zach phillips

Orioles face difficult decisions with looming non-tender deadline

Continually searching for left-handed relief help, the Orioles added veteran Tom Gorzelanny this weekend.

Left-hander Ashur Tolliver joined the Orioles in Houston Tuesday, and was added to the roster, the team announced.

With left-hander Brian Matusz struggling at the major league level, there are three lefties with major league experience in the Norfolk bullpen pitching well this year. Andy Oliver struck out four in three scoreless innings of relief Thursday to lower his ERA to 1.01 with 27 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. Zach Phillips entered Friday with a 2.95 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, and Edgar Olmos went into the weekend with 25 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.

The Orioles have acquired left-hander Jayson Aquino from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for cash, the club announced on Thursday morning.

Former Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez cleared release waivers Friday, officially receiving his unconditional release from the club and becoming a free agent. It seems unlikely, but the Orioles still hope they can re-sign Gonzalez to a minor league deal and have him pitch in the rotation at Triple-A Norfolk. Gonzalez will likely get a major league offer elsewhere.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he has the Opening Day roster set in his mind, but at this time of year, the team is closely monitoring its options for players who can come in and help off the waiver wire.

Minor leaguer Garabez Rosa singled to drive in the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Orioles salvaged a 4-4 tie with the Atlanta Braves to remain unbeaten in their last six Grapefruit League games.

With less than a week to go before Opening Day, teams are paring down their rosters, which has led to an influx of free agents on the market.

In what could have been Jimenez's final Grapefruit League start, he didn't make it out of the first inning.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter will have some tough decisions to make in his bullpen when the team breaks north. He said his philosophy will be to keep the best pitchers available.

Left-handed reliever Zach Phillips made his Orioles spring debut Friday, pitching one scoreless inning in the team's 11-10 10-inning win over the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman, who is lined up to start on Opening Day if the rotation doesn't change, yet again lamented the few well-hit balls that blemished what he believed could have been a rare strong start this spring.

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, who has made just two appearances this spring because of a lingering back strain, said he planned to play catch Friday for the first time since a cortisone shot earlier this week but didn¿t know how soon he could return to games.

One of the Orioles' offseason priorities was improving the club's left-handed relief depth, especially given the prospect of fielding an all right-handed rotation. And now, less than two weeks before the regular season begins, Brian Matusz's nagging back injury has left the Orioles devoid of situational left-handed relief options, and the club is scrambling for bullpen help.

Suddenly in need of a left-handed reliever with Brian Matusz's status for Opening Day uncertain, the Orioles have signed left-handed reliever Zach Phillips to a major league deal.

Baseball America has acquired the list of minor leaguers that have applied for free agency and there are 25 former Orioles farmhands that can now look for work elsewhere.

The Orioles have made a move to strengthen their infield defense, claiming 28-year-old second baseman Alexi Casilla from the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

Chris Davis was on the roster of two Texas Rangers teams that eventually went to the World Series. On Friday, he'll play the first big league postseason game of his career in Arlington, but he'll be on the visitor's side.

Players attribute their success to hard work, perseverance – and maybe a healthy serving of breakfast cereal

Left-handed reliever Troy Patton's five-week recovery from a sprained right ankle took much longer than he expected, but he was finally reactivated from the disabled list before Friday's game.

Anyone who has been around Orioles manager Buck Showalter's pregame press conferences has noticed how often he asked about Dylan Bundy's minor league outings during the course of the season.

The Baltimore Orioles sent eight batters to the plate in the first and nine more in the second, staking starter Chris Tillman to a 7-0 lead by the time he stepped onto the mound in the bottom of the second.

So as the Yankees and their lefty-heavy lineup come to Camden Yards for a huge four-game series, expect Brian Matusz to play a key role in relief this weekend.

Down the Stretch is a new daily Orioles Insider blog that will help set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason intensifies.

The O's played three straight afternoon games this Labor Day weekend. They also played a 12:35 p.m. game on Thursday before taking the train to New York.

The Orioles added another left-handed reliever to their bullpen Monday, selecting the contract of Zach Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk before Monday's series opener in Toronto.

The Orioles are coming off a big series win over the Yankees in the Bronx and hope they can continue that here at the Rogers Center, where they are 7-33 in their last 40 games.

The Orioles will likely purchase the contract of left-handed reliever Zach Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk before this afternoon's series opener in Toronto.

Orioles pitcher Randy Wolf said he knew coming in he would be used in relief, and he didn't have a problem with that. His top priority was to pitch for a contender, but the 36-year-old said coming out of the bullpen will be an adjustment.

Outfielder Xavier Avery, utility man Steve Tolleson and catcher Luis Exposito were all with the team on Friday in New York and will be activated before Saturday's game.

The Orioles head into tonight's game against the White Sox with a change to cut the New Yankees AL East lead to 2 1/2 games with a win tonight after New York's 6-5 afternoon loss to the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

The Orioles are in such a strange position right now that it¿s hard to predict what they¿ll do in several areas. One is September call-ups.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters didn't start Friday night's game against the Oakland A's, but it wasn't because he is mired in a 1-for-30 slump. Wieters was held out of the lineup because of a tight right bicep muscle.

Although the Orioles are focused on adding a starter and a hitter by Tuesday¿s non-waiver trade deadline, they are asking about left-handed relievers in the trade market as well.

The Orioles purchased the contract of 26-year-old right-hander Brad Bergesen before Tuesday's game to provide support to a taxed bullpen.

Left-handed reliever J.C. Romero, who was 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in 17 games (one start) for the Norfolk Tides, had an opt-out clause in his contract at the All-Star break and chose to enact it, the Orioles announced.

Designated hitter Jim Thome is expected to arrive Sunday, so the Orioles will have to make room for him on the 25-man roster (after designating reliever Zach Phillips for assignment to clear 40-man roster space).

Robert Andino, who has played second base in 56 of the Orioles' first 60 games, was out of the lineup Tuesday, as Brian Roberts returned from the 60-day disabled list. And Andino said he's OK if he's no longer the starter there.

Orioles have parted ways with one of their top scouts, national crosschecker Ron Hopkins, the Sun has learned.

After last night's rainout, the Orioles will play a doubleheader today against the Rangers, with the first game beginning at 4:05 p.m.

Jason Hammel's sore right knee has caused the Orioles to push back his next start. They will recall Tommy Hunter and likely send Endy Chave to the DL.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said before today's game that it's "pretty realistic" that right-hander Jason Hammel will miss his next start tomorrow with right-knee soreness.

When the dust had settled after Josh Hamilton's four-homer performance at Camden Yards, many wanted to know why the Orioles kept throwing him strikes.

Josh Hamilton hit four home runs as the Rangers rout Orioles, 10-3. The Texas outfielder set an American League record with 18 total bases.