More on Duquette's Q&A session and Orioles' reported interest in Upton

More on Duquette's Q&A session and Orioles' reported interest in Upton
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette joked about bringing extra security to last night's Babe Ruth Museum benefit at Dempsey's Brew Pub, where he served as the guest speaker and took questions from the audience. Duquette turned and pointed to a long table against one of the walls, where his wife Amy, their children and the kids' friends were eating dinner. I saw what he did there. "I brought half the neighborhood here tonight," he said. As the event ended, fans stood and...

Duquette on Markakis and a lot more

Duquette on Markakis and a lot more
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette just finished his Q&A session with fans at the Babe Ruth Museum benefit at Dempsey's Brew Pub at Camden Yards. Duquette won over the crowd despite a week that saw the Orioles lose Nelson Cruz to the Mariners and Nick Markakis to the Braves. I'll pass along a few of the highlights, starting with Duquette's summary of negotiations with Markakis. Keep in mind that he's not going to offer specifics. "We had several discussions with Nick,"...

Jones on Markakis: "You lose a brother" (updated)

Jones on Markakis: "You lose a brother" (updated)
Adam Jones has shared the Orioles outfield with Nick Markakis for the last seven seasons. He looks to his left and sees more than just a teammate. He sees a friend. It's going to be different next year. Jones spoke to Markakis before news broke yesterday that the longest-tenured Oriole had agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves. "It's business," Jones said. "That's the first thing. It's the reality of that, what it boils down to. It's a business, but hey, Nick is my...

More on Showalter's Baseball America award

More on Showalter's Baseball America award
The Orioles sent out a release today confirming that Buck Showalter has been named Baseball America's Manager of the Year. I wrote a few days ago that the publication doesn't usually promote the award with an online article, but one has been posted this year. You can read it here. Showalter becomes the third manager to be recognized with the award twice, having also won it in 2012, since Baseball America began giving the honor in 1998. He joins Bobby Cox (2004 and 2010) and Mike Scioscia...

More on Markakis and a week gone bad

More on Markakis and a week gone bad
Did you really think the Nelson Cruz news was going to be the low point of your week? Nick Markakis will sign his four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves once he passes a physical. You've got more time to process how the longest-tenured Oriole will be wearing a different uniform and playing in a different league. Hopefully, left-hander Andrew Miller's pending agreement with a new team won't become a distraction. That news could come as early as today. (Is it really between the...

Hardy on Markakis: "Everyone thought he'd be back"

Hardy on Markakis: "Everyone thought he'd be back"
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy spoke to Nick Markakis earlier this afternoon, two friends getting caught up on today's news. Two friends coming to grips with being former teammates. Markakis has agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves, removing the longest-tenured Oriole from the clubhouse. "He gave me a call and kind of let me know how it all went down," Hardy said. "As a friend and teammate of Nick's, it sucks to watch him go, but it looks like he'll be in a good...

Source: Nick Markakis agrees to terms with Braves

Source: Nick Markakis agrees to terms with Braves
Within the span of a few days, the Orioles have lost the leading home run hitter in the majors last season and their longest-tenured player. Nelson Cruz agreed to a four-year, $57 million contract with the Mariners on Monday, and Nick Markakis has agreed to a four-year deal with the Braves today worth $44 million, according to an industry source. The Orioles have been notified of Markakis' decision. Yahoo! Sports first reported the agreement. The Orioles were negotiating a four-year deal with...

Orioles sign Gamboa to major league deal

Orioles sign Gamboa to major league deal
One year after declining to offer Eddie Gamboa a contract and removing him from the 40-man roster at the non-tender deadline, the Orioles have signed the knuckleballer to a major league deal. The Orioles re-signed Gamboa to a minor league contract last winter and he went a combined 5-7 with a 3.81 ERA and a career-high 8.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 19 games (17 starts) with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He's currently pitching in the Mexican Winter League, where he's gone 4-2 with...

Former Oriole Jim Johnson signs with Braves

Former Oriole Jim Johnson signs with Braves
Forget the notion that the Orioles will reunite with former closer Jim Johnson. He's off the board. The Braves announced today that they signed Johnson to a major league deal, the transaction coming a year and one day after the Orioles traded him to the Athletics at the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Johnson is joining his third organization since that deal. He posted a 7.14 ERA and 2.058 WHIP in 38 appearances with the A's and a 6.92 ERA and 1.615 WHIP in 16...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
With the Orioles deciding to tender contracts to all 11 of their arbitration-eligible players, we can now look forward to the Winter Meetings that start Monday in San Diego. Another key date has been crossed off the baseball calendar. I'm still searching for my vacation on it. I'll make the usual prediction that the Orioles avoid going to arbitration hearings in February. The sides will exchange figures next month and meet somewhere in the middle. Not that the Orioles are afraid to sit down...

Torii Hunter off the board, Morse rumor, more on Markakis

Torii Hunter off the board, Morse rumor, more on Markakis
Torii Hunter is no longer a free agent consideration for the Orioles. Hunter has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Twins, according to multiple reports. He's returning to his original team. Hunter spent 11 seasons in Minnesota and included the Twins over the weekend among the clubs that could sign him this winter. However, he appeared to place them below the Orioles, Rangers and Mariners. The preference to play for a contender seemed to elevate the Orioles and Hunter had...

Orioles tender contracts to 11 arbitration-eligible players

Orioles tender contracts to 11 arbitration-eligible players
The Orioles have tendered contracts to all 11 of their arbitration-eligible players, with confirmation coming this evening via the team. The group includes first-timers Chris Tillman ($546,000 in 2014), Zach Britton ($521,500), Miguel Gonzalez ($529,000) and Ryan Flaherty ($513,000). The Orioles already were bracing for significant raises due to the three pitchers. Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Steve Pearce, Alejandro De Aza, Tommy Hunter and Bud Norris are entering their final year under team...

Duquette on arbitration-eligibles, Cruz, Markakis and more

Duquette on arbitration-eligibles, Cruz, Markakis and more
The Orioles aren't expected to take their decisions on their arbitration-eligible players down to the midnight deadline tonight as they did in 2013. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said he's hoping to "bring this to closure by the end of the business day." Meanwhile, it's OK to keep speculating that all 11 players will be tendered contracts for next season. Trade discussions always heat up on the final day, but the Orioles don't seem as likely to make a move. They dealt closer Jim...

Baseball America names Duquette MLB Executive of the Year

Baseball America names Duquette MLB Executive of the Year
While executive vice president Dan Duquette works toward putting together a roster for the 2015 season, he continues to be rewarded for his work this year. Baseball America has named Duquette as its Major League Executive of the Year. The Sporting News honored him last month during the general managers' meetings. One day after Nelson Cruz agreed to terms on a four-year, $57 million contract with the Mariners, Duquette is rewarded in part for signing the outfielder to a one-year, $8 million...

What's on today's agenda?

What's on today's agenda?
Has everyone moved on from the Nelson Cruz news? Has the depression subsided? No more Cruz blues? This blog was on Cruz control yesterday, judging by the number of comments. I hadn't surrendered hope that Cruz would stay with the Orioles, but I kept warning that he'd need to come down to three years. I'm just surprised that he made the decision a week before the start of the Winter Meetings in San Diego. Did his agent read the market and determine that the Mariners' offer of $57 million...

Cruz reportedly agrees to terms with Mariners (updated)

Cruz reportedly agrees to terms with Mariners (updated)
Outfielder Nelson Cruz, who led the majors with 40 home runs this season, has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Mariners, according to multiple reports. The Dominican newspaper El Caribe was the first to report that Cruz will receive $57 million from the Mariners, who pursued him last winter before ownership intervened. Cruz settled for a one-year, $8 million deal with the Orioles, which executive vice president Dan Duquette described in October as a "platform" for the outfielder...

Orioles searching for outfield alternatives

Orioles searching for outfield alternatives
There's a perception among some fans that Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is sitting back with his feet on his desk while outfielders Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz decide whether to re-sign with the club or pursue a better offer. I've read the criticisms on Twitter and in the comments section of the blog. Other teams in the division are making bold moves while Duquette lets opportunities pass by waiting on Markakis and Cruz. Pretty soon, it's going to be too late to replace...

Chuck Thompson CD is music to the ears

Chuck Thompson CD is music to the ears
I'm making the nearly three-hour drive home from Ocean Pines on Sunday morning, which gives me a second chance to listen to a CD that Cubs radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes mailed to me last week. Hughes has created "Baseball Voices, Hall of Fame Series," which pays tribute to some of the greatest announcers in history, including Red Barber, Harry Caray, Mel Allen, Harry Kalas, Jack Buck, Bob Prince and our own Chuck Thompson. I thoroughly enjoyed "Chuck Thompson, Voice of the...

AL East third basemen second to none

AL East third basemen second to none
So how do you like the third basemen in the American League East these days? The roll call includes Manny Machado, Evan Longoria, Pablo Sandoval and now Josh Donaldson after last night's trade between the Athletics and Blue Jays. It also includes Alex Rodriguez, which must make the Yankees dry heave. Longoria feels like the only holdover in the group. Donaldson arrived via trade, Sandoval signed with the Red Sox as a free agent, Machado was injured and Rodriguez was suspended. Machado and...

Navarro: "I'm going to fight for a job"

Navarro: "I'm going to fight for a job"
Infielder Rey Navarro had his pick of teams that wanted to sign him as a minor league free agent. His decision became much easier when the Orioles stepped up with a major league offer. A spot on a 40-man roster with a winning team? Get the contract ready. "I'm really excited about it," Navarro said Friday afternoon before getting ready for his next game with Caguas of the Puerto Rican Winter League. "I just feel like I've got a good chance to play there. They made me good offer and...