Some Orioles thoughts: Winter meetings, coaching staff, Rajsich
In a week, baseball’s annual winter meetings in Dallas will begin.
New executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette will be a busy man. It’s expected he’ll be more involved in trade talk than in the free agent market.
That said, I’m sure the Orioles will sign at least one free agent before the offseason ends – they usually get several, though rarely do they land a big one. And that’s expected to be the case this winter too, a couple hole-fillers but no seat-fillers.
There are other things to keep an eye on this week.
Buck Showalter likely will sign off on his coaching staff – perhaps as early as today. Right now there are two open spots: third-base coach and bullpen coach.
Rick Adair will be back as pitching coach, Jim Presley as hitting coach, John Russell as bench coach and Wayne Kirby as outfield instructor and either first base or third base coach.
My sense is that Kirby, who was at first base, will stay there. But he also could move to third depending on who is hired.
The Orioles need an infield instructor to go with the base coach and so Mike Bordick and Jose Hernandez have been discussed as internal choices. Showalter could go with one of those men or go outside the organization.
If he goes outside the organization, former Boston Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale is a thought.
The Red Sox connection, however, will be tapped in the front office. It looks like Dan Duquette will hire Toronto Blue Jays crosschecker Gary Rajsich to be the organization’s next amateur scouting director. They worked together for years in Boston.
Duquette’s not confirming it yet, but he does want his scouting director to join him in Dallas next week. He also has some other positions he could fill; they may come this week or a little later.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Dan
I saw on mlbtraderumors.com that the O's signed a 17 year old FA out of Colombia for a $150K bonus and has a fastball in the lower 90's. He supposedly has enough talent to be projected in MLB in 5 years.
Is this something worth mentioning? Seems like it's usually a big deal anytime the Orioles do anything in the international market. Go figure, right.
Link:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/nationals-re-sign-carlos-maldonado.html
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I am aware of the report out of Colombia. The Orioles don't release info on international signings piecemeal and the dates when they become official are screwy based on contracts being approved, etc., so it's tough to get a real handle on their international signings unless they are big-time prospects/million dollar bonuses. As for the 5-year-to-the-bigs projection for a 17-yo. That's coming from within that country, so don't get too excited. I think it would be impossible to put a timeline on someone like that. Maybe it happens -- would be great if he ascends quickly -- but a timeline now means nothing.
Posted by: dave in glen burnie | November 28, 2011 8:15 AM
"Rick Adair will be back as pitching coach..."
Why?
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I think the sense is Adair was put in a tough position taking over the pitching staff in May and with no real permanent bullpen coach. I think Buck Showalter feels he deserves a full year in charge of the staff -- and Adair has had success before.
Posted by: Unknown Eric | November 28, 2011 11:09 AM
I'd like to see BJ Surhoff hired as a coach for the team. Having played multiple positions and been a quality hitter I've got to think he'd be valuable.
Posted by: Doug | November 28, 2011 11:12 AM