Sarasota; February 19, 2017: Today as the 3rd day of full squad workouts and drills, plus an event for Sarasota Spring Season Ticket Plan Holders.
At 6:00 PM, the Orioles sent a release Announcing “that they have acquired LHP VIDAL NUÑO from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for RHP RYAN MOSELEY. To make room on the 40-man roster, LHP T.J. McFARLAND has been designated for assignment. Nuño, 29, went 1-1 with a 3.53 ERA (23 ER/58.2 IP) and a 4.64 strikeout/walk ratio (11 walks, 51 strikeouts) in 55 games (one start) with the Seattle Mariners last season. He has pitched to a 4.02 ERA (147 ER/329.1 IP) with a 3.18 strikeout/walk ratio (85 walks, 270 strikeouts) in 126 career Major League games (42 starts) with the Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Yankees. Over 98 career minor league games (66 starts), Nuño has gone 34-18 with a 2.94 ERA (145 ER/443.1 IP) and 422 strikeouts. He was originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 48th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.
Moseley, 22, went 0-1 with a 3.20 ERA (7 ER/19.2 IP) in 12 games with Class-A Aberdeen last season. McFarland, 27, went 2-2 with a 6.93 ERA (19 ER/24.2 IP) in 16 games with the Orioles last season.
Earlier, Manager Buck Showalter updated the media on the injury status of several players. It was learned that right-handed reliever, Logan Ondrusek, rolled his ankle during a drill on Saturday and may not pitch in Wednesday’s intrasquad scrimmage. It appears to be a “couple of days” type of injury.
The good news is that all the tests on J.J. Hardy’s back came back good and his back feels much better. The tests were described as “Clean with no tears.” He is taking anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce the spasms.
RHP Chris Tillman’s shoulder continues to improve. He was “long-tossing” today and reports that his shoulder feels better with each day.
Manager Showalter also told the media that LHP T.J McFarland had some shoulder soreness after Saturday’s drills, but it is feeling better. Buck also mentioned that switch-hitting, right-handed throwing Rule 5 OF Anthony Santander, who had surgery on his right shoulder last year, will be withheld from batting left-handed for now. IF Robert Andino is on personal leave to attend to a family matter.
The Spring Season Ticket Holders were treated to lunch, player autographs and a Q&A session with Executive Vice President Dan Duquette and Manager Buck Showalter. MASN reporter Roch Kubatko moderated the Q&A during the 15-minute session. It may surprise you that neither Dan nor Buck revealed anything that Hangouters didn’t already know. However, many of the Sarasota fans don’t follow the Orioles as close as Hangouters do, so they seemed pleased with the answers.
Dan Duquette was asked if there are any starting pitchers left on the free agent market that he was looking at. Dan said, “That’s always something that we are looking at trying to improve our depth.
He mentioned that they were going to be looking close at a couple of young pitchers and mentioned RHP Ty Wilson, RHP Joe Gunkel and RHP Gabriel Ynoa.
Buck was asked whether the Orioles should have a different philosophy that just trying to hit home runs. Buck responded that there are several ways to win and there was no such thing as a perfect team. Then he asked, “By the way, how have we been doing?”
