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American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969

American League Wild Card 2012, 1996

Friday, February 20, 2015

Columns:

As pitchers, catchers get underway, Orioles' roster battles are few but fierce The Sun 2/20

Buck Showalter has been focusing on the little things for months The Sun 2/20

Dan Duquette stresses returning Orioles as 'most powerful thing we've done' The Sun

2/19

Orioles notes on Everth Cabrera, Matt Wieters, Alejandro De Aza and more The Sun

2/19

Nolan Reimold says Orioles 'just a place where I feel comfortable' The Sun 2/19

Blame climate change as position players show up early The Sun 2/19

Wieters could see limited playing time next week MLB.com 2/19

Duquette: Return of Machado, Wieters, Davis 'powerful' MLB.com 2/19

Orioles report to camp, ready to get jump on spring MLB.com 2/19

The first workout, De Aza's hearing and Reimold's return MASNsports.com 2/20

Showalter on Wieters, Janish, facility improvements and more MASNsports.com 2/20

Hearing from Duquette MASNsports.com 2/19

Janish undergoes elbow surgery, and notes on Cabrera and Parmelee MASNsports.com

2/19

Morning notes from camp (updated) MASNsports.com 2/19

Graham: "We are absolutely one of the premier development systems in baseball"

MASNsports.com 2/20

A look at non-roster invitees: AL East ESPN.com 2/19

What's the best way to keep Orioles free agents? CSN Baltimore 2/19

Showalter says Wieters to catch in intrasquad game CSN Baltimore 2/19

Fear of commitment? Duquette won't give firm answer on Cabrera CSN Baltimore 2/19

Reimold back home as long shot candidate CSN Baltimore 2/19

Orioles report to relative warmth of Sarasota CSN Baltimore 2/19

Brittany Ghiroli Says Orioles Hope Everth Cabrera Can Be Utility Man CBS Baltimore

2/20

Orioles And Indians Battle Via Twitter CBS Baltimore 2/19

Everth Cabrera Waits For Orioles To Finalize Deal CBS Baltimore 2/19

Top Five Questions For Orioles Spring Training CBS Baltimore 2/19

Bob Haynie: Orioles Look For Fourth-Straight Winning Season CBS Baltimore 2/19

Steve Davis: Who Will Make Orioles Pitching Staff? CBS Baltimore 2/19

Adam Jones in competition to be 'face of MLB WBALTV.com 2/20

Q&A: Yastrzemski discusses lineage, career MiLB.com 2/19

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-spring-training-battles-0219-

20150220-story.html#page=2

As pitchers, catchers get underway, Orioles' roster battles

are few but fierce

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

February 20, 2015

The Orioles enter spring training coming off their best season in 17 years, and while most of the

core players from last year's division title-winning team return, most national experts don't

expect them to duplicate their 2014 success.

But despite three key free-agent losses this offseason — major league home runs leader Nelson

Cruz, longest-tenured Oriole Nick Markakis and lockdown left-handed reliever Andrew Miller

— the club has players to fill those holes. After an offseason most have deemed unremarkable,

the Orioles enter Friday's first spring workout for pitchers and catchers in Sarasota with several

players entrenched in starting spots and very few position battles.

"We had a lot more battles in '11 and '12," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Thursday. "I

feel good about the people we have competing for the available spots. They know their track

record, and what they did last year does mean something. It's not going to be just purely based on

what happens here. But you're always an injury or two from that going away. We've spent a lot

of time on the what-ifs this offseason. Some of the moves we've made recently and in the past

two months have been what-if oriented."

Most of this spring's focus will be on the health of returning starters such as third baseman

Manny Machado and catcher Matt Wieters. First baseman Chris Davis, who also saw his season

cut short after a 25-game suspension for unauthorized Adderall use, will look to return to form

after a 2014 in which his batting average plummeted.

Still, Showalter will use every available moment to ensure the Orioles make the right decisions

on the roster battles that do exist.

"You have precious days that you can't waste down here," he said. "Because once the season

starts, you can't go, 'I wish I had spent more time on that,' or, 'I wish we had made this more of a

point of emphasis,' or, 'I wish we had gotten a better feel for this.' I was telling guys in meetings,

every moment, hour, day that passes down here that we don't use properly to make good

decisions and be good, it's our fault."

Added Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette: "We have the pitching depth and we have

the defense. We're going to see what remains to be done for our lineup to see what we have to

do."

As the spring's first workout for pitchers and catcher approaches, take a look at the big roster

battles to follow in Florida.

The catching situation

The health of Wieters, who played just 26 games last season because of an elbow injury that

ended his season and required Tommy John elbow reconstruction, will be one of the top

storylines of spring training. The Orioles remain optimistic that he will be ready for Opening

Day.

Wieters isn't expected to be cleared to throw in games until March 17, but he will get at-bats in

Grapefruit League games as a designated hitter and can handle all other catching duties in

simulated and minor league games before then. If he does begin throwing March 17, he would

have 2 1/2 weeks to be ready for the start of the season.

The catching position hinges on Wieters. Showalter was clear in saying that if Wieters isn't ready

to catch by Opening Day, he would stay in Florida instead of going on the active roster as a DH.

The team was unable to re-sign Nick Hundley, who agreed to a deal with the Colorado Rockies,

but they return Caleb Joseph, who also helped step in for Wieters last season, as well as Pigtown

native Steve Clevenger.

Looking for a veteran alternative, the Orioles signed former Toronto Blue Jays and Texas catcher

J.P. Arencibia, who split last season between the Rangers and their Triple-A affiliate. Former top

Boston Red Sox prospect Ryan Lavarnway is also in camp, as is minor league catcher Brian

Ward.

Ultimately, if Wieters isn't ready for the beginning of the season, the Orioles likely will rely on

their best defensive alternative. Joseph, who as a rookie threw out 40 percent of base runners

while developing a rapport with the pitching staff, stands out among their available options.

The rotation

You never can have too much pitching, and the Orioles have six starters for five rotation spots.

It's a good problem to have, except when the player who could get squeezed out of the rotation is

the team's highest-paid pitcher.

Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who signed a four-year, $50-million deal last offseason, will look

to rebound from a rocky 2014 season.

He was dropped from the rotation in August but hopes to build on a strong finish — he earned

wins in his final two starts — after a slight tweak to his mechanics. The Orioles are still on the

hook for three more years with Jimenez, so they'd like to see him start the year with confidence.

Right-hander Chris Tillman, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and right-hander Bud Norris, who

combined for 44 wins last season, are expected to open the season in the starting rotation. Right-

hander Kevin Gausman spent 2014 vacillating between the majors and Triple-A, but this might

be the time the Orioles' top young pitcher joins the Opening Day starting rotation.

If Jimenez pitches well — and it would be surprising if he does not in Grapefruit League play —

and locks up a rotation spot, right-hander Miguel Gonzalez could be on the outside looking in.

Gonzalez, who will make $3.275 million this year, was 10-9 with a 3.23 ERA last season but

was sent down to the minors when Jimenez returned from the disabled list. Gonzalez joined the

Orioles as a reliever and could transition back to that role.

One spot in the 'pen

Except for Miller, a trade deadline acquisition who was huge down the stretch and in the

postseason, the Orioles' relief corps enters the season almost entirely intact.

Even with Miller now playing for the New York Yankees, the bullpen's back end, featuring

closer Zach Britton (37 saves in 41 opportunities) and dependable setup men Tommy Hunter and

Darren O'Day, remains one of the best in baseball. Left-hander Brian Matusz returns, and the

Orioles added another left-hander in Wesley Wright.

Right-hander Brad Brach, who didn't make the team out of spring training last year, emerged as a

valuable multiple-inning reliever. This year, he's out of options, so the Orioles risk losing him if

he doesn't make the team out of spring training. The same goes for right-hander Ryan Webb,

who is in the second year of a two-year, $4.5 million deal. Despite his guaranteed contract, Webb

was sent to the minors for a month last season before rosters expanded in September. The

Orioles can't do that this year.

Left-hander T.J. McFarland, who can pitch in relief and also make the occasional spot start, is

the only bullpen arm with options. (Gausman, who also has options, debuted as a reliever in

2013 but made 20 big league starts last season.)

The Orioles also have two Rule 5 draft picks, right-handers Jason Garcia and Logan Verrett, who

are competing for bullpen roles. Garcia, a 20-year-old with an electric arm, has high upside, and

Verrett has a strong resume of success at every level of the minor leagues.

But given the crowded bullpen, it will be a stretch to see either remain on the major league roster

all season.

Who replaces Markakis?

Markakis has patrolled right field in Baltimore since his rookie year, in 2006, so it will take time

for Orioles fans to get used to the sight of someone else manning the space in front of Camden

Yards' out-of-town scoreboard.

Showalter said in December that Steve Pearce likely would be the team's Opening Day right

fielder. Pearce has earned the opportunity after a breakout season in which he finished

.293/.373/.556, hit a career-high 21 homers and led the team in Wins Above Replacement (6).

But Pearce never has made more than 27 starts in right field in a big league season, and he'll

have to be a quick study of how the right field corner plays at Camden Yards.

Last month, the Orioles made a trade with the Pirates for outfielder Travis Snider, who Duquette

believes has shown signs of making good on his potential as one of the game's top prospects.

Snider helps fill Markakis' void because he's a left-handed bat who could see time at both corner

outfield spots.

Showalter isn't against shuffling players in and out of the position. Pearce also can spell Chris

Davis at first base and serve as DH. The Orioles also re-signed veteran Delmon Young, who saw

most of his playing time at DH last season but could see an expanded role in right field, his

natural position.

Given all those options, the Orioles could replace Markakis' production, but it still will be

difficult to replace his on-base capabilities from the leadoff spot. Left fielder Alejandro De Aza,

a career .271/.334/.405 leadoff hitter, is the most likely option to fill that void atop the batting

order. The Orioles are also close to signing infielder Everth Cabrera, who stole 99 bases over the

past three seasons.

The utility infielder

The Orioles' pending one-year deal with Cabrera muddles the middle-infield mix this spring.

Cabrera is a career shortstop but also can play second base and has expressed a willingness to try

the outfield as well.

Starting shortstop J.J. Hardy signed a three-year extension last year, so Cabrera likely would see

most of his playing time at second base. Rookie Jonathan Schoop held that spot last year and

provided the Orioles with critical bottom-of-the-lineup power (16 homers) while going through

some growing pains at the plate (a .209 average, .244 on-base percentage and 122 strikeouts in

481 plate appearances).

Ryan Flaherty has filled the utility infielder position nicely since joining the Orioles in 2012 as a

Rule 5 pick. He can play all four infield positions and can play both corner outfield spots, which

has kept him on the 25-man roster through some lean times at the plate.

Cabrera, Flaherty and Schoop can be optioned to the minors, and it will be nearly impossible for

all three to make the Opening Day roster.

The utility role will be important again this season, with Machado returning from knee surgery

for a second straight season. Flaherty made 27 starts at third base and also made 21 at shortstop,

filling in when Hardy was injured. He's a valuable defender who usually holds his own, but over

parts of three seasons, Flaherty has hit just .221/.283/.369.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-buck-showalter-has-been-focusing-on-the-

little-20150219-story.html

Buck Showalter has been focusing on the little things for

months

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

February 20, 2015

The Orioles will hold their first pitchers-and-catchers workout of spring training this morning,

but manager Buck Showalter has been thinking about all the little things for months.

Showalter will go into today knowing every in and out of the Ed Smith Stadium facility. He can

proudly unveil a new bullpen area on the back fields. He knows that right field of the Camden

Yards replica field can get a little soft with a hard rain. He probably knows how high the grass is.

Showalter has done everything to ensure that Orioles spring training is the place to be for his

players and staff. The facility is welcoming, as shown by the number of players who have been

here for the past month and the bevy of position players here six days before the first full

workout.

He knows that appearance matters, so the presentation of everything from the clubhouse to the

hallways to the bullpens can exude a winning attitude.

Showalter walked through the facility on Thursday and showed off a huge photo of a fireworks

display at Camden Yards from last year’s 60th anniversary celebration in August. There’s

another one of the postgame celebration after the Orioles clinched the American League East one

month later.

Both photos were still waiting to be hung -- trust in the fact that they will be hanging perfectly

this morning.

Showalter proudly displays the new bullpen area – which features three full mounds and two

lower rehab mounds – in an area that used to be the center field area of the facility’s turf infield.

Because the field has three infield diamonds on it for pitchers fielding practice, the addition of

the pens can contain all pitchers activities to one field once full squad workouts begin next week.

This is what Showalter does to make sure the Orioles continue to move forward – even after their

best season in 17 years. He’s daydreamed of this idea for several springs, but pitched it to

managing partner Peter Angelos this offseason and it became reality.

It’s no different than the minicamps the team holds in January to evaluate the organization’s

young pitchers and players coming off injuries. The camps, which have been held in Sarasota the

past two winters, allow the Orioles to get ahead of any possible health problems so they’re not

surprised today.

Showalter is so tapped into all the club’s inner workings throughout the entire organization, like

the need to focus on better defense at the higher minor league levels.

“We had some things we wanted to do,” Showalter said. “We want to catch the ball a little bit

better at Norfolk and Bowie.”

Showalter said playing better defense at the higher minor league levels is an important part of

developing young pitching, which both Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette

believe is the lifeblood of the team’s future success.

So that’s why the team went out and signed unknown minor-league free agents like Paul Janish,

Ozzie Martinez and Rey Navarro to provide stronger infield defense at Triple-A. He points to

right-hander Mike Wright’s second-half turnaround – Wright posted a 0.95 ERA for Norfolk in

his last seven starts – and said it correlated with the team playing better defense behind him.

“I think it’s a part of developing pitching is having people who can defend,” Showalter said. “I

think Mike Wright, him taking off had something to do with us getting better. ... They get real

defensive and they try to strike everybody out.”

Showalter insists concentrating on these little things – the ones that often go unnoticed over an

offseason consumed by big-ticket signings – are things the Orioles have to do to overcome some

of the big budgets of the AL East.

“There’s some things we spend money on that other people don’t,” Showalter said. “It’s kind of

who we are and we’ve got to do it, whether it’s putting those mounds over there with the rehab

mounds, whether it’s having a minicamp. We’ve got to do those things, whether it’s paying a

little more money for a six-year [minor-league] free agent than someone else might to make sure

we get him. We haven’t had to do that much the past couple years. We’ve been able to out-

opportunity some people.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-schmuck-orioles-column-0220-20150219-

column.html

Dan Duquette stresses returning Orioles as 'most powerful

thing we've done'

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

February 19, 2015

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette always has put a premium

on defense, so no one should have been surprised when he played a little of it in his first media

briefing of spring training.

Duquette and his team are getting little national respect after a relatively quiet offseason. But on

the eve of the Orioles' first official workout at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, he was almost

defiant in his evaluation of the club's 2015 outlook.

"The most powerful thing we've done for our team in the offseason is to get [Matt] Wieters and

[Manny] Machado and [Chris] Davis back on it and get them healthy and playing ball," Duquette

said. "And that's significant because you're talking about three everyday ballplayers who are

good defenders.

"Wieters is a Gold Glover, Machado is a Gold Glover and Davis was second in the Gold Glove,

and they can hit and they've got power. So, we're adding them to the ballclub."

We can get all semantic about that last sentence, but as justifications go, Duquette's defense is a

fairly compelling one.

The Orioles will open spring training with essentially the same team that arrived here last year —

minus Nick Markakis — and there is a case to be made that productive seasons from Machado

and Wieters would offset the loss of Markakis and major league home run leader Nelson Cruz. If

that's as far as you want to go.

Of course, that's not really an argument against looking for other ways to make substantial

improvements in the aftermath of a very successful 2014 season, especially with the Toronto

Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox moving decisively to close the talent gap with the defending

American League East champion.

But Duquette was having none of that Thursday.

"The most powerful thing we could have done of any offseason move was getting those three

guys back and getting them into our lineup," he said. "There's nothing else we could have done

that would compare to those guys coming back and being healthy for our team."

Wieters is back from Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery and will not be cleared

to throw in game action until mid-March. Machado will be under no restrictions when full-squad

workouts begin next week. Davis, who missed most of September while serving his Adderall

suspension, still must miss Opening Day, but he said at FanFest that he's ready to go after

playing hurt for a lot of 2014.

If you assume that all three will come back to have representative seasons, the Orioles should

field another power-packed offensive lineup and play great defense the way they have the past

two seasons. But manager Buck Showalter does not like to get ahead of himself.

"Obviously, we played a good portion of our season without Manny and Matt," Showalter said.

"Any time you get those back, it's encouraging. Chris, we played a lot of the season with. It's an

encouraging thing for us on paper, but the season doesn't always play out on paper. You're

always an injury away.

"It's no given that they are going to be healthy and ready to start the season. From all indications

they are, but until they are on that 25-man roster, I'm not going to assume anything with them."

Though the Orioles are constantly called out for lacking a true No. 1 starter, they will open

workouts for pitchers and catchers with solid depth in both the rotation and the bullpen. The

bullpen will miss Andrew Miller — because who wouldn't? — but they still could face some

tough decisions when it comes time to set the staff in early April.

The front office only can hope there's still a surplus at that point, since it would give Duquette

the ability to make a deal if the need arises. He indicated Thursday that there may be a couple of

minor league deals in the club's near future, but seemed satisfied with the current composition of

the roster.

"This should be a good ballclub," Duquette said. "We're returning the core of the team. We've

got some young guys coming back. We've got good leadership on the team. [Adam] Jonesy's

back. We've got J.J. Hardy back. I like the left-handed hitters that we added. I think they're going

to helpful."

In other words, what you see is what you get. And nobody is going to apologize for that.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-notes-on-cabrera-wieters-de-aza-

janish-and-nix-20150219-story.html

Orioles notes on Everth Cabrera, Matt Wieters, Alejandro

De Aza and more

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

February 19, 2015

The Orioles' pending one-year deal with infielder Everth Cabrera is still moving forward, but

executive vice president Dan Duquette said Thursday that he wasn't certain that it would be

finalized by the end of the week.

“There’s not a lot that I can say about players while we’re in the process,” Duquette said

Thursday. “The rules don’t allow it, but we’ve done a lot of research on this player, and his skill

and ability is very good, and we think there may be a fit.”

Duquette said there’s nothing to believe the deal has stalled, but there are a few issues that still

must be resolved before it is finalized.

“This is a little bit longer process,” Duquette said.

Cabrera has taken a physical, and the club is comfortable with their due diligence in reviewing

his medicals. He missed 69 games last season with hamstring injuries.

But the club is more likely trying to ensure that Cabrera’s pending legal issues can be resolved

quickly. He faces a misdemeanor charge for resisting arrest stemming from a traffic stop in

California on Sept. 3. A trial is currently set for April 13.

-- Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Thursday that Matt Wieters likely will catch -- he still

won’t throw -- in both intrasquad games March 1 and 2, and the team will create innings for him

behind the plate before he’s cleared to resume throwing in games March 17.

Showalter said Wednesday that he expects Wieters to serve as the team's designated hitter early

in spring training, but he said Thursday that he wants to start to build Wieters' innings behind the

plate before he's cleared to throw.

-- Outfielder Alejandro De Aza, the only remaining arbitration-eligible player whose contract is

unresolved, is set to have an arbitration hearing Friday in St. Petersburg.

De Aza has filed for $5.65 million; the Orioles have offered $5 million.

Asked whether there’s a chance the Orioles could avoid a hearing with De Aza, Duquette said:

“Yeah, I’m sure there’s a chance, but we’re at this stage of the game. We’ll probably see the

hearing through.”

-- Infielder Paul Janish had surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow earlier this

week and will miss six to eight weeks, Duquette said.

Janish was signed to add minor league infield depth, so the team’s acquisition of infielder Jayson

Nix, a minor league signing that was announced Thursday, helps overcome that loss.

“We had an opening for shortstop, and we needed help in terms of the depth of the organization,”

Duquette said of the Nix signing. “We signed a kid, Paul Janish, who has an issue with his

elbow. He had to have some bone chips taken out, and Jayson Nix, he’s a veteran infielder. He

can play shortstop.

"He played on the Yankees’ playoff team a couple of years ago. He knows his way around the

league, and I think he’ll be a real good addition to the depth of our ballclub.”

-- The Orioles will have a new spring training setup for pitchers after installing a bullpen area in

the outfield of the Ed Smith Stadium facility's turf field with three full mounds, one half mound

and a flat mound.

When pitchers and catchers begin working out Friday, they will use all four fields for pitchers

fielding practice drills. But once the full squad starts working out Wednesday, the new addition

will allow all the pitchers to work on one field because it has three infields and the new bullpen

area.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-early-orioles-notes-on-nolan-reimold-jp-

arencibia-and-chris-parmelee-20150219-story.html

Nolan Reimold says Orioles 'just a place where I feel

comfortable'

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

February 19, 2015

When the Orioles parted ways with Nolan Reimold, reluctantly designating him for assignment

in July, the outfielder didn’t think he’d be back with the organization.

But Reimold, 31, is back in at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this spring, signed to a minor

league deal and hoping to show he can remain healthy and be a contributor in the major leagues.

“It’s a pleasant surprise for me,” said Reimold, who was one of several position players who has

arrived to camp early. “I never wanted to leave in the first place. So obviously, I’m happy to be

back.

“I just think that this will be the best place for me, and I need to go out and show that I can stay

healthy and play. I think it will all work out.”

Reimold, who played just 56 games in 2012 and 2013 with multiple neck surgeries, opened last

season on the disabled list and was designated for assignment after his minor league

rehabilitation assignment ended. He had brief stints with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Arizona

Diamondbacks before becoming a free agent at the end of the season.

Reimold said being familiar with the Orioles organization was a major reason he decided to

return.

“I guess there’s a lot of reasons that go into it, but I think the staff here, the management,

everybody, I know them, I’m comfortable with them,” Reimold said. “I think they really have

the player’s best interest at heart. For me, staying healthy, I’m a big fan and advocate of the

strength program and things that have been done here, so I think that would be a big thing, too.

“It’s just a place where I feel comfortable, and I feel a little sense of loyalty to the Orioles. If I’m

going to have a career, this is where I want it to be.”

Reimold was 4-for-12 in his first four games with the Blue Jays last season before he returned to

the DL with a calf injury. After that, he never really gained any momentum.

Since his rookie season in 2009 ended with an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery,

Reimold has never played more than 87 major league games in a season. He has been on the DL

five times since the beginning of the 2012 season with neck, calf and hamstring injuries.

“I had a little success in Toronto in the beginning,” Reimold said. “I don’t want to say … but that

calf injury really screwed things up for me because when I came back I didn’t play very much.

“But I got out there. I got a taste of how other organizations [work], not that they’re bad

organizations. I felt, like every thought, I was DFA’d, I felt like I was wanted a lot more here. So

hopefully things work out.”

** The Orioles signed veteran catcher J.P. Arencibia on a minor league deal in part as an

insurance policy in case starter Matt Wieters isn’t ready to catch by Opening Day.

“Obviously, Matt’s coming off an injury, so that’s something for him,” Arencibia said. “You

can’t go back in and catch 150 games, and so that was another thing that was of interest to me. In

other situations, it could have been an easier path. One, I wanted to be able to go to one great

team, and two, to a situation where I know I can help a team win, and this is a team that wins,

and I know I can be an asset.”

Arencibia, a career .207/.255/.403 hitter in parts of five major league seasons, spent 48 games at

Triple-A Round Rock last year after he struggled early with the Texas Rangers, hitting just .133

in his first 20 games.

“Last season was a tough year but a great learning experience for me,” Arencibia said. “The tail

end of 2013, I had a tough second half. Then the beginning of 2014, I started off slow. So it was

a good thing to be able to go down and reset, go down for a month. You kind of look at yourself

in a mirror and you say, ‘I was once MVP of this League. Why am I back in it?’

“It was something where I just kind of had to make adjustments and had to do things to further

my career. I had too much ability to be where I was. It was a huge learning experience. I was

able to get going, get back, have success. So then it was like something where I can still do

damage, I can still help a team win."

Arencibia said his history with new Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh, who was then the

Rangers’ Triple-A hitting coach and worked with Arencibia last season, played a role in him

coming to the Orioles.

“Coolbaugh was another big part of my decision, he was with me for the month I was down,”

Arencibia said. “We had a good relationship. I figured that it was something that would be able

to help me going into this season. … I think he does a real good job of seeing what clicks for that

person and making you ultimately a better player.”

** Among the new faces in camp is Chris Parmelee, another nonroster invitee who was signed

on a minor league deal. Parmelee will compete for a roster spot as a corner outfielder and first

baseman.

"They're a winning organization,” Parmelee said about joining the Orioles. “They've been

winning the last couple of years, and I want to be a part of that. I want to do everything I can to

help this team out any way I can and whatever that may be, I'm up to the task and I'm looking

forward to it."

Parmelee, once a top prospect with the Minnesota Twins who carried a career Triple-A split line

of .295/.395/.530. He spent his entire career before this season in the Twins organization,

including parts of the last four seasons at the major league level, so joining the Orioles involves

adapting to a new atmosphere for the first time as a professional.

"It's kind of like going to a new school,” he said. “You've been in one school your whole life and

meeting new guys. My main thing is just to keep my mouth shut and try to make friends, just like

you would in school. But these guys have come in with open arms, and I know some of them, so

it makes it a lot easier transition."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck-blog/bal-blame-earlier-spring-arrivals-on-climate-

change-20150219-story.html

Blame climate change as position players show up early

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

February 19, 2015

A lot of the Orioles' position players are already working out at the Ed Smith Stadium spring

training complex, even though the first official full-squad workout is not until next week.

So far, the group of position players in camp includes Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy, Steve Pearce,

Ryan Flaherty, Jonathan Schoop, David Lough and Henry Urrutia, as well as newcomers Travis

Snider and Chris Parmelee.

That would have been unusual a few years ago, but a combination of factors have conspired to

encourage the players to show up early -- among them, no doubt, the record snowfalls and bone-

chilling temperatures around the country.

Blame it on climate change if you want, but there's also the small matter of the working

conditions in Sarasota in comparison to the Orioles' former training site in Fort Lauderdale. That

facility was so old, run-down and inadequate that it didn't even feel like a major league

environment. The Ed Smith complex is so luxurious and comfortable that the players can't wait

to get here.

The permanence of the site also plays a role, since a lot of Orioles have purchased homes in the

area, and the emphasis manager Buck Showalter places on everyone working so closely together

also is a big factor.

Lest anyone in Baltimore get too envious, the weather down here hasn't really warmed up yet.

The temperature during Thursday's morning workout was about 50 degrees, minus substantial

wind chill.

Guess it's all relative.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109729774/baltimore-orioles-catcher-matt-wieters-has-

been-cleared-to-play-in-intrasquad-games-next-week

Wieters could see limited playing time next week Coming off Tommy John surgery, backstop scheduled to begin throwing full-strength

March 17

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Matt Wieters could catch in an Orioles intrasquad game -- on March 1 and

2 -- as the backstop has been cleared to do everything but throw full-strength to the bases in his

recovery from Tommy John surgery in June.

"We control that," manager Buck Showalter said of the run-game during the team's intrasquad

matchups. "I don't want to get to the 17th [of March] and have him catch three innings the first

time. I want him to catch, five, six, seven out of the chute. We can do that. We can handle it.

Whether it's a 'B' game, intrasquad…we could find games left and right."

Showalter said he probably wouldn't take Wieters to the Orioles first spring game in Lakeland,

Fla., but Wieters' legs are built up a lot earlier than they usually are in camp.

"He can throw the ball back to the pitcher [in a game]," Showalter said. "He wants to throw on

bunt defense. What he's doing out here right now [on the back fields] he can do in a game."

Wieters isn't cleared to throw full-throttle until March 17, a cautious deadline that Showalter

expects will make Wieters pretty anxious when the time finally comes. Wieters, and third

baseman Manny Machado, are expected to get a lot of at-bats this spring as they are both coming

off season-ending surgeries.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109717442/baltimore-orioles-evp-dan-duquette-sees-

return-of-manny-machado-matt-wieters-chris-davis-as-key-to-os-success

Duquette: Return of Machado, Wieters, Davis 'powerful' Signing of Nix, impending move with Cabrera will add depth

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla -- Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said

there are still some "issues" to resolve regarding the pending signing of Everth Cabrera and it

may not be done until next week. Nothing has changed on the O's end, it's just a little bit of a

slow process.

"There's not a lot that I can say about players while we're in the process," Duquette said. "The

rules don't allow it, but we've done a lot of research on this player, and his skill and ability is

very good, and we think there may be a fit."

Duquette also discussed the signing of Jayson Nix, which became official on Thursday, as a

move to help add depth, particularly in the wake of infielder Paul Janish's recent surgery. The

procedure to remove bone chips from Janish's right elbow is expected to sideline him for six to

eight weeks.

Here are some of the other highlights from Duquette's session with the media…

• The Orioles are still looking to add relief help. If they do sign some bullpen guys, it will likely

be a Minor League deal at this point. Duquette noted that Baltimore is confident the bullpen,

which lost only Andrew Miller, will once again be one of its strengths.

• Another huge factor in the O's upcoming season isn't about their offseason transaction list.

"The most powerful thing we've done for our team in the offseason is get [Manny] Machado,

[Matt] Wieters and [Chris] Davis back on it, get them healthy and playing ball," Duquette said.

"And that's significant, because you're talking about three everyday ballplayers who are good

defenders. Wieters is a Gold Glover, Machado is a Gold Glover and Davis was second in the

Gold Glove [voting], and they can hit and they've got power. So, we're adding them to the

ballclub. There's nothing else we could have done that would compare to those guys coming

back and being healthy for our team."

Machado is among the early arrivals for the position players, and he is expected to be a full-go in

camp, while Wieters will be moved along a little slower and won't catch a spring game until mid-

March. Davis will serve the final game of his 25-game suspension on Opening Day.

• The Orioles are preparing to go to an arbitration hearing with Alejandro De Aza, which is

scheduled for Friday.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109697748/orioles-report-to-camp-ready-to-get-jump-on-

spring

Orioles report to camp, ready to get jump on spring Arencibia eager for 2015 as pitchers and catchers get Spring Training underway for

Baltimore

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles have officially started Spring Training, with pitchers and

catchers reporting as the first sign of a new camp. There will be an informal workout Thursday,

as there has been the past few days, with the first actual practice on Friday.

Here are a few early notes from the clubhouse.

• The Everth Cabrera deal will not be announced on Thursday, though it could be made official

in the next few days. The news broke on Wednesday that Baltimore was on the verge of a deal

with the infielder, who has already taken his physical. Jayson Nix, who agreed to a Minor

League deal with a spring invite on Tuesday, has a locker set up. That deal has also not been

made official by the club.

• J.P. Arencibia is a guy to watch this spring as he competes for a spot. The rehab of Matt

Wieters could change what catchers are on the O's Opening Day roster, but Arencibia has had

success at the Major League level and could vie for a backup spot -- with Caleb Joseph -- even if

Wieters is healthy to begin the season.

Arencibia spent four seasons with the Blue Jays before playing in the Rangers' organization last

year, and he said there were opportunities for him to sign with other teams that would have had a

little easier path to the big leagues.

"I wanted to be able to go to one, [a] great team, and two, to a situation where I know I can help

a team win," Arencibia said. "And this is a team that wins, and I know I can be an asset."

Arencibia had his best offensive season in 2011, hitting 23 homers and posting a .219/.282/.438

line. He started '13 strong, hitting 16 first-half homers, but he finished the season with a .194

average and 21 homers overall. He was non-tendered at the end of the season and signed with

Texas.

"Last season was a tough year, but a great learning experience for me," Arencibia said. "I started

off slow. So it was a good thing to be able to go down [to the Minors] and reset, go down for a

month. You kind of look at yourself in a mirror and you say, 'I was once [in 2010] MVP of this

[Pacific Coast] League. Why am I back in it?' It was something where I just kind of had to make

adjustments and had to do things to further my career. I had too much ability to be where I was.

"It was a huge learning experience. I was able to get going, get back [to the Majors], have

success. So, then it was like something where I can still do damage, I can still help a team win. I

can still do things on an everyday basis to help a team, whatever it may be. [New Orioles hitting

coach Scott] Coolbaugh was another big part of my decision, he was with me for the month I

was down [in the Minors]. We had a good relationship. I figured that it was something that

would be able to help me going into this season."

• There are numerous position players already in camp, including Nolan Reimold, who agreed to

a Minor League deal this offseason.

"I never wanted to leave in the first place," said Reimold, who was claimed off waivers by

Toronto last season. "So obviously, I'm happy to be back. I just think that this will be the best

place for me, and I need to go out and show that I can stay healthy and play. I think it will all

work out."

Why did Reimold want to return to Baltimore?

"I guess there's a lot of reasons that go into it, but I think the staff here, the management,

everybody, I know them, I'm comfortable with them," he said.

"They really have the player's best interest at heart. For me, staying healthy, I'm a big fan and

advocate of the strength program and things that have been done here, so I think that would be a

big thing too. It's just a place where I feel comfortable and I feel a little sense of loyalty to the

Orioles. If I'm going to have a career, this is where I want it to be."

• Darren O'Day was among those who welcomed new additions to the family this winter, as the

pitcher was carrying around his infant daughter on Thursday morning.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/the-first-workout-de-azas-hearing-and-

reimolds-return.html

The first workout, De Aza's hearing and Reimold's return

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 20, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today marks the Orioles' first official workout of spring training at the Ed

Smith Stadium complex. It's supposed to be pitchers and catchers, but the place is crawling with

position players, too.

It's such a common occurrence now, I didn't question why shortstop J.J. Hardy was chatting with

reporters at his locker yesterday morning. Or why outfielders Adam Jones and Alex Hassan were

getting dressed just a few lockers apart. Or why third baseman Manny Machado was stretching

and running on one of the practice fields after I headed outdoors.

Does the first workout really carry any special meaning with so many players already in camp?

It sure does to manager Buck Showalter.

"There's some things I don't know much," he said. "I'm not going to name names, but there's a

guy I can't wait to see move around and throw, take PFP (pitchers fielding practice). I do look at

it as, you have precious days that you can't waste down here because once the season starts you

can't go, 'Gosh, I wish I had spent more time on that or made this a point of emphasis or I wish

we got a better feel.' I was telling guys in the meetings, every minute, day, hour that passes down

here that we don't use properly to make good decisions and be good, it's our fault, so we do.

"The easiest thing is it should be on the players, and it is. They want to be here. And it's not

completely because of the facility. I think it's because of the environment, I think it's because of

the way that it's set up. The food's great, it's clean, it's functional. Our last three or four years, it's

a huge thing for us since we moved over here. It's a presentation, too, to our players and players

that come in from other organizations. They talk about it.

"When they walk from there to hit in our cages on game day while we're hitting, they see it. It's

branding. I think it's important."

Showalter remembers from his Yankees days when the Fort Lauderdale facility was considered

among the finest in the Grapefruit League, but that wasn't the case during the Orioles' finals

years there. He believes that the Sarasota complex gives the Orioles an edge, and that includes

the annual minicamp that was moved here.

"Minicamp's a big deal for us," he said. "It's not free, either. It's comforting to be here. We've got

a pretty good feel for where everybody is physically and what to expect.

"There are things that we spend money on that some people don't. It's kind of who we are and

we've got to do it. Whether it's rehab mounds, whether it's the minicamp, we've got to do those

things. Whether it's spending a little bit more money on a six-year free agent than somebody else

might to make sure we get them. But we haven't had to do that the last couple of years. We've

actually been able to out-opportunity some people.

"I think the players have come to expect a certain way. A lot of guys are moving down here

because of the tax stuff."

The list includes pitchers Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez and Tommy Hunter.

While the Orioles are working out in Sarasota, outfielder Alejandro De Aza will attend his

arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg. The sides exchanged figures and it was a file to go. There

never was a real chance of a settlement.

De Aza submitted $5.65 million and the Orioles countered at $5 million. It's too late now to split

the difference.

The Orioles have lost only once since Peter G. Angelos bought the team in 1993, and general

counsel H. Russell Smouse is 7-0. The club is likely to focus on De Aza's stats with the White

Sox last season, when he batted .243/.309/.354 in 122 games.

Showalter expects De Aza's attitude to be fine no matter the outcome.

"He's getting ready to make more money than he ever has in his career," Showalter said.

I interviewed outfielder Nolan Reimold earlier this month after he signed a minor league deal

with the Orioles, but yesterday provided another opportunity to get caught up. Here's a sampling:

Is he surprised to be back?

"In a way, yes, but like I said, it's a pleasant surprise for me," Reimold said. "I never wanted to

leave in the first place, so obviously I'm happy to be back. I just think that this will be the best

place for me and I need to go out and show that I can stay healthy and play. I think it will all

work out."

Why was this the best place?

"I guess there's a lot of reasons that go into it, but I think the staff here, the management,

everybody, I know them, I'm comfortable with them," Reimold said. "I think they really have the

player's best interest at heart. For me, staying healthy, I'm a big fan and advocate of the strength

program and things that have been done here, so I think that would be a big thing, too.

"It's just a place where I feel comfortable and I feel a little sense of loyalty to the Orioles. If I'm

going to have a career, this is where I want it to be.

"I had a little success in Toronto in the beginning, but that calf injury really screwed things up

for me, because when I came back I didn't play very much. But I got out there, I got a taste of

how other organizations (work). Not that they're bad organizations. I felt like even though I was

DFA'd, I felt like I was wanted a lot more here, so hopefully things work out."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/showalter-on-wieters-janish-facility-

improvements-and-more.html

Showalter on Wieters, Janish, facility improvements and

more

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he may allow Matt Wieters to catch

the intrasquad games on the first two days of March rather than restrict him to being the

designated hitter.

Wieters won't be cleared to throw with maximum effort behind the plate, but the Orioles can

control the running game. That's not the case in the Grapefruit League.

Wieters is slated to make his exhibition debut behind the plate on March 17, exactly nine months

after his elbow surgery. In the meantime, he could be used in B games and Triple-A games at the

minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park.

"He can throw the ball back to the pitcher," Showalter said. "He wants to throw in the bunt

defense. What he's doing out here right now, he can do out there. It's just not full-throttle in a

game. It won't be before the 17th.

"We can find games left and right. I'm not going to catch him every day, though his legs will be a

lot more built up at that stage than they normally are.

"It's hard to believe it's possible, but as much time as he's had off with his arm, I think he's going

to be pretty strong this year. He's basically had a lot less wear and tear on his arm."

Showalter said he feels "light years better about our catching situation" than he did two or three

years ago.

"The depth and the young guys coming," he said. "Hopefully, it's Matt Wieters forever, but we'll

see."

Showalter said he would be surprised if infielder Paul Janishisn't close to starting the season on

time following surgery earlier this week to remove bone chips from his right elbow. The initial

estimate has Janish being out for six to eight weeks.

"What they thought they were going to find, they found," Showalter said. "It was pretty much go

in and get it and come out. We'll see. It had a little something to do with some of the additions

we made. But he'll be playing. He can really defend.

"We had some things we wanted to do better. We wanted to catch the ball a lot better at Norfolk

and Bowie. Well, everywhere. I think it's part of developing pitching is having people who can

defend.

"I think Mike Wright taking off a little bit (at Norfolk) had something to do with us getting a lot

better defensively. They try to strike everybody out. Our infield at Norfolk wasn't real good. We

had a lot of guys who could hit a little bit, but they had no place to play.

"Between Ozzie Martinez, who can really catch it, and Rey Navarro, who can really catch it ...

There's a couple other ones."

Showalter took the media on a tour of the new mounds installed in the center field area of the

turf field. He's now got three full mounds, two half mounds for rehabbing pitchers and a row of

flat mounds (Yes, I know it's an oxymoron).

Showalter wants the pitchers to do all of their work on one field, including defensive and

conditioning drills.

The Orioles also installed turf in the catching area, same as you'll find at Camden Yards, to

prevent rain from creating sloppy conditions.

The Ed Smith Stadium complex gets better and better every spring. As Showalter says, "The

road to success is always under construction."

And finally, Showalter isn't viewing the 2015 season differently despite the Orioles having 11

pending free agents, including Wieters, Chris Davis, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, Tommy Hunter,

Darren O'Day and Steve Pearce.

"It's reality," Showalter said. "I know about it, you know about it, they know about it. We've got

one more opportunity? We don't look at it that way. If you dwell on stuff like that ...

"I wasn't sure what we were going to be able to do with (J.J.) Hardy. I wasn't sure what we were

going to be able to do with Adam (Jones). So if you dwell on that ... I find if I play golf that if

I'm on the 16th hole and I'm thinking about the 17th hole, I play the 16th hole real bad. So that's

kind of how I look at it.

"We're going to play this thing as good as we can play it and see where life takes us. What

enhances the ability to keep those people? Maybe winning a world championship, so you can

look at it that way."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/hearing-from-duquette.html

Hearing from Duquette

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with reporters in the

workroom for about eight minutes today and provided updates on Everth Cabrera and Paul

Janish, among other topics.

On Cabrera's pending deal:

"I don't know that it's going to be done this week. There's a couple of issues that need to be

resolved. We've had some discussions. There's not a lot that I can say about players while we're

in the process. The rules don't allow it, but we've done a lot of research on this player, and his

skill and ability is very good, and we think there may be a fit."

On Jayson Nix:

"We had an opening for shortstop and we needed help in terms of the depth of the organization.

We signed a kid, Paul Janish, who has an issue with his elbow. He had to have some bone chips

taken out, and Jayson Nix, he's a veteran infielder. He can play shortstop. He played on the

Yankees' playoff team a couple of years ago. He knows his way around the league, and I think

he'll be a real good addition to the depth of our ballclub."

On Janish:

"He had to have some bone chips taken out of his elbow, so he will be out about 6-8 weeks. It

was a couple of days ago. But this should be a good ballclub. We're returning the core of the

team. We've got some young guys coming back and good leadership on the team. (Adam)

Jonesy's back, we've got J.J. Hardy back. And I like the left-handed hitters that we added. I think

that they're going to be helpful."

On other possible additions:

"We're still looking at a couple possibilities for players that could help our club, notably in relief,

and we will continue to monitor that market. Probably minor league. We have some pretty good

pitching depth already in camp and that's one of the most interesting parts about this year's camp

is that the pitching depth we have, both starting and relief, is going to make for some very

interesting competition in spring training. And I think also we'll have a couple more pitchers than

we'll have spots. I'm hopeful that we'll have that at the end of spring training.

"We have some good starters, good depth. We're looking forward to taking a look at the two

Rule 5 pitchers, (Logan) Verrett and Jason Garcia. These guys have got some good talent and

they're hungry and they want to solidify themselves as big leaguers and we're going to give them

an opportunity here in the spring. And if they pitch well and some of our other guys pitch the

way I think they're going to pitch, we'll have some good depth to our bullpen.

"Our bullpen has been a strength for a couple of years and we're returning them all except

(Andrew) Miller. We signed (Wesley) Wright and added a couple other guys. We've got Tommy

Hunter back in form. We should be pretty good again in the bullpen. And then we've got six

starting pitchers and a couple guys at Triple-A, so that's the good news. Plus we've got good

defense at every position."

On the offseason:

"The most powerful thing we've done for our team in the offseason is to get (Matt) Wieters and

(Manny) Machado and (Chris) Davis back on it and get them healthy and playing ball. And that's

significant because you're talking about three everyday ballplayers who are good defenders.

Wieters is a Gold Glover, Machado is a Gold Glover and Davis was second in the Gold Glove

and they can hit and they've got power. So, we're adding them to the ballclub. The most powerful

thing we could have done of any offseason move was getting those three guys back and getting

them into our lineup. There's nothing else we could have done that would compare to those guys

coming back and being healthy for our team.

"We picked up (Alejandro) De Aza at the end of last year because we knew (Nick) Markakis was

going to be a free agent. We picked up (Travis) Snider who we think is coming into his own and

we think is going to give us some effective at-bats. He's a very patient hitter who should be

additive to our lineup and then we're adding those three guys back.

"We've got pitching depth, we've got good power up the middle, good defense at every position

and that's a pretty good recipe for a winning ballclub."

On whether he has pitching depth to trade:

"Very rarely do you find a surplus of starting pitching and that has a way of leading to trades

throughout the industry, so that's something we can take a look at. But the important thing in the

spring is to figure out who are your best men and get them ready to start the season.

"This should be a good ballclub. We're returning the core of the team. We've got some young

guys coming back. We've got good leadership on the team. Jonesy's back. We've got J.J. Hardy

back. I like the left-handed hitters that we added. I think they're going to helpful."

On the surplus:

"We have the pitching depth and we have the defense. We're going to see what remains to be

done for our lineup to see what we have to do. There's no perfect team, but we have a lot of

complementary pieces here that Buck (Showalter) will put together properly and we'll be ready

to go."

On having a winning culture:

"The other thing that we have is a winning culture here. These guys know that they're going to

have to come to spring training, they have professional work habits. They get themselves ready

to play. Buck does a great job with his staff helping them develop their skills and this is a team

that, going into spring training, expects to contend. We have every right to be able to contend.

We've earned that right to contend. We're returning these guys. Every team, when you start the

spring, you want to be able to win the last game of the season. I'm sure this team will have that as

a goal."

On whether the club could settle with De Aza before Friday's hearing:

"Yeah, I'm sure there's a chance, but we're at this stage of the game. We'll probably see the

hearing through."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/janish-undergoes-elbow-surgery-and-notes-

on-cabrera-and-parmelee.html

Janish undergoes elbow surgery, and notes on Cabrera and

Parmelee

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Paul Janish, signed by the Orioles to a minor league deal in

November, underwent surgery a few days ago to remove bone chips from his right elbow and is

expected to miss six to eight weeks of camp.

Janish was supposed to compete for a utility job.

With Janish currently out of the mix, the Orioles signed another utility player, Jayson Nix, to a

minor league deal and reached agreement with Everth Cabreraon a one-year deal.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette said the deal with Cabrera may not be finalized this

week. There are a few issues that need to be resolved. Nothing that hasn't already been reported.

Duquette said he's still looking to add another reliever to provide depth, most likely on a minor

league deal.

Duquette also stated that he expects all the pitchers and catchers to report today.

I'll post quotes from Duquette in my next entry.

Chris Parmelee, signed to a minor league deal last month, said he chose the Orioles because

"they're a winning organization."

"They've been winning the last couple of years and I want to be a part of that," he said. "I want to

do everything I can to help this team out any way I can and whatever that may be, I'm up to the

task and I'm looking forward to it."

What does Parmelee bring to the table?

"Versatility, some power with the ballpark at Camden Yards," he said. "It's a lot more hitter

friendly than Target Field, so I'm looking forward to that.

"Every time I came to Camden Yards and even here in Sarasota, I liked the way they did things

around here and I took notice of that when it came time to make a selection where I was going to

go. I knew some of the guys on this team and had some conversations and they liked it. There's

no reason why I shouldn't feel the same way. Just being here so far - this is Day Four for me - I'm

already taking a liking to a lot of the guys here. It's a lot of good guys, a lot of good players and a

great clubhouse to be in.

"It's kind of like going to a new school. You've been in one school your whole life and meeting

new guys. My main thing is just to keep my mouth shut and try to make friends, just like you

would in school. But these guys have come in with open arms and I know some of them, so it

makes it a lot easier transition."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/morning-notes-from-camp-3.html

Morning notes from camp (updated)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - The temperature at the Ed Smith Stadium complex won't climb above the

low 50s this afternoon and players are dressed accordingly, with hooded sweatshirts the uniform

of the day.

There's no snow on the ground, but it still qualifies as cold in Florida.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy, counted among the early arrivals, said he's taking batting practice indoors,

but it's not entirely due to the weather. There's a long wait to step into the cage with so many

players already in camp.

The clubhouse roll call between 8-9 a.m. consisted of Hardy, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Steve

Pearce, Ryan Flaherty, Jonathan Schoop, Darren O'Day, Ryan Webb, Zach Britton, David

Lough, J.P. Arencibia, Ryan Lavarnway, Henry Urrutia, Brad Brach, Eddie Gamboa, Mike

Wright, Wesley Wright, Chris Parmelee, Kevin Gausman, T.J. McFarland, Chris Tillman,

Tommy Hunter, Travis Snider, Nolan Reimold, Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Jones, Alex Hassan, Tim

Berry and Logan Verrett.

Jones has inherited Markakis' old locker in one corner of the clubhouse. Cuban outfielders

Urrutia and Dariel Alvarez are next to each other. O'Day brought his infant daughter into the

clubhouse and was surrounded by teammates who wanted to see her.

New infielder Jayson Nix has been assigned a locker, but his nameplate doesn't include a

number. Hold off buying that jersey.

As I wrote previously, the Everth Cabrera deal won't be finalized today. Executive vice president

Dan Duquette will meet with reporters later to provide an update.

The morning clubhouse availability allowed the media to meet a few of the new Orioles,

including Arencibia, a career .207/.255/.403 hitter in the majors.

Arencibia, signed as a free agent on Jan. 7 after four seasons in Toronto and one in Texas, sees a

"great opportunity" with the Orioles.

"I know this league well. I'm familiar with it," he said. "It's good to be back in the AL East and

obviously on a team that's had great success.

"It came down to a decision at the end. The last day, I was able to talk to Dan Duquette and the

other guys I was negotiating with. I had a really good feel of an opportunity here. I still feel like I

have a real good ability to help the team win and that's what I ultimately want to do is come in

and do whatever I can to help this team win, and I know I've still got it."

He's got Matt Wieters ahead of him, but it wasn't a deterrent when choosing a team.

"Obviously, Matt's coming off an injury, so that's something for him," Arencibia said. "You can't

go back in and catch 150 games, and so that was another thing that was of interest to me.

"In other situations, it could have been an easier path. One, I wanted to be able to go to one great

team, and two, to a situation where I know I can help a team win. And this is a team that wins

and I know I can be an asset."

The familiarity with the city and the league factored into Arencibia's decision.

"No doubt," he said. "One, I love playing in Camden. I really enjoy playing there every year.

Again, the AL East. Not taking anything away from the AL West, but it's a different monster,

and you get to play the Bostons and the New Yorks, and the Blue Jays and the Tampas, and it's a

gritty kind of baseball. It's a tough league and I think that as a competitor you want to play

against the best."

Arencibia, 29, hasn't been at his best since hitting 23 homers and driving in 78 runs with the Blue

Jays in 2011. He was the Pacific League Most Valuable Player in 2010 and was sent back down

last June.

"Last season was a tough year, but a great learning experience for me," said Arencibia, who

batted .177/.239/.369 in 63 games with the Rangers. "The tail end of 2013, I had a tough second

half, then the beginning of 2014 I started off slow, so it was a good thing to be able to go down

and reset, go down for a month. You kind of look at yourself in a mirror and you say, 'I was once

MVP of this league. Why am I back in it?' It was something where I just kind of had to make

adjustments and had to do things to further my career.

"I had too much ability to be where I was. It was a huge learning experience. I was able to get

going, get back, have success. So then it was like something where I can still do damage, I can

still help a team win. I can still do things on an everyday basis to help a team, whatever it may

be."

Arencibia, who's married to The Band Perry lead singer Kimberly Perry, is eager to be reunited

with new hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh.

"Coolbaugh was another big part of my decision," he said. "He was with me for the month I was

down. We had a good relationship. I figured that it was something that would be able to help me

going into this season.

"He's able to use your strengths and try to highlight those. If you go around to every single guy,

there's going to be something different that clicks for them. As a professional, coming up

especially, there's so many people you work with. And I feel like the best ones take what you do

and make it better.

"There's a few guys in this game who can just go out and hit, but most guys need that. I think he

does a real good job of seeing what clicks for that person and making you ultimately a better

player."

Update: The Orioles announced the Nix signing. He receives a minor league deal with an invite.

Manny Machado is in camp today. He was on the field stretching and doing some light running

before heading into the weight room and later the indoor cage.

Steve Johnson also is in camp.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/02/draft-41.html

Graham: "We are absolutely one of the premier

development systems in baseball"

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

February 20, 2015

It was a question that took only a few words to ask, but a long, passionate and well-thought out

answer was provided.

I asked Orioles director of player development Brian Graham this week to provide his take on

the Orioles taking a fall in several publications' organizational rankings.

Last year the Orioles farm system was rated No. 10 by ESPN.com and No. 12 by Baseball

America and Baseball Prospectus.

This winter, the Orioles have dropped to No. 22 by ESPN.com and Baseball Prospectus. Baseball

America ranks the Orioles at No. 28.

"I'm not sure what the criteria is for evaluation when a publication ranks your farm system first

or 28th," Graham said. "I do know we have a great development system in terms of teaching,

coaching, discipline and developing players. We are absolutely one of the premier development

systems in baseball.

"I also know factually that we are an extremely productive farm system. And that is what every

major league team wants, is a productive farm system."

Graham went on to point out how the O's farm has produced many players for the big league

team. Players that helped the Orioles win 96 games last year, win the club's first American

League East title since 1997 by 12 games and advance to the American League Championship

Series. This group has helped the Orioles to two playoff appearances in three seasons and more

wins than any other AL East team since 2012.

"If you look at our starting catcher (Matt Wieters), he was drafted and developed (by the

Orioles)," Graham said. "A Gold Glove catcher. Our backup catcher (Caleb Joseph), who filled

in as our starter last year, was drafted and developed and he led all of Major League Baseball in

caught stealings last year.

"Our third baseman (Manny Machado) was drafted and developed and he won a Platinum Gold

Glove as well making the All-Star game (in 2013).

"Our closer, (Zach) Britton, was drafted and developed. Kevin Gausman, one of our starting

pitchers, was drafted and developed. A really good bullpen guy (Brian) Matusz, he was a draft

and development guy. Chris Tillman was actually pitching Double-A and Triple-A here and was

part of our development system before becoming an All-Star."

Tillman, went 6-7 with a 5.26 ERA in the Single-A California League in his last 20 starts in the

Mariners organization before his trade to the Orioles in February 2008. In his first year in the

Baltimore organization, he went 11-4 with a 3.18 ERA for Double-A Bowie in 2009.

"Our starting shortstop (J.J. Hardy) was acquired by trading a minor league player," Graham

said. "Bud Norris, another starter, was acquired by trading two minor league players. Brad Brach

was added by trading a minor league player. (Alejandro) De Aza was acquired by trading two

minor league players. (Travis) Snider was acquired by trading two minor league players.

"Andrew Miller, who was a huge part of our late-season success last year, was added by trading

a minor league player. Even Miguel Gonzalez was a minor league spring training invite, who

started in Triple-A for a short period of time. He's been a huge part of our major league success

and was a minor league spring invite."

So while the Orioles fell in the organizational rankings, they rose in the AL East standings and

the farm system had a lot to do with that. It sent homegrown products to the big leagues and/or

provided trade chips that brought talent to Baltimore.

"So, I mean, to say our minor league system has been productive is an understatement," Graham

said. "Our minor league system has been extremely productive. Our development system is

really good. It is easily one of the best development systems in baseball. On top of that, we've

drafted good players with the picks that we've had.

"So when you look at how a team is rated first or 28th, I'm not sure what the criteria is for that

evaluation process. I just know we have an extremely productive minor league system and our

big league club has a strong, strong influence of drafted and developed players.

"Even if you look at our starting five pitchers - Norris, Tillman, Gonzalez, Gausman - four of our

starting pitchers have an influence from our minor league system. How many teams in baseball

have four that have an influence from the minor league system?"

I mentioned to Graham that you could even go back to the Erik Bedard trade, which brought five

players, including Tillman and Adam Jones to the Orioles. The O's traded a pitcher in Bedard

that they drafted in the sixth round in 1999. Bedard brought back a haul that included two of the

club's current best players.

"Also Nick Markakis, who was such a big part of our organization for so long, was a drafted and

developed player," Graham said. "In all honestly, I'm not resentful or angry or anything. I'm very

calm with my explanation of how good we are.

"We are good because we have really good coaches and managers. We have a really good system

in place and we have a strong influence from Buck (Showalter), Brady (Anderson) and Dan

(Duquette). They have a strong influence on the minor league system.

"Our development system is tremendous. We do a really good job of making our players be the

very best they can mentally, physically and fundamentally. Of bridging the gap between a

player's potential and a player's performance. I'm proud of what we are doing.

"I challenge any major league team to match up with us in how productive we've been in helping

the big league club get to where they are."

As a final note to this story, John Manuel of Baseball America, told me he agrees with Graham.

"I think their farm system has contributed in a big way," Manuel said. "Guys like (Matt) Wieters

and (Manny) Machado turned into guys that led that team to win the AL East and get to the

playoffs twice in three years.

"They have re-established this franchise as a winning franchise. In my mind, the scouting and

player development really did their jobs well."

Manuel pointed out it is hard to have both a highly ranked farm system and be a big winner in

the majors.

"The Giants just won their third World Series in five years with some homegrown players, but

their farm system is No. 25 right now," Manuel said. "It is very difficult to build and win at the

same time. Prospect rankings are nice but we don't give out any rings for it."

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/55195/a-look-at-non-roster-invitees-al-east

A look at non-roster invitees: AL East

By David Schoenfield | ESPN.com

February 19, 2015

And we're off! Spring training is here, pitchers and catchers will be doing pitching and catching

kind of activities, and we're all breathlessly waiting to see who has reported in the best shape of

his life.

One of my favorite things to do on the first day of spring training is see which players not on a

40-man roster have been invited to spring training. This includes a team's top prospects, some

extra catchers to help with the catching activities, veterans on their last gasp, guys returning from

injuries, and maybe another player or two who actually has a chance at making the team.

Let's look at some of the interesting non-roster names, starting with the American League East.

Baltimore Orioles

Mark Hendrickson is 40 years old, last pitched in the majors in 2011, and has a 5.03 career ERA.

So why is here? He's become a sidearmer and posted a 1.54 ERA in 52.2 innings in the Atlantic

League in 2014. ... J.P. Arencibia hit .189 over the past two seasons and draws a walk about once

every full moon. Even if Matt Wieters can't catch at the start of the season, the O's have Caleb

Joseph and Steve Clevenger, so Arencibia probably won't make the team (O's fans should hope

not). But he'll probably pop up somewhere in the majors at some point because that's what

catchers do. ... Nolan Reimold and Chris Parmelee were once prospects, or prospects who were

once supposed to be something. I don't see room for them on the 25-man roster, but they could

be good Triple-A fodder.

Boston Red Sox

Some fun names here. Remember Bryan LaHair, an All-Star for the Cubs in 2012 when he hit a

few home runs in April? He played in Japan in 2013 and in the minors last year. ... Jemile

Weeks hit .303 as a rookie for the A's in 2011 and then stopped hitting. He did post a .392 OBP

in Triple-A last year, but there's already a crowded picture here for position players. ... Mitchell

Boggs had some decent seasons in relief for the Cardinals before getting injured, but he's way

down the bullpen depth chart. ... The two to watch closely are minor league lefties Henry

Owens and Brian Johnson; each has a good chance of surfacing in the majors at some point.

New York Yankees

The Yankees primarily stayed away from the retread veteran route, although Scott Baker (5.47

ERA for the Rangers) provides some insurance rotation. ... Lefty reliever Jacob Lindgren, a

second-round pick last June out of Mississippi State, could crack the bullpen -- thanks to his

power stuff, which produced 48 strikeouts in 24.2 minor league innings. ...Andrew Bailey was a

two-time All-Star. We last saw him in the majors with Boston in 2013.

Tampa Bay Rays

Juan Francisco hit 16 home runs with the Blue Jays in a part-time role in 2014, but his best

position is DH and the Rays traded for John Jaso to fill the left-handed platoon side there. ...

Outfielder Boog Powell -- no relation to the former Oriole -- is worth mentioning just to get his

name listed here. He came over from the A's and hit .343/.451/.435 in Class A but has no power

and was just 16-for-31 as a base stealer, so I'm not sure if he's fast either. ...Brandon

Gomes or Ronald Belisario could earn a spot in the bullpen.

Toronto Blue Jays

Ramon Santiago, Andy Dirks, Ezequiel Carrera: It's like a Detroit Tigers reunion. Dirks or

Carrera could make the squad, as the Jays list just four outfielders on their 40-man roster and

there's always the chance they could send Dalton Pompey to Triple-A to start the season. ... Fan

favorite Munenori Kawasaki is back to battle for the utility infielder slot. ...Daric Barton will

always have that year (2010) when he led the AL in walks. ... Devon Travis came over from the

Tigers and could be the regular second baseman by midseason. ... Veteran lefty Jeff

Francis keeps getting chances but hasn't had an ERA under 4.80 since 2007.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/whats-best-way-keep-orioles-free-agents

What's the best way to keep Orioles free agents?

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Entering his sixth season as Orioles’ manager, Buck Showalter isn’t treating

it any differently because so many of his players are possible free agents.

Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Davis, Tommy Hunter, Bud Norris, Darren O’Day, Steve Pearce and Matt

Wieters are among the 11 who are eligible for free agency after this season.

“It’s reality. I know about it. You know about it. They know about it. We know we have one

more opportunity. We don’t look at it that way,” Showalter said.

During the offseason, Showalter occasionally plays golf, and uses an analogy from that sport to

describe his approach to the coming questions about free agency.

“I found that if I’m on the 16th hole and I’m thinking about the 17th hole, I play the 16th hole

real bad. That’s kind of how I look at it,” Showalter said.

“We’re going to play this thing as good as we can play it and see where life takes us. What

enhances the ability to keep those people is win a World Championship.”

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/showalter-says-wieters-catch-intrasquad-game

Showalter says Wieters to catch in intrasquad game

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Matt Wieters is likely to catch for the first time since last June’s Tommy

John surgery when the Orioles play the first of two intrasquad games on March 1.

Manager Buck Showalter said on Thursday that since the Orioles control the games, runners

won’t try to steal and he won’t have to throw.

Showalter doesn’t think he’ll bring him to Lakeland for the Orioles’ first game on March 3, but

Wieters will often be the designated hitter.

“He’ll have a lot more at-bats than he’s ever had before in the spring,” Showalter said.

Wieters’ surgeon, Dr. James Andrews recommended that Wieters not throw in games for nine

months after the June 17 surgery. By March 17, Showalter wants to see him catch multiple

innings to prepare for Opening Day.

“I don’t want to get to the 17th and him catch three innings the first time. I want him to catch

five, six, seven out of the chute,” Showalter said. “He’s doing everything except throwing 100

percent to the bases. That’s it. He’s ready. His legs should come quickly.”

If Wieters catches on March 17, he would have nearly three weeks before the Apr. 6 opener at

Tampa Bay.

“I’m not going to catch him every day,” Showalter said. “He can throw the ball back to the

pitcher…It’s just full throttle in the game. It won’t be before the 17th.”

NOTES: Pitchers will be throwing on the back fields on five new bullpen mounds. Three of them

are full mounds, two are half-mounds.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/fear-commitment-duquette-wont-give-firm-

answer-cabrera

Fear of commitment? Duquette won't give firm answer on

Cabrera

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Dan Duquette said that there’s nothing further he can report on the possible

signing of infielder Everth Cabrera.

“I don’t know that it’s going to be done this week. There’s a couple of issues that needs to be

resolved. We’ve had some discussions,” Duquette said.

The news of the possible signing of Cabrera came on Wednesday, and a day later, Duquette said

little has changed.

“There’s not a lot that I can say about players while we’re in the process. The rules don’t allow

it, but we’ve done a lot of research on this player, and his skill and ability is very good, and we

think there may be a fit,” Duquette said.

While Duquette waits on Cabrera, the Orioles officially announced the signing of Jayson Nix to a

minor league contract with a spring training invitation.

Nix will take the place of Paul Janish, an infielder who was signed to a minor league contract last

November. Janish recently had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, and is

expected to miss six-to-eight weeks, Duquette said.

“He’s a veteran infielder. He can play shortstop. He played on the Yankees’ playoff team a

couple of years ago. He knows his way around the league, and I think he’ll be a real good

addition to the depth of our ballclub.”

Duquette said he’s still looking for relief help, but if any pitchers are signed they’re likely to be

minor league contracts.

The Orioles have a scheduled arbitration hearing on Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla. with outfielder

Alejandro De Aza. The outfielder asked for $5.65 million, and the Orioles have offered $5

million.

There’s little likelihood the hearing will be avoided.

“Yeah, I’m sure there’s a chance, but we’re at this stage of the game. We’ll probably see the

hearing through,” Duquette said.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/reimold-back-home-long-shot-candidate

Reimold back home as long shot candidate

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Every spring training the Orioles have been here, so has Nolan Reimold.

This year is no exception, but things have changed.

Since last spring training, Reimold has been with two other teams, and returns as a longshot to

make the team. Reimold signed a minor league contract earlier this month.

He acknowledges that he’s a bit surprised to be back.

“In a way yes, but like I said, it’s a pleasant surprise for me. I never wanted to leave in the first

place. So obviously, I’m happy to be back. I just think that this will be the best place for me and I

need to go out and show that I can stay healthy and play. I think it will all work out,” Reimold

said.

Last year, Reimold started the season on the disabled list and was lost to Toronto on waivers in

July. In August he moved on to Arizona, and now he’s back with his original team. He thinks

this is the best place for him.

“I guess there’s a lot of reasons that go into it, but I think the staff here, the management,

everybody, I know them, I’m comfortable with them. I think they really have the player’s best

interest at heart,” Reimold said.

“For me, staying healthy, I’m a big fan and advocate of the strength program and things that

have been done here, so I think that would be a big thing too. It’s just a place where I feel

comfortable and I feel a little sense of loyalty to the Orioles. If I’m going to have a career, this is

where I want it to be.”

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-report-relative-warmth-sarasota

Orioles report to relative warmth of Sarasota

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles trickled into the Ed Smith Stadium complex Thursday morning.

Many of them had been there for a few days, and while it was officially pitchers and catchers

report day, many position players were already on hand.

There were J.J. Hardy and Adam Jones. Ryan Flaherty was there, too.

Darren O’Day brought in his baby daughter to show off to his teammates. Most of the pitchers

were already there.

It was 55 degrees early on Thursday and windy. On Thursday night, temperatures were forecast

to be below freezing in the Tampa Bay area for the first time in many years.

There’ll be workouts on Friday, and the full squad reports next Tuesday and workouts next

Wednesday.

There was a locker set aside for Jayson Nix, whose signing has yet to be announced, but none for

Everth Cabrera. His signing may not take place for another few days.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/20/brittany-ghiroli-says-orioles-hope-everth-cabrera-can-

be-utility-man/

Brittany Ghiroli Says Orioles Hope Everth Cabrera Can Be

Utility Man

CBS Baltimore

February 20, 2015

Brittany Ghiroli is the Orioles beat reporter for MLB.com.

Brittany joined Ken and Steve to talk about the Everth Cabrera, the Orioles pitching staff, and

other roster possibilities.

Brittany started off by talking about the Cabrera situation saying “we asked Dan

about it yesterday and he said it may happen sometime next week…they think he can help this

team and with his skill set he certainly can.” As for his role once he is signed Brittany said

“they’re going to try him in the outfield a little bit during spring training and they want to see if

he can be that utility guy for them, which could create some problems for Ryan Flaherty.”

Brittany also talked about what the roster may look like on opening day and if Wieters and

Machado will be ready.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/19/orioles-and-indians-battle-via-twitter/

Orioles And Indians Battle Via Twitter

CBS Baltimore

February 19, 2015

Major League Baseball is having a Twitter competition to see who is the face of MLB. It’s down

to the quarterfinals and the stakes are as high as ever as Baltimore Orioles’ outfielder Adam

Jones is up against Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber. MLB is asking fans to post

#CoreyKluber or #AdamJones and tag #FaceOfMLB to vote for their favorite.

The Orioles and Indians are hashing it out on twitter.

Kluber is currently leading Adam Jones in voting.

The Indians tell the Orioles to just go ahead and deal with it.

To which the Orioles responded: “Dealing quite well, thanks, @Indians. #StayHungry”

Oh now you’re just fighting dirty, Cleveland: “Hey #IndiansTwitter -- don't let Mr. 2-for-10 beat

#CoreyKluber in the #FaceOfMLB contest!”

YMB? (Picture of Jones celebrating with teammates) “@Indians You mad, bro?

#AdamJones #FaceOfMLB #AdamJones #FaceOfMLB #AdamJones #FaceOfMLB”

Sure…..

That does seem odd.

One O’s fan even tried to join the good fight.

But never fear, Birdland has your back, good sir: “Don't worry, @quarterlifeqb, #Birdland has

your back! 2 tix to see #AdamJones & your O's take on the @Indians in June are yours!

#FaceOfMLB”

The Orioles are smartly buying their fan’s votes.

As the battle rages on @Orioles is trending in Cleveland and @Indians is trending in Baltimore.

The teams commend one another.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/19/everth-cabrera-waits-for-orioles-to-finalize-deal/

Everth Cabrera Waits For Orioles To Finalize Deal

AP / CBS Baltimore

February 19, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Admitting he has interest in former All-Star infielder Everth Cabrera,

Baltimore Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette says he is unsure

whether a contract will be completed this week.

Baltimore negotiated a $2.4 million, one-year contract with the 29-year-old, who was suspended

for 50 games in 2013 following Major League Baseball’s investigation of the Biogenesis of

America clinic.

“His skill and ability is very good, and we think there may be a fit,” Duquette said Thursday as

the Orioles’ spring training camp.

Cabrera was an All-Star in 2013 when he played for the San Diego Padres. He led the NL with

44 steals in 2012.

The switch-hitter could compete for a utility job with Ryan Flaherty and non-roster infielder

Jayson Nix.

Cabrera won’t be competing with Paul Janish. Duquette said Janish had surgery to remove bone

chips from his right elbow this week.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/19/top-five-questions-for-orioles-spring-training/

Top Five Questions For Orioles Spring Training

CBS Baltimore

February 19, 2015

The O’s front office didn’t make any big signings or trades in the offseason but they did let a few

of “our guys” slip through the cracks in free agency. The “Hot Stove” was lukewarm at best.

Naturally, there are a few questions that Orioles fans are looking to be answered this spring.

Pitchers and catchers report to camp today, Thursday, February 19th and the full squad will

report Monday, February 23.

Here’s our Top 5 questions for the Orioles as they begin spring training in Sarasota, Florida.

1. What can we expect from the return of Wieters and Machado?

Matt Wieters struggled with and injury to his elbow on his throwing arm early on in the 2014

season. He only played in 26 games but was having a great start to the season with a bat. In 104

at bats he had 32 hits, 5 home runs and 18 RBIs with a .308 AVG. The Orioles decided against

listing Wieters as a DH while he rehabbed the elbow, which later required surgery. The Orioles

expect Matt to be ready to catch on Opening Day but there are still question marks about whether

that is realistic. Manager Buck Showalter has several options to back up Wieters behind the

plate, such as Caleb Joseph, Steve Clevenger, J.P. Arencibia, Ryan Lavarnway and Brian Ward.

They also have a young developing catcher in Chance Sisco. If Wieters isn’t ready to catch,

come opening day, could they decide to use him as the DH until he’s ready or will they place

him on the disabled list?

Manny Machado had just come back from a season ending ACL injury in 2013 and excitement

had build all spring for his return. After just 82 games played he went down again with another

nasty injury to his other knee. As if it weren’t painful enough to watch him grimace from the left

knee injury, fans winced and feared the worst seeing him go down again clutching his right knee.

Some wondered if the young third-baseman that showed so much promise was made of glass and

questioned whether he’d ever be able to play a full season. After his second surgically repaired

knee in August 2014, Machado is excited for spring training; “I have a lot of time to get ready.

That is the key: having a regular offseason.” Machado said, “[I] was doing my rehab in Sarasota

and then went to Miami to do my regular weightlifting and get ready for the season. Been

exciting. Looking forward to spring training.” Manager Buck Showalter even went as far as to

say that Manny will not be limited “at all” in spring training when he was interviewed Feb. 17 on

MLB Network Radio.

2. Will Chris Davis and Ubaldo Jimenez rebound from rough 2014 seasons?

Chris Davis had a breakout year in 2013 with 53 home runs, an All-Star season and Silver

Slugger performance. It was unexpected that he would repeat that performance in 2014 but

nobody thought he would slump as far as he did. His hits dropped from 167 to 88 mostly due to

the shift being used against him. He hit less than half the home runs with 26 in 2014 and his

RBIs dropped from 138 to 72. His batting average (career .253) plummeted from .286 to .196 as

well. Much of his lack on power and drop in numbers can be attributed to an oblique injury that

plagued him through much of the season. In an interview on 105.7 The Fan, Chris said, “It really

wasn’t as evident how bad it affected me until this offseason, but I’m completely 100 percent

healthy right now and actually a little bit stronger than I was at this point last year.” Add in the

suspension for using Adderall and Davis was less than thrilled with his numbers. With the

addition of new hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh, Crush is really looking to get back on track for

2015.

Ubaldo Jimenez was signed in the 2014 offseason to a four-year, $50 million contract. Jimenez

had a solid 2013 with a 13-9 record with a 3.30 ERA in 32 starts which dipped to 6-9 with a 4.81

ERA in 22 starts last season. Jimenez was demoted to the bullpen after Miguel Gonzalez

returned from a rehab stint in Triple-A Norfolk in August 2014. The former Cy Young candidate

is surely looking to earn his keep with the Orioles after they signed him to a big deal but

expectations are understandably low.

3. Who can replace Nick Markakis?

This is really a two-part question.

Nick held down right field like nobody else. He knew the corner like the back of his hand and

could anticipate any strange hop or ricochet routinely. Not only did he have knowledge of the

outfield but he also had an arm that garnered respect from base-runners. If you were brave

enough to round second on a stand-up double into the corner Nick had a cannon that could gun

you down at third. I’m not sure if anyone on the current roster has that type of strength but that’s

what spring training is for.

There is also the question of who the lead-off hitter will be. Nick was a consistent (if not

prototypical) number 1 guy, although he didn’t have astronomical numbers. Up until yesterday

most of the talk was that Alejandro De Aza would fill this role but now that there is talk of the

O’s signing speedster Everth Cabrera, this should shake things up a bit.

4. Can any one player replicate the production from Cruz?

Nelson Cruz had a great year with 40 home runs and 108 RBI. Those type of numbers are hard to

reproduce, even for Cruz. The best power hitter that the Orioles have is Chris Davis. He had

better numbers than that in 2013 (53 HR/138 RBI) but slumped in 2014 (26 HR/72 RBI). If you

average out those two years that would put him at just under 40 HR and 105 RBI. That just shy

of Cruz’s numbers. With the new hitting coach and a healthy oblique Chris is capable of filling

the gap but in order to match the totals for the team other players will have to boost their

numbers as well.

J.J. Hardy was averaging around 26 HR in previous year but only had 9 in 2014. He admitted he

was struggling with his back injury throughout the season but is now healthy and ready to

rebound as well. Matt Wieters power numbers will help the cause as well, compared to his

replacements in 2014 (Joseph and Hundley). The combination of Delmon Young, Steve Pearce

and new addition Travis Snider could also add to the HR numbers as well. It’s looking like the

Orioles will have to fill the gap by committee.

5. Which 5 pitchers will make the starting rotation?

Tillman, Chen, Norris, Gonzalez are the steady layovers from 2014 but who will be the O’s 5th

man, Gausman or Jimenez? Jimenez will have to have a really good showing in spring training to

regain his spot in the starting rotation. Long-reliever T.J. McFarland is also looking to have a

good spring and possibly give Gausman and Jimenez a run for their money in the starting

rotation. Although that is unlikely, it’s more motivation for the five-spot guys to be at their best.

Dylan Bundy could also see some time in the majors this year if there are any injuries or

slumping performances.

Can one of them move to the bullpen like Matusz (2012), Britton (2013) and Hunter (2012) did

and be effective? The Orioles are also looking to fortify their bullpen after losing Andrew Miller.

Hunter, O’Day, Matusz and Britton are solid out of the bullpen but they’re looking for guys like

Brad Brach and Ryan Webb to step up and fill the middle innings. The odd-man out of the

starting rotation could likely find himself in the pen much like Jimenez in the later part of the

2014 season.

Possible prospects to bolster the 2015 roster:

Dylan Bundy (RHP — 22 y/o)

Eddie Gamboa (RHP/Knuckleballer — 30 y/o)

Hunter Harvey (RHP — 20 y/o)

Christian Walker (1B — 23 y/o)

Chance Sisco (C — 19 y/o)

Dariel Alvarez (OF — 26 y/o)

Tim Berry (LHP — 23 y/o)

Mike Wright (RHP — 25 y/o)

Zach Davies (RHP — 22 y/o)

Henry Urrutia (DH/PH/OF — 28 y/o)

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/19/bob-haynie-orioles-look-for-fourth-straight-winning-

season/

Bob Haynie: Orioles Look For Fourth-Straight

Winning Season

By Bob Haynie / CBS Baltimore

February 19, 2015

Pitchers and catchers report on Thursday. Awesome. Isn’t it?

The Baltimore Orioles won the American League’s Eastern Division Championship in 2014 by

12 games in what was their finest season in 17 years. They were able to advance to the ALCS

before being swept by the Kansas City Royals in four games.

The Birds have had three-straight winning seasons and have made the playoffs in two of the last

three campaigns. Not too shabby, I would say.

In 2015, the Orioles will seek to put together their fourth-straight above .500 season. That is

something that hasn’t been accomplished by the Baltimore organization in 30 years.

From 1968 to 1985, the Orioles were all about winning baseball. Starting in 1986, however,

things began to go south as the Birds suffered through 20 losing seasons over the next 26 years

until 2012.

Even though OF Nick Markakis, OF/DH Nelson Cruz and RP Andrew Miller have moved on,

winning again in 2015 is an absolute reality for the Orioles.

3B Manny Machado and C Matt Wieters return from injuries and 1B Chris Davis will return

from a suspension that cost him the final weeks of the regular season and all of the playoffs.

That being said, a big reason why the Orioles will be contenders again is the starting rotation.

The Baltimore starting staff posted a 3.61 ERA in 2014 which was good for fifth-best in the AL.

Their ERA after the All-Star break was a strong 2.94 as they rolled to the AL East crown.

All of the starters are back for 2015.

Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54 ERA), Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA), Bud Norris (15-8, 3.65 ERA),

Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA) and Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.57 ERA) will all look to

duplicate if not exceed what they did on 2014.

RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9, 4.81 ERA) was terrible last season and will have to impress during

spring training to get himself back in the rotation.

We know the Orioles will hit home runs and they will be stout defensively and in the bullpen.

But the key to another winning season and a return trip to the postseason will be the

performance of the starting staff.

Let the fun begin.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/19/steve-davis-who-will-make-orioles-pitching-staff/

Steve Davis: Who Will Make Orioles Pitching Staff?

By Steve Davis / CBS Baltimore

February 19, 2015

We were discussing on the show what the final composition of the Orioles pitching staff will be

if the Orioles brass had their druthers. Most of it is set, but there are some big questions.

The rotation is tricky because of Jimenez. The Orioles want him to be in it because they are

paying him so much money. If he makes it, I will go with Tillman, Norris, Chen and Gonzales.

That leaves Gausman as the odd man out, even though I think he is one of the best five guys. I

think he’s better than Jimenez right now, at least more consistent. But they can’t send Jimenez

down, so I think they are kind of stuck with him.

The bullpen: Britton, O’Day, Hunter, Matusz are shoo-ins. Wesley Wright signed a major

league deal so I think he is in. Brach is out of options so I think he makes it. That leaves one

spot. I don’t keep Gausman because I want him to be ready to go as a starter. I have no clue on

the final spot. They have 2 rule 5 guys, so one of them has to have an amazing spring. I am

skeptical about McFarland, because that would be 5 lefties, which I think is too many.

http://www.wbaltv.com/sports/vote-for-adam-jones-to-be-face-of-mlb/31376636

Adam Jones in competition to be 'face of MLB' Star Baltimore Orioles player one of 5 left in league Twitter competition

WBALTV.com

February 20, 2015

BALTIMORE — Baltimore Orioles star center fielder Adam Jones is getting a lot of attention

online early Friday morning from those who want to help him become the face of Major League

Baseball.

MLB is holding a bracket competition on Twitter in which one player from every team goes up

against another team's player, and fans vote one of those players through to the next round.

Fans originally picked Jones as the face of the Orioles.

Jones was one of five players left in the bracket competition by Friday morning. He was up

against Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians. At 7:50 a.m., the pair was tied in votes at 50-50.

Voting ended at 8 a.m., but the MLB Network is expected to announce the winner of that pairing

at 9 a.m.

So far, Jones has beaten David Ortiz from the Boston Red Sox and Giancarlo Stanton from the

Miami Marlins.

The other three players left in the competition are the Mets' David Wright, the Giants' Buster

Posey and the Athletics' Sean Doolittle. The final winner will be determined next Thursday.

Fans who want to support Jones if he makes it into the next round can vote two ways: on Twitter

with the hashtag #adamjones and #faceofmlb, or by posting the same in the comments on MLB

Network's Facebook page.

It's supposed to be in the high 50s Friday in Sarasota, Florida, where Orioles pitchers and

catchers will have their first workout of spring training. The rest of the team, including Jones,

doesn't have to report until next week.

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150219&content_id=109444938&fext=.jsp&vke

y=news_milb&sid=milb

Q&A: Yastrzemski discusses lineage, career Orioles' No. 19 prospect led Minors in triples and hit for cycle last year

By Mark Emery / MiLB.com

February 19, 2015

What's in a name?

A name can get you noticed, maybe even drafted. But a name won't give you a career. A name,

by itself, can't hit the ball or run the bases or play defense for you. A name is only a starting

point. It may imply a bounty of talent for the game and a keen source of advice a phone call

away, but you have to complement those things with hard work and good choices if you want to

go anywhere.

Mike Yastrzemski, the Orioles' No. 19 prospect and grandson of Red Sox icon Carl, has set a

course for the Major Leagues, and his early Minor League results indicate the destination is

within reach. The 2013 14th-round pick earned two promotions in his first full season last year,

ending it at Double-A Bowie. Over 129 games, he batted .288 with an .836 OPS, 14 home runs,

75 RBIs, 18 steals in 24 attempts and 15 outfield assists.

Most noteworthy, the Vanderbilt graduate and Massachusetts native led the Minor Leagues by

hustling for 16 triples. The most memorable one came on July 5, when the 2014 Organization

All-Star came up to bat in the ninth inning, needing a three-bagger for the cycle, and got one.

We interviewed Yastrzemski, 24, earlier this offseason. Among the topics covered were where

he came from and what he's done, as well as where he's going.

MiLB.com: Not that you need to be reminded, but I'm sure the fact that your grandpa is a

baseball legend comes up often. Is that something that ever gets old or do you always kind of

enjoy that?

Yastrzemski: I enjoy it, because we have a relationship that's like any grandfather-grandson, so

I don't really hear the baseball stories too much. So when people bring him up, a lot of the stories

are actually new. Some of them I've heard before, but a lot of them are personal experiences, and

I think it's really cool to kind of hear the impact that someone I'm so closely related to had on so

many others.

MiLB.com: When you think of all that he's taught you about being a ballplayer and being a

person, what are some things that stand out?

Yastrzemski: I think the most important thing is the fact that he's told me from such a young age

that there has to be a separation between your baseball life and your off-field life. You can't bring

a bad game back to the house with you and you can't take anything that happens off the field

with you onto the field, or else it's going to be very hard to balance and it's going to be very hard

to control your emotions and your thoughts. Baseball is a very mental game as it is, so trying to

balance that as well, it's going to be way too much to handle. So I think that's probably the most

important fact that he's tried to help me with on and off the field.

MiLB.com: What about physical, playing-the-game stuff? Did he have a big role in your

development as a player?

Yastrzemski: We actually used to work every Sunday morning from probably like my

sophomore year in high school until my senior year. We would go down to the cages down here

in North Andover [Massachusetts] with one of my old hitting coaches, Dave Betancourt, and just

kind of take an hour out of the day. We wouldn't go too long because he understands the physical

strength that you need to last throughout a season, so we didn't really work strenuous hours. But

it was consistent, and what he taught, to me, was very consistent as well.

MiLB.com: I'm sure you recognize how lucky you are to have him as a resource. Does it ever

blow you away a bit, the situation being what it is?

Yastrzemski: Absolutely. It's one of those things that I realized I have to take full advantage of

and not overuse at the same time. So, by just asking him questions when I'm stuck or trying to

work through a slump, understanding how he would do it, that really helps, because when you

hear that an 18-time All-Star and Hall of Famer went through slumps, that kind of brings the

whole picture around that this game's not so easy and it's easy to get frustrated and you've just

got to stick with it.

MiLB.com: Are you still a Red Sox fan or have you and the family become full-on Orioles fans

since they drafted you?

Yastrzemski: I can't speak for the rest of them, but I'm definitely an Orioles fan. Hopefully, at

some point I'll convince everyone to change their mind as well.

MiLB.com: When you got picked by them, was there any uneasiness about going to another AL

East team?

Yastrzemski: You know, the funny thing is I didn't really think about it like that. I was kind of

in the middle of my college playoffs and I was so focused on trying to make the College World

Series that it was like, "OK, the Orioles, cool. All right, now what's next? Let's move on to the

game." I was kind of just waiting in the locker room and it just happened so quick that I didn't

really have a chance to process what was going on.

MiLB.com: If you don't mind looking forward a bit, how special would it be for you to make it

to the Majors and play at Fenway Park, regardless of what uniform you had on?

Yastrzemski: I can't even explain how crazy that would be. Growing up with that name, there's

a lot that is expected. I kind of just brushed all that stuff off and made it seem like it was no big

deal. But to actually follow through on something like that would be very special, especially

because that's just what I've been working for. Just like anyone else, when you achieve a dream,

it kind of hits you pretty hard, saying like, "Wow. All the stuff that you go through to try and

make this possible was worth it." So I think that's probably the most glorifying feeling that

anyone could ever have.

MiLB.com: Do you ever feel that being Carl Yastrzemski's grandson brings added pressure to

your career? Do you ever feel like you're in his shadow and trying to get out or anything like

that?

Yastrzemski: I took it on when I was younger, when I was in Little League and before that,

because at that point you don't understand the big picture. You're like, "Oh, my grandfather is

this, so that means I'm going to be the same way, so I have to do so much more and be the best

always." And I felt that for a little bit, until I kind of got to high school and I started to learn the

big picture. And there was just a lot more things that I needed to focus on rather than just being

the best at baseball -- and that actually helped me become better at baseball, surprisingly.

MiLB.com: Playing as well as you did last season would certainly help you set yourself apart.

What was it that allowed you to thrive?

Yastrzemski: I give a lot of credit to the managers and coaches that I've had this past year, the

staff overall for the Orioles, because they give you a very strong sense of freedom to be your

own player. And that's pretty unique, because for kids who are just becoming part of a system are

often given guidelines and rules that you need to follow to earn your way. [The Orioles] just say,

"Have at it, try to be the best player you can and never back down." So that was a good feeling to

have and almost you want to take pride in that because you don't want to let anyone down or

especially let yourself down by pulling up short.

MiLB.com: You ended the year in the Double-A Eastern League. What did you think of the

competition there?

Yastrzemski: I thought it was really good. It's definitely a jump because the consistency is much

higher. The guys understand the game a little more and you're starting to face guys that have big

league experience. And even though those may be guys who are trying to work back or are

injured or whatnot, it's still a learning experience for what your ultimate goal is. So it's definitely

a bigger jump.

MiLB.com: When you look back on last season, are there any improvements you made that

stand out as being particularly significant?

Yastrzemski: I thought I gained a stronger mental approach to the game overall. I learned from

a lot of different guys, being teammates and coaches. There's so many different styles of play

and so many ways to put your game into play. Just being around so many positive, energetic

players and coaches just allowed me to free myself up and not worry about performance and just

worry about effort.

MiLB.com: You led all of the Minors with 16 triples. Did that accomplishment come as a

surprise to you?

Yastrzemski: That was pretty cool. I never expected to do that. I wasn't expecting to hit a lot of

triples or even a lot of extra-base hits. I was just trying to hit the ball hard. A lot of our home

fields play pretty big and have big gaps, especially down in Delmarva -- the gaps may be 385

[feet], but they play like they're 400. So if you get a ball in the gap, you just put your head down

and say, "I'm getting three."

MiLB.com: Of course, there was that game in July where you needed a triple in the ninth inning

for the cycle, and you got it. Was that the most memorable moment of the year for you?

Yastrzemski: Yeah, I think so, more likely because everyone was giving me such a hard time on

the bench [after his previous at bat]. They were like, "What are you doing staying on second?

You needed a triple for the cycle." And I looked at them, I was like, "I had absolutely no idea."

Everyone was giving me such a hard time. I was like, "All right, all right, fine. If I get a chance,

I'll do it the next time." And I just hit a ball and ended up [at third]. All the pitchers down in the

bullpen were telling me I had to wave to them. It was just fun. It was more like everyone on the

team was excited. It wasn't really a personal moment. It was just like so ironic that they'd been

giving me such a hard time for not going for the cycle that it ended up happening.

MiLB.com: Looking forward to 2015, are there any particular goals you've set or

accomplishments you'd like to make happen?

Yastrzemski: Just to keep improving, kind of the same things that happened this past year. I just

want to keep learning and try and get a better understanding of the player I need to be in order to

reach my highest potential, because obviously, the goal is to play in the big leagues and I'm

trying to not let anything get in the way. So by continuing to grow and be open to potential ways

to do that, whether it be learning to bunt more, learning to take better routes in the outfield,

learning to use the scouting on other pitchers, all of those things would be great just to take in --

more learning, more knowledge of the game.

MiLB.com: You must be doing everything you can to put yourself in a position to succeed next

year. What's the offseason regimen like?

Yastrzemski: It's been great. I try to leave baseball out of it for a good chunk of the offseason

because that's something that you've just got to do. You've got to let your hands heal, you've got

to let your baseball muscles relax and especially your mind. I learned that kind of last offseason

by working out with a couple guys who have been playing for a long time, and they said you've

got to trust the ability to put it down and you'll be able to pick back up when you need to.