Andy Kostka is an Orioles beat writer for The Baltimore Banner, focused on telling stories that revolve around — and away from — baseball. He previously covered the Orioles for The Baltimore Sun, and before that he worked for The Clarion Ledger in Mississippi. Kostka graduated from the University of Maryland and grew up in Rockville.
Baltimore has contemplated a change of this sort for almost a decade, before a change in ownership groups led David Rubenstein to the helm and Catie Griggs to the role of president of business operations.
As Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano grasped the sudden change in their situation — a late Thursday trade that sent the two Orioles players to the Padres — they stayed close to one another.
“A huge part of the turnaround,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “Just to be a part of the turnaround, you don’t ever lose that label. That means something.”
The Orioles expanded beyond just their impending free agents by agreeing to a deal that will send infielder Ramón Urías to the Houston Astros, a source confirmed.
“It’s incredibly disappointing. He’s going to be out for a while," interim manager Tony Mansolino said. "It’s a really important part of the Baltimore Orioles. Very unfortunate set of circumstances.”