The Loon!

* An industry source confirmed today that the Orioles signed reliever Nate Webb to a two-year minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

Webb, 26, hasn’t pitched in the majors. He underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of spring training and the Pirates released him this week. He already had progressed to a throwing program.

Webb was on the Royals’ 40-man roster after the 2022 season, but they designated him for assignment in November and the Pirates signed him to a minor league contract three months later.

A 34th-round pick in the 2016 draft, Webb has registered a 6.11 ERA and 1.604 WHIP in 110 games over six minor league seasons. He’s averaged 4.6 walks and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Baseball America rated Webb as Kansas City’s No. 26 prospect going into 2022. His fastball sat in the high 90s and touched 100 mph.

FanSided.com’s Robert Murray first reported the signing.

Low risk. Our specialty.

2-yr. contract very interesting. They must think a lot of the guy.

He sounds a bit like Bautista. A career minor leaguer. Throws smoke. Has struggled with command. They might be hoping for another lucky break.

Can lightning strike twice in same place?

Oct. 25: LHP Tucker Davidson claimed off waivers from Royals
Davidson, a 27-year-old left-hander, is a four-year big league veteran who has previously pitched for the Braves, Angels and Royals. In 2023, he had a 5.96 ERA over 38 games -- 18 with Los Angeles and 20 with Kansas City. He was a starter before moving into a relief role this past season.

The Orioles' 40-man roster is now full.

Both our pitching coaches are gone. Holmes and Holt (I think).

Holt's moved to a new position w/the team.

Holmes is a loss; no doubt about it.

Can you remember that they brought in that pitching coach from Atlanta as the solution to our problems Mike? Forgot his name but they said he made Maddux great, of course he did nothing special because our pitchers were shite, collected a nice paycheck though ... 😎

Must the Orioles acquire a No. 1 starter?

https://www.masnsports.com/blog/questioning-exactly-what-the-orioles-need-in-their-rotation

You guys know a lot more about baseball than I do, do we need one and what went wrong besides the lack of hitting against Texas? Was it inexperience, our closer who got TJ surgery, not enough pitching or a combination ...

I don't know the cause, but I feel like we folded up our tent early. We backed into the playoffs, and I thought, just need a break to rest and heal. That was incorrect by an order of magnitude. I also hated the automatic outs, stealing playing time. Frazier and Mateo. Tons of guys who MIGHT get a hit available. The pitching was stronger than I expected, but you never say no to an ace. We automatically cash in some free agent turds, so maybe there's an upgrade out there. Upper level farm talent still fails to excite me.

Given Angelos' statements, I think gleaning that ace from within's the best chance we've got. Maybe that guy who won the Jim Palmer award will turn into the next Jim Palmer. Or maybe we trade for a minor leaguer who turns into Mussina. The money we get from releasing Frazier, etc., w/go for raises the others get, not for a big free agent.

Would y'all trade Mayo and the Heston outfielder guy for Mitch Keller?

Leo Mazzone. MI