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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Columns:  Orioles' Machado, Schoop, Jones to play in WBC; Trumbo wins Players Choice Award The Sun 11/9  However tempting, the Orioles shouldn't forfeit draft picks for free agents The Sun 11/9  Stewart homers in front of Orioles' brass MLB.com 11/9  Three O's to compete in World Classic MLB.com 11/9  Duquette pleased with progress at GM Meetings MLB.com 11/9  Trumbo's resurgence honored by peers MLB.com 11/10  Jones, Machado and Schoop will leave Orioles for WBC MASNSports.com 11/9  Trumbo receives Comeback Player of the Year Award MASNSports.com 11/9  This, that and the other MASNSports.com 11/10  A look at reliever salaries and Rule 5 eligible Orioles MASNSports.com 11/10  SCHMUCK: Orioles fans must be prepared to wait, again York Dispatch 11/9  Free agent Matt Wieters, a Boras client, won’t come cheap The Atlantic Journal- Constitution 11/9  Writers ignore Britton in AL Cy Young voting Columbia Daily Tribune 11/9

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-stars-manny-machado-jonathan- schoop-adam-jones-to-play-in-world-baseball-classic-20161109-story.html Orioles' Machado, Schoop, Jones to play in WBC; Trumbo wins Players Choice Award

Jon Meoli / The Sun November 9, 2016

Orioles Manny Machado, Adam Jones, and Jonathan Schoop will represent their countries in the WBC this March.

Full rosters haven’t been announced yet, but the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday touted a trio of Orioles who are set to participate in this spring’s international showcase tournament.

In addition to Manny Machado, who said in April he would play for the Dominican Republic, center fielder Adam Jones will play for the United States and Curacao-born Jonathan Schoop will play for the Netherlands.

The WBC’s official account, which seems to be trickling out roster news for each of the teams, announced the Orioles players' inclusions Wednesday afternoon. At the league's general manager meetings in Arizona, executive vice president Dan Duquette told reporters they would be participating as well.

For the trio, their participation will take them away from the Orioles for several weeks as they prepare for the upcoming season as the tournament occurs during .

Machado said early last season that despite being born in the United States, he preferred to play for the Dominican Republic, which is where his parents and grandparents were born. Machado, 24, will be making his first WBC appearance.

He will likely get the chance to face against some of his teammates when the Dominican Republic team plays an exhibition against the Orioles during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium on March 7 in Sarasota, Fla.

The 2016 tournament will mark the second WBC for Jones and Schoop, each of whom played last time the tournament was held in 2013.

Jones had four hits and drove in four runs in six games for the United States that year.

Schoop had two home runs and six RBIs for the Netherlands team, which is bolstered by players from the Dutch Caribbean. Schoop is part of a crop of young infielders from those islands, including Xander Bogaerts of the , of the and Jurickson Profar of the .

The tweet nor Duquette made any mention of Hyun Soo Kim, the South Korean star who came to the Orioles last season. Given Kim’s struggles acclimating in spring training last year, it’s unclear whether he’ll want to get out of his routine in Sarasota to participate.

Trumbo named Comeback Player of the Year: On Wednesday night at the 25th annual Players Choice Awards, Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo was selected American League Comeback Player of the Year by his peers.

Trumbo, a free agent who was issued a qualifying offer by the Orioles, led the major leagues with 47 homers and added 108 RBIs this past season, both of which were career highs. Trumbo's career year with the Orioles came after two down campaigns with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. From 2011 to 2013, Trumbo was one of the league's most feared sluggers, averaging 32 home runs and 95 RBIs with the Los Angeles Angels.

Duquette honored: In other happenings today in Arizona, Duquette was honored with the John Schuerholz Meritorious Service Award marking his 15 years spent as a general manager, first with the Montreal Expos and Red Sox, and now with the Orioles. Schuerholz, the longtime president of the , is a Baltimore native who went to Towson University and began his career with the Orioles in the 1960s.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-however-tempting-the-orioles-shouldn-t- forfeit-draft-picks-for-free-agents-20161109-story.html However tempting, the Orioles shouldn't forfeit draft picks for free agents

Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun November 9, 2016

The Orioles need their first-round picks too badly to forfeit any more for free agents, especially this year.

As the Orioles continue to take stock of players on the free-agent market, there should only be one factor that proves more prohibitive than the raw dollars some top free agents will command: the loss of a draft pick when they sign.

The 10 players given a qualifying offer, requiring a team that signs them to lose a draft pick in addition to the money they'll be paid, should be off limits to an Orioles team that is staring down an uncertain future.

Simply put, the Orioles can’t afford to sacrifice another first-round pick to improve the present club, even if the argument is strong enough to persuade them the other way.

To do that — to sign a Dexter Fowler or an Ian Desmond to man right field for the next several years — would immeasurably help the 2017 Orioles. They’re short on speed, short on good outfield defenders and short on table-setters in the lineup (though only Fowler would qualify as that).

At the moment, they’re the two primary candidates to fill a that need. But even if losing a draft pick drives down the long-term price to meet the Orioles' budget, the loss of a pick, which at this point would be the 23rd overall, should be a deterrent.

The Orioles have the salary constraints they do because of the largely intact major league core on their roster, with veterans like center fielder Adam Jones and shortstop J.J. Hardy in the second half of long-term deals and arbitration-eligible stars such as third baseman Manny Machado, closer Zach Britton and second baseman Jonathan Schoop all earning hefty pay bumps for the coming year.

But two seasons from now, the Orioles could watch most of their rotation leave via free agency. Chris Tillman, Ubaldo Jimenez, Wade Miley and Yovani Gallardo are all in their walk years. Hardy’s deal has an option for 2018 at $14 million, but could end next year. Jones is a free agent after the 2018 season, as are Britton and Machado.

There’s no use straddling the two worlds — contending and rebuilding — at once. But to push another draft pick away to make one or two more runs at a ring regardless of its future impact would be a dangerous move. As it stands, the signings of and Jimenez in 2014 meant the Orioles didn’t pick until the third round that year. Coincidentally, there was a dearth of high-end talent on both Single-A affiliates this year, where that draft class populates the rosters. This year’s draft class, headlined by pitcher Cody Sedlock, is receiving plaudits, but the Orioles still forfeited a pick for Gallardo.

Combine that with the Orioles dealing three of their four competitive-balance picks, valuable for the signing bonus slot money and opportunity to add talent on the first day of the June draft, and that's six players who could have helped the Orioles long term. The farm system has improved in recent years, but one look at the impact players from some of the Orioles' playoff peers shows how far the organization still has to go.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette has been able to find value at the margins of free agency and the trade market often enough that the Orioles should bypass free agents who cost them a draft pick for the sake of their own future.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/208503940/orioles-dj-stewart-hits-first-afl-home-/ Stewart homers in front of Orioles' brass

Baltimore's No. 12 prospect goes 1-for-3 with two RBIs in Javelinas win

Will Boor / MLB.com November 9, 2016

MESA, Ariz. -- With one swing and a drive to left-center, D.J. Stewart gave the Peoria Javelinas exactly what they needed to snap their four-game losing streak.

The Orioles' No. 12 prospect his first AFL homer, lifting Peoria to a 5-4 win over Mesa on Wednesday at Sloan Park.

"I was just trying to get a good pitch to drive him in, there were two outs," Stewart said. "I was just hoping to get a fastball and was fortunate enough to put a good swing on it. I didn't think it was going to go out, but I had a good feeling about the swing that it was going to go off the wall and get the runner in -- but it went out for me."

Stewart, who finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and is hitting .246, waited 17 games to hit his first AFL homer, but it turned out to be the perfect game to break out the power as Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette was in attendance.

"It's definitely a good feeling to homer when he's here," Stewart said. "Our farm director [Brian Graham] is here, too. I picked a good time to get the first one."

Stewart's homer, a two-run shot that came on a 1-1 pitch, capped a three-run sixth in which the Javelinas offense finally showed some life after being no-hit through the first five innings.

Orioles prospect D.J. Stewart talks about his goals and the experience of playing with prospects from other clubs in the

Michael Peoples (Indians) got Mesa off to a strong start, twirling four perfect innings in his best Fall League start thus far. The 25-year-old right-hander struck out three and threw 28 of his 38 pitches for strikes.

"It looked like he was doing a good job of mixing his offspeed, throwing strikes," Stewart said. "Not too many overpowering pitches, but he knows how to use his pitches and was putting them where he wanted to, didn't give up a hit."

Ryan Newell (Marlins) came on in relief and walked a pair, ending the bid for a perfect game, but continued the no-hitter with a scoreless fifth. Left-hander Jarlin Garcia, Miami's No. 3 prospect, took over in the sixth and retired the first batter of the inning before Kean Wong (Rays) singled up the middle to begin the rally. Two batters later, Chad Wallach (Reds) drove in a run with an RBI before Stewart finished the inning with his homer.

"Finally, when Kean got that first hit, we could take a deep breath, and right after that, hits after hits after hits," Stewart said. "Hitting is contagious. When one guy gets it going, usually the other guys aren't far behind and that's what we were able to do."

Before Peoria mounted its comeback, Mesa had held a 2-0 lead.

Marlins' No. 4 prospect Brian Anderson, who is hitting .345 through 16 games, led off the second with a solo homer. The homer was Anderson's fourth, tying him with Mitch Garver (Twins' No. 24) for the AFL lead.

Athletics No. 7 prospect Yairo Munoz, who finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, drove in a run of his own with an RBI double later in that inning.

Franklin Barreto (A's No. 1, No. 42 overall) gave Mesa a lead with an RBI single in the eighth, but the Javelinas came back once again with two runs in the ninth to seal the win.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/208484112/os-machado-to-play-in-world-baseball-classic/ Three O's to compete in World Baseball Classic

Machado, Schoop, Jones to represent their countries this March

Chad Thornburg / MLB.com November 9, 2016

The Orioles will be well-represented at next year's World Baseball Classic. Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones will participate in the fourth edition of the tournament this March.

Jones will play for Team USA, while Schoop and Machado will represent the Netherlands and Dominican Republic, respectively. Both Schoop and Jones competed in the last World Baseball Classic in 2013, but this will mark Machado's first appearance. The 24-year-old third baseman, who has played for Team USA before, was born in Miami but his parents are both Dominican, allowing him the option of playing for either the U.S. or the Dominican team.

"I've always wanted to play over there. I've never gotten the chance, in Winter League, to go over there. So I think this is a little better, honestly," Machado said. "It's just something I've always wanted to do. I've always wanted to represent my country. Of course, everybody is going to say I was born here, raised here [in Miami]. But my heart and my blood is where my families came from."

The Dominican Republic won the last installment of the global tournament in 2013. Schoop's Netherlands squad finished fourth that year, while the U.S. was eliminated in the second round.

"To put on a uniform for them, I think it's going to bring excitement -- more excitement to me and my family than anything else," Machado said. "I'm excited to wear that uniform. Seeing 'Dominican' across the chest will probably bring tears to their eyes. They are going to be excited about it. I'm going to go out there and enjoy myself as much as I can. I've always wanted to represent the Dominican Republic if the right opportunity came up and hopefully try to play."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/208483808/orioles-pleased-with-progress-at-gm-meetings/ Duquette pleased with progress at GM Meetings

O's believe they laid groundwork to pick up catching depth, add outfielders

Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com November 9, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Though early November isn't exactly a time for bustling baseball moves, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette was encouraged with how this year's General Managers Meetings turned out.

"We had a couple trade conversations," Duquette said Wednesday afternoon of the team's search for corner-outfield help. "We are trying to see if we match up with somebody. We've got a couple more scheduled later today."

Baltimore's top priority, adding a left-handed-hitting outfielder or two, isn't imminent by any means. But Duquette, who expressed optimism that the O's would also be able to add catching depth -- there are a few free-agent options they like -- felt like he had laid some groundwork in Arizona.

"We are getting quite a bit of work done," Duquette said. "It's not early to figure out who you are compatible with and where your needs match up [with other teams]. ... It's kind of like a mosaic, all these little pieces you keep adding. It helps to make your team decisions."

The crew on Hot Stove talks to Dan Duquette on Tuesday about the Orioles' 2016 season, their offseason plan and more

Worth noting

• There haven't been any new developments with Mark Trumbo, to whom the Orioles extended a qualifying offer and will try to retain. Duquette said the O's are trying to work out a deal with the outfielder within the exclusive window.

• had a follow-up on his left hand, which bothered him all season. Duquette said both Davis and Joey Rickard are expected to be a full go in Spring Training.

• Asked if Caleb Joseph would be the team's starter if the Orioles don't add any catching depth, Duquette said: "Yeah -- well, I don't really look at it that way. I just look at getting the club as much depth as we can and we can decide later."

• With the Arizona Fall League a short drive away, Duquette was among numerous GMs who went to go watch some of their young prospects play. He was in attendance on Wednesday with O's arms Stefan Crichton and Tanner Scott among those slated to pitch.

• Duquette was also honored at the Meetings, as he was presented Wednesday with MLB's John Schuerholz Meritorious Service Award for 15 years as a GM.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/208498756/mark-trumbo-wins-comeback-player-of-the- year/ Trumbo's resurgence honored by peers

Slugger wins Players Choice Award for AL Comeback Player of the Year

David Adler / MLB.com November 10, 2016

Free-agent slugger Mark Trumbo, who hit a Major League-leading 47 home runs for the Orioles last season, is the MLBPA Players Choice American League Comeback Player of the Year. The honor was revealed on MLB Network Wednesday night.

Trumbo, in his first season in Baltimore, drove in 108 runs (tied for sixth in the AL) and posted an .850 OPS. He was also named to the AL All-Star team.

"It's extremely flattering," Trumbo said on MLB Network. "An award like this, coming from the guys that you're going up against on a daily basis, the guys that see you the most, the guys that are watching and in tune with how things go and how hard this game really is -- for them to give you a vote is something that's really, really special."

Trumbo more than doubled his homer total from 2015, when he hit 22 between the D-backs and Mariners.

On Wednesday, Trumbo said that after he was traded to Seattle midseason last year, watching how big-hitting teammates Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano timed fastballs helped him produce his turnaround season in 2016.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/11/jones-machado-and-schoop-will-leave- orioles-for-wbc.html Jones, Machado and Schoop will leave Orioles for WBC

Roch Kubatko / MASNSports.com November 9, 2016

Three Orioles are confirmed as participating in the 2017 World Baseball Classic - their starting center fielder, third baseman and second baseman.

The WBC’s official Twitter account noted that Adam Jones will represent Team USA, Manny Machado will play for the Dominican Republic and Jonathan Schoop will join Team Netherlands. Executive vice president Dan Duquette offered confirmation to reporters, including MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, at the general managers meetings in Arizona.

Manager Buck Showalter will lose all three players in spring training to the fourth installment of the international competition, which runs from March 9-22. Sixteen teams from five continents will be involved.

Tokyo, Seoul, Miami, and Guadalajara will serve as first-round hosts. Second-round hosts will be Tokyo and , with the championship round played in Los Angeles.

Machado revealed in April that he would honor his family by playing for the Dominican Republic. He was born in Miami, but his parents and grandparents hail from the Caribbean nation. “I grew up here. I was born here,” Machado said in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field. “I’ve played for Team USA before. I have in the past. In 18-U, we won the gold medal. But you know what? This is something beyond that.

“I think it’s something that growing up, that my family always wanted. My mom and my grandfather, who is resting in peace right now, he always wanted to see me play for the Dominican. That’s where we come from. That’s where my family was born. I think this is more doing this for my mom and my family than anything else. I know they want to see me wear that uniform and see me out there, so it’s going to be fun for them and be fun for me. We’re just going to enjoy it and hopefully things go well and they’re finally going to get their wish.

“This is not just for me. It’s mostly for my grandfather and my parents. I know they’ve always wanted this. I know I’ve given them a lot and I think this is probably going to be the icing on the cake for me to be in the uniform where across the chest is where they were born and where they spent their lives. It’s going to be pretty cool. And I get to beat Jonathan Schoop, too.”

Schoop is rejoining Team Netherlands after homering twice and driving in six runs in 2013. Jones went 4-for-22 with four RBIs as Team USA failed to reach the semifinals.

Jones returned to Ed Smith Stadium and found a sombrero in his locker from teammates Miquel Gonzalez and Luis Ayala, a friendly reminder that the U.S. lost to their native Mexico.

Reliever Pedro Strop represented the Dominican Republic in 2013, so Showalter is used to surrendering three players to the WBC.

“People smarter than me think it’s great for the game to grow it globally, and if the players want to do it ...,” Showalter said in September.

“I’m a little biased. I’m always thinking about what best serves the Orioles and being in spring training on Feb. 12, I hear, and playing our first game on the 24th of February. I don’t know. How would you feel?

“Some of our guys, talking to them a little, I think we’re going to have some participation. It’s something that people think is important and I can see why, so we’ll cooperate as usual.”

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/11/trumbo-receives-another-comeback-player- of-the-year-award.html Trumbo receives Comeback Player of the Year Award

Roch Kubatko / MASNSports.com November 9, 2016

The players have spoken again and they remain impressed with how Mark Trumbo elevated his game in 2016.

Trumbo won the Players Choice Award for American League Comeback Player of the Year, the announcement coming tonight on MLB Network. He beat out the Rangers’ Ian Desmond and Yu Darvish.

Closer Zach Britton was a finalist for Outstanding Pitcher in the American League, but Red Sox starter Rick Porcello took the prize. The Indians’ Corey Kluber also was a finalist.

The named Trumbo its American League Comeback Player of the Year on Oct. 25. Trumbo edged out Desmond by one vote.

Players also voted for the Sporting News award. Porcello finished third and Darvish tied for fourth. Trumbo led the majors with 47 home runs and figures to cash in big over the winter unless he unexpectedly accepts the $17.2 million qualifying offer.

Trumbo’s average dropped from .262 last season to .256, but his increased from .449 to .533, his home runs increased from 22 to 47 and his RBI total grew from 64 to 108. He also made his second All-Star team.

“It’s extremely flattering,” Trumbo said on MLB Network. “An award like this, coming from the guys you’re going up against on a daily basis, the guys who see you the most, the guys that are watching and are in tune with how things go and how hard this game really is, for them to give you a vote is something that’s really, really special.”

The Orioles would like to re-sign Trumbo and keep him in Camden Yards.

“It’s an inspiring stadium just coming there every day,” he said. “You’re kind of in a good frame of mind just showing up to the ballpark and I think that counts for a lot, obviously.

“As a hitter, there’s absolutely no complaints. There’s no part of the park that plays extremely deep. I think if you get it, it’s probably going to go, and for a guy like me, that means a lot. The backdrop’s perfect. Everything is absolutely perfect for a hitter and I think that probably really helped me being able to do what I did.”

Porcello, a finalist for the American League’s Cy Young, went 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 33 starts. He posted a 1.009 WHIP in 223 innings and had a 5.91 strikeouts-to-walk ratio.

Britton, who was 47-for-47 in saves and registered a 0.54 ERA in 67 innings, learned earlier this week that the Baseball Writers’ Association of America excluded him from their finalists for AL Cy Young Award. It’s down to Kluber, Porcello and the Tigers’ Justin Verlander.

Britton must settle for receiving the Mariano Rivera Award as the league’s top reliever.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/11/this-that-and-the-other-128.html This, that and the other

Roch Kubatko / MASNSports.com November 10, 2016

More awards are coming tonight with the Louisville winners announced on MLB Network.

No truth to the rumor that Neil Patrick Harris will perform a musical number between selections.

The Orioles set a club record with three winners in 2013, the last year that they were honored. Awards were given to Chris Davis, shortstop J.J. Hardy and center fielder Adam Jones.

The previous winner was Aubrey Huff in 2008. Huff also played first base and third base. Just not at the same time.

The Silver Slugger was created in 1980. Here’s the list of Orioles winners:

1983

Eddie Murray, first base

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

1984

Eddie Murray, first base

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

1985

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

1986

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

1989

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

Mickey Tettleton,

1991

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

1993

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

1994

Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop

1996

Roberto Alomar, second base

1998

Rafael Palmeiro, first base

2004

Miguel Tejada, shortstop

Melvin Mora, third base

2005

Miguel Tejada, shortstop

2008

Aubrey Huff, designated hitter

2013

Chris Davis, first base

J.J. Hardy, shortstop

Adam Jones, center field

The Wikipedia page on Orioles award winners didn’t mention Tettleton, so I added his name. No charge. * Leading the majors with 47 home runs has earned Mark Trumbo two Comeback Player of the Year Awards in the American League.

Interviewed last night on MLB Network after receiving the Players Choice Award, Trumbo credited his time in Seattle last season for improving his ability to square up on the fastball and drive it long distances.

“That was something that I put a lot of thought into, and I think midway through 2015 is when it really started to click,” he said.

“Watching teammates on the Mariners - both Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano - I saw that their timing was just better than mine and better than a lot of guys. By timing I mean on time for the fastball. That’s the pitch that pitchers rely on to get ahead of you, and as hitters if you’re up there and you’re either guessing a little bit or you’re not quite on it and you’re fouling it off, you’re at a disadvantage. You’re in the hole.

“Quite often you’re only going to get one good pitch to hit that at-bat, and I pretty much decided I can’t control some of the other things in the game, but what I can control is being on time with the fastball.”

His timing really is good. He’s a free agent this winter.

* supplied a complete list of minor league free agents. Here are the players from the Orioles’ system:

RHP: Pedro Beato (AAA), Bobby Bundy (AAA), David Hale (AAA), Ivan Hernandez (AA), Genison Reyes (Hi A), David Richardson (AA), Janser Severino (Hi A), Jason Stoffel (AAA)

LHP: Jeff Beliveau (AA), Andy Oliver (AAA), Edgar Olmos (AAA)

C: Zach Booker (AAA), Wynston Sawyer (AA)

1B: Joey Terdoslavich (AA)

2B: Corban Joseph (AAA), Garabez Rosa (AA)

3B: Michael Almanzar (AAA), Ronarsy Ledesma (Lo A)

SS: Ozzie Martinez (AAA), Sharlon Schoop (AA), Sammie Starr (Lo A)

OF: Xavier Avery (AAA), Chris Dickerson (AA), L.J. Hoes (AAA), Zach Kapstein (Hi A), Quincy Latimore (AA)

Joseph is the younger brother of Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph. Schoop is the older brother of Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop.

Beato, 30, was 5-5 with a 2.65 ERA and four saves in 65 appearances at Triple-A Norfolk, but the Orioles never put him on the 40-man roster. In an odd twist, he also was 5-5 with a 2.65 ERA in two fewer appearances in 2015, when he registered 16 saves for the Tides.

Avery and Hoes never made a return trip to Baltimore. Hoes was a candidate for the outfield after the Orioles selected his contract from the Astros on Nov. 25, but the roster evolved, he was designated for assignment to make room for Efren Navarro and batted .242/.318/.331 in 102 games with Norfolk.

* The Orioles always have interest in adding a veteran left-hander to their bullpen and this offseason is no different.

Keep an eye on Boone Logan, 32, because they liked him at the non-waiver trade deadline. He stayed with the Rockies, where he posted a 3.69 ERA and 1.014 WHIP in 46 1/3 innings over 66 appearances. The 11-year veteran surrendered only four home runs and averaged 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Left-handers hit .142 against Logan this year and right-handers batted .211. Over his career, Logan has held lefties to a .233 average while right-handers have hit .294.

MLBTradeRumors.com projects that Logan will receive a two-year, $12 million contract in free agency. He earned $16.5 million over three years from the Rockies and disappointed in the first two seasons.

Logan profiles more as a specialist despite his success this year against left-handers. Do the Orioles need one after rookie Donnie Hart allowed five hits in 38 at-bats against lefties, striking out 11 of them?

Hart has made only 22 major league appearances since coming up from Double-A Bowie. The Orioles probably want veteran insurance.

They also may want a cheaper policy than Logan.

* Outfielder DJ Stewart hit his first yesterday in the Arizona Fall League, a two-run shot in the sixth inning.

Left-hander Tanner Scott allowed two runs and three hits in two innings, with one walk and three strikeouts, to leave his ERA at 7.82. He threw 43 pitches, 29 for strikes.

Scott has been scored upon in five of his six starts. He’s surrendered nine runs in his last three starts over 6 2/3 innings.

Stefan Crichton didn’t allow a run in his first eight appearances, but he’s permitted four (three earned) in his last two outings spanning 1 2/3 innings. He was credited with a blown save and the win yesterday.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/11/a-look-at-reliever-salaries-and-rule-5- eligible-orioles.html A look at reliever salaries and Rule 5 eligible Orioles

Steve Melewski / MASNSports.com November 10, 2016

In baseball, the price of talent seems to always be going upward. But for those pitchers we know as closers, the pay rate is about to really escalate.

This steep incline may have started when free agent right-hander left the Red Sox to sign a four-year deal with the Phillies worth $50 million in November 2011. That broke the record for total contract by a reliever that was set by one-time Orioles lefty B.J. Ryan. He had signed a four-year deal worth $47 million with Toronto in December 2005.

During the 2014 calender year - both before and after that season - some relievers signed for big bucks. The Yankees signed Andrew Miller for four years and $36 million. Atlanta extended Craig Kimbrel’s deal with an extension of four years and $42 million. In December 2014, the Chicago White Sox provided closer David Robertson a deal of four years and $46 million.

The most a reliever ever played for in a single season was Mariano Rivera of the Yankees, who earned $15 million in several seasons.

But now Papelbon’s $50 million deal is about to get blown out of the water this winter. MLBTradeRumors.com projects that Aroldis Chapman will get a five-year deal for $90 million from the Yankees, with Kenley Jansen getting a five-year deal for $85 million from Cubs. Mark Melancon’s projected deal will not approach those two but will still exceed Papelbon. Melancon is projected to get a four-year deal for $52 million from the Giants.

Papelbon’s average annual value of $12.5 million and Robertson at $11.5 will be surpassed in a big, big way. If the projections prove accurate, Chapman will be at $18 million, Jansen at $17 and Melancon at $13.

It almost makes Zach Britton look like a bargain. He is projected to earn $11.4 million in 2017 in his third year of arbitration.

Some readers here have suggested a trade of Britton when considering his escalating salary and the haul of prospects he might bring in return. His 2017 salary, which once looked exorbitant, now looks more reasonable, or will by opening day next year.

The top relievers still can’t tough the top starters, however. Zach Grienke’s average annual value is $34.4 million and David Price is at $31 million. But the guys who get the last few outs are on the rise. Rapidly. Kind of the opposite of a Britton 97 mph sinker.

Rule 5 talk: The Orioles will soon likely add a few players to their 40-man roster to protect them from being lost to another team in the Rule 5 draft. Nov. 18 is the date for teams to make 40-man additions to protect those players from being taken in the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 8 at the Winter Meetings.

Here is a partial list of O’s minor leaguers that are eligible for the Rule 5 this year if not added to the 40-man roster. It is not a listing of every player in the organization with eligibility, but rather of list of players with some track record that the club might consider protecting:

P - Cristian Alvarado

IF - Ricardo Andujar

OF - Conor Bierfeldt

P - Stefan Crichton

OF - Glynn Davis

P - Joe Gunkel

P - Francisco Jimenez

P - Jon Keller

P - Branden Kline

P - Jesus Liranzo

IF - Adrian Marin

C - Yermin Mercedes

C - Austin Wynns

P - Jimmy Yacabonis

OF - Mike Yastrzemski

P - Michael Zouzalik

While Crichton, Yacabonis and Liranzo seem likely to be added or at least get strong consideration by the Orioles, we should also possibly add Gunkel and Kline to that list. Gunkel struggled late this year but finished with an 8-14 mark and 4.02 ERA in 28 starts, mostly at Triple-A Norfolk. Gunkel has a career walk rate of 1.57 per every nine innings, a strikeout rate of 7.45 and a 1.12 WHIP. He would likely start 2017 back at Norfolk, but you always need starting pitch depth, which he would provide.

Kline might be a tougher decision yet. The O’s second-round pick from 2012, he hasn’t pitched since going 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA in eight starts early in the 2015 season for Double-A Bowie. Kline is from Frederick, Md., and played at Thomas Johnson High School and at the University of Virginia. But he underwent Tommy John surgery on Oct. 8, 2015. Now with him potentially set to come back strong in 2017, would the club leave him unprotected and potentially risk losing him?

Some tough decisions will need to be made late next week by the Orioles’ brass.

http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/sports/columnists/2016/11/09/schmuck-orioles-fans-must- prepared-wait-again/93546718/ SCHMUCK: Orioles fans must be prepared to wait, again

Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun (TNS) November 9, 2016

In some major league cities, the month of November is a time of optimism and rebirth, as rebuilding teams shop the free-agent market and ponder trades to improve themselves for a new season that is less than four months away.

In Baltimore, we've gotten used to the more deliberate management style of baseball operations chief Dan Duquette and know not to expect a whole lot to happen before the new year.

That isn't a criticism. Duquette's record since being named executive vice president is impressive, especially when compared with the product that had been placed in front of Orioles fans over the 14 losing seasons before his arrival. He just has a particular way of doing things that doesn't lend itself to a lot of entertaining offseason intrigue.

If anyone was hoping this baseball winter — which began in earnest with Monday's qualifying offers — would be any different, Duquette made it fairly clear during his team's end-of-season news conference that what you saw at the end of this past season is pretty much what you're going to get until the Orioles report to spring training in February.

The Orioles certainly could use another solid on-base threat, which seems to be the case every year. But they might not be in a position to make up for the opportunity missed when free-agent outfielder Dexter Fowler pulled back from a reported $33 million deal last February to return to the eventual World Series champion for far less money.

"I think a lot of the payroll flexibility will be absorbed by these good players that had really good years," Duquette said in early October. "Zach Britton had a historically good year — the top ERA among major league relievers — and [Manny] Machado, he had over 30 home runs, almost 100 RBIs. These guys are going to be getting big raises."

He left out Chris Tillman, but you get the idea.

Payroll inflation: The payroll inflation that results from salary arbitration is a fact of front-office life in every organization and it will hit the Orioles pretty hard this winter. They just declined to make a qualifying offer to catcher Matt Wieters, which means that his 2016 salary will likely be subtracted from next year's payroll and will offset much of that organic increase. But the Orioles have other potential obligations that could leave them above last season's record payroll without any big new expenditures. They did make a qualifying offer to home run champion Mark Trumbo, who would make $17.2 million next year if he accepts it, and they'll almost certainly have to add a veteran catcher if they don't re-sign Wieters.

None of that, however, makes the team better than it was at the end of this past season, when the offense sputtered and scored three runs or fewer in 12 of the club's last 16 games, including the bitter wild-card loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The inability to produce a cohesive offensive attack begs for one more quality hitter who can get on base consistently and play at least part- time in right field.

What to expect: Here's what's likely to happen instead. The Orioles are going to turn inward and convince themselves that a healthy Joey Rickard and a fully acclimated Hyun Soo Kim will share left field, and provide some of that offensive continuity. They'll also try to hold onto late- season pickup Michael Bourn to give them some speed and on-base potential from the left side of the plate.

In a perfect injury-free world, that might be enough if Trumbo decides to return. But the Orioles still need another impact hitter to offset the likely departure of Wieters and assure that they don't come back with another entertaining regular-season lineup that isn't built to take them deep into the playoffs.

There are some decent free-agent options if the Orioles are willing to spend the kind of money they offered Fowler last spring. They are rumored to be interested in Ian Desmond, who has proved he can play just about anywhere, and they could be a fit for a free-agent outfielder such as Michael Saunders or Josh Reddick.

Though Duquette would probably like to add pitching, he might have to move in the opposite direction and find a way to deal a veteran starter now that it appears Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman are set behind Tillman. Moving any of the others would cut a significant chunk out of the payroll and perhaps allow the Orioles to acquire that additional on-base potential.

If history is our guide, we'll only have to wait a few months to find out.

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/baseball/free-agent-matt-wieters-a-boras-client-wont-come- c/ns6CQ/ Free agent Matt Wieters, a Boras client, won’t come cheap

David O'Brien / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution November 9, 2016

PHOENIX – The Braves would like to sign or trade for a catcher, preferably a left-handed hitting one to pair with Tyler Flowers. But there are few available and the best of those, free agent Matt Wieters, figures to be quite expensive coming off an All-Star season and represented by agent Scott Boras.

The former star made his fourth All-Star team in his eighth season with the Orioles. Wieters, 30, hit .243 with 17 homers and 66 RBIs in 124 games including 111 starts at catcher, and he threw out 35 percent of would-be base stealers, second-best percentage in the American League.

His 1.7 WAR was merely tied for 16th among major league , with Cubs backup David Ross and Toronto’s Russell Martin. But to hear Boras describe him, Wieters is a quintessential catcher with all the intangibles to go with his bat and strong, surgically repaired arm. Here’s what Boras said Wednesday when this Atlanta writer asked about Wieters. “Switch-hitter, special guy. But the key thing about him, you’ve got a lot of teams that have starting pitchers with big arms — big, young arms,” said Boras, whose description, not coincidentally, fit the Braves. “And what Matt Wieters has done in Baltimore with all of their pitchers — they’re all improving, they’ve all become successful, all their draft picks are working out, and that largely has to do with his ability to mentor and develop pitching staffs.

“(Orioles closer) Zack Britton and (reliever Dylan) Bundy and (starters Chris) Tillman and (Kevin) Gausman. … All these arms that are coming through there that are all being successful. And that says a lot. We can look at his performance record, which makes (Wieters) elite. But really, he’s a general in the clubhouse. He really provides a value to a team because he effects so many pitchers in what he does.”

Former Georgia Tech standout Matt Wieters made four All-Star teams in the past six seasons for Baltimore, and had three seasons ... Read More

MLB Trade Rumors projects a three-year, $39 million contract, but it’s a good bet that Boras will ask for significantly more for Wieters, who won Gold Gloves in 2011 and 2012 and hit 22 or 23 home runs in three consecutive seasons through 2013. He had Tommy John elbow surgery in 2014 and was limited to 91 games over a two-year span.

“He’s an All-Star catcher,” Boras said. “I went back and you look at certain organizations and you look at who’s won Gold Gloves, who’s had multiple 20-home run seasons — this year Matt had 17 home runs and 65 RBIs — who does that and plays Gold Glove defense? And the answer is, I had to go back to Pudge (Ivan Rodriguez) in 2003 to find the last free agent that was available that had won Gold Gloves and had multiple 20-home run performances.”

If Wieters is too expensive, the Braves could make a run at free agent , a left-handed hitter who’s far less of a hitter, but is regarded as an outstanding pitch-framer and handler of pitching staffs. Right-handed hitter Nick Hundley, also commended for his work with pitchers, is another possibility.

Castro is only a .232 hitter with 62 homers and a .699 OPS in six seasons with the Astros, but against right-handers he has a .247 career average and .753 OPS. He had 10 homers in 279 plate appearances vs. right-handers in 2016.

The Braves say if they can’t find a catcher who fits their needs and budget, they’ll be OK with bringing back Anthony Recker to pair with Flowers.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/sports/writers-ignore-britton-in-al-cy-young- voting/article_200b1c8c-316e-5c07-8a92-ad6f0ce5831f.html Writers ignore Britton in AL Cy Young voting

Barry Svrulga / The Washington Post November 9, 2016

A rollicking month of postseason baseball ended just a week ago, and the theme that defined it is already up for further scrutiny. Andrew Miller, Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman and a host of others made versatile and durable relief pitchers seem like the most valuable commodity in October.

And then comes the announcement of the three “finalists” for the American League Cy Young award: Cleveland’s Corey Kluber, Boston’s Rick Porcello and Detroit’s Justin Verlander.

Conspicuous by his absence: Baltimore closer Zach Britton. The voting, conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, is done at the end of the regular season. The postseason has no bearing, so Cleveland’s Miller, in particular, didn’t enhance his case with a stellar October.

“It’s shocking,” Baltimore Manager Buck Showalter told MASN.com. “That’s a real poor reflection on the people who are evaluating him. God bless the three guys in front of him. They were doing it every fifth day, and he’s doing it every day. I’m not so sure any of those guys could do what Zach does. The guy had maybe the best year in the history of relief pitching.”

We’ll leave that last part alone, and point out Britton’s obvious case: 47 for 47 in save opportunities, a 0.54 ERA that was the best in baseball among qualified relievers, 0.836 walks and hits per innings pitched that ranked fourth in the game and a .161 average against that ranked sixth. He was outstanding.

“Think about this,” Showalter told Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com. “Not once this year did our team walk into the locker room after a game and have that challenge of losing the game in the ninth inning.”

So it’s a solid case. Yet here’s what I wrote in the final week of the season as a way of introducing my choice for AL Cy Young. (Note: Washington Post writers are not allowed to vote for postseason awards or the Hall of Fame, so this was just an exercise, not an actual vote.)

“A central issue any voter must grapple with in deciding who to support in the American League: Is a player who pitches a third of the innings (or fewer) as a front-line starter worthy of being called the best pitcher in the league in a given year?

“Or, the same question cast for 2016: Can I support Britton, having a phenomenal season as Baltimore’s closer, over one of several solid starting candidates?

“My answer is no, though I wouldn’t chastise someone for arguing the Britton’s innings come at the highest leverage moments, that he should get credit for allowing an earned run in just four of 67 outings, that he’s the main reason the Orioles haven’t lost a single game they have led after eight innings. He has a great case.”

I feel exactly the same way now as I did then. My choice was Verlander in the final week of the season, and it would be Verlander now. Quick résumé update: second in the league in innings pitched, second in ERA, first in WHIP, first in strikeouts and strikeout percentage, first in strikeout-to-walk ratio, second in average against. That’s a solid case.

There is an argument out there that none of the three finalists — and to be clear, “finalists” just means the top three vote-getters — had historic seasons, and Britton did. That’s not a bad way to look at things. Take their “wins above replacement” (WAR), according to FanGraphs. Verlander and Porcello were both at 5.2, according to FanGraphs. Dating back a decade, American League starters have produced 35 seasons with a better WAR than the best in 2016. Chris Sale of the White Sox also was at 5.2, with Kluber at 5.1.

But Verlander and the rest of the starters didn’t pitch over the past decade. They pitched in 2016, when scoring was up slightly over recent years.

That this voting was released this week, when free agency opens and Chapman and Jansen head into the market looking for what could be record-setting contracts for relievers, adds to the fun. But let’s not look at this slight of a very worthy relief pitcher as some sort of revolutionary development. Cy Young voters have, traditionally, valued starters over relievers, even as the idea of closers grew to be in vogue in the 1980s. The BBWAA has issued 109 Cy Young awards. Of those, eight have gone to relievers. The only reliever to win since 1989: Eric Gagne of the Dodgers in 2003.

So even if how we think of relievers is evolving, this vote doesn’t appear to be part of that evolution. Relievers have always have had a tough path to the Cy Young award, and anecdotal evidence suggests that has actually increased as closers have become ninth-inning specialists. In his 69 appearances this year, Britton recorded more than three outs just six times. In fact, no Cy Young winner has thrown as few innings as Britton did this year (67).

Think back on those pre-Gagne Cy Young relievers: Mark Davis in 1989 (922/3 innings in 70 appearances), Steve Bedrosian in 1987 (89 in 65), Willie Hernandez in 1984 (1401/3 in 80), Rollie Fingers in 1981 (78 innings in 47 appearances in a strike-shortened season), Bruce Sutter in 1979 (1011/3 in 62), Sparkly Lyle in 1977 (137 in 72) and Mike Marshall in 1974 (a stunning 208 innings in 106 games, none of them starts).

The value of innings pitched has long been important, not as some sort of tabulation — that more is necessarily better — but that a starting pitcher simply has the opportunity to impact a higher percentage of his team’s innings than a reliever. Take Verlander and Britton, just as an example. Verlander threw 2272/3 innings this year, which represents 15.9 percent of Detroit’s entire staff. Britton threw 67 innings, or 4.7 percent of the Orioles’ entire staff.

There’s an interesting argument to be made about the pressure of those innings, about leverage and, as Showalter said, about the feeling the Orioles had when they held the lead after eight innings. They were unbeatable at that point, and that counts for something.

But that feeling, and the numbers that go with it, doesn’t give Britton an impenetrable argument as the best pitcher in the American League. What it does, at this point, is spur further discussion about the value and impact of relievers as we head into an offseason in which Jansen and Chapman are among the most coveted free agents on the market.