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Good morning, Birdland!
It appears that Major League Baseball is doing what it can to plan for the unknowable future. Baseball is unlikely to be played this month or next, but the league remains hopeful that they will have a season of some sort in 2020.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan provided all of the details of an agreement reached between MLB and the MLB Player’s Association over on his Twitter feed. Here are some of the highlights:
-The 2020 draft could be shortened to five rounds.
-If the season gets completely cancelled all active MLB players will still receive a full year of service time, and all pending free agents will hit the open market as planned.
-Arbitration rules will be adjusted to reflect what is likely to be a shortened season.
Links
Latest On Orioles’ International Signing Plans - MLB Trade Rumors
It’s unclear if the coronavirus situation is going to push back the signing date for this year’s batch of international amateurs. Regardless, the Orioles are going to be heavily involved once again.
Orioles’ Mychal Givens Denies Estranged Wife’s Abuse Claims - TMZ Sports
MLB is said to be involved in this investigation. The current delay in the start to the season buys both the league and the Orioles time to find out more information, but this does not sound good.
COVID-19 Roundup: A Labor Deal Is Finalized - FanGraphs
The baseball decision makers are sorting out several of the issues that they are anticipating as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, an actual re-start date remains up in the air, and is unlikely to come anytime before May at the absolute earliest.
Orioles minor league knuckleballer Mickey Jannis used any chance he could in spring to show off unique pitch - Baltimore Sun
We, as baseball fans, need another knuckleballer in the big leagues. It feels like there hasn’t been a notable one in a few seasons. R.A. Dickey had a real nice run last decade, winning the NL Cy Young in 2012, and before him was Tim Wakefield, who played nearly 20 years relying on his knuckle offering.
Possible answers to what a 2020 season might look like - Baltimore Baseball
MLB is considering cutting the amateur draft from 40 round down to five or 10 rounds. That seems bonkers to me, and it would likely hurt the non-elite prospects that are drafted in the later rounds.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Christian Walker turns 29. The current Diamondbacks first baseman was drafted by the O’s in 2012 and went on to play in 13 games for them between 2014 and 2015 before being waived prior to the 2017 season.
Former right-handed pitcher Shawn Boskie is 53. He spent nine seasons in the majors, including 28 games as an Oriole during the 1997 season.
It is the 59th birthday of Glenn Davis, who spent three seasons with the Orioles from 1991 through 1993. Davis is, perhaps, best known being on the other end of a deal that sent Curt Schilling, Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch out of Baltimore.
1999 - The Orioles become the first major league team to visit Cuba since 1959, beating a team of Cuban amateurs by a score of 3-2 in 11 innings. Highlights include a 10-strikeout performance from Cuban pitcher Jose Contreras, a two-run homer from O’s catcher Charles Johnson and a walk-off base hit from DH Harold Baines.