2015 Baltimore Orioles season

The 2015 Baltimore Orioles season was the 115th season in franchise history, the 62nd in Baltimore, and the 24th at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They were attempting to defend their 2014 AL East title, but were eliminated from the division title race on September 23, $11 1/2$ games back from Toronto. They were eliminated from the postseason on September 28, $6 1/2$ games back from Houston for the second AL wild card spot. They finished the season .500 (81-81), their fourth straight non-losing season under manager Buck Showalter.

The one bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season was first baseman Chris Davis winning the MLB Home Run Championship with 47, the third consecutive year in which the crown was won by an Oriole after Davis in 2013 and Nelson Cruz in 2014. Third baseman Manny Machado was the only player in the majors to play all 162 games, a reassuring feat after Machado had missed significant portions of the preceding two seasons due to knee injuries.

Offseason
October 30: Alexi Casilla, Johan Santana, Andrew Miller, Kelly Johnson, Nelson Cruz, Joe Saunders, Nick Markakis, and Delmon Young entered free agency. Delmon Young would be the only one to re-sign with the team on January 9.
 * Casilla signed with the Tampa Bay Rays
 * Miller signed with the New York Yankees
 * Cruz signed with the Seattle Mariners
 * Markakis signed with the Atlanta Braves

October 31: Claimed Pat McCoy off waivers from the Texas Rangers
 * The Orioles sent Pat McCoy to the minors on December 8.

November 1: Nick Hundley entered free agency. He signed with the Colorado Rockies.

Week of November 18: Signed 12 players to a minor league contract, and promoted Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright from the minors. They also signed free agent Oliver Drake.

November 26: Signed Rey Navarro and receive Scott Barnes from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash.
 * The Rangers claimed Barnes off waivers on December 8

December 3: Signed Eddie Gamboa from free agency.

December 11: Drafted Logan Verrett and received Jason Garcia from the Houston Astros in exchange for cash.

December 15: Gave Jesse Beal, Chaz Roe, and Matt Tuiasosopo a minor league contract.

December 19: Signed Wesley Wright.

December 23: Released Quintin Berry and claimed Ryan Lavarnway off the Chicago Cubs
 * The Orioles sent Lavarnway to the minors on January 16.

December 24: Signed Cesar Cabral to a minor league contract.

January 5 – 21: Signed 7 players (including J. P. Arencibia) to a minor league contract.

January 23: Received Hector Daniel Rodriguez from the Braves for cash.

January 27: Received Travis Snider from the Pittsburgh Pirates and gave them Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named. Also designated Mike Ohlman for assignment and signed 3 players to a minor league contract.
 * The St. Louis Cardinals received Ohlman for cash on February 3.

January 29: Signed Brad Duffy to a minor league contract.

February 2: Signed Julio Borbon to a minor league contract.

February 3: Traded Steve Lombardozzi Jr. to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. Also traded Mike Ohlman to the St Louis Cardinals for cash.

February 10: Signed former Oriole free agents Mark Hendrickson and Nolan Reimold to minor league contracts.

February 11–17: Signed four players (including Jayson Nix) to minor league contracts.

February 20: Sent Steven Brault to the Pittsburgh Pirates as the PTBNL in the Travis Snider trade.

February 25: Signed free agent Everth Cabrera and designated Alex Hassan for assignment.
 * The Oakland Athletics claimed Hassan off waivers on February 27.

Contracts
April 6: C Ryan Lavarnway's contract selected from AAA Norfolk Tides; RHP Ryan Webb designated for assignment April 9: RHP Ryan Webb and C Brian Ward traded to Los Angeles Dodgers for RHP Ben Rowen and C Chris O'Brien

May 11 RHP Jorge Rondon claimed off waivers from Colorado Rockies May 24 RHP Chaz Roe's contract selected from AAA Norfolk Tides May 26: C Ryan Lavarnway designated for assignment May 27: LF Alejandro De Aza designated for assignment May 29: C Ryan Lavarnway outrighted to AAA

June 3: LF Alejandro De Aza traded to Boston Red Sox for RHP Joe Gunkel June 5: LHP Cesar Cabral's contract selected from AAA Norfolk Tides; SS Everth Cabrera designated for assignment June 9: OF Nolan Reimold's contract selected from AAA Norfolk Tides June 13: SS Everth Cabrera released June 15: 1B Chris Parmelee's contract selected from AAA Norfolk Tides June 20: RHP Mychal Givens' contract selected from AA Bowie Baysox

July 1: RF/DH Delmon Young designated for assignment July 9: RF/DH Delmon Young released July 14: LHP Wesley Wright designated for assignment July 22: LHP Wesley Wright released July 31: OF Gerardo Parra acquired from Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Zach Davies; OF Junior Lake acquired from Chicago Cubs for RHP Tommy Hunter; RHP Bud Norris and 1B Chris Parmelee designated for assignment

August 7: OF Travis Snider designated for assignment August 8: RHP Bud Norris released; 1B Chris Parmelee outrighted to AAA August 14: LF David Lough designated for assignment August 15: OF Travis Snider released August 23: LF David Lough optioned to AAA

Callups and optional assignments
April 5: LHP T. J. McFarland optioned to AAA April 7: C Steve Clevenger optioned to AAA April 11: RHP Eddie Gamboa recalled from AAA April 13 RHP Eddie Gamboa optioned to AAA April 24: IF Rey Navarro recalled from AAA

May 8: LHP T. J. McFarland recalled from AAA; IF Rey Navarro optioned to AAA May 11: RHP Jorge Rondon optioned to AAA May 12: IF Rey Navarro recalled from AAA May 13: RHP Mike Wright recalled from AAA May 18: RHP Tyler Wilson recalled from AAA May 22: IF Rey Navarro optioned to AAA May 23: RHP Oliver Drake recalled from AAA; RHP Tyler Wilson optioned to AAA May 24: LHP T. J. McFarland optioned to AAA May 26: C Steve Clevenger recalled from AAA May 28: RHP Tyler Wilson recalled from AAA May 29: RHP Tyler Wilson optioned to AAA

June 3: LHP T. J. McFarland recalled from AAA; RHP Oliver Drake optioned to AAA June 5: IF Rey Navarro recalled from AAA; C Steve Clevenger and RHP Mike Wright optioned to AAA June 7: IF Rey Navarro optioned to AAA June 9: LHP Cesar Cabral optioned to AAA June 11: RHP Mike Wright recalled from AAA June 14: RHP Tyler Wilson recalled from AAA; LHP T. J. McFarland optioned to AAA June 15: LHP Wei-Yin Chen optioned to A June 20: RHP Mike Wright and RHP Tyler Wilson optioned to AAA June 21: RHP Oliver Drake recalled from AAA; RHP Kevin Gausman optioned to AAA June 24: LHP T. J. McFarland recalled from AAA; RHP Oliver Drake optioned to AAA June 25: RHP Mychal Givens optioned to AA June 26: LHP Wei-Yin Chen recalled from A; LHP T. J. McFarland optioned to AAA June 28: LHP T. J. McFarland recalled from AAA June 29: LHP T. J. McFarland optioned to AAA

July 1: RHP Tyler Wilson recalled from AAA July 2: RHP Kevin Gausman recalled from AAA; RHP Tyler Wilson optioned to AAA July 5: 2B Ryan Flaherty optioned to AAA July 6: 2B Ryan Flaherty recalled from AAA July 8: 1B Christian Walker recalled from AAA; RHP Kevin Gausman optioned to AAA July 9: 1B Christian Walker optioned to AAA July 22: RHP Kevin Gausman recalled from AAA July 31: RHP Mike Wright recalled from AAA; RHP Mychal Givens recalled from AA; OF Junior Lake optioned to AAA

August 1: RHP Jorge Rondon recalled from AAA August 3: RHP Tyler Wilson recalled from AAA; RHP Jorge Rondon optioned to AAA August 4: LHP T. J. McFarland recalled from AAA; RHP Tyler Wilson optioned to AAA August 6: RHP Mychal Givens optioned to AA August 7: OF Junior Lake recalled from AAA August 10: RHP Mychal Givens recalled from AA August 14: C Steve Clevenger recalled from AAA August 15: OF Henry Urrutia recalled from AAA; OF Junior Lake optioned to AAA

Injuries, etc.
April 5: SS J. J. Hardy, C Matt Wieters, LF David Lough and 3B/DH Jimmy Paredes placed on 15-day disabled list April 7: 1B Chris Davis activated from restricted list April 11: LHP Wesley Wright placed on 15-day disabled list April 13: LF David Lough activated from disabled list April 18: 2B Jonathan Schoop placed on 15-day disabled list; 3B/DH Jimmy Paredes activated from disabled list April 24: 2B Ryan Flaherty placed on 15-day disabled list

May 7: SS J J Hardy activated from disabled list; SS Everth Cabrera placed on 15-day disabled list May 8: RHP Kevin Gausman placed on 15-day disabled list; 2B Ryan Flaherty activated from disabled list May 10: C Matt Wieters transferred to 60-day disabled list May 12: 2B Ryan Flaherty placed on 15-day disabled list May 13: RHP Jason Garcia placed on 15-day disabled list May 18: RHP Bud Norris placed on 15-day disabled list May 22: SS Everth Cabrera activated from disabled list May 24: RHP Wesley Wright transferred to 60-day disabled list May 27: 2B Ryan Flaherty activated from disabled list

June 5: LHP Brian Matusz placed on restricted list (8-game suspension for foreign substance); C Matt Wieters activated from disabled list June 7: RHP Bud Norris activated from disabled list June 11: RHP Miguel Gonzales placed on 15-day disabled list June 14: LHP Brian Matusz activated from restricted list June 16: 2B Jonathan Schoop transferred to 60-day disabled list June 20: RHP Kevin Gausman activated from disabled list; RHP Jason Garcia transferred to 60-day disabled list June 25: RHP Miguel Gonzales activated from disabled list

July 5: 2B Jonathan Schoop activated from disabled list July 6: OF Nolan Reimold placed on paternity list July 9: OF Nolan Reimold activated from paternity list July 14: LHP Wesley Wright activated from disabled list July 22: OF Steve Pearce placed on 15-day disabled list

August 1: RHP Mike Wright placed on 15-day disabled list August 6: RHP Jason Garcia activated from disabled list August 10: RHP Chaz Roe placed on 15-day disabled list

Season highlights

 * The team's April 29 home game against the White Sox became the first in MLB history to be played without a paying crowd, as safety concerns over the ongoing civil unrest in the city led the team to play with the stadium closed to the public following two postponed games. The next series, scheduled to be a home series against the Tampa Bay Rays, was moved to Tampa Bay with Baltimore being the designated home team for the same reason.
 * On June 16, the team broke a franchise record by hitting 8 home runs against the Phillies.
 * On June 28, the team swept a doubleheader against the Indians, 4-0 and 8–0. It was the first time an O's team had won both ends of a doubleheader by shutout since 1974.
 * On August 12, Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma threw a no-hitter against the Orioles.
 * On August 16, the Orioles tied a franchise record with twenty-six hits in a single game in an 18–2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. This was also the first time in Browns/Orioles history the team had scored 18 runs or more three times in a season (18-7 over Boston on 4/26 and 19–3 over Philadelphia on 6/16).
 * On October 3, the team swept a doubleheader against the Yankees, 9-2 and 4–3. It was the second time the O's won both ends of a doubleheader this season.

Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Accolades
The following players represented the Orioles in the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game


 * Zach Britton
 * Adam Jones
 * Manny Machado
 * Darren O'Day

Manny Machado won the AL Rawlings Gold Glove Award

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Bowie