. Last year he was 1-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 71 games for the Colorado Rockies.

The Denver Post first reported the signing.

The Orioles are still looking for a second lefty to join Michael Gonzalez in the bullpen. Potential candidates include recently signed Clay Rapada as well as Pedro Viola and Troy Patton. Mark Hendrickson, who is a free agent but has been offered a minor league deal by the Orioles after pitching the past two years with the team, is also a possibility.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

Yes, I am doing another Prediction Friday. I just can’t let a good thing go.

(Speaking of good things, earlier this week I saw Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, two of my favorite songwriters, together in an acoustic show. I had it completely hyped-up in my mind, and it met expectations. Maybe exceeded them. Just fantastic. So that’s why the jukebox in this joint is playing “Have A Little Faith in Me” and “If I Had a Boat,” over and over today).

Let’s get to last week’s Prediction Friday first. Eight of us, including your barkeep, correctly predicted that the Steelers and Packers would win their conference championships Sunday (there were more than eight, actually, but you only get credit if you included a score. I am a stickler for following directions).

Free drink chips for CSB Jack, Swanee, Cam, Bill K and Paul D. And a big, old open tab for M Styborski, who almost predicted the Steelers’ 24-19 win exactly. He had Pittsburgh winning 24-18 and he had Green Bay victorious, 22-20, not far from the 21-14 final. Closest to the Packers’ score was Swanee at 24-16.

Today’s Prediction Friday question can’t be reconciled until October. But we’re asking anyway. And we’ll probably ask again in late March.

Obviously, things can change if the Orioles add another couple of players, but right now I want you to predict how many games you think the Orioles win in 2011. I want to see just how optimistic you are heading into Saturday’s FanFest.

Some perspective: The Orioles were 66-96 last year. Their highest total since the wire-to-wire 1997 season was 79 wins in 1998. They have gotten more than 74 wins just twice since then (1999 and 2004). They need 82 to break the 13-season streak of losing seasons.

Their biggest jump in the past decade was seven wins from 71 in 2003 to 78 in 2004.

I say they top that biggest jump this season. I say the Orioles win 75 games in 2011, a nine-game jump from last year. Wish I could give you more, but I can’t.

That’s about as optimistic as I get. Now it is your turn.

(By the way, if you are at FanFest on Saturday, stop by and say hello. I’ll be there most of the day.)

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: How many games will the Orioles win in 2011? Why?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (107)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

The Orioles have not moved any closer to getting designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, so the hopes of seeing him jump from behind a curtain at FanFest on Saturday wearing “Baltimore” across his chest can be dashed. It’s not going to happen. Sorry.

Here’s what we know on the Guerrero front. His agent and the Orioles talked this week, as The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday. A preliminary offer was made, and it sits between $3 million and $5 million, according to an industry source.

Fox Sports first reported the estimated offer, and ESPN Deportes came back with the assertion that the offer was $2 million and Guerrero was “not excited” about it.

My take is that the Orioles would be willing to spend about $4 million on Guerrero and the deal is available now if he wants it. I don’t see them offering him $5 million; that seems to be out of their comfort zone, and they aren’t getting into a bidding war for his services at this point. I also don’t see Guerrero jumping at $4 million today; he’ll likely shop around a little longer to make sure there is nothing else out there now that he knows his initial demands won’t be met. What’s another week or so?

Guerrero made $6.5 million last year (which included a $1 million buyout), and he was reportedly seeking a two-year contract worth between $16 million and $20 million when the offseason began. So a $4 million deal for a dangerous hitter like Guerrero would be a coup for the Orioles.

As it is, pretty much all the teams that really need a designated hitter have filled that hole, though the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels might still be in play.

Guerrero is on an uncomfortable island, considering other DH types who have signed elsewhere — Adam Dunn (four years, $56 million, Chicago White Sox), Jim Thome (one year, $3 million, Minnesota Twins), Hideki Matsui (one year, $4.25 million, Oakland Athletics), Manny Ramirez (one year, $2 million, Tampa Bay Rays), Johnny Damon (one year, $5.25 million, Rays). Former Orioles castoff Jack Cust got $2.5 million from the Seattle Mariners, so you really can’t expect Guerrero to get less than that.

His timetable is unknown, but a Guerrero announcement at FanFest would be among the biggest upsets in Orioles history. First, the Orioles don’t make announcements until contracts are signed and a physical is completed. Given Guerrero’s age and past injury history, a physical would be a certainty before a deal is official — and that would have to occur today for a Saturday announcement. And a physical hasn’t been scheduled — mainly because the sides aren’t close to a deal (sensing a theme?).

Fans get excited about that possibility, especially when they consider that news of Miguel Tejada’s signing broke at last year’s FanFest. But that was not publicly announced by the club at the time, and it was in more than just the discussion stages heading into that Saturday.

It’s still possible the Orioles and Guerrero will find a happy medium. But until then, you’ll just have to sift through the continual, incremental updates and the rampant speculation.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)
        

Judging by the public outcry every time Vladimir Guerrero's name is mentioned these days, the first thing would probably be Orioles fans taking to the streets en masse, then rushing to the ticket booths to get 2011 season-ticket packages. However, that's not what I'm getting at.

What I mean is what would happen to the roster if the Orioles were able to sign the veteran designated hitter (and I have my doubts that they will, but I seem to be in the minority these days).

This is mostly speculation because the Orioles aren't commenting, but the first and obvious result would be former designated hitter Luke Scott's becoming the team's everyday left fielder. There has been talk — mostly generated by fans — that the Orioles should and/or would trade Scott, but I just don't see that happening. Scott is 32 years old. He remains arbitration-eligible, and he'll likely make close to $6.5 million this season. While I think criticism of his defense is a little overblown (I won't quibble with him being called below average, but I've seen plenty worse around the league and in the organization), most teams view Scott exclusively as a DH. If a team is still looking for a DH in late January and still has some payroll flexibility, it would sign Guerrero rather than trade for Scott. So Scott's trade value simply isn't high at the moment.

Scott was the Orioles' best and most dangerous hitter last season, so there is no way you can leave him out of the lineup. But if he plays left field regularly, either Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold almost certainly will be left out and off the Opening Day roster.

Reimold is the right-handed hitter, so he could play left field while manager Buck Showalter sits Scott against tough lefties. However, that's about all that's in Reimold's favor.

He has a minor league option left while Pie doesn't, meaning Reimold wouldn't have to be exposed to waivers and potentially lost as Pie would. Despite being a very good athlete, Reimold struggled mightily with his left-field defense last year, perhaps a result of not being completely healed after surgery on his Achilles tendon. Pie is the superior defensive option and the better choice to be used as a late-game defensive replacement for Scott in the outfield, a strategy that Showalter almost certainly would employ. Pie can also play center field, allowing Showalter to give Adam Jones an occasional day off.

This is my opinion more than anything, but I would be surprised if signing Guerrero resulted in an immediate trade of Pie or Reimold. The fact remains that Pie has yet to stay healthy and Jones has been banged up quite a bit over the past couple of seasons. The Orioles are relatively thin in outfield depth, especially in the upper levels of the minor leagues.

It seems to me the best thing to do would be to keep them all and hope both Reimold and Pie stay healthy and have strong spring trainings. If that's the case, you can always trade one of them late in spring training if an outfielder-needy team comes calling.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (105)
        

The Orioles have spoken to free agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero's agent this week, but the two sides are not close to a deal.

"We’ve had some conversations, but there is nothing on the horizon,” said Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, declining to characterize his team's chances of landing the nine-time All-Star.

Guerrero's representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

While content with Luke Scott as their designated hitter and a platoon of Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold in left field, the Orioles have said all along that they would have interest in Guerrero at the right price.

With the Tampa Bay Rays opting to sign Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, the Los Angeles Angels trading for Vernon Wells and the Texas Rangers acquiring Mike Napoli, Guerrero is believed to have very few options.

However, it is unknown if that has resulted in Guerrero's pricetag coming down significantly enough for the Orioles to make a serious play for the veteran who hit 29 homers and drove in 115 runs for the Texas Rangers in 2010.

The Orioles have exceeded their desired payroll for 2011, though owner Peter Angelos has long admired Guerrero and it wouldn't be surprising if he approved of such a move at the right price.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (53)
        

Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher and broadcaster Jim Palmer and pitching prospect Brandon Erbe have been added to autograph sessions for Saturday's FanFest.

Palmer has been added to Station No.3 at 3:20 p.m., and Erbe has been added to Station No.1 at 4:40 p.m.

An updated list of the autograph sessions is available at www.orioles.com/fanfest

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I made a point Tuesday of recognizing my colleague Jeff Zrebiec as the 2010 Maryland Sportswriter of the Year as chosen by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

I was remiss in not immediately mentioning that the same organization named WBAL Radio’s Keith Mills as Maryland’s 2010 Sportscaster of the Year.

As someone who grew up in Baltimore, Mills always will be remembered in my mind’s eye as part of an excellent 1-2 punch with the fantastic Scott Garceau on WMAR-TV. They really seemed to work well together; Garceau, the polished, gracious professional and Mills, the Brooklyn Park Everyman who you half-expected to high five the camera when things were going well in the Charm City sporting world.

Mills’ personal struggles, which have been well documented, cost him that job at WMAR. And there was a time when many of us thought he was done in this business, especially in Baltimore. But to Mills' credit he never shied away from his prescription medication addiction, telling his story countless times while juggling a return to the business he loved.

WBAL gave him a shot at redemption and now he has been named by his peers as the top sportscaster in Maryland. Frankly speaking, that’s one helluva comeback story. If Mills were an athlete, he’d be featured in national magazines. Instead, he gets a few paragraphs in a blog about a fake bar. Tough life for us media hacks. But sincere congratulations to Mills, who deserves some good press.

It got me thinking: Who is Baltimore’s best TV sportscaster? It’s an open-ended question; one that maybe should have parameters. But I'm not going to do that. You can define “sportscaster” however you want. You can include local TV sports anchors, cable TV show hosts and, yes, those who call Orioles and Ravens games on TV can count, too. This is Orioles Insider after all. So Gary Thorne or Jon Miller or even Jim Palmer can be in play, if you like.

We’ve discussed writers and radio broadcasters at this joint before and it has been fun. So let’s tackle this one.

Here’s my opinion: When I think of Baltimore play-by-play announcers I think of Chuck Thompson. When I think of Baltimore sportswriters I think of John Steadman. So when I think of Baltimore TV sportscasters, I go old school, think local news and choose the guy that defined it for so many years and for so many generations on WBAL.

My nominee is Vince Bagli, who for decades was the guy to watch on local TV newscasts as well as the color man for Colts games alongside Thompson. When the Colts moved in 1984, Bagli was like Baltimore’s angry, grieving uncle, explaining to the rest of the family about the untimely death of a loved one.

Like Steadman and Thompson, he’s a quality person, too (even though he is, unfortunately, a Loyola High grad. I try not to hold that against him).

There are many of you who are too young to remember Vince talking sports nightly. But I want to hear your thoughts, too. Is Garceau the guy you think of when you think Baltimore sportscaster? Is it Mark Viviano or Bruce Cunningham?

Or do you want to grab someone from Baltimore’s past that went elsewhere? ESPN’s John Saunders for instance. You tell me.

Daily Think Special: Who is Baltimore’s quintessential sportscaster?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (204)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

The best left-handed reliever remaining on the free agent market is narrowing his choices, and the Orioles remain in the mix.

Joe Beimel, who was 1-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 71 relief appearances with the Colorado Rockies in 2010, has roughly five teams significantly interested in his services and he could make a decision before the end of the week, according to an industry source. The Boston Red Sox and one other American League team are also talking with Beimel, the source said.

The Orioles, who are seeking a second lefty to join Michael Gonzalez in the bullpen, have made a minor-league offer to Beimel that includes an invitation to spring training. Although the spot is not guaranteed, it would be highly surprising if the 33-year-old Beimel didn’t make the Orioles out of spring training if he chooses the club.

Beimel has pitched in the majors for 10 seasons and has appeared in 60 or more games in each of the past five years. His competition for the lefty specialist role includes Pedro Viola, who has pitched in just 11 major league games; Troy Patton, who has four games of major-league service and is now facing DWI charges in Texas; and Clay Rapada, a 29-year-old who pitched in 13 games with the Texas Rangers in 2010 and signed a minor-league deal with the Orioles on Tuesday.

Left-handed hitters batted .221 with a .275 on-base percentage against Beimel in 2010, while righties hit .329 against him. In his career, lefties have hit .259 (.320 OBP) versus Beimel while right-handers have hit .288 (.367 OBP).

It is unknown how many of the five teams have offered Beimel a guaranteed one-year deal. He settled for a minor-league deal with the Rockies last year and didn’t sign until March in each of the past two offseasons.

A western Pennsylvania native who went to Duquesne University, Beimel has pitched with six different major-league clubs since making his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2001.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

The Orioles have signed left-handed reliever Clay Rapada to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training.

Rapada, 29, pitched in nine games for the Texas Rangers in 2010, compiling a 4.00 ERA. He's pitched in 46 big league games over the past four seasons and has a 4.71 ERA during that span.

Lefties went just 1-for-21 against him last season.

Despite his signing, the Orioles still haven't ruled out signing more lefties for the bullpen. They have a minor league offer out to Joe Beimel, and they also maintain interest in Mark Hendrickson.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Cal Ripken Jr., who has been inducted into about every Hall of Fame possible, can add another to the list. It was announced today that he has been elected to the International League Hall of Fame.

Ripken played one season in the IL – but it was a good one. He batted .288 with 23 homers and 75 RBIs in 1981 with the Rochester Red Wings, the Orioles’ Triple A affiliate at the time. Those numbers earned him the 1981 International League Rookie of the Year Award.

He will be inducted this year with another National Baseball Hall of Famer, Wade Boggs, who played in the IL with the Pawtucket Red Sox, and former big leaguer Steve Balboni, who spent three years in the IL with the Columbus Clippers.

One interesting note about Ripken, Boggs and the International League: The two of them participated in the longest game in pro baseball history, a 33-inning contest that started on Saturday, April 18, 1981 and was suspended at 4:07 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning after the 32nd inning. It resumed again on June 23 and eventually ended in 33 innings with Pawtucket winning 3-2. Ripken and Boggs combined for six hits and one RBI in 25 at-bats.

Total time of game was eight hours and 25 minutes. I assume the IL induction ceremony will take less time.

Speaking of honors, The Sun has announced that my buddy, baseball-writing colleague and Orioles Insider maverick Jeff Zrebiec has been named 2010 Maryland Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

I am extremely happy for Jeff, even though it is an award that Peter Schmuck has won multiple times, taking a little shine off the apple. This honor for Zrebiec comes on the heels of his induction into The Bald Guys Hall of Fame (Cal’s already in that one, too).

In all seriousness, unless you work with Jeff closely, it’s impossible to understand how much time and dedication he devotes to the profession and to bringing you, the readers, the most accurate and updated Orioles information possible.

Congrats, Z. Don’t let the success go to your bald noggin.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

When the Orioles start spring training in mid-February, a familiar face will be there.

The Orioles have asked former batting practice pitcher and bullpen catcher Rudy Arias to come to camp and work as a staff assistant to manager Buck Showalter.

Arias, who lives in Miami, spent 11 seasons with the Orioles from 1997 to 2007. In 1995 and 1996, he was the New York Yankees’ bullpen catcher, spending a full season with Showalter in 1995.

This February, he’ll perform various functions during camp, including some administrative duties as well as throwing batting practice and likely catching some side sessions. It’s possible the job will turn into a season-long position, though neither side has committed to that at this point.

Arias, 54, spent the past three seasons as the first base coach and catching instructor for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent American Association. A Cuba native, Arias caught several seasons in the minors for the Seattle Mariners organization, which drafted him in the first round (secondary phase) of the 1977 draft. He is the son of former major league pitcher Rudy Arias Sr.

The Orioles currently don’t have a Spanish speaker on the major-league staff, so Arias could help fill that communication void this spring.

Showalter may still add a seventh, “eye in the sky” coach for 2011, but if that happens, it wouldn’t be until later this spring.

Also, Ronnie Deck is expected to return for his fourth season as the Orioles’ full-time bullpen catcher.

Hearings set for Scott and Guthrie
Major League Baseball has set the arbitration hearings for designated hitter Luke Scott and pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.

According to an industry source, Scott’s hearing is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14 and Guthrie’s is set for Wednesday, Feb. 16; both will be held in Phoenix. The sites alternate every year between Florida and Arizona.

Scott is asking for $6.85 million, while the club has countered with $5.7 million. Guthrie is asking for $6.5 million, while the team countered with $5 million. If there is no settlement before a hearing, one of the two filed numbers is chosen by an independent board of three arbitrators.

The Orioles haven’t gone to a hearing with a player since pitcher Rodrigo Lopez before the 2006 season.

Gillick honored, doesn’t mention Orioles
According to a story by the Associated Press’ fine baseball writer Ron Blum -- and passed on by reader Dan M. -- Pat Gillick made an interesting omission Saturday at the BBWAA’s annual awards dinner in New York City.

Gillick, a former general manager of four big league teams, was recognized at the dinner for his impending induction to the Hall of Fame this summer. According to Blum’s report, Gillick thanked all of the organizations he worked for and then mentioned the Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners by name.

The only team he ran that he didn’t name? The Orioles, the club he led from 1996 to 1998. His contract wasn’t renewed after it expired -- but Gillick wasn’t coming back anyway after a flap with owner Peter Angelos over the team’s managerial situation.

I talked to Gillick at length a few years ago -- while he was with the Phillies -- about his time in Baltimore, and he said all the right things about the Orioles (to a writer for The Baltimore Sun who was writing for a Baltimore audience, mind you).

I guess the Orioles just slipped his mind Saturday.

Around the horn
On Monday, the Arizona Diamondbacks dealt two minor leaguers to the Detroit Tigers for starter Armando Galarraga, who was 4-9 with a 4.49 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) last year. The Orioles are in the market for a veteran starter but had only minimal interest in the 29-year-old Galarraga, who gained international attention when he nearly pitched a perfect game last season. … To make room for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera on their roster, the Toronto Blue Jays designated former Orioles farmhand Rommie Lewis for assignment last weekend. The 28-year-old left-handed reliever was the Orioles’ fourth-round pick in 2001 but didn’t debut in the majors until last season with Toronto. He had a 6.75 ERA in 18 games with the Blue Jays.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

According to a Houston television station, Orioles left-hander Troy Patton was arrested on suspicion of DWI on Saturday night when his car ran over a curb.

Here is the link.

The report states that he was pulled over after his car jumped a curb and he registered a 0.14 BAC level after a Breathalyzer test. The legal blood-alcohol limit for driving in Texas is 0.08.

He was charged with a misdemeanor count of DWI first offense, posted $500 bail and was released, 2Houston reported. A court date is pending.

Patton, 25, pitched in just one game with the Orioles last year. He was supposed to appear at Saturday’s FanFest but was recently removed from the group of players appearing at the event because he had a family commitment.

Patton, who is a long shot to make the 2011 roster as a left-handed reliever, could not be reached for comment. The Orioles have no comment until they learn more about the situation. Patton's agent also declined to comment to The Baltimore Sun.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

Orioles pitchers and catchers will report to the team’s revamped spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., three weeks from today. While Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has added several pieces, there are still a few questions facing the club. Expect activity to pick up this week as agents attempt to find homes for their clients while there are big league roster spots still available, and minor league offers still on the table.

Will the Orioles sign a starting pitcher?

Everybody you talk to within the organization says yes, though they’ll readily acknowledge that it probably won’t be a sexy addition. The Orioles have some level of interest in almost every one of the remaining free-agent starters, including Kevin Millwood and Freddy Garcia. They also remain open to taking a shot on a starter who has had injury issues, like Justin Duchscherer or John Maine. And they still are actively monitoring the trade market, where names like Joe Blanton, Kenshin Kawakami and Armando Galarraga have been discussed. So far, the Orioles have shown little interest in Blanton and Kawakami and they’re not totally sold on Galarraga. But at this point, all their options are flawed and come with a series of question marks, so the team can’t afford to be picky. The guess here is they’ll add a veteran starter on a small, one-year deal or through a trade and perhaps get another veteran swingman type on a minor league pact.

Will the Orioles add a lefty reliever?

The Orioles have a handful of minor league offers out, and it is believed that a couple of them are to situational lefties from a group that includes Joe Beimel, Mark Hendrickson, Ron Mahay, Bobby Seay and Scott Schoeneweis. With Michael Gonzalez having experienced shoulder problems last season, the Orioles want to get more left-handed in the bullpen, especially in a division that includes Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Robinson Cano. They shouldn’t have much of a problem accomplishing this at a relatively cheap cost.

What are the chances of the Orioles adding Vladimir Guerrero?

This depends on whom you ask. Several national media members have listed the Orioles as the favorites with Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio going as far to say that Guerrero is “getting close to accepting humbling deal w O’s.” That report, however, was news to the Orioles, who haven’t shown anything beyond tepid interest in the veteran slugger throughout the offseason, and who, as of Friday, weren’t even negotiating with the player’s agent. The Orioles are content with their current arrangement with Luke Scott serving as designated hitter and Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold platooning in left field. They also have pretty much exceeded their 2011 budget, according to team officials, and any money they have remaining will go toward a starting pitcher. However, it would be premature to rule the Orioles out. Guerrero does not appear to have many suitors, so his price could come down significantly enough to change the Orioles’ minds. Also, if MacPhail and manager Buck Showalter really want Guerrero hitting in the middle of the Orioles’ lineup, it likely wouldn’t be too hard to sell Peter Angelos on the move as the owner has long admired Guerrero as a player.

Can the Orioles settle with Jeremy Guthrie and Luke Scott before arbitration hearings?

MacPhail has made it known on several occasions that he wants to avoid hearings, but the Orioles won’t just roll over and give Guthrie and Scott whatever they want, either. Guthrie, the team’s best starter last year and the expected Opening Day starter in 2011, is looking for $6.5 million while the team has offered $5 million, while Scott, the team’s best hitter in 2010, is seeking $6.85 million while the Orioles have offered $5.7 million. There has been some conversation between the Orioles and the representatives of each player, but no deal is imminent on either front.

What is Alfredo Simon’s status?

The reliever remains in a Dominican Republic prison as he awaits the results of ballistic tests on a gun that he turned in following a New Year’s Day shooting in which he remains the prime suspect. The ballistic tests reportedly were to have taken two to three days, but it has been almost three weeks. Even if the test results clear Simon and he is released, it is extremely unlikely that he’ll be in Sarasota on Feb. 14, and in condition to pitch or compete for a roster spot.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (44)
        

For about five minutes Friday night, I thought the Orioles had caught a break. When reports surfaced that the Toronto Blue Jays had traded outfielder Vernon Wells to the Los Angeles Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera, my first thought was, "How the heck did Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos pull that off without sending boatloads of money with Wells?"

My second thought was that there had to be some Orioles pitchers smiling.

Even during his struggles, Wells had joined the growing list of Orioles killers. The 32-year-old outfielder has a career .301 average, .342 on-base percentage and .519 slugging percentage in 158 games against the Orioles. His 32 homers and 106 RBIs against Orioles pitching are the most for him against any opponent. For his career, he is 8-for-18 off Brad Bergesen; 11-for-35 with two homers off Jeremy Guthrie; and 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs off Brian Matusz.

I was well aware that the Jays’ ability to jettison him and that believed-to-be-untradeable contract provides huge payroll relief and ultimately makes them even more dangerous to the Orioles in the long run. But less than four weeks before spring training, I was more struck by the idea that Orioles pitching wasn’t going to have to face Wells 71 times in 2011.

But any benefit from that quickly eroded a couple of hours later when reports surfaced that the Tampa Bay Rays had agreed to terms with both Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez.

Damon is a .301 career hitter against the Orioles with a .361 on-base percentage and a .470 slugging percentage. He also has more homers (29) and RBIs (118) against the Orioles than he has versus any other team.

Then there’s Ramirez, whose line against the Orioles includes a .316 average, .422 on-base percentage and .530 slugging percentage. He has 36 homers and 152 RBIs against the Orioles in 192 games.

So much for the Orioles catching a break.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 12:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (36)
        

I was told once again this morning that nothing has changed in the club's pursuit of veteran designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero.

I feel the need to point this out only to respond to your questions about the recent report from Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio. Bowden, a former general manager, tweeted late last night that Guerrero is close to accepting a one-year deal with the Orioles.

That would be news to the Orioles people I've talked to.

As I've written several times over the past month or so, the Orioles haven't totally dismissed the idea of adding Guerrero, a move that would push designated hitter Luke Scott to left field. However, they haven't been actively pursuing him, either, and at this point, they are focused on adding one or two starting pitchers and a lefty for the bullpen.

Like everyone else, I wondered whether Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon agreeing to terms with the Tampa Bay Rays last night and the Los Angeles Angels trading for Vernon Wells could result in Guerrero falling into the Orioles' laps at a significantly reduced rate.

I guess that still could happen, but as of now, an Orioles-Guerrero marriage does not appear to be imminent.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (42)
        

It has been a popular topic for months among Orioles fans: signing designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, whom the club flirted with before the 2004 season but couldn’t land.

Frankly, I didn’t spend much time analyzing what Guerrero could do for the Orioles in 2011 because I didn’t think it had any chance of happening. He has turned them down once before, and the club has shown very little interest this time around -- despite some reports to the contrary.

The Orioles have pretty much spent their allotted budget for 2011 and still want to shoehorn in an innings-eating starter and a lefty reliever. We’ve been told by plenty of sources that they haven’t pursued Guerrero with any vigor, so I haven’t wasted my breath.

But I've come around to the idea. If I am the Orioles, I sign Vladimir Guerrero today. Maybe even yesterday. In fact, I give him to a two-year deal if that’s what it takes.

That statement isn’t in reaction to what the Tampa Bay Rays did Friday, signing the two other prominent DH/outfielder types on the market in Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon. No reason for me to knee jerk, because we all know Andy MacPhail won’t.

Anyone who has watched the Orioles president of baseball operations work in the past four years knows he’s not going to make a move to counter what a divisional rival did. That’s absolutely not his style. He has his plan, and he’s not peeking at anyone else’s test papers.

But the Rays’ moves do play a small part here in my thinking because another suitor for Guerrero is gone. The Toronto Blue Jays might still be lurking in the shadows for Guerrero, but they just traded for more offense, dealing Vernon Wells to the Los Angeles Angels for Juan Rivera and Mike Napoli. So their likelihood of adding Guerrero drops some, too.

That leaves three teams as obvious fits for Guerrero: the Orioles, the Angels, who didn’t re-sign him after the 2009 season; and the Texas Rangers, who didn’t pick up his 2011 option.

Guerrero will be 36 in February; he no longer can run or play the field. The Orioles are a young team that is seemingly several years away from competing, so adding another aging slugger for a year or two seems counterproductive at the least and, possibly, a complete waste of valuable financial resources.

Plus, the club’s best hitter last year was Luke Scott, the Orioles' starting designated hitter. You can’t take Scott out of the lineup. And putting him in left field everyday may not only weaken your defense, but it would also rob young outfielders Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold of playing time.

Despite those complications, Guerrero almost certainly would propel the Orioles from a solid offense with upside to a formidable one. Truth be told, the Orioles’ lineup right now is made up of some pretty good hitters but no one that really scares other teams.

That’s where Guerrero comes in. He still is one of the more dangerous hitters in baseball. He batted .300 with a .345 on-base percentage and a .496 slugging percentage while hitting 29 homers and driving in 115 runs for the 2010 Rangers.

Nice numbers, but here are the stats that stand out to me:

The first is .325/.406/.588. That’s his batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage against left-handed pitching in his career. He hit .338 against lefties last year, which has been a real problem for the Orioles in the past. In 2010, the Orioles hit .248 with a .303 on-base percentage against lefties. Newly acquired Derrek Lee helps that cause, but adding Guerrero would improve it immensely.

The second is 60 -- that’s how many strikeouts Guerrero had in 643 plate appearances in 2010. Sixty strikeouts for a guy that batted cleanup in 145 games last year. Guerrero is a notorious free swinger and bad-ball hitter, but he continually makes contact (even if the ball bounces in front of the plate). Much has been made of Mark Reynolds and his penchant for striking out 200 times a season. Want to neutralize that concern? Bring in Guerrero.

The third, and maybe most important, is $6.5 million -- that’s what Guerrero made last year, including a $1 million buyout. It was supposed to be a make-good contract that would land Guerrero another multiyear deal. He made great, and is still unemployed. A $5 million to $6 million offer might get it done this late in the game, and a two-year deal for slightly less annually almost certainly would. Remember, the Orioles gave Miguel Tejada a one-year, $6 million deal on Jan. 25 last year. They also paid (gulp) Garrett Atkins $4.5 million in 2010.

Normally, I am pretty conservative in throwing around the Orioles’ money. To me, it doesn’t usually make sense to spend on veterans who won’t be around if and when the current crop of young players carries this team to respectability. But Guerrero is different. He’s an elite hitter who can make this offense lethal, which could be huge if the Orioles’ young pitchers defy the odds and all take a step forward in 2011. And if they don’t, and the Orioles are mired in fourth or fifth place in July, Guerrero could fetch the Orioles a usable piece at the trade deadline.

Initially, signing Guerrero would move Scott to left full-time -- which isn’t a problem. Scott is not a detriment out there, as some believe. It likely would move Pie to a fourth outfielder’s role, which may help him stay off the disabled list. And it likely would move Reimold to Triple-A, which, hopefully, would allow him to get his confidence back after a regrettable 2010. Or they could deal Pie or even Scott for starting pitching (based on this winter’s maneuvers, Reimold doesn’t look like he’ll be traded anytime soon).

The bottom line is simple for the Orioles: Go get Guerrero and then try to bash your way through the AL East. A month ago, that marriage seemed laughable. But Guerrero is still hanging around, and the DH chairs are being filled.

And the Orioles are, surprisingly, in a position to make it happen.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (84)
        

The real Prediction Fridays are over, but we might as well finish this NFL season out.

The AFC Championship game pits the New York Jets at the Pittsburgh Steelers while the Green Bay Packers have to go to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears.

It would be shocking if many of you will predict the Steelers to get to another Super Bowl after they extinguished the Ravens’ dream on Saturday (or as the Ravens tripped over and fumbled away their own dream). Only 11 of you had the Steelers winning at home last week; no one correctly predicted the score, 31-24.

No one was really close, but Diamond Dan gets the free weekly tab with a 31-13 prediction. Drink chips go to M Styborski (27-14) Swanee (23-17), Elton (27-16) and Scooter Five (24-16).

I don’t see the Steelers losing at home again to the Jets. And I don’t see the Jets winning on the road at Indianapolis, New England and Pittsburgh. So, sorry Ravens’ fans, but I’m taking the Steelers to win 20-14.

In the NFC game, I think the Packers continue their run with a 34-17 win over the Bears. Steelers and Packers in the Super Bowl, that’s my call.

It’s your turn: Predict the winners of each conference title game and I’ll give out props if they are earned.

Switching to baseball, we ran a story in Friday’s paper about the Orioles raising single-game ticket prices for 2011. It was met with a whole lot of anger from fans who are infuriated that the club, after 13 losing seasons, would hike the prices.

Some people said they won’t to go Camden Yards anymore because of the Orioles’ losing ways combined with escalating costs.

I get that. But I also wonder if the Orioles start winning whether the fans would come back quickly. I think they would. It really is one of the best places in the majors to see a game – and the atmosphere is awesome when the games mean something (or at least that’s what I faintly remember).

But what about this year, when winning consistently still doesn’t look within grasp? Do you think you’ll attend an Orioles’ game at Camden Yards in 2011? Will you pay for it, or would you go only if you landed free tickets?

Daily Think Special: Will you attend a game at Camden Yards this year?

Bonus Think Special: Predict the Super Bowl participants

Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (46)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

Spring training invite list rounding into form: The Orioles won’t release the list of big league spring training invites for another week or so, but these 10 players will be on it: pitchers Mitch Atkins, Armando Gabino, Raul Rivero and Jose Rupe; catchers Adam Donachie, Michel Hernandez and Caleb Joseph; and infielders Ryan Adams, Brendan Harris and Tyler Henson. The Orioles will probably have no more than 60 players at big league spring training, so the 10 players mentioned above, along with the guys on the 40-man roster, leave about eight to 10 more spots. Some of those spots could be filled internally, and others could be filled by other free agents

Interest in Duchscherer: The remaining free-agent starter list hasn’t changed much, although Carl Pavano, as expected, re-signed with the Minnesota Twins. The name that stands out to me is Justin Duchscherer, who went 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA and made the All-Star team with the Oakland Athletics in 2008. However, he’s made only five starts since that season because of a combination of things, from shoulder problems to back and hip problems to clinical depression. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported last night that Duchscherer, 33, has held private workouts for two American League teams. I can confirm that the Orioles were not one of those teams, but they still have some interest in the right-hander. Duchscherer will likely have another open workout for any interested teams in the next seven to 10 days, and I’d suspect that the Orioles will be there as the pitcher is intent on showing teams that he is 100 percent healthy after hip surgery in June. Duchscherer’s son lives in South Jersey and one of the pitcher’s priorities is to pitch closer to his son, so geographical factors work in the Orioles’ favor. Ducscherer also wants an opportunity to crack a major league rotation, and the Orioles can offer that as well.

Nothing new on Guerrero: An ESPNDeportes report today stated that the Orioles have the “inside track” on designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, citing a person close to the veteran slugger. That report was certainly news to the Orioles, who haven’t been aggressively pursuing Guerrero. I guess it’s possible that Guerrero simply doesn’t have a whole lot of options and is willing to accept a small one-year deal, thereby making him more attractive to the Orioles. But at this point, they appear ready to go with Luke Scott at designated hitter and a platoon of Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie in left field.

40-man spots: The Orioles have multiple minor league offers out to free agents, but they will likely save their 40th -- and final -- roster spot for a starting pitcher. That means that while they are still intent on adding a left-handed reliever to pair with Michael Gonzalez in the bullpen, they are trying to secure that piece on a minor league deal. Those available include Joe Beimel, Randy Flores, Mark Hendrickson, Ron Mahay, Denys Reyes, Scott Schoeneweis and Bobby Seay. Tim Byrdak, whom the Orioles had interest in on a minor league offer, has decided to sign with the New York Mets instead.

Odds and ends: Top pitching prospect Zach Britton has been added to the list of players attending FanFest next Saturday. He has been added to the 12:40 time slot at Autograph Station 2, taking the place of Troy Patton, who is now unable to attend. … ESPN announced that it will telecast 10 spring training games, including the Orioles’ March 22 game against the New York Yankees. … Individual tickets for the Orioles’ spring training games at newly renovated Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at orioles.com, by phone at 800-745-3000 or at Sarasota-area Wal-Mart locations.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 7:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

For the first time since after the 2006 season, the Orioles are raising single game ticket prices at Camden Yards.

All tickets -- except for the cheapest, left-field, upper reserve seats which will remain at $8 and $9 -- will increase in cost for 2011, ranging from $1 to $7 extra depending on the game desired and when the tickets are purchased.

Greg Bader, the club’s director of communications, said non-prime, advance tickets will increase on average $3, which would make the average price for those tickets roughly $28. The average season-ticket price remains at about $23, below the 2010 Major League Baseball average of $27, according to Bader.

“We believe that the average increase of $3 per ticket is not going to negatively impact someone’s decision to buy, although we recognize no one ever wants to pay more for anything. We certainly understand that point,” Bader said.

Season ticket prices did not go up for 2011 and this is the first, full seat hike for advance tickets since after the 2003 season, Bader said. The increase after 2006 affected some but not all of the tickets sold.

However, this increase comes after the Orioles lost 96 games in 2010, their 13th consecutive losing season. Fans who have not seen an increase of production on the field are being asked to pay more for that product.

“I understand that reaction, but the reality is that there are other factors that are part of that decision-making process,” Bader said.

The Orioles will also continue to implement higher prime-game prices – for all contests against the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox as well as Opening Day on April 4 against the Detroit Tigers – and an extra charge for walk-up ticket purchases the day of the game.

Gameday charges were implemented last season and Bader said it had little to no effect on the number of walkups in 2010. The drop in attendance to an all-time low at Camden Yards last season had more to do with a drop in advance sales after the Orioles began the year 2-16 and 9-24, he said.

“The 2010 walkup figures were essentially unchanged from previous seasons. The difference in attendance from 2009 to 2010 was directly attributable to the lack of advanced sales, which was directly attributable to the team performance during the first two weeks of the season,” Bader said. “So from early April until July, we simply were not selling tickets in advance at the rate we did in previous years. But game day sales were practically identical. And we do not believe that the average $2 difference (for walkups) is going to prevent most fans from making a game-day purchase.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (80)
        

It’s been quiet in the bar this week.

Seems like everyone has a hangover from Saturday night. We’ll look at how most of us did in our Ravens-Steelers predictions (not well) this Friday, but I wanted to open this place up today and talk a little baseball.

For the past few weeks -- and certainly since the Ravens collapsed -- people have been stopping me and asking whether the Orioles will be better in 2011.

I think so. I mean, they lost 96 games last year. That’s their third-highest loss total since 1988.

They have a proven manager, some young talent and made some solid moves this winter. So I can’t see how they could be worse than 2010.

The question, of course, is how much better. I haven’t put a win total on it yet -- I have nearly three months for that prediction. Right now, I still don’t see them competing with the big boys in the AL East or even reaching .500. Fourth place is possible and maybe third if everything comes together.

But they definitely have gotten better this offseason. They added two corner infielders with power, a shortstop with upside, two relievers with closing experience and re-signed incumbent closer Koji Uehara and former starting shortstop Cesar Izturis.

The starting rotation is still thin -- it’s short an ace and another innings-eater -- the bullpen needs a quality left-hander and the bench lacks quality depth.

Today, though, let’s look at a positive, if you think there is one. I want to know what you think was the Orioles’ best move of the winter (so far).

Was it signing Kevin Gregg or Derrek Lee or trading for J.J. Hardy or Mark Reynolds?

For my money, it was acquiring Reynolds. I really liked David Hernandez; I think he has the stuff and mindset to be a closer one day.

But you have to give up something to get something, and the Orioles' biggest hole in recent years was right-handed power. They got the best available in the market in Reynolds.

Yes, I know he is going to strike out more than 200 times, breaking the club record by August, at the latest. But he’s 27, has hit 104 homers in the past three years and plays solid defense. He’s the kind of the guy the Orioles needed to target -- solid enough to contribute now, young enough to be a factor in the future. If the Orioles want him, he’s under their control through 2013.

So Reynolds is my call. What do you say?

Daily Think Special: What was the Orioles’ best move this offseason?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (79)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

The Colorado Rockies announced today that they had signed third baseman Joe Crede to a minor league contract.

Crede, a former All-Star who didn’t play at all in 2010 because of injury, is seemingly linked to the Orioles every offseason. Not this year, though.

With Josh Bell at Triple-A and Mark Reynolds manning third base in the big leagues, the Orioles didn’t need to dance with Crede this winter.

But it did get me thinking: Who plays third base in 2011 when Reynolds needs a day off or if he is sidelined for a few games?

The Orioles really don’t have another natural third baseman on the roster to spell Reynolds. Cesar Izturis is expected to be the club’s utility infielder, so he’d probably be the first choice. But he’s played just 47 games at third in 10 seasons, and he’s not exactly a prototypical fit there.

Jake Fox has played 31 big league games at third, including four last year, and Robert Andino has played there nine times, including six in 2010. Both are considered roster bubble guys at this time.

Then there is Brendan Harris, who has played 120 big league games in his career at third base. He’s a utility type that is comfortable on the hot corner. Harris, however, is not on the Orioles’ 40-man roster and, at this point, is probably ticketed for Triple-A Norfolk.

There’s always the possibility the Orioles sign a free-agent third baseman to a minor league deal with a spring training invite and see what happens. The best available is Jorge Cantu, who has put up some big numbers as a major league corner infielder in the past and should land a big league deal, though it is getting late in the offseason.

The rest of the available third base group includes Eric Chavez, Greg Dobbs, Pedro Feliz, Felipe Lopez and Andy LaRoche. Not a great list, but some interesting names.

Third base is definitely not a need like it was last season. And if Reynolds is out for any length of time, Bell probably would be promoted to fill that hole.

But good teams have solid contingency plans.

What’s the best plan behind Reynolds at third?

O's re-sign Gabino

According to Baseball America, the Orioles have re-signed pitcher Armando Gabino to a minor league deal. He'll likely get an invite to big league spring training. Gabino appeared in five games last year for the Orioles, allowing seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings (13.50 ERA). He was 7-0 with a 2.37 ERA at Norfolk.

Other minor signings

Here are some other players with Orioles ties who recently have signed elsewhere, according to Baseball America: infielder Freddie Bynum, a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals; outfielder Lou Montanez, a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs; and catcher Robby Hammock, a minor league deal with Arizona. Bynum, who played for the Orioles in 2007 and 2008, was in Japan last season.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)
        

The Orioles have agreed to terms with four of their six arbitration-eligible players, but the two who remain unsigned had perhaps the best overall seasons for the club in 2010.

Designated hitter Luke Scott, who was the 2010 Most Valuable Oriole, and right-handed starter Jeremy Guthrie, who led the starting rotation, exchanged arbitration figures with the Orioles on Tuesday afternoon.

Scott, who made $4.05 million in 2010, filed for $6.85 million while the Orioles countered with $5.7 million

Guthrie, who made $3 million in 2010, filed for $6.5 million while the Orioles filed for $5 million.

The Orioles avoided arbitration with four other players, including two Tuesday: outfielder Felix Pie, who agreed to a $985,000 deal, up from $420,000 in 2010; and new shortstop J.J. Hardy, who will make $5.85 million in 2011, an increase from the $5.1 million he earned with the Minnesota Twins last season.

On Monday, the Orioles agreed to a $975,000 deal with reliever Jim Johnson, who made $440,000 in 2010. The club’s first settlement was Sunday night with center fielder Adam Jones, who agreed to a $3.25 million 2011 salary, an increase from $465,000 in 2010.

Scott, 32, is coming off his best big league season. He hit .284 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs in 131 games. He led the Orioles in home runs (27), slugging percentage (.535) and on-base-plus-slugging (.902) and was second with 72 RBIs despite missing much of July with a hamstring injury.

Guthrie, 31, rebounded from a rough year in 2009 to be the Orioles’ most consistent starter in 2010. He made 32 starts, going 11-14 with a 3.83 ERA in a career-high 209 1/3 innings. It was the second consecutive season in which he reached the 200-inning mark and third straight year in which he made at least 30 starts.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 4:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

The Orioles have agreed with new starting shortstop J.J. Hardy on a one-year deal worth $5.85 million.

Hardy, whom the Orioles acquired in a deal with the Minnesota Twins in December, made $5.1 million last year. This is his final offseason of arbitration; he can become a free agent after the 2011 season.

The Orioles have interest in retaining Hardy beyond this year, but any talk of an extension likely wouldn’t happen until the Orioles and Hardy get more acclimated with each other this spring or summer.

The club has settled four of its six arbitration cases, also agreeing with outfielder Felix Pie ($985,000), Jim Johnson ($975,000) and Adam Jones ($3.25 million). The club has open cases remaining with pitcher Jeremy Guthrie and outfielder Luke Scott. The sides were expected to exchange numbers Tuesday afternoon.

Hardy, 28, had six homers and 28 RBIs while batting .268 with a .323 on-base percentage in 2010. He was limited to just 101 games last year because of injuries. The Orioles, however, like his strong defense and hope that he can rebound to his 2008 form in which he hit 24 homers and batted .283 with the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

The Orioles have avoided arbitration and agreed to terms today on a one-year, $985,000 deal with outfielder Felix Pie.

Pie, who made $420,000 in 2010, was facing arbitration for the first time in his career.

The Orioles now have three players still facing arbitration: outfielder Luke Scott, shortstop J.J. Hardy and pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. Those players and the club officially exchange figures this afternoon. Hearings will be set up for February, but the sides can still negotiate during that time.

Pie, who turns 26 next month, batted .274 with a .305 on-base percentage, five homers and 31 RBIs in 288 at-bats. He played in just 82 games, missing a chunk of the season with an upper back injury.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

While reaching an agreement to make Sarasota, Fla., their long-term spring training home, the Orioles talked about the importance of coming in and cultivating a strong relationship between the community and the organization.

The inaugural OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic, to be held Feb. 17 at The Founders Club in Sarasota, will be another step to doing just that, while helping a great cause in the process.

Organized by Orioles reliever and Sarasota resident Jim Johnson, the tournament will benefit the Miracle League of Manasota, an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for every person to play baseball, regardless of their ability.

The classic will feature a silent auction and give attendees an opportunity to meet and play golf with a host of Orioles, including players Johnson, Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Wieters, Brian Roberts, Jeremy Accardo, Kevin Gregg, Rick VandenHurk, Brad Bergesen, Jake Arrieta, Craig Tatum and Koji Uehara; manager Buck Showalter; and coaches Mark Connor, John Russell, Rick Adair and Dave Schmidt, along with former Orioles Jim Palmer and John O’Donoghue. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network broadcaster and Sarasota resident Gary Thorne will emcee the event.

There are still openings for golfers and corporate partners, and other opportunities to participate in the event.

“With the Orioles’ presence in Sarasota for many years to come, I thought it was a good idea to get something started and do something for the community,” Johnson said. “The Miracle League is basically the Little League formed for people of all different disabilities. This matches up perfectly: the Orioles, baseball, children. It’s a great cause. There isn’t a better option out there. Doing it this year sets the groundwork for a lot more in what we can do for them.”

The Miracle League, buoyed by a $500,000 commitment from Sarasota County, is in the process of building a synthetically surfaced baseball field at Longwood Park. Proceeds from the Birdland Golf Classic will aid the project, along with helping the organization with operating costs.

The opening game of the Miracle League is planned for fall 2011.

“The field is specifically designed for these kids with synthetic surfaces, and it is handicap-accessible. There are no scoreboards,” Johnson said. “You really can’t get a better charity than allowing all these kids to play baseball.”

For more information or to register for the tournament, contact Tracee Crump at 941-954-4101 or tcrump@orioles.com. The entry deadline is Thursday, Feb. 3. For more information on the Miracle League, visit miracleleaguemanasota.org.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

We’ve been asked a lot in the past about which Orioles on the 40-man roster are out of options this spring, meaning ones who will have to clear waivers before being sent to Triple-A Norfolk.

Here’s the list: Jeremy Accardo, Robert Andino, Jake Fox, Michael Gonzalez, Jeremy Guthrie, Jim Johnson, Felix Pie, Alfredo Simon and Rick VandenHurk.

All the young guys you can think of still have minor league options remaining. All the veterans you can think of no longer have options remaining.

It’s highly unlikely that the Orioles would try to send established players such as Gonzalez, Guthrie, Johnson and Pie through waivers. They would almost certainly be claimed.

Of the remaining five, Accardo, Fox and VandenHurk have not been outrighted previously, meaning that if they cleared waivers, they would have to return to Triple-A Norfolk. Andino and Simon have been outrighted previously, so they could opt for free agency if they cleared waivers.

Another interesting case is infielder Brendan Harris, who is not on the 40-man roster and can be sent to Triple-A Norfolk this spring without any further roster implications. However, if the Orioles purchase his contract this year and then try to send him to the minors at a later date, he would have to clear waivers first. And he could elect free agency if he clears waivers.

More on Simon
Simon’s situation is obviously a little more precarious given his legal troubles. He is still in a prison in the Dominican Republic waiting to be either charged in the New Year’s Day shooting death of his cousin or released. The official ballistics report is still not out, so that waiting game continues for both Simon and the Orioles.

The Orioles likely won’t be making a roster move involving him at least until baseball’s mandatory reporting date passes in March, assuming he is still in the Dominican at that time.

Orioles had interest in Gorzelanny
When the Chicago Cubs dealt for Matt Garza this month, it became likely that the Cubs would trade one of their excess starters. And since the Orioles are looking for a veteran starter and the Cubs are a frequent trade partner, it seemed possible that the Orioles could fill their need that way.

But on Monday, the Cubs traded 28-year-old lefty Tom Gorzelanny to the Washington Nationals for three minor leaguers. One Orioles source said the club had legitimate interest in Gorzelanny and there were some trade discussions with the Cubs before Gorzelanny was shipped to Washington.

Another possible fit, free agent Chris Young, is reportedly about to sign a deal with the New York Mets, according to ESPNNewYork.com

There remain plenty of starting options out there, but none is particularly inspiring. Free agents include Jeremy Bonderman, Doug Davis, Justin Duchscherer, Freddy Garcia, Rodrigo Lopez, John Maine, Kevin Millwood, Brian Moehler and Nate Robertson. Potential trade targets could include the Detroit Tigers' Armando Galarraga, Atlanta Braves' Kenshin Kawakami and Philadelphia Phillies' Joe Blanton, though the $17 million remaining over the next two years of his contract make him an unlikely fit for the Orioles.

Minor matters -- former Orioles version
A few former Orioles signed minor league deals in the last week. In case you missed it, former closer Jorge Julio signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Willie Harris and Raul Chavez with the Mets and Jim Miller with the Colorado Rockies.

Miller, a 28-year-old right-handed reliever, was 1-0 with a 4.84 ERA in 33 games last year for the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Va. What makes his signing noteworthy is that he is going back to his original organization, which dealt him and another minor leaguer to the Orioles for Rodrigo Lopez in 2007.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

The Orioles have settled another arbitration case, reaching an agreement Monday night with reliever Jim Johnson less than 24 hours before the club and the pitcher were set to exchange contract numbers.

Johnson. who went 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 26 appearances during an injury-hampered 2010 season, will make $975,000 in 2011. Although he doesn't have three years of major league service time, he's one of 20 players with more than two years' service time eligible for arbitration this year. He will be eligible for arbitration four times instead of three.

Johnson made $440,000 last season.

The agreement leaves the Orioles with four remaining arbitration-eligible players: outfielders Luke Scott and Felix Pie, shortstop J.J. Hardy and pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.

The Orioles and center fielder Adam Jones on Sunday agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million deal.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 9:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

With Adam Jones agreeing to a one-year, $3.25 million deal Sunday, the Orioles are down to five potential arbitration cases for 2011 -- and all five players are considered key parts of the coming season.

Those still arbitration eligible: outfielders Luke Scott and Felix Pie, shortstop J.J. Hardy and pitchers Jeremy Guthrie and Jim Johnson.

I know the arbitration process is a little confusing, so here is a quick primer.

On Tuesday, the sides officially will exchange filing numbers, and a hearing eventually will be set for some time in the next month or so. At that hearing, an independent arbitrator will accept one of the two numbers presented -- there is no compromise at the hearing. That’s why teams and players often settle in January, because it is a risk for both sides once a hearing begins.

The Orioles have a phenomenal track record in arbitration hearings. They are 8-1 since 1994 and are 6-0 when led by Orioles general counsel H. Russell Smouse. Orioles director of baseball operations Matt Klentak is the club’s chief negotiator during the arbitration process.

Because hearings can be contentious, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail prefers to settle with his players. The club hasn’t had an arbitration hearing under MacPhail; the most recent was before the 2006 season with pitcher Rodrigo Lopez.

For the most part, players are eligible for arbitration after the season in which they have accrued three-plus years of major league service time. Most players will have three opportunities to file for arbitration -- after their third, fourth and fifth seasons of major league service. After their sixth season, they are eligible for free agency, assuming they haven’t signed extensions beyond that year.

The exception is the “Super Two” player, who has between two and three years of service. A percentage of those types of players get arbitration after that two-plus season, meaning they have four years of arbitration before completing their sixth year and becoming eligible for free agency.

Players with zero to three years of service normally have their contracts unilaterally picked up by their respective teams. Those salaries usually range from $400,000 to $500,000, so there is always a big jump when the first year of arbitration eligibility hits. (Jones, for instance, went from $465,000 to $3.25 million this offseason.)

A note about the Orioles’ five guys: Only Hardy, who made $5.1 million with the Minnesota Twins last season, is in his last year of arbitration eligibility. He can become a free agent after this season. Pie and Johnson are in their first years of arbitration. Scott and Guthrie have this year and next year for arbitration before becoming free agents after the 2012 season.

Hope that clears some things up.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

The Orioles have settled one of their six arbitration cases, agreeing Sunday with center fielder Adam Jones on a one-year, $3.25 million deal. That's up from the $465,000 he made last year when the club unilaterally renewed his contract.

"Glad I can get to work," Jones said via a text message. "Ready to get on the field and with my teammates."

In 2010, his third full season with the Orioles, Jones, 25, hit .284 with 19 homers and 69 RBIs in 149 games. This was his first year in which he was eligible for arbitration. He has two more years of potential arbitration; he's not a free agent until after the 2013 season.

Heading into Tuesday, when the club and its players officially file numbers, the Orioles still have five players facing arbitration: outfielders Luke Scott and Felix Pie, shortstop J.J. Hardy and pitchers Jim Johnson and Jeremy Guthrie.

If the sides can’t settle, a hearing will be set within the next few weeks and an independent arbitrator will choose one of the two salary figures submitted.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

The Orioles’ two-year, $10 million deal with reliever Kevin Gregg includes a vesting/team option for the 2013 season. The option vests if Gregg finishes 50 games during the 2012 season or 100 games combined between the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

It has been reported that the 2013 option could be worth as much as $10 million. That’s not accurate. The option is for $6 million. There are escalators in the deal, but none that would allow him to earn anywhere near $10 million in 2013. If the option doesn’t vest, the Orioles have the option to exercise it at $6 million or decline it.

How realistic is it that Gregg finishes 50 games in 2012 or 100 combined in 2011 and 2012?

Well, seven American League relievers this past season finished 50 games: Neftali Feliz (59), Kevin Gregg (56), Joakim Soria (56), Rafael Soriano (56), Mariano Rivera (55), Jose Valverde (55) and Jonathan Papelbon (53). Nine pitchers in the National League did it: Carlos Marmol (70), Matt Capps (56), Francisco Cordero (64), Billy Wagner (64), Brian Wilson (59), Heath Bell (57), Ryan Franklin (51), Octavio Dotel (50) and Leo Nunez (50).

Looking at it over a two-year period, only 12 relievers have finished 100 total games the previous two seasons. They are Cordero (123), Wilson (119), Bell (116), Capps (116), Papelbon (112), Francisco Rodriguez (112), Rivera (110), Soriano (108), Gregg (107), Franklin (105), Jonathan Broxton (104) and Valverde (100).

But the bottom line is this: If Gregg is able to finish 50 games in 2012 or 100 combined between 2011 and 2012, the Orioles will still have a very solid reliever on their hands, and they’ll still want him in 2013.

-- Jeff Zrebiec

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

* The Orioles have hired former Texas Rangers scouting director Ron Hopkins to serve as a cross checker on director of scouting Joe Jordan’s staff. Hopkins was the Rangers’ scouting director from 2003 to 2009 and spent this past season as a special assistant to general manager Jon Daniels. Before his time with the Rangers, Hopkins was a national cross checker with the Oakland Athletics for eight seasons and a special assistant to general manager Billy Beane in 2002.

The Hopkins addition has been part of a busy offseason for Jordan, who has hired five new full-time scouts and one part-time scout in Larry Chase, a former employee of the New York Mets who signed Mike Pelfrey and A.J. Burnett, among others.

* First base prospect Joe Mahoney is “100 percent ready to go” according to director of player development John Stockstill. Mahoney, the winner of the organization’s Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year award this past season, had surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee in late October. Mahoney has also been dealing with a sprained right wrist, which forced him to leave the Venezuelan Winter League after just one game. Mahoney has dealt with periodic discomfort in the wrist, but team officials don’t expect it to be a problem by the start of spring training next month.

* I’ve been asked a couple of times about prospects Xavier Avery (OF) and L.J. Hoes (2B). The Orioles’ spring training roster is not set, but I don’t expect to see either player -- who are ranked third and fourth, respectively, by Baseball America among the organization’s prospects -- being at big league spring training. That shouldn’t come as a surprise as Avery, 21, has played only 27 games above Single-A, and Hoes, 20, only three. I’d expect both to start the season with Double-A Bowie.

* As for the rest of the top 10, pitcher Zach Britton (No. 2) will obviously be at big league spring training because he’s on the 40-man roster. I’d suspect infielder Ryan Adams (No. 8) will be there, too, and perhaps pitcher Wynn Pelzer (No. 6) has a shot as well. But that would be about it among prospects.

* Jordan was deeply affected by the tragic shootings last week in Arizona that claimed the lives of six people, including 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green. Green’s father, John, is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was an amateur scout with the Orioles in the 1990s. However, before any of that, Jordan and Green were teammates at Seminole Junior College in Oklahoma in 1982. Jordan attended the funeral services for Christina this week in Tucson.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail was predictably coy yesterday when asked about the team’s plans for the final four weeks of the offseason.

While he said he didn’t believe anything was imminent, he acknowledged that he’s having enough discussions with teams about trades and with representatives of free agents to believe that the Orioles could still make a couple of more moves before pitchers and catchers report to the team’s new-look spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Feb. 14.

Of course, MacPhail declined to identify any of the team’s remaining targets -- and I’ve heard from other avenues not to expect anything too significant (hopefully that will prevent any Vladimir Guerrero questions) -- but he did say he’s working hard to add another left-handed reliever.

“We have different discussions going on to try to get us a little more left-handed in the bullpen,” said MacPhail, who acknowledged that the club has several offers on the table for pitching help. “We’ll just have to see how those discussions unfold.”

There are still several situational lefties available on the free-agent market, including Joe Beimel, Randy Flores, Ron Mahay, Dennys Reyes, Scott Schoeneweis and Bobby Seay. Former Orioles southpaw relievers Tim Byrdak, Bruce Chen and Mark Hendrickson are also still out there. I did not include Brian Fuentes because his asking price -- both in terms of years and price -- is out of the Orioles’ range at this point.

As for starters, I still feel the Orioles will add at least one more, if not two. One could be a veteran type who would sign a minor league deal and perhaps even start at Triple-A. The free-agent starters available include Jeremy Bonderman, Doug Davis, Justin Duchscherer, Freddy Garcia, Rodrigo Lopez, John Maine, Kevin Millwood, Brian Moehler and Nate Robertson. Yes, it’s not an impressive list, and I chose not to include Carl Pavano, who reportedly is nearing a deal to return to the Minnesota Twins, or Andy Pettitte, who will either retire or return to the New York Yankees.

The people I talk to still feel that it is more likely the Orioles will get a starter via trade. Among the starters potentially available in a deal are the Detroit Tigers’ Armando Galarraga, the Atlanta Braves’ Kenshin Kawakami, the Chicago Cubs’ Tom Gorzelanny and the Philadelphia Phillies’ Joe Blanton.

MacPhail would say only that he’s involved in multiple conversations about potential pitching acquisitions, but declined to elaborate.

“We got enough out there so you don’t know what’s going to come back and when or if anything comes back at all,” he said. “That’s the case as you get progressively close to spring training. We have a lot of different conversations going on.”

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (32)
        

New Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg, whose two-year, $10 million deal became official yesterday, talked to the local media via conference call this morning. Here are a few of his responses:

Why the Orioles: "Potential. Opportunity. I really liked what I saw last year in the team. I know early on the wins weren’t coming at the pace that they wanted. But I saw a lot of potential in the team and once [manager Buck Showalter] took over, I saw an attitude and change in direction. I want to be a part of it. I like the direction the team is going."

Feelings on the rest of the bullpen: "There is a solid group down there. The biggest factor we have is health. If these guys stay healthy, we are definitely a shutdown bullpen. Adding me to the mix allows us to get deeper and pushes guys to the right innings to allow us to be successful. Teams that win have deep bullpens [that] take a little pressure off the starters. They kind of work hand-in-hand together."

How long the signing process took: "It was nice to see the interest early, know what was going on. Fortunately for me, I had a lot of interest all over the board. They see you as a closer, they see you as a setup guy ... The time frame was just going through that stuff, trying to find the right fit for myself. Eventually, we came to terms. I think both sides are happy."

On importance of multi-year deal: "You want to get multi-years. You’d like to know where you’re going to be at. Two years isn’t really a long time, I don’t think, but it’s settling for me and my family to know where you are going to be."

On pitching in the A.L. East: "The A.L. East is considered the best division in baseball. I’m not scared of it. I didn’t want to back away from it or run from it. I’m prepared for the challenge."

On his desire to close: "I know what I want to do. I know what I can do. Given the circumstances, it will play out the way it needs to play it out. But the bottom line is the best interest in the team is what we need to go with. I like my chances of being a closer, but I like the other guys, too. ... We don’t have to have one certain guy every single night."

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

Vouchers for autograph sessions at the Jan. 29 Orioles FanFest will go on sale at 10a.m. Saturday at orioles.com. Children ages 4 to 14 will have a specially designated "Kids Only" player autograph station that is free of charge, but the advanced purchase of the $15 vouchers, part of the event's new autograph policy designed to support youth charitable endeavors and reduce wait times, is required for all other autograph stations. All proceeds will benefit children's charities through OriolesREACH. There will be 250 vouchers available for each autograph session.

Click here to see the list of autograph sessions and participating players and coaches.

—Jeff Zrebiec

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Posted by Baltimore Sun sports at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

Prediction Friday has survived the wild-card round and will live for another week.

Here’s hoping it gets to next Friday for the AFC Championship version.

This is what most of you have been waiting for: Ravens versus the Steelers in the postseason. Sure, it would be better if it were for the AFC title (or if it were in Baltimore), but this is nearly as good as it gets.

(I know, some of you don’t want to talk Ravens in Orioles Insider. But you accidentally walked out the back door of OI and ended up in Connolly’s Bar, where we’ve been doing this every NFL Friday for three years. So indulge us, grab a barstool and a drink and I’ll send an Orioles topic your way soon).

Last week, pretty much everyone in this joint had the Ravens beating the Chiefs, but few expected the score to be so lopsided. JB gets the free bar tab this week for his 30-10 prediction, just a field goal off the 30-7 final. Drink chips for Chris (28-10), Bmore B (31-10), Ron (27-6) and Andy (24-7).

I don’t want to be accused of playing to the masses and being a homer, but I have a strange feeling the Ravens win this one. And, yes, Steelers’ fans, I realize Ben Roethlisberger is playing on Saturday. That makes a huge difference, especially against the Ravens.

These teams are evenly matched and the Steelers are at home. So a smart gambler would take the Steelers. I just have a feeling that Flacco turns the tables, comes up big at the end and leads the Ravens to a last-minute touchdown. I’m taking the Ravens to win, 17-16. And Flacco as my game hero.

Now it is your turn. You need to predict the winner, the score and the hero of the game. Hopefully, some Steelers fans will come in here and give their three cents (I’ve jacked up the price on thoughts and Iron City this week for our visitors from Western Pa).

It’s always a fun debate, because it has become such a great rivalry.

Now, for the Orioles fans who want some action here, I have a question for you, too. Do the Orioles still have a rival?

Growing up in Baltimore in the late 1970s/early 1980s, I viewed the Orioles and Yankees as a tremendous rivalry. In my early life – from 1969 to 1985, when I was most into baseball – the Orioles were in five World Series, the Yankees were in four and the Boston Red Sox were in one.

I kind of looked at the Red Sox as the awkward cousin, someone you played with and liked enough and always expected to go home eventually. The Red Sox were a team you wanted and expected to be beat, one that you respected but never viewed as the primary threat – perhaps how the Yankees and Red Sox fans currently view the Tampa Bay Rays.

Nowadays, the Orioles are like a distant cousin in the American League East. I’m not even sure the Yankees, Red Sox or Rays would admit they are related to the 2011 Orioles.

And there’s no question the ultimate rivalry is between the Yankees and Red Sox. A rivalry needs two good sides, and the Orioles haven’t been able to hold up their end of the bargain. So they are no longer considered by New Yorkers or Bostonians as a threat.

But what about around here? Do you still look at the Yankees as the Orioles’ chief rival? Is it the Red Sox because they’ve completely lapped the Orioles while the Yankees just stay on the perch year after year? What about the Rays? Can the Orioles muscle in with them, since they are often ignored by the big boys?

Or is it what I assume: Until they are good, the Orioles are without a rival?

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Steelers

Bonus Think Special: Do the Orioles have a legitimate rival?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (60)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

The official announcement of Kevin Gregg’s two-year deal today prompts further questioning of what Orioles manager Buck Showalter will do with the closer role.

Will it be Gregg, who saved 37 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, or Koji Uehara, who went 13-for-15 in save opportunities for the Orioles this past season? Or will Showalter go with the closer-by-committee approach as five members of the projected 2011 bullpen have recorded double-digit saves in at least one major league season?

Well, to no surprise, Showalter is not ready to say, and I suspect that won’t change much before the Orioles’ April 1 season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

“Andy and I agreed that … we [didn’t] want anything said or promised to get this guy to sign with us,” Showalter said. “[Gregg] knows exactly what the deal is. Obviously, he’s going to be in the bullpen. Last time I looked, he’s the only guy on the club that saved 37 games in the AL East. But I also know how Koji pitched the last couple of months. If Koji is healthy, it’s tough not to give him an opportunity to pick up where he left off. I don’t look at it as a problem. It’s a good situation to have.”

Showalter is also excited about the rest of the bullpen, which could include Michael Gonzalez, Jeremy Accardo, Jim Johnson and Jason Berken.

“If Berken comes back healthy, it shapes up to have the potential to be pretty deep,” Showalter said. “You have to like, obviously, Koji and Gregg, Gonzalez, Johnson and Berken. You’re able to spread the load around a little bit. You are talking about five guys who have had some success in the major leagues. You’ll probably see us do some things to address the left-handed situation. We’ll see how the rest of it shakes out. We still have some irons in the fire, so to speak.”

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

With several publications recently releasing their prospect rankings for each of the 30 major league teams, we decided to put together a list of the top 10 players in the Orioles' minor league system.

We ranked players on their career performance through the 2010 season, as well as their potential contributions in the major leagues. We also took other prospect rankings into consideration and included only players who haven't exhausted their rookie eligibility.

Over the past three seasons, several highly regarded prospects have been drafted by the Orioles and moved through the organization to the majors.

Catcher Matt Wieters (No. 1 in 2009) and left-hander Brian Matusz (No. 5 in 2010) both made appearances in the top five of Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects during that span. Right-hander Jake Arrieta (No. 67 in 2009, No. 99 in 2010) and outfielder Nolan Reimold (No. 91 in 2008) have also spent their entire careers with the organization.

The Orioles have acquired right-hander Chris Tillman (No. 22 in 2009), third baseman Josh Bell (No. 37 in 2010) and left-hander Troy Patton (No. 78 in 2008) in separate trades since 2007. Tillman made the biggest impact of the three players over the past three years, but Bell and Patton each made their Orioles debut in 2010.

Now, the organization features two players — lefty Zach Britton and shortstop Manny Machado — who are viewed as future stars.

Britton, a third-round pick in the 2006 amateur draft, has climbed steadily through the organization and will likely make his major league debut this season. Machado, last year's first-round selection, is still at least a couple of years away from helping the Orioles, but he has drawn comparisons to New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez.

The rest of the prospects on the list, for the most part, could fluctuate by a few spots in either direction. All eight are viewed as above-average prospects, but they're not on the same level as Britton or Machado.

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Zach Britton, LHP

After going through the Orioles' system in the shadow of other top pitching prospects, Britton is ready for his time in the spotlight. He split the 2010 season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, going 10-7 with a 2.70 ERA in 27 games (26 starts). Known for his sinking fastball, the 23-year-old left-hander struck out 124 batters between the two levels. He was second in the Carolina League with 131 strikeouts in 2009. Britton is likely to start at Norfolk but could make an impact in the major leagues in 2011.

2. Manny Machado, SS

While Machado probably won’t hit for as much power as Rodriguez, he’ll be a fixture at the top of the Orioles’ lineup for years to come. The third overall pick in the 2010 draft received only 36 at-bats last season between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles and short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He hit .345 with three RBIs in seven games for the IronBirds. Scouts believe Machado, 18, will eventually be a consistent .300 hitter with pop while his defense at shortstop will rate as above average for big leaguers. He’ll spend the majority of the season, if not all of it, at Single-A Delmarva.

3. L.J. Hoes, 2B

Hoes demonstrated the ability to stay focused despite distractions off the field over the past two seasons. Both of Hoes' parents dealt with health issues in 2009, and the 20-year-old battled mononucleosis last year. He improved defensively in 2010 and also hit 24 doubles while splitting time between Aberdeen and Single-A Frederick. Hoes should start the season in Bowie.

4. Xavier Avery, OF

While he slumped at the end of the 2010 season with Bowie and struggled in the Arizona Fall League, Avery played well enough during his time with Frederick to be named to the Carolina League postseason All-Star team. He batted .280 with 25 doubles for the Keys before being promoted to the Baysox. Avery, 21, was second among Orioles minor leaguers with 38 stolen bases in 2010. He will likely start with Bowie in 2011.

5. Mychal Givens, SS

This toolsy 20-year-old missed substantial time last season after suffering a torn ligament in his left thumb in late May. Originally groomed as a shortstop, Givens could see the bulk of his playing time at second base with Machado set to become the club’s shortstop of the future. He’s a gap-to-gap hitter, but scouts believe those line drives will eventually turn into home runs once Givens develops. He could team with Machado as part of Delmarva’s double-play duo or start the year with Frederick at shortstop.

6. Dan Klein, RHP

Klein possesses supreme command of four plus-rated pitches. He served as the closer for UCLA’s national championship runner-up squad before a lights-out stint with Aberdeen at the end of last season, allowing just one hit and no runs in 61/3 innings. All five of Klein’s appearances for the IronBirds came out of the bullpen, but the Orioles hope to turn the 22-year-old into a starter beginning next season. He should move fast through the organization and could start the year at Frederick.

7. Ryan Adams, 2B-3B

Offensively, Adams is one of the best infield prospects in the organization. He established career highs in home runs (15), doubles (43) and RBIs (68) with Bowie in 2010. Adams, 23, has also improved his fielding percentage in each of the past two seasons after establishing a South Atlantic League record for errors by a second baseman with Delmarva in 2008. It's unclear where Adams will begin the year because of the Orioles' recent additions in the middle infield, but it will likely be at Norfolk.

8. Ryan Berry, RHP

Berry won’t overpower anyone with his low-90s fastball, but his ability to command four quality pitches and pound the strike zone make up for a lack of velocity. The Orioles limited him to a series of five-inning starts for much of the season with hopes of protecting his arm after the 22-year-old suffered a strained shoulder in college. He made 20 starts between Delmarva and Frederick before the Orioles switched him to the bullpen to rest his arm. His future could be as a reliever, but he should at least begin 2011 in Bowie’s starting rotation.

9. Jonathan Schoop, SS

Schoop, a second-year player from Curacao, emerged as one of the organization’s most intriguing middle-infield prospects last season. Scouts like the 19-year-old's ability to hit for average — he batted .316 in 133 at-bats at Rookie-level Bluefield — but are even more excited about his power potential. If he can develop a power stroke, his stock will continue to rise. He’s another player who will be blocked by Machado at shortstop so a move to third base could be in his immediate future.

10. Matt Hobgood, RHP

Thanks to a rocky start to his professional career, Orioles fans don't have much confidence in Hobgood. The 20-year-old was 3-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 21 starts for Delmarva in 2010 before recently encountering shoulder problems. Still, it's too early to give up on the 2009 first-round pick; he made strides to improve his conditioning before the setback. Hobgood will slide down the prospect list if he doesn't progress in 2011, but his tools keep him in The Sun’s Top 10. When he's ready to be assigned to a full-season affiliate, Hobgood will likely return to Delmarva.

To view a photo gallery of the Orioles' top 10 prospects, click here.

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Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (43)
        

The Orioles announced this afternoon that reliever Kevin Gregg has passed his physical, making official the two-year, $10 million deal that he agreed to with the club last week.

Gregg’s deal includes a club option for 2013 that will vest if the reliever finishes 50 games during the 2012 campaign or a combined 100 games between 2011 and 2012. Gregg saved 37 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, and has registered 121 saves over the past four seasons.

The Orioles, whose Opening Day bullpen will likely have five pitchers who have registered double-digit saves in at least one Major League season, including incumbent closer Koji Uehara, haven’t guaranteed the closer spot to Gregg. That will be left up to manager Buck Showalter.

However, the nature of his contract, along with the reliever citing an opportunity to close as one of the main reasons that he signed with the Orioles, suggests that he’ll be in line for a significant number of save opportunities.

“I want to close,” said Gregg in a previous phone interview with The Sun. “I’ve talked to [President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail] and I have talked to Buck about it and I told them what I wanted. I had 37 saves in this division last year. I have shown I can do it. I have averaged 30 saves in the last four years. I love doing it, but we’ll see when the season begins. … There is definitely opportunity there. It’s what led me this way, closing, that’s important to me. It’s also important being on a team that is young and has the potential to win.”

Gregg, 32, has saved 23 or more games each of the past four seasons, and has done it with three different clubs in that span. He closed for the Florida Marlins in 2007 and 2008, and then for the Chicago Cubs in 2009. He then set a career high with 37 saves (in 43 chances) in his lone season with the Blue Jays last year. In his career, he has saved 122 games in 150 opportunities.

Gregg’s weakness last season was control. He walked 30 batters while allowing 52 hits and striking out 58 in 59 innings – recording a less than stellar 1.39 WHIP. However, he is considered a bulldog with no fear and a desire to take the baseball in any situation. He also relishes competing in the American League East.

“It’s definitely a tough situation, but if you follow the moves (this offseason), the Yankees haven’t made any moves. Boston, obviously, has made itself stronger. Toronto has done a couple of small things, and Tampa hasn’t really made any moves and their payroll is going down,” Gregg said. “I think there is definitely an opportunity … to make an impact and get Baltimore back to where it needs to be in competing for a title.”

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Orioles’ Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was taken to a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital today due to dizziness and an irregular heartbeat while attending this week’s owners’ meetings in Arizona.

The 75-year-old Robinson, who is a senior vice president with Major League Baseball, became dizzy during a meeting with owners and general managers, according to this report on mlb.com

He apparently indicated he was fine, but was taken to the hospital for more tests.

Robinson led the Orioles to World Series championships in 1966 and 1970 and World Series appearances in 1969 and 1971.

Update: An MLB spokesperson just told me Robinson is out of the hospital and, typical Frank, is back at the meetings. He returned to the meetings around 4:30 p.m. EST.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Two Orioles scouts and one Orioles Hall of Famer will be honored Saturday by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation at the annual “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner in Los Angeles.

Former Oriole third baseman Brooks Robinson will receive the foundation’s “Player Lifetime Achievement Award,” which will be presented by broadcaster and lifelong Orioles fan Roy Firestone.

Longtime Orioles scout Fred Uhlman Sr. and former Orioles scout Grover “Deacon” Jones will receive the prestigious “Legends in Scouting Award” for meritorious service.

Uhlman Sr., a Baltimore resident, has been scouting with the Orioles since 1985 after spending 17 years with the Cincinnati Reds. He’s credited with signing, among others, Gregg Olson, David Segui, Steve Finley and Arthur Rhodes for the Orioles.

Jones, a former big league first baseman, was the Orioles’ advance scout for much of the past two decades, providing detailed reports on the club’s big-league opponents. Completing his final season with the Orioles in 2010, Jones has held various titles with the Orioles organization and also worked for the Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.

Jones and Uhlman are two of seven scouts to receive the honor this year.

Scouts are the offensive linemen of baseball organizations, doing their important work in virtual anonymity. So it’s nice to see two incredibly fine men – Uhlman a true professional and Jones a true character -- be recognized by their peers.

The gala, held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, attracts roughly 1,500 people each year.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Orioles starter Brad Bergesen was in Baltimore earlier this month to have his shoulder looked at by the team’s medical staff, but the visit was more for precautionary measures, according to both the pitcher and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail.

“It was more of a preventive type thing,” said Bergesen. “From what I dealt with last year, they wanted to see where I was at. They just wanted to check my strength and see how I was doing and it’s been great so far. Compared to last year, it’s just leaps and bounds better than how I felt. Last year, I wasn’t even throwing at this point.”

Bergesen hurt his shoulder in December 2009 while filming a team-sponsored commercial. The injury delayed his preparation for the 2010 season and then hindered him at times during an up-and-down campaign. Bergesen went 8-12 with a 4.98 ERA, but pitched to a 3.94 ERA after the All-Star break.

With the Orioles yet to add to their starting pitching depth this offseason, Bergesen’s performance will be key in 2011.

“From everything I’ve been told, he feels better now by lights years than how he felt a year ago,” MacPhail said. “I don’t have any cause for concern at this point. He just wants to make sure he does everything he can so he doesn’t have the ups and downs that he had last year.”

Bergesen has thrown three times since getting his shoulder looked at and said that he has felt great. He’s scheduled to throw from off the mound for the first time tomorrow at Auburn University. Bergesen and his wife, Shea, live not far from the campus of the recently-crowned college football national champions.

“I want to jump-start this thing,” Bergesen said. “I’ve been long tossing and everything and I feel good.”

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

The Orioles have waited over a month to officially add reliever Kevin Gregg into the fold so what's another 24 hours?

Gregg took a physical on Tuesday so the expectation was that if all went well, the Orioles would officially announce that they've signed the veteran right-hander to a two-year, $10 million deal today. However, there has been no such announcement.

Now, I'm told there is nothing to be alarmed about at this point, leading me to believe that an announcement will come tomorrow morning. These things are certainly affected by a number of factors, including the availability of doctors, weather, the time it takes to get test results back, etc.

The Orioles initially made Gregg an offer in early December at baseball's winter meetings. I got the impression at that point that a deal was imminent. It certainly has taken a little while for that to be the case, but I'm pretty confident that we're at that point.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
        

Will Ohman, the former Orioles left-handed reliever who signed a two-year, $4 million deal with the Chicago White Sox this weekend, got back in touch with me today. He had been vacationing in the mountains when the deal was being hammered out.

The Orioles had some interest in bringing back Ohman, but not enough to guarantee a one-year, big-league contract – a similar approach as last year when Ohman signed a minor-league deal with a spring invitation and made the Orioles with a strong camp.

“I definitely had some interest in coming back, I really enjoyed my time there, but they weren’t able to do what I was looking for,” Ohman said. “There were several teams that were out there interested, but the White Sox were the ones that pursued me the hardest.”

Ohman played for the Cubs for parts of five seasons and calls Chicago his favorite city in the country. That, combined with joining a contending team and landing a multi-year contract, made signing with the White Sox a no-brainer.

“It was the right deal,” Ohman said. “It was where I needed to go.”

The White Sox will be Ohman’s sixth big-league team since 2007.
“The last four years it was kind of, ‘wait and see and move on to the next place,’” he said. “To have a team want me to stick around for more than six months is kind of nice.”

Ohman, one of baseball’s most loquacious players, will be managed by baseball’s most outspoken manager, Ozzie Guillen. It could be a marriage made in quote heaven – and Ohman already has a bone to pick with Guillen, who, like Ohman, wears uniform No. 13.

“First of all, the guy is wearing my number, so we’ll have to take care of that,” Ohman joked. “I’m sure he’ll hear about that. I’ve been known to be one that’s loose of lip.”

Gregg's physical completed
Reliever Kevin Gregg finished his physical in Baltimore on Tuesday. Assuming all went well, the Orioles are expected to announce Gregg's two-year, $10 million deal on Wednesday.

An early start
Major League Baseball has released the dates for the first pitchers/catchers workouts for all 30 teams and the Orioles are among the earliest.

Orioles pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout Feb. 14 in Sarasota, Fla. They are one of 11 teams to open that day; no one is doing it earlier. The other AL teams to host their first workout Feb. 14 are the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels.

The Orioles’ first full-squad workout is Feb. 21.

Tickets for spring training
Individual tickets for all 16 of the club’s spring training games at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. They’ll be available at the Sarasota box office, via phone orders at 800-745-3000 or on the Internet at www.orioles.com.

Those interested in four-pack game plans, group tickets or looking for more information can call the Orioles’ spring training office at 941-954-4101.

Email address, charitable fund for Christina Green’s memory
The Los Angeles Dodgers are compiling emails for a memorial book that will be given to former Orioles scout and current Dodgers scout John Green, whose 9-year-old daughter, Christina, was killed in last Saturday’s shooting in Arizona. Those who want to send memories, thoughts or condolences can do so by emailing greenfamily@dodgers.com.

Letters can be sent via mail to: Dodger Stadium, c/o the Green Family, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90090.

A charitable memorial fund also has been created by the family, in honor of Christina. For more information, email christinataylorgreenmemorial@cfsoaz.org, call (520) 545-0313 or visit the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona Web site, www.cfsoaz.org.

John Green, the son of former Philadelphia Phillies manager Dallas Green, scouted for the Orioles from 1993 to 1998.

Ballistics test still pending
As of late Tuesday afternoon, there was no news on the release of the ballistics test involving Alfredo Simon’s gun. Simon, the Orioles’ 29-year-old reliever who is considered the leading suspect in the fatal shooting of his cousin during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day, is in a Dominican prison awaiting the next step in this case. He has yet to be charged.

Benson retires
Pitcher Kris Benson, who was with the Orioles in 2006 and 2007, has told Fox Sports that he is retiring and not attempting another comeback from arm injuries.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the trade that sent three young players from the Orioles -- pitchers Curt Schilling and Pete Harnisch and outfielder Steve Finley -- to the Houston Astros for first baseman Glenn Davis.

At the time, I was in college and all my friends who were Orioles fans were psyched. The Orioles needed power, and Davis, who wasn’t yet 30, was one of the better sluggers in the National League.

But I hated the deal. And not because I knew Davis would be plagued by injuries and bad luck in his three years with the Orioles. I just didn’t like what the Orioles had to give up to acquire him.

I thought Finley would be good for a long time -- and he was -- but I wasn’t particularly wedded to the oddball Schilling, who had the best career of the three. It was Harnisch that was untouchable in my book.

Harnisch won 11 games and posted a 4.34 ERA as a 23-year-old in 1990. I thought it was dumb to give up a young, bulldog starter with plenty of upside and two other guys for Davis.

I thought Harnisch would one day be a star -- and though he never reached the heights I had imagined, he still had a 14-season career in which he won 111 games and posted a 3.89 ERA.

Schilling, of course, became one of the best big-game pitchers of the past 50 years, and Finley was just so solid for so long.

The trade, in my opinion anyway, was the worst in Orioles history. Its mirror image, for me, was the Dec. 9, 1965, deal that brought Frank Robinson to the Orioles and sent Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun and Dick Simpson to the Cincinnati Reds.

I wasn’t born yet, but I have a friend who was a teenager at the time and said he hated the deal because he thought Robinson, a future Hall of Famer, was washed up and Pappas, who had gone 13-9 with a 2.60 ERA as a 26-year-old in 1965, was destined to be an ace.

So I guess we never really know about a trade until years later.

Well, in many cases, it’s years later. I want to know what you think are the best and the worst trades in Orioles modern-day history. My nominees are the Robinson deal and the Davis deal. But maybe I am forgetting something. Maybe you think the 2008 Erik Bedard deal to Seattle will one day be the best. Make your case.

Daily Think Special: What is the best trade and the worst trade in Orioles’ history?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (76)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

The agent for Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon said there are several witnesses in the Dominican Republic who are willing to come forward and testify that the pitcher could not have fired the fatal bullet that killed Simon’s 25-year-old cousin in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.

Phil Isaac, one of Simon’s two American agents, spent the weekend in the Dominican talking to attorneys and others involved with the case and said he believes Simon was “quite a distance” away from the spot where his cousin, Michael Esteban Castillo Almonte, was killed.

“There are a few witnesses that will come forward that we have spoken to and that the attorneys have spoken to that will testify – if it comes to that – that under no circumstances whatsoever could Alfredo have fired the fatal shot,” said Isaac, who along with his brother, Alex, represents Simon.

That contention differs greatly from what a second victim in the shooting told a Dominican reporter last week. Starlin Castillo Hernandez, the 17-year-old half brother of Castillo Almonte who was shot in the right arm during the same incident, said Simon was not shooting in the air, as the pitcher’s attorneys suggest. Instead, Castillo Hernandez contends Simon was the shooter and it wasn’t an accident.

“If it's like he says, that he was firing into the air, then we must all have been sleeping,” the Dominican newspaper El Nacional reported Castillo Hernandez as saying last week.

However, Isaac said his side has additional information that could help lead to the release of his client, but would not offer specifics.

“We have looked at alternative pieces of evidence and other information pertaining to the situation that strongly favor Alfredo’s case and we expect that to come forward as the proceedings play out,” Isaac said.

Meanwhile, Simon, who was in a detention center for most of last week, has been moved to a prison in Puerto Plata. Isaac said the transfer was made because of overcrowding at the detention center and is not an indication of Simon’s involvement in the incident.

Simon has yet to be charged of a crime, but is considered the chief suspect in the death of Castillo Almonte and the shooting of Castillo Hernandez. He is awaiting the release of a ballistics report which could determine whether the gun that Simon turned over to authorities fired the fatal bullet.

Isaac said the ballistics report is expected to be released Tuesday and he believes it will show the bullet did not come from Simon’s gun. Simon’s Dominican attorney has said a preliminary report backs that theory, but the prosecution in the case has speculated that the 29-year-old Simon may have switched barrels of the gun before giving it to police.

Simon pitched in a career-high 49 games with the Orioles last year and led the team with 17 saves. He was slated for a middle relief role in 2011.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

The tragic shootings in Arizona yesterday have a direct connection to the baseball world and, to a lesser extent, the Orioles.

One of the fatal victims was 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, who has received national attention because she was born Sept. 11, 2001 – another terrible day in U.S. history.

Green’s father, John, is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was an amateur scout with the Orioles in the late 1990s. He went from full-time amateur scout to the Orioles’ Eastern Regional Supervisor in 1998 and lived in Conowingo, Md., where his family had a farm.

John’s dad is legendary baseball man, Dallas Green, a former right-handed pitcher who managed nine seasons in the majors and led the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1980 world championship.

I don’t know John Green; he left the Orioles before I began covering them. But I have had several chances to talk with Dallas Green, including a sit-down interview with him a few years ago when I was doing a story on Phillies general Pat Gillick and Green was a special assistant in Philadelphia.

Green is a bear of a man – 6 feet 5 with a fittingly gruff exterior. But we had a great talk that day, including a discussion about Green’s farm in Conowingo in northeastern Maryland.

I can only imagine how, to his grandkids, he must be an absolute teddy bear. My heart goes out to him, his son and the entire Green family – as well as everyone else involved in Saturday’s tragedy.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Former Orioles reliever Will Ohman has agreed to terms with the Chicago White Sox on a two-year, $4 million deal, according to multiple reports, including one from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

We told you yesterday that the White Sox were the favorites and that the Orioles originally had some mild interest in re-signing Ohman, but they were not willing, at this point, to guarantee him a major league spot.

Ohman, 33, did a nice job for the Orioles -- he held opponents scoreless in his first 25 appearances of 2010 -- before the club dealt him to the Florida Marlins in July for Rick VandenHurk.

Ohman’s a hard worker, and definitely a character, and it is nice to see him rewarded with such a lucrative deal a year after coming into Orioles’ camp on a minor league contract.

So it’s great for him -- but not so great for the Orioles. Because Ohman is another in a growing list of lefty relievers signing multiple year deals (Scott Downs, Pedro Feliciano and Randy Choate) and that does not bode well for the club.

The Orioles want -- and need -- another lefty to go with Michael Gonzalez in the bullpen. The only other lefty relievers on their 40-man roster are Troy Patton, who has mainly been a starter in his career and certainly isn’t a lefty specialist type at this point, and Pedro Viola, who doesn’t appear ready to be a major leaguer.

The Orioles would prefer to do what they did last year -- strike gold with an Ohman-type on a minor league deal. The club would consider giving a one-year, big league contract to a lefty reliever, but almost certainly not two or more years.

And the list of what’s available is not super inspiring. The best of the bunch is Brian Fuentes, who saved 24 games for the Los Angeles Angels last year and likely will be paid like a pseudo-closer. He has multiple-year deal written all over him.

The best of the rest includes Joe Beimel, Ron Mahay, Randy Flores, Denys Reyes and a trio of former Orioles: Tim Byrdak, Mark Hendrickson and Bruce Chen.

Beimel is also likely in line for a multiple-year deal. Mahay, who has pitched for Buck Showalter in the past, also could be depending on how this market plays out.

So here is what I think are the three most likely scenarios for the Orioles in filling their left-handed relief hole:

1. They’ll scour the waiver wire and pick up a lefty reliever like they did with Viola last April.
2. They’ll make a small trade for a lefty reliever, ideally someone with minor league options remaining in case he doesn't stick in spring training.
3. Re-sign the 36-year-old Hendrickson. They did it last February and probably will do it again if he hasn’t found a job late into the offseason and they still have a need. The Orioles love his professionalism and versatility and his quiet, confident nature makes him a favorite among teammates. The problem is that Hendrickson is coming off a sub-par year and has never been particularly effective against left-handed hitters -- they have batted .267 against him in his career, including a .317 mark in 2010. If Hendrickson is the club’s only other southpaw reliever and the oft-injured Gonzalez gets hurt in 2011, the Orioles will be exceptionally vulnerable to left-handed hitters.

An out-of-the-box thought it is to put top prospect Zach Britton into the big league bullpen to begin the season the way teams used to ease their young pitchers into the majors. But I can’t see that happening. Too much risk; too high of an investment these days. Although it’s possible they’ll do that with Patton if they feel he can contribute in the majors in 2011.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (36)
        

The Orioles are not one of the three finalists for the services of free-agent left-handed reliever Will Ohman, who spent half of last season pitching for the Orioles.

An industry source said Ohman has narrowed his choices to three, and the Chicago White Sox are considered the favorites. A final decision has not been made but is close, the source said.

The Orioles are looking for a left-handed reliever and had some interest in bringing back Ohman, who signed a minor league deal with the club last offseason and pitched well for the big league team before he was traded to the Florida Marlins on July 31 for Rick VandenHurk.

But the Orioles were not willing to offer a major league roster spot at this point to Ohman. It’s expected that the club will wait until closer to spring training before it adds another lefty to the bullpen. It’s possible that pitcher -- like Ohman in 2010 -- will be offered a minor league deal and a spring training invitation with a good chance of making the club. Or the Orioles could claim a left-hander off waivers or trade for one before spring training begins.

Ohman, 33, pitched in 33 games with the Orioles last season, not recording a decision while compiling a 3.30 ERA in 30 innings. He didn’t allow a run in his first 25 appearances for the Orioles. While with the Marlins, Ohman went 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 17 games.

Ballistics test not in
In other news, as of late Friday afternoon, Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon remained detained in the Dominican Republic while awaiting an official ballistics report, which might determine whether the bullet that killed Simon’s 25-year-old cousin Jan. 1 was fired by Simon’s gun.

Gregg’s physical Tuesday
Reliever Kevin Gregg, who agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Orioles this week, will be in Baltimore on Tuesday for his physical. If all goes well, the club will announce Gregg’s signing, bringing the club’s 40-man roster to 39 players.

Duren dies
Ryne Duren, known for his 100 mph fastball, control difficulties and thick eyeglasses, died Thursday at age 81. Duren pitched just one game for the Orioles in his 10-season major league career, but it was his debut Sept. 25, 1954. He was traded two years later to the Kansas City Athletics.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)
        

A lot of you think the Orioles need to buy another big bat like Vladimir Guerrero to make up significant ground on the big boys of the AL East.

Others see such a young, inexperienced rotation and are pleading for a top-of-the-rotation starter in his prime.

Me? I say just maintain the plan that worked so well last year. Keep spatting with rival pitchers.

Remember in September when the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays jawed at each other about the Orioles’ allegedly throwing at Jose Bautista? Remember who was leading that cause for Toronto, the guy who said the Blue Jays would pay the Orioles back in 2011?

Shaun Marcum.

And what did the Blue Jays do to reward Marcum for that outburst? Dealt him this winter to the Milwaukee Brewers and the baseball purgatory known as the NL Central.

The Orioles had one other jawfest in 2010, when Orioles designated hitter Luke Scott and Tampa Bay Rays starter Matt Garza got into a holy war of words which included lessons on the bible and humility.

And today the Rays shipped Garza to the Chicago Cubs and -- you guessed it -- the NL Central.

Two arguments with the Orioles and, within months, those two guys are dealt out of the division.

Coincidence?

Maybe, but maybe this whole Orioles bad karma thing for the past 13 years is starting to turn around. To test the theory, the Orioles need to get aggressive in 2011.

They need to sling fat jokes at CC Sabathia, needle A.J. Burnett with tattoo barbs, chant "over-rated" at David Price and just absolutely rip Josh Beckett and his goofy necklace -- I mean, think Bob Gibson would have been caught on a mound with jewelry, Joshy?

Any good AL East pitcher is fair game. Rip them, Orioles, and watch them head next offseason to Pittsburgh or Houston. Pretty soon, the East will be a division for the taking.

It’s just a theory, but it should cost a lot less than an established DH.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

It’s the first week of Playoff Prediction Friday.

Let’s hope it’s not the last (for the Ravens anyway).

Speaking of the Ravens, last week’s 13-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals was highly uninspiring. It also was highly unexpected given your predictions in this space last week.

I had the Ravens winning, 27-7, and there weren’t many closer. In fact, no one was within 10 points, with most everybody expecting the Ravens to score at least 20.

So I am not giving out free drink chips or bar tabs this week. This is not a charity watering hole. You’ve got to earn it.

No worries, though. You can earn it today.

I know the Kansas City Chiefs have been good this year and that city will be rocking with playoff football to host Sunday. I just think the Ravens are better. Plain and simple. No matter where the game is held.

So I’m taking the Ravens, 21-13. My hero of the game will be Joe Flacco, who throws three TDs to three different receivers. An assist will go to the defense, which will cause three turnovers, including a late one to seal the victory.

Now it is your turn. Predict the winner, the score and the hero of the game (as a tiebreaker). If anyone gets close, I certainly will mention it next week. Promise.

For those of you who demand Orioles in this space, I’m here for you. It’s been an eventful week, and there are plenty of topics from which to choose. But let’s make it a general one.

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail was getting ripped early this offseason for not doing anything while guys like Victor Martinez, Jayson Werth and Adam Dunn were signing elsewhere.

Instead, MacPhail kept saying he had a plan and he would fill the club’s holes. Now, in early January, the Orioles have added two corner infielders (Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee), a shortstop (J.J. Hardy), two utility infielders (Cesar Izturis and Brendan Harris) and three relievers (Kevin Gregg, Jeremy Accardo and Koji Uehara).

The Orioles have been busy. They’ve gotten better, too, though they didn’t add any marquee names and still aren’t in the same class as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. And that may be how they have to be judged. I’ll leave that up to you.

What I want to know is how you think the Orioles have fared this offseason. I want you to grade MacPhail on his moves. I’d say a B-. Overall, it was solid, but I think a little more aggressiveness would have gotten them Martinez, and given them a B+ without breaking the bank. Your take?

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Chiefs

Bonus Think Special: Grade the Orioles/Andy MacPhail’s offseason

Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (85)
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
        

Various things involving the Orioles:

Liked Lee’s answer
During his teleconference with Baltimore media today, Derrek Lee was given a chance to blame his sub-par 2010 (by his standards) on an injured thumb that he first hurt on Opening Day. His response: “I’ve had injuries before and played well, and been healthy before and played bad, so injuries don’t help. But I think a lot of guys play with injuries, and that’s part of the game. You have to do the best you can, and your numbers are what they are.”

The “veteran leadership” thing gets overblown at times. More than anything, the key is accountability within a clubhouse. If a player doesn’t take responsibility for his actions, it’s good to have someone respected in the clubhouse -- a veteran or a star -- who will call the player out on that. So it’s nice to see a newly anointed veteran presence refusing to offer an easy excuse.

Gregg’s physical next week
I’ve been told reliever Kevin Gregg will be in Baltimore either Tuesday or Wednesday for his physical. Once he passes that and his two-year, $10 million deal becomes official, the Orioles will have 39 men on their 40-man roster.

That leaves a spot for someone else without having to expose anyone to waivers (not that there aren’t some guys on the 40-man that are expendable, but that’s for another day). The best guess is that the Orioles will add a left-handed reliever to the mix, either filling that roster spot or offering a minor league deal with a spring invite to a lefty who will have a good shot of making the team (like Will Ohman last year). The Orioles also still want a veteran, innings-eating starter.

Lobbying for a DH
There’s been a movement among posters here recently for the Orioles to jump on one of the available designated hitters on the free agent market: Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez or even Johnny Damon.

No question adding one of those guys -- especially Guerrero -- would make a solid offense more formidable. But don’t hold your breath. We’ve heard the Orioles are pretty much at their 2011 budget right now. So they are not going to be offering what it takes to get one of those guys right now. But if one of those players is still looking for a job at the end of this month, and the contract demands have dropped significantly, the Orioles might make a push. But I don’t see them making an aggressive bid -- especially not now.

J. Stockstill back in the country
Orioles director of player development John Stockstill was back at Orioles’ offices Thursday. That’s worth reporting because he had been in the Dominican Republic since Monday checking out the Alfredo Simon situation. Stockstill’s not commenting, but presumably he knows enough now to help the Orioles make an informed decision on Simon as his case progresses.

What we know right now is that Simon is still being held near his hometown of Santiago in the shooting death of his 25-year-old cousin while authorities await a ballistics test on the gun Simon handed over. The hope is that the full report will be released Friday, but there have also been allegations that the gun was tampered with before it was turned in. So even if the ballistics test comes up negative, Simon may not be fully cleared yet. The bottom line is that this is a wait-and-see situation because so many different theories and accusations are being floated.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
        

Newly signed Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee, whose one-year, $7.25 million deal became official today, spoke to Baltimore reporters via a conference call earlier this afternoon.

We’ll have a full story later, but here are some of the things he said:

Lee, 35, on signing a one-year deal to prove that last year’s down season was an aberration:
“I do, I have a little chip on my shoulder, man. I have been hearing a lot of people saying I am old, declining, and so I want to prove that theory wrong. I’ve played a while, I am getting up there in age, but that doesn’t mean I’m getting worse because of age. I had a bad year. That’s behind me. I’ve had some pretty productive years, and I feel like I’ve kind of gotten thrown by the wayside after just one season. So, yeah, I have a little chip on my shoulder, and I’m excited to personally prove people wrong.”

Lee on joining the Oriole now after nearly agreeing to trade-and-extension to Baltimore in 2003, before ultimately declining it and ending up with the Chicago Cubs:
“Very close, I was sitting there in the offices there at Camden [Yards] with my family … going back and forth on the numbers. We were extremely close, and it didn’t work out that day. I didn’t know if it was over when I got back on the plane, but it didn’t work out at that time. But I was extremely close. I guess I was meant to be an Oriole because here it is, what, seven years later, and I am coming to Baltimore.”

On coming to Baltimore now:
“Honestly, Baltimore wasn’t on my radar entering the offseason. I was hoping to get out west, near where I live. It didn’t work out, and my agent kept bringing up Baltimore. I kept thinking about it. I watched on "SportsCenter." Would go on the website and see that they kept signing guys. I was looking over their lineup, seeing what Buck [Showalter] is doing over there. I always knew Baltimore had great fans. I just kept thinking about it and really warmed up to the idea. It kind of grew on me, and next thing you know, here I am. So I am actually very excited about it and am looking forward to playing with these guys.”

On his right thumb injury, a torn ligament that needed reconstructive surgery. He hasn’t swung a bat this offseason, but expects to be cleared soon:
“I got hurt Opening Day last season diving for a ball. I went to brace myself with my right hand, and I bent the thumb back. I had surgery Nov. 5. I have been out of a cast about two weeks now, and it’s doing great. Doing rehab every day, and I expect to be 100 percent once I get to spring training.”

On whether that was a reason his offensive numbers were down in 2010:
“I’ve had injuries before and played well, and been healthy before and played bad, so injuries don’t help. But I think a lot of guys play with injuries, and that’s part of the game. You have to do the best you can, and your numbers are what they are.”

On whether he thinks it’s important to be a veteran leader:
“It is important, you have got to have veteran leadership on ballclubs … I’m a laid-back guy. I am not a rah-rah [type]. You are not going to see me yelling and screaming. But I will be pulling guys aside and letting them know how I feel the game needs to be played. Kevin Gregg will be doing that as well. ... We’re just going to get guys pulling on the same rope and moving in the same direction, and with all the talent, I don’t see why we can’t do special things this year.”

On playing for manager Buck Showalter:
“What a prepared, organized, positive guy. I’m really excited to get a chance to play for him and you saw what he had done with those guys last year, he really get it turned around. I’m sure he is excited to get a full year under his belt with this team and I just want to help him out anyway I can.”

On Showalter’s role in getting Lee to Baltimore:
“I didn’t talk to Buck until it was pretty much a done deal. But obviously we all know Buck’s track record, we all know how professional Buck is and how much he wants to win. So it is an attraction, but, no, he didn’t call and lobby me.”

On where he’ll be batting in the revamped lineup:
“We didn’t get specific. [Showalter] said somewhere in the middle of the order. We didn’t talk specifics on where I would hit. And I don’t really care.”

On his style of play:
“I think if you asked my teammates to describe me, it’s that I show up every day to work. I try to be [able to help] every single game. Injuries are part of it, but I think if you are able to get out there, you get out there. I am willing to play hard, and I try to lead by example and play the game the right way. That’s how I was brought up, and that’s how I try to play the game every day.”

On the 2011 Orioles in general:
“I don’t think too many people are expecting big things out of this team. … I think this team is confident, and I’m excited to be a part of that and maybe surprise some people.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (35)
        

The Orioles have officially announced their one-year deal with 35-year-old first baseman Derrek Lee, who passed his team physical Wednesday,

The deal is worth $7.25 million guaranteed this season but could be worth as much as $10 million total if he hits certain performance bonuses.

Lee is expected to talk with the Baltimore media this afternoon.

Lee hit .260 (142-547) with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs in 148 games with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves in 2010. In 2009, he set a career-high with 111 RBIs and led the Cubs with a .306 average, finishing ninth in National League Most Valuable Player voting. In his 14-year career, Lee is a .282 hitter with 312 home runs, 1,019 RBIs and an .865 OPS in 1,829 games.

A two-time National League All-Star (2005 and 2007), and three-time Gold Glove Award winner at first base (2003, 2005, 2007), Lee has hit at least 20 home runs in nine of his last 11 seasons and played at least 140 games in 10 of those 11 seasons. In 2005, Lee finished third in NL MVP voting, winning the NL batting title (.335) and Silver Slugger Award and setting a career-high with 46 home runs.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)
        

First baseman Derrek Lee, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Orioles earlier this week, completed his physical in Baltimore today and was headed back to Southern California this evening.

The club is waiting on the results of the examination -- which will be determined either tonight or tomorrow morning -- before officially announcing the deal.

If all goes well, Lee likely will speak to the Orioles’ media contingent via a conference call on Thursday

Lee, 35, hit .260 with a .347 on-base percentage, 19 homers and 80 RBIs in 148 games with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves in 2010.

Added: In other news, the San Diego Padres announced they have released right-hander Radhames Liz, whom the Orioles waived last winter. Liz, 27, had a 4.83 ERA in 25 games (22 starts) for the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in 2010.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
        

Just spoke to Rafael Palmeiro about being named on just 11 percent of Hall of Fame ballots, meaning only 64 voters felt he deserved first-year induction.

“Not good actually, it’s disappointing, really disappointing that it was only 11 percent,” Palmeiro said in a telephone interview. “I wasn’t expecting to be going in this year with the feedback I have gotten throughout the last few weeks or so. But I thought more voters would look at my overall career and put more emphasis or weight on what I have done and not just on a positive [drug] test at the end of my career. There was a message there to be sent, and it was received.”

He said he thought “maybe 25 percent” of the vote this time “would have been a number more realistic” instead of an 11 percent tally that was 16th overall among candidates. Palmeiro, who had 569 homers and 3,020 hits, finished behind players such as Fred McGriff, Dale Murphy and Don Mattingly.

“I think, obviously, without this stupid test, the positive test, I felt strongly about going in in the first year with 500-plus home runs and 3,000-plus hits,” Palmeiro said. “I think it would have been hard for voters to look at my career and say I should not go in on the first time around.”

Because he was named on more than 5 percent of the ballots, he will be eligible again in 2012 and for 13 years after that, assuming he maintains the 5 percent minimum.

“I am grateful for the 11 percent and that I will stay on the ballot for another year. I’ll go through this process again, and I will probably be disappointed and hurt again. But it is what it is.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (30)
        

On behalf of managing partner Peter Angelos, the Orioles released the following statement on Roberto Alomar, who played with the club from 1996 to 1998.

“We congratulate Roberto Alomar on his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Although he spent just three of his 17 seasons in Baltimore, Roberto’s accomplishments during his time here were significant. His performance during those years, which included three All-Star Game selections, two Gold Gloves and countless on-field heroics, helped the team make two playoff appearances and showcased Roberto’s Hall of Fame credentials.”

Alomar was named on 90 percent of BBWAA ballots and will join pitcher Bert Blyleven and former Orioles executive Pat Gillick for July's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

Complain all you want about past decisions, but the Baseball Writers' Association of America got this one right.

Former Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar should have been voted into Baseball's Hall of Fame last year but fell eight votes short of the 75 percent needed in 2010 (he ended with 73.7 percent).

This year, he made it in -- with 523 votes and his name on 90 percent of the ballots, it was announced at 2 p.m. today.

The wait for Bert Blyleven -- I never understood why it took so long -- has ended, too. He’s now in after falling five votes short in 2010. He received 463 votes and was named on 79.7 percent of ballots.

Those were the two candidates I thought were no-brainers. Everyone else on the list has some negative blots on their resumes.

That includes Rafael Palmeiro -- who undoubtedly had a Hall of Fame career. But you knew his failed drug test in 2005 would cost him in the voting. He received just 64 votes and was named on 11 percent of ballots.

Because he got more than 5 percent, though, he’ll be back next year.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

The Orioles announced today that they officially have signed shortstop Cesar Izturis to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. He could more than double that value based on certain incentive bonuses.

The sides had agreed to terms in December, but it wasn’t official until Izturis took and passed his team physical, which he did Tuesday. Izturis lives in Venezuela in the winter and already had a team physical at the end of the 2010 season, so there was no real rush in getting him back to Baltimore.

Izturis was the club’s starting shortstop in 2009 and 2010. He will now be the Orioles’ utility infielder, backing up newly acquired shortstop J.J. Hardy and second baseman Brian Roberts.

Izturis, 30, batted .230 (109-for-473) in 150 games with the Orioles in 2010. He was second in fielding percentage (.985) and fifth in assists (382) and putouts (212) among American League shortstops last season.

Now up on the medical table is Derrek Lee. The first baseman’s physical is scheduled for today, and his one-year deal should be officially announced by Thursday, assuming all goes well medically.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

At 2 p.m. today, the results of the 2011 Hall of Fame voting will be announced.

The guess is that Roberto Alomar will be elected -- albeit one year late. And so will Bert Blyleven, about a decade too late, but he’ll finally get the ultimate baseball reward.

The other one for us to keep an eye on around here is Rafael Palmeiro, who most likely won’t come close despite sparkling Hall of Fame credentials such as 3,020 hits, 569 homers and 1,835 RBIs. He also has one failed drug test -- and that’s going to wipe out the other stats -- at least for now.

I spoke at length to Palmeiro yesterday, and here are some of the things he said.

Raffy on his chances today: “I don’t know what to expect. From what I can gather, from what I see [on TV], my take on it is, yeah, it’s probably not going to happen. What can you do about it? There is not much I can do.”

Palmeiro has not wavered from his story about failing that drug test in 2005. He contends he never purposely used steroids -- as he told Congress in March of 2005. His only explanation for how the steroid stanozolol made it into his system was that the shot of liquid Vitamin B12 that he received from Orioles’ teammate Miguel Tejada must have been tainted.

“It’s not a story I made up. It is exactly what happened to me. I took B12 I got from a teammate, I took it to my house and my wife gave me an injection and I threw the stuff away and that was the end of it. … A week after the positive test, I took another test and it came back negative. Whatever was in my body was there for a short period of time and I played the rest of the season clean or whatever you want to call it. But I am sure that doesn’t matter, A positive test is a positive test.”

He feels his declaration before Congress -- complete with the now infamous finger point -- didn’t help his cause in the court of public opinion. But he said he doesn’t regret his actions that day.

“I think people hold that against me more than anything and maybe that hurts me, but I was adamant about it and about telling the truth. I could have done what Mark McGwire did. I didn’t have to speak. … Going through that with Congress, that wasn’t easy to do. It was intimidating and overwhelming and not at all easy to have to answer to the congressmen and congresswomen. And so then why would I go back and take steroids, especially knowing that tests had been going on for several years and specifically now that I know my name is out there? Why would I do anything like that? It doesn’t make sense.”

In retrospect, Palmeiro admits to making several mistakes. The big one was injecting something without getting it checked out first.

“That was my mistake, and that’s the one I have to live with for the rest of my life,” he said.

He said he had taken B12 shots before in his career -- mainly with the Texas Rangers -- and that it gave him a boost mentally and physically. And he wanted that with the grind of the early season, which included the steroids hearing and his looming 3,000th hit.

“Given the state of where my career was and where I was, it was very very stupid, I should have known better. I don’t need anything -- I never needed anything -- to play the game, to enhance my game. People saw my development as a player. I didn’t blow up to a 230-pound player. ... Obviously, I had a positive test, but for those who say I took [performance enhancers] all my career, they are full of it.”

Palmeiro said he has no problem with Hall of Fame voters who will not select him because he failed a drug test. In fact, he said his hopes are buoyed when he hears voters say that he has the credentials, but the positive test damages his chances. It’s the ones who say he is not worthy -- or that his numbers were inflated by steroids -- that bother Palmeiro.

“Look at my career as a whole and look at my steady, gradual production and how I improved as a player and my consistency. I was never anywhere near being the best ever, but I was good for a long time, I came prepared, put the work in and made sure I did the best I could."

As far as regrets, this is what Raffy said: “My biggest regret obviously is taking (the B-12 shot). And my second biggest regret is how I handled it. I wish I was out there the first day making the case that this is not what I did. … I got advice from lawyers, very expensive lawyers, that were pulling the strings. Some of my friends said, ‘Hey, you need to get out in front of the cameras and explain what happened.’ And I didn’t.’

The failed test will forever haunt him, he said.

“That’s the only thing I can think about, the only thing I can remember in my career. I mean, I remember all of it, but that’s the one thing that comes to mind, that dark spot in my career, in my life. My whole life was turned upside down. It is hard to look back on the good times, and there were a lot of good times.”

That’s why getting into the Hall of Fame means more to him now than he ever thought it would.

“I never played baseball to be a Hall of Fame player. It was never my goal or anything I wanted to obtain. It was just something that was out there. Now, it is very important. If it were to happen [Wednesday] or 50 years from now, it would be a tremendous honor. I may never in my lifetime see that day. Hopefully, I will.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Here’s what we know after another day attempting to report on the Alfredo Simon saga.

Orioles director of player development John Stockstill met Tuesday with Simon, who is in police custody near his hometown of Santiago, Dominican Republic. Stockstill also met with members of Simon’s legal team, according to a source close to the investigation.

Stockstill returned a call Tuesday night and declined all comment. But he is in the Dominican, that’s for sure.

We also know that the next 24 to 48 hours is critical for Simon, who is the lead suspect in the fatal shooting of his cousin during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.

A ballistics report is expected to be completed Wednesday or Thursday. It should determine whether the bullet that killed 25-year-old Michael Esteban Castillo.Almonte was fired from the gun Simon surrendered to authorities.

Simon’s attorney in the Dominican has told CNN that the preliminary report does not match the bullet to the gun -- which would be a huge development for the Orioles’ reliever.

However, police involved with the situation warn that it’s too early to make that determination. If there is no match, Simon could be cleared, but it would probably take at least several more days before he is free to go.

It’s also important to note that the Castillo Almonte’s 17-year-old half-brother, who also was shot during the New Year’s Eve revelry, said Simon was the shooter and that the big-league pitcher was not shooting his gun into the air – a claim made by Simon’s attorneys.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, who was on his way to batting practice under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, was extolling the virtues of Derrek Lee and the Orioles’ other offseason additions when he was quickly informed that his team had just agreed to terms with reliever Kevin Gregg.

“We signed him, too?” Jones asked.

Asked whether he liked that move, Jones said, “I don’t like facing him so that should give you your answer.”

Jones said he had recently gotten off the phone with Orioles reliever Michael Gonzalez, and the two were talking about the improvements the team has made this offseason, further adding to his excitement for spring training.

“They brought in some good players, point blank,” Jones said. “There’s nothing else you can say about that. They brought in good young talent [in J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds], a good veteran first baseman [in Lee]. And you [know] he is a true first baseman. You don’t have to move [Luke Scott] there and have him learn a new position. You have to play first base good because that’s an important position for your infield, and he knows what he’s doing over there.”

Jones was particularly excited about the potential Lee signing. He said he knows Lee’s brother and father from living in the Southern California area, but he’s looking forward to getting to know Derrek better.

“He’s a great dude,” Jones said. “I think he’s going to come in fit in and add that leadership. He’s going to take this team where it needs to go. That was a real good move. He’s one of the first guys I thought of [earlier this offseason].”

As for the current state of the team, Jones said: “We look good right now. I’m excited. We have a good young nucleus, and they are adding some veteran pieces. We can win. I don’t care what these other teams are doing. I don’t care what the Red Sox have done, what the Yankees are doing. You still have to go out and play. I’m not afraid of any of those teams. We have a better team, and I’m excited.”

Jones, who is staying in San Diego this offseason, has been working out and taking batting practice at San Diego State University. There, he has worked a little with Gwynn, who coaches the Aztecs baseball team. Jones said that he has also worked with Gwynn occasionally in past offseasons.

“I don’t know when I have to be at spring training, but I’m excited,” Jones said.

The conversation did turn slightly somber when Jones was asked about his teammate Alfredo Simon, who is being held by authorities in Dominican Republic and facing questions about his role in a shooting over this past weekend. Jones has been supportive of Simon in the past.

“That’s going to be handled by the authorities,” Jones said. “He’s in a situation that nobody wants to be in. I’ve read whatever I can read on it. He’s saying that he’s not the guy to do it. I hope it’s true, and I hope I see him at spring training.”

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
        

I had a chance to speak with Kevin Gregg, the newest Oriole, on the phone a few minutes ago. Here’s much of that interview:

Why the Orioles?

“Opportunity. And I’m trying to build off what the team did last year. In talking to Andy [Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail] and Buck [manager Buck Showalter], they wanted to make that bullpen deeper. And it is a good young team with a lot of energy. It looks like a good thing to be a part of.”

On being the closer in 2011:

“I want to close. I’ve talked to Andy and I have talked to Buck about it, and I told them what I wanted. I had 37 saves in this division last year. I have shown I can do it. I have averaged 30 saves in the last four years. I love doing it, but we’ll see when the season begins.”

On whether he has been told he is definitely the Orioles’ closer for 2011:

“You’ll have to ask those guys [MacPhail and Showalter] that question.”

More on choosing the Orioles:

“There is definitely opportunity there. It’s what led me this way: closing. That’s important to me. It’s also important being on a team that is young and has the potential to win. That’s important.”

Competing in the AL East:

“It’s definitely a tough situation. But if you follow the moves [this offseason], the Yankees haven’t made any moves. Boston, obviously, has made itself stronger. Toronto has done a couple of small things, and Tampa [Bay] hasn’t really made any moves and their payroll is going down. I think there is definitely an opportunity … to make an impact and get Baltimore back to where it needs to be in competing for a title.”

On the bullpen having at least five relievers with at least one 10-save big league season on their resume:

“That’s pretty unbelievable if you think about it. That gives us depth. You know you are going to get your rest, everybody can take a day off and not worry about who is handling the ball at the end of a game or how they’ll handle the pressure, be it the sixth, seventh or eighth innings. It gives Buck flexibility.”

On knowing some of the Orioles:

“I played with Derrek Lee in Chicago, and that’s an unbelievable signing. He adds a ton in the clubhouse, and his on-field stuff speaks for itself. … He’s a great teammate, and he has really helped guys move in the right direction.”

On other Orioles players:

“I’ll get to know them. I saw them 19 times last year and liked what I saw.”

Has it been unnerving waiting so long for a final agreement?

“A little bit. Luckily, I have had lots of interest. I have been weighing all those things, what’s best for me and my family to move forward, and we’ve been talking to each of the teams to see where we were at. There were just a million different decisions to make, and it made the process take a little while.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)
        

The Orioles added another important piece to the back of their bullpen today, agreeing to terms with veteran right-hander Kevin Gregg on a two-year, $10 million deal, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

The deal, which is pending a physical, also includes a club option for 2013 that could vest if Gregg is able to finish a certain number of games during the 2012 season. The negotiations, which started when the Orioles made an offer nearly four weeks ago at the winter meetings, intensified with Alfredo Simon's recent legal troubles in Dominican Republic.

Foxsports.com was the first to report that the two sides reached an agreement.

Gregg, who saved 37 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, is the third free-agent reliever to sign with the club this offseason, joining Koji Uehara, who re-signed with the Orioles, and Jeremy Accardo, Gregg’s teammate at times last season.

Although naming the club’s closer will be a decision for Orioles manager Buck Showalter and may not officially be determined until the spring, Gregg, given his expected contract, is likely first in line for saves.

If he falters, the Orioles have Uehara, who ended the 2010 season by converting 13 of 15 save opportunities, and lefty Michael Gonzalez, who was signed last offseason to a two-year, $12 million deal to be closer but picked up just one save in 2010 because of injuries and ineffectiveness.

Gregg, 32, has saved 23 or more games each of the past four seasons with three clubs.

He became the Florida Marlins' closer in 2007, saving 32 games under former Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz. Gregg saved 29 more, while blowing nine chances, for the Marlins in 2008. He converted 23 of 30 save chances for the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and then set a career high with 37 saves (in 43 chances) in his lone season with the Blue Jays last year.

He’s considered a bulldog with no fear and a desire to take the baseball in any situation. His weakness last season, however, was control. He walked 30 batters while allowing 52 hits and striking out 58 in 59 innings -- recording a less-than-stellar 1.39 WHIP.

In his career, he has saved 122 games in 150 opportunities.

He is one of six current Orioles relievers to have recorded double-digit saves in at least one major league season, joining Uehara (13 in 2010), Gonzalez (a career-high 24 in 2006 with the Pittsburgh Pirates), Jim Johnson (10 in 2009), Simon (17 in 2010) and Accardo (30 with the Blue Jays in 2007).

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (43)
        

Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon is in police custody near his hometown of Santiago, Dominican Republic, pending the result of ballistics tests, according to a source close to the investigation.

Dominican authorities want to know if the bullet that killed Simon’s cousin, 25-year-old Michael Esteban Castillo Almonte, came from Simon's gun.

Simon has not been charged with a crime yet, but he is considered the leading suspect in the death of Castillo Almonte, who was shot in the chest during a New Year’s Eve celebration in a Dominican resort town.

A rough estimate for the completion of the ballistics tests is one to two days, but it could take longer, making it unclear how long Simon will be detained. Once the report is completed, authorities in the Dominican will decide whether to file formal charges against Simon or release him.

Simon met with police on Monday and surrendered the gun he had with him on New Year’s Eve. He told reporters in the Dominican on Monday that the shooting was accidental.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

The Orioles won't have to wait much longer to find out whether they'll have reliever Kevin Gregg in their bullpen for the 2011 season.

Danny Horwits, the agent for Gregg, said this afternoon that his client's decision will come "this week, in the next couple of days."

The Orioles made the free-agent reliever, who saved 37 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, a two-year offer worth between $8 million and $10 million at last month's winter meetings. Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has been in regular contact with Horwits while Gregg has been mulling offers from a couple of clubs.

The Orioles have altered their offer since the initial one was made, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

“We’ve been going back and forth with the teams that are left in the mix for the last couple of weeks,” Horwits said. “We’ve received new counter offers, fine-tuned other offers. Now, we’re pretty much in the mode of Kevin is going to make a decision.”

Horwits declined to say which teams are involved, but all signs indicate that the Orioles are one of the finalists for Gregg’s services.

“You’d have to ask Andy, but both sides, as far as I’m concerned, still have interest [in each other],” Horwits said.

In other Orioles news, infielder Cesar Izturis, who agreed to terms with the club early last month, is expected to complete his physical exam tomorrow, while Derrek Lee is scheduled to take the following day.

Once Lee is on board, the Orioles will likely be done with significant upgrades aimed at helping their offense. That means any talk about their going after Vladimir Guerrero or Jim Thome to DH and moving Luke Scott to left field probably could be classified as wishful thinking.

If they sign Gregg, the Orioles could add an additional pitcher or two -- maybe a starter and a left-handed reliever -- but it would be on small deals, perhaps even minor league pacts with invitations to big league spring training.

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 7:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)
        

The Orioles are sending a high-ranking official to the Dominican Republic today to learn more about the situation involving right-handed reliever Alfredo Simon, who has been questioned by police about his involvement in fatal shooting on New Year’s Eve.

John Stockstill, the club’s director of development who spent several years in charge of international scouting and was integral in signing Simon out of the Mexican League in 2008, is headed to the Dominican today.

Stockstill said he hopes to meet face-to-face with Simon tomorrow. The Orioles want to show support for Simon as well as get a better understanding of the case and what faces the 29-year-old reliever who reportedly told CNN today that the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man at a New Year’s Eve celebration was accidental.

Simon’s representatives maintain their client has not been charged with a crime, though there have been reports to the contrary.

“The purpose of my trip is to make sure we have the accurate facts as we move forward and take appropriate action,” Stockstill said.

There is no timetable as to how long Stockstill will be in the Dominican.

The Orioles have withheld making an official comment about Simon's situation until more facts are presented.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Orioles right-hander Alfredo Simon told reporters in the Dominican Republic that the man who was killed on New Year’s Eve during a celebration in the resort town of Luperon was a friend and that the shooting was an accident, according to a CNN report.

“In truth that young man was my friend, like a brother," Simon said of the 25-year-old victim, Michael Esteban Castillo.

According to CNN, Simon made the comments while in a police station in Santo Domingo.

“It wasn't a thing like we began arguing and I started shooting. It was some accident; it happened by accident. That's why I came here -- to open my soul,” Simon said.

Simon met with police Monday morning after an arrest warrant was issued for him Sunday. He is also accused of wounding Castillo's 17-year-old half-brother, who was shot in the arm.

According to CNN, the Puerto Plata District Attorney will seek three months of incarceration against Simon and widen the investigation.

“So far he's the one. There's no doubt about the incident." Puerto Plata Assistant District Attorney Juan Carlos Hernandez told CNN.

CNN reported that Simon, who was accompanied by attorney Carlos Olivares and former Oriole Julio Lugo, turned over his gun to authorities Monday. Simon’s attorney said his client fired the gun in the air, and not at anyone.

"The projectile's trajectory was only up into the air, so much so that he left," Olivares told CNN. “He understood that nothing had happened at the moment. And 45 minutes later, when he was eating at some restaurant or discotheque, somebody tells him, 'Hey, you're the one who killed so-and-so.' "

Lugo told CNN: “We're concerned about his career or whether he's going to have to go to jail. We don't know if it was him. He wants to clear up what happened, but no one really knows if it was him for sure."

Simon, 29, is scheduled to appear at the courthouse in Puerto Plata for arraignment Monday, the news agency reported.

The Orioles have not issued a statement about the incident or Simon’s involvement.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
        

Orioles right-handed reliever Alfredo Simon, a suspect in a death investigation in the Dominican Republic, is getting support from some former teammates, including one of the biggest names in his home country.

Simon, who was questioned by police today in the New Year’s Eve shooting death of a 25-year-old man in the coastal town of Luperon, is being represented by high-powered Dominican Republic attorneys who are being bankrolled by former Orioles star Miguel Tejada.

Tejada, who befriended Simon this season before he was traded to the San Diego Padres in July, said by phone this morning that he networked with friends in the Dominican to choose a firm that can best help Simon.

Tejada said he expects to pick up the bill, though he said former Orioles infielder Julio Lugo also has taken an active role and may help with the costs as well.

“Alfredo is a kid I really love a lot, he is in trouble right now, and that’s what we do, we stick together,” Tejada said. “We wanted some big company attorneys, there are some good ones here in the Dominican and this is a special case.”

Tejada said he does not know the attorneys personally but took the recommendation of friends. He said he spoke to Simon on Sunday and said the pitcher is doing well, given the circumstances.

“He is fine. He told me he doesn’t have anything to do with it, he is not the one to do it, and I believe him,” Tejada said. “I tell him I am with him and if there’s anything he needs, I am here.”

Simon, in his first full season with the Orioles, made the league minimum $400,000 in 2010. Tejada, who signed a one-year, $6.5 million free-agent contract with the San Francisco Giants this winter, has made nearly $100 million in salary in his big league career.

Throughout his 12 big league seasons, Tejada has been considered one of the more charitable players in baseball. Last winter, he delivered supplies to victims of the earthquake in Haiti days after the natural disaster.

Tejada said he was devastated when he first heard the reports about Simon and his alleged involvement in the New Year’s Eve shooting that left one man dead and another wounded. Dominican police reports suggest that Simon fired a gun into the air twice during a dispute and that the victims may have been struck accidentally. Simon’s representatives are adamant that he had no involvement in the shooting. No matter the circumstances, it’s a tragedy, Tejada said.

“If something happened and somebody did not do the right thing, I am not happy with that. But right now, a friend of mine is in trouble and he came to me,” Tejada said. “I don’t know how it happened, but I am trying to help a friend. I know it is hard for the family of the guy that died, so I just feel sorry for what happened on both sides.”

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon was scheduled to meet with Dominican Republic authorities in the country’s capital of Santo Domingo this morning to discuss a New Year’s Eve shooting in the resort town of Luperon that left one man dead and another injured.

As of 11 a.m., one of Simon’s agents, Phil Isaac, said he believed that Simon already was speaking to the police and hoped there would be more clarity on Simon’s situation within the next few hours.

“As far as we know, he is meeting with officials and his attorneys right now in the Dominican Republic to supply an official statement, and we would hope that would clear things up sometime today,” Isaac said.

Isaac said he is hopeful that Simon will be cleared of any wrongdoing, “but we don’t want to predict what will go on. But we hopefully should have more information today.”

An arrest warrant had been issued for Simon, 29, who spent much of last season as the Orioles’ closer.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon is scheduled to meet with law enforcement authorities either Sunday night or Monday morning in the Dominican Republic.

Simon, 29, has been sought by Dominican police in connection with the fatal shooting of a man and the wounding of another during a New Year's Eve celebration.

Police in the coastal province of Puerto Plata said Sunday that they had obtained an arrest warrant for Simon and were actively looking for him to question him about the incident, which they said occurred as revelers gathered in a park in the resort town of Luperón. Police suggested the shooting might have been accidental but were waiting to hear from Simon before deciding whether to charge him.

Simon's agents, Phil and Alex Isaac, said their client was never in hiding, as some published reports suggested, and he is expected to cooperate with the investigation. Phil Isaac declined further comment on the matter.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

When one of Alfredo Simon’s best buddies on the Orioles heard the big reliever’s name was connected to a New Year’s Eve shooting in the Dominican Republic, the initial reaction was shock.

“My heart just dropped,” Orioles reliever Michael Gonzalez said. “This guy has come a long way in his career, and he has been through a lot of things. From where he is from, he is done a great job in where he has [gone].”

Gonzalez and Simon bonded during their time rehabbing injuries in Sarasota, Fla., last spring. And they became closer once they worked together in the back end of the Orioles bullpen last season.

“I just talked to him a couple weeks ago, and he sounded like he was in a very good place,” Gonzalez said of Simon. “He was working out, getting going and he was excited about the new year.”

Published reports in the Dominican claim that Simon was involved in a New Year’s Eve celebration that left a 25-year-old man dead from a bullet wound in the thorax and a 17-year-old man with a gunshot wound in the right arm.

According to El Nacional, a newspaper published in Santo Domingo, an unidentified police spokesman said Simon had “committed the acts involuntarily, when he tried to shoot into the air to disperse some people involved in an incident in the park.”

But Felipe Alou Jr., the coordinator of the Orioles’ Dominican Republic academy, said he and another Orioles Dominican official have been in touch with Simon, who said he was at Luperón’s Central Park at the time of the incident but was not involved in the shooting.

Gonzalez said he can’t imagine the Simon he knows would be in the middle of such an incident.

“Obviously, I am on his side. I don’t believe what I saw in the paper,” Gonzalez said. “I have a lot more relief now … on what I am hearing on this side, that he is not involved. I could see him there, celebrating, but going that far, that doesn’t seem like Simon at all.”

The 6-foot-6 Simon, who saved 17 games for the Orioles in 2010, is considered a gentle giant by his teammates, friendly and respectful off the field but an intense competitor on it.

“He has a good heart and always has people’s best interest in mind,” Gonzalez said. “You don’t see that when he is throwing 98 [mph fastballs] at your face, but when he is off the mound, he is a whole different guy. You talk to his teammates, and they’ll say the same thing. He is a good kid.”

The Orioles have not officially commented on the incident. However, at least one official is prepared to fly to the Dominican on Monday if it is deemed necessary.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

The coordinator of the Orioles’ Dominican Republic operation said club officials have been in contact with reliever Alfredo Simon several times in the past day and that the pitcher maintains his innocence in connection with a New Year’s Eve shooting death.

According to an Associated Press story, Dominican police consider Simon, who spent much of 2010 as the Orioles’ closer, as the primary suspect in the death of Michel Castillo Almonte and the wounding of his 17-year-old brother during a dispute in the northeast coastal town of Luperon.

“All I can say is what he told me, the news [stories] have more to it,” Alou told The Sun in a telephone interview Sunday afternoon. “What Alfredo said himself was that he was at the place it happened, a person was killed and one went to the hospital, but he had nothing to do with it.”

Alou said Simon talked Sunday with the academy’s assistant administrator, Jorge Perozo, and said his attorney in the Dominican has been in contact with the police. Alou said he believes Simon is at his home near Santiago -- roughly a 30-minute drive from where the incident occurred -- and that he plans to give a statement to the authorities Monday. Because it is part of a holiday weekend, Alou said nothing official was expected to take place Sunday.

The daily newspaper El Nacional, published in Santo Domingo, reported on its website Sunday afternoon that police investigators were trying to locate Simon in connection with the shootings before dawn Saturday in Luperón’s Central Park.

A police spokesman, who was not identified by the newspaper, said investigators had been in telephone contact since Saturday with Simon with the aim of persuading him to turn himself in to the authorities. Police said Simon had “committed the acts involuntarily, when he tried to shoot into the air to disperse some people involved in an incident in the park.”

The newspaper article went on to say police were continuing their investigation “to establish the real circumstances” under which the shootings took place, while at the same time “exhorting Simón to give himself up so that he can respond to the accusations.”

Police there told El Nacional that Castillo Almonte died from a bullet wound in the thorax while being treated at the Centro Médico Bournigal, where doctors also tended to the other victim and the injury to his right arm.

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon is the main suspect in a fatal shooting on New Year's Eve in the Dominican Republic.

Click here to read Dan Connolly's story.

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Posted by Baltimore Sun sports at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Before I begin, I’d like to wish everybody a happy and healthy 2011. We started this “Orioles Insider” blog right before Opening Day 2010, and I appreciate all your support along the way. Hopefully, that will continue in 2011, and the Orioles will give us some quality topics to discuss.

Yesterday’s news that the Orioles had reached a verbal agreement with veteran free agent first baseman Derrek Lee was well received by members of the club. After learning of the agreement, center fielder Adam Jones wrote on his twitter page, “Great move. Great guy. Couldn’t be happier.”

Right fielder Nick Markakis first heard about the agreement when he received a phone call while he was up in a tree stand during a hunting trip yesterday afternoon. He called Lee a “nice upgrade.”

"You know what he's capable of doing," said Markakis. "You look at what he's done in his career and you know he's going to help us tremendously. And he's a good defensive first baseman, too. He'll be good for us.”

Asked if he feels that Lee, coupled by the addition of Mark Reynolds, will offer him better protection in the lineup, Markakis said, “Not necessarily. He's not just going to protect me. He's going to protect a lot of the guys in the lineup. With him being right-handed and us having a lot of left-handed hitters, he's a perfect fit."

Markakis said that he has met Lee a couple of times, but doesn’t know the veteran well. “I heard he’s a great teammates and a great guy. He’s one of the guys that you want on the team,” Markakis said.

And finally, starter Jeremy Guthrie weighed in on the addition.

“I think it’s a great move,” Guthrie said. “Derrek has been an All-Star and plays Gold Glove caliber defense. I think his career numbers speak for itself with his ability to hit for power and drive in runs. I think he’s going to be a great addition and a great fit for our lineup.”

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Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (40)