SAN DIEGO – It was nearly impossible to judge Brandon Hyde’s performance during his first year as a major league manager.

Hyde inherited an Orioles team that went 47-115 in 2018. He was also handed a roster with limited major league talent as new general manager Mike Elias was in the beginning stages of a massive rebuilding effort.

The Orioles did improve by seven games in Hyde’s rookie year. All that meant, though, is his team finished with a dreadful 54-108 record.

If nothing else, Hyde drew respect from those around baseball for his ability to keep his team motivated.

“They didn’t play well but they played hard,” said a scout from an American League team during the Winter Meetings this week. “It’s easy to just give up, especially late in the year, and especially when you’re horse (manure), but the Orioles played hard right until the end and that’s a good reflection on the manager.

“I don’t think you could exhume John McGraw from the grave and expect him to win with that team.”

It would be a moral victory in 2020 if the Orioles could even just avoid a third consecutive 100-loss season. While Hyde won’t have much to work with again, he does feel he can improve his own performance in his second season.

“I just think it’s going to be easier this year because I know the players so much and I know — I’m familiar with a lot of guys,” Hyde said. “I think the one thing is that I’m going to manage my time better between the time I get to the ballpark until (batting practice). Make sure I set aside time to — I want to be on the field.

“Our coaches are already on the field a lot. Our coaches work harder with players than I’ve ever seen in the major leagues, so I want to be out there for more of that. I want to be hands-on.”

–The Orioles have interest in Jose Peraza as a possible replacement at either shortstop or second base following the trade of Jonathan Villar to the Miami Marlins.

Peraza was non-tendered by the Cincinnati Reds last month, making him a free agent. He has hit .273/.312/.374 in five seasons and 520 games in the major leagues.

Yet Peraza is still just 25 years and was once considered a top prospect coming up through the Atlanta Braves’ farm system.

“Pass,” a National League scout of signing Peraza. “But if I’m the Orioles, I guess it’s worth a shot. They aren’t going anywhere anyway so they can take a shot and see if all clicks for him there, though I wouldn’t count on it. He doesn’t get on base and he doesn’t for power. He’s just meh.”

–Andrew Cashner and the Orioles could stage a reunion this winter.

The veteran right-hander is a free agent and the Orioles have at least some interest. Cashner, of course, was traded to the Boston Red Sox last July.

“You’ve got to have someone eat some innings while the younger kids develop,” the NL scout said. “He’s not someone you want in your rotation if you plan on winning – like the Red Sox found out – but the Orioles already know him and what the expectations are. It makes sense to bring him back.”

–The Orioles, as has been their custom in recent seasons, were the kings of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday as they continue to try to find young talent in any and all places.

The Orioles took a pair of right-handers, Brandon Bailey from the Houston Astros and Michael Rucker from the Chicago Cubs. Both are 25 and played collegiately at Gonzaga, though Rucker is the only one of the pair to reach Triple-A yet, pitching at two games at that level this year.

“When you are in the situation like the Orioles, you take fliers on guys with live arms,” a player personnel director from an AL team said. “Are these guys ready for the big leagues right now? No. Will they ever be effective major league pitchers? Probably not.

“But the Orioles need as many live arms as they can get their hands on.”

John Perrotto
John Perrotto

John Perrotto has been a professional sports writer since 1982 and has covered a multitude of sports, including MLB, NFL and college football and basketball. He has been a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association since 1988, a Hall of Fame voter since 1997 and has covered 21 World Series and two Super Bowls. He is a graduate of Geneva College, the birthplace of college basketball, and lives in Beaver Falls, Pa., the hometown of Joe Willie Namath. He also writes The Perrotto Report (theperrottoreport.com), newsletters that concentrate on Major League Baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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