Orioles' Trevor Rogers: Visiting Driveline for velo gains
Rotowire
Rogers has been training at Driveline Baseball in Arizona this offseason in hopes of regaining some velocity, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
Rogers averaged just 91.9 mph with his four-seamer in 2024, which was down 1.3 mph from 2023 and nearly three mph from its peak in 2022. Testing at Driveline revealed that Rogers' lower-body strength was lacking, and he believes getting a stronger lower half will allow him to rediscover a few ticks on his fastball. The pitcher also noted that he entered the offseason fully healthy for the first time in a couple years, which has allowed him "to do things in the weight room that I have not been able to do." Rogers posted a 4.92 ERA and 97:56 K:BB over 124.1 innings between the Marlins and Orioles in 2024 and spent the final five weeks of the season in the minors. He'll have to compete for a job in Baltimore's rotation, but upping his velocity will give him a better chance to bounce back in 2025.
Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson: Signs MiLB deal with Baltimore
Rotowire
The Orioles signed Jackson to a minor-league contract Monday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Jackson played in 121 games with Double-A Binghamton in 2024, batting .206 with 19 home runs, 61 RBI, 49 runs scored and 11 stolen bass as a member of the Mets organization. He will now get a shot to prove himself with Baltimore ahead of the 2025 campaign.
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Orioles' Franklin Barreto: Signs minor-league deal with O's
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The Orioles signed Barreto to a minor-league contract Monday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Barreto played in 29 games with Triple-A Rochester in 2023, batting .202 with seven home runs, 15 RBI, 17 runs scored and two stolen bases over 99 at-bats. He spent the 2024 season with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, producing a .343 average with 16 home runs and 63 RBi over 76 games. Barreto will now look to make the most of his opportunity with Baltimore ahead of the 2025 season.
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Orioles' Raul Alcantara: Notches minor-league deal with O's
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The Orioles signed Alcantara to a minor-league contract Monday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Alcantara last pitched in the United States in 2018 with Triple-A Nashville before spending the last six years overseas. Most recently, the left-hander appeared in 12 games with the Doosan Bears of the KBO in 2024, recording a 4.76 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 34 strikeouts over 64.1 innings. He'll look to impress with the Orioles in order to potentially make his return to professional baseball in America.
Rivera agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Orioles on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Rivera slashed .313/.370/.578 with four homers and 14 RBI in 73 plate appearances after joining the Orioles in August -- good enough to earn him a $260,000 pay increase for 2025. Though he's played well in his brief Orioles tenure, the 28-year-old is expected to fill a reserve role next season.
The Orioles selected Strowd to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old Strowd was eligible to be selected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, but he'll officially remain with the Orioles organization now that he has a spot on the 40-man roster. However, the right-hander turned in a 6.80 ERA over 41 innings with Triple-A Norfolk in 2024, so a drastic turnaround would likely be needed before he spends any time in the bigs.
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Orioles' Brandon Young: Shielded from Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire
The Orioles selected Young from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.
Young competed at the Double-A and Triple-A level in 2024, tossing a total of 111 innings across 27 games. For Triple-A Norfolk, he posted a 3.44 ERA and 1.28 WHIP while starting in 18 of the 20 games that he appeared in. The 26-year-old is now shielded from the Rule 5 Draft.
