The Orioles have signed lefty Hunter Cervenka to a minor-league deal, per a club announcement. He’ll join the minor-league side of camp.
Cervenka, 28, lost his 40-man spot with the Marlins late last year and was released a few days ago. Things just never worked out in Miami after the team picked him up from the Braves via trade in the summer of 2016.
Baltimore will hope that Cervenka can finally learn to tamp down on the free passes that have long plagued him. He’ll presumably spend the rest of camp fighting for a placement with one of the club’s top affiliates and, eventually, a chance to earn a call-up if a need arises at the MLB level.
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING ACQUISITION! His ERA was just a little south of 16 last year and he was just cut by the Marlins. The Miami Marlins. WOW.
A 4 2/3 inning sample size isn’t really much to judge.
It was enough for the Marlins
His minor league legacy is equally as bad. 2-10, 7.93 in 2011. His uncle must work for Manfred. How else does he keep a job?
Did you just bring up stats from 7 years ago?
They had to look back since if they mentioned the ERA+ of 118 in the majors for 2016 it would destroy their argument.
Or a career 4.69 ERA and 1.40 whip.
It’s a depth move. Zero reason to get worked up over it.
I understand what the move was about. My problem (as with all Os fans) is that payroll was cut by $40 million with Cashner being the only addition. Gonna sign Manny? Great! Cobb? Excellent! If not… it’s inexcusable what this teams is doing. Their payroll is currently $50 million less than the Nats and the O’s earn MUCH, MUCH more…. please find an owner who wants to win. Not build an inheritance tax fund.
Amen. Here come the thumbs down for stating the truth.
New ace for the O’s!
The Orioles work in mysterious ways…..
Yes they do, and they’ve proven themselves quite smart far more often than not.
uh what? like ubaldo and Davis and the the championships they have?????
They are one of the worst run organizations but they have had success with bullpen pieces so I will hold judgment on this move
Trumbo, Gallardo, Miley…
Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzales, Nelson Cruz…
Trumbo was acquired for next to nothing and then hit 47 Home Runs.
O’s traded for Brad Brach before the start of the 2014 season.
When you work for an owner that refuses to spend, you take risks on what the dollars you can spend will buy.
But his recent moves have pretty much all been garbage. And even Trumbo only put up around 2 WAR, despite hitting 47 homers. The contract was awful the moment it was signed.
Please explain when they have been quite smart under DD’s leadership or for that matter since Angelos has owned the franchise that he didn’t mess it up? Like firing Dave Johnson after Dave winning Manager of the Year!
That is true, DD and Buck have made more with much less than anyone I can recall in recent history. I expect both to be out after the season, both deserve better than Angelos as an owner.
Just…why?
It’s just a depth move. This comments section is the worst on these types of articles. It is always just everyone complaining or throwing fits of rage over a minor league signing that has zero risk. People need to understand that teams sign players to compete for Triple A spots to eventually be called up.
Bunch of freaking trolls.
The Orioles are trolling their own fans at this point.
At least they’re letting the kids in for free
In April.
hey this site has just become infested
Have some faith. Out of chunks of granite come great statues.
Gotta keep trying.
He was great with the braves. He’s not a bad guy to take a flyer on. Bullpen guys are never easy to predict.
I wouldn’t call 6 walks per 9 and low-mid 3 era out of the bullpen great.
From what I remember of Cervenka, he either would have a 1-2-3 inning, or walk 3 out of 4 batters before he gets pulled out. But it was mostly the former rather than the later, while he was with the Braves.
The silver lining to this head scratcher is that BAL wouldn’t have signed him if he wasn’t physically sound in every way and the cost minimal. Performance potential? Let’s not talk about that.
Colon>Hunter
if I had a dollar for every lame “big signing” comment on a minor league deal then I could buy a baseball team
Buy the Marlins they need a new owner
I’d immediately get rid of that abomination in the bleachers
DD has no logical plan. He sits back and waits. Most times he waits to long.
Ok we can’t just blame DD though … if you recall … he put together most of the pieces that ended up winning the WS for Theo in Boston … Theo did add really good role players like Mueller and Millar but DD had a really solid team in place … and he doesn’t always sit back .. he had Britton trades last year … poof gone … and had his deal nixed by Angelos … it’s hard for a GM to work like that … I understand the owner has final say but the owner should also have faith in the people he hires
Sounds like Ozzie!
Why do people get so butt hurt over minor league deals
I know right
Everyone they added this winter is a flyer! No long term contracts because DD won’t be here next year. It’s just a joke how they can even say they expect to be competitive this season.
Another quality acquisition by Petey Angelos and Sons. Does anyone know if Jeff Ballard is still available?
Keep up the good work Pete!
Letting the kids in only to get parents Christ Tillman just a joke