Chen Wei-Yin almost a done deal (updated)

Chen Wei-Yin almost a done deal (updated)
The Orioles have scheduled a physical for Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-Yin, bringing them closer to signing another starting pitcher. The two sides have reached agreement on a multi-year deal, according to a source. It will become official once Chen passes the physical. Chen, 26, was 8-10 with a 2.68 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) this year for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. The 6-foot southpaw has a low-90s fastball that reportedly tops out at 96 mph. He...

Taking another look at Jackson (and Chen Wei-Yin)

Taking another look at Jackson (and Chen Wei-Yin)
I've provided false hope in the past, but I'm almost certain that the Orioles will announce their minor league managers and coaching staffs this week. They also should confirm a few hires, including Rick Peterson as pitching coordinator (title pending) and Chris Correnti as part of their athletic training staff. No sense dragging it into the third week of January. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 18. The roster needs more work. Maybe not this week, but it's...

Orioles trying to solve the DH riddle

Orioles trying to solve the DH riddle
I didn't take an official vote, but I sense that most fans here would pass on Manny Ramirez. Fair enough. It doesn't cost anything to watch him take batting practice in Miami. The Orioles have a scout (Juan Alvarez) who's based down there. Maybe he drove to the facility and checked out Ramirez. We're talking a few gallons of gas. If nothing else, yesterday's report quieted the fury over Alfonso Soriano. The curiosity for me is what approach the Orioles are taking to filling the...

Addressing a Manny Ramirez rumor

Addressing a Manny Ramirez rumor
According to a report on ESPNdeportes.com, scouts for the Oriolesand Blue Jays watched Manny Ramirez take indoor batting practice in Miami. Nothing stirs up the masses like Manny. Asked earlier today whether he could confirm the report, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said, "I heard that Manny has been working out down there." Asked again about the Orioles' interest, Duquette said, "We're aware that he's working out down there." Fred Ferreira, the Orioles' executive...

Left-handers, right-handers and a right fielder

Left-handers, right-handers and a right fielder
Before I dive into more rotation talk, I'll revisit one topic from yesterday. The Orioles are downplaying Nick Markakis' abdomen surgery. They truly believe that he'll be ready on opening day, and Markakis feels the same way. Markakis is one of those guys who doesn't need a lot of spring training at-bats. He was launching the ball tape-measure distances on the back fields of Ed Smith Stadium last February and March, causing a few beat writers to predict that he'd have a monster season....

Markakis undergoes surgery on abdomen (updated)

Markakis undergoes surgery on abdomen (updated)
Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis underwent surgery yesterday in Philadelphia to repair a torn muscle in his abdomen, but the club expects him to be ready for opening day. Markakis left the final regular season game on Sept. 28 against the Red Sox after making a diving catch. He was expected to visit a specialist this winter as a precaution, but the injury didn't heal properly and surgery was recommended. Scar tissue was preventing the tear from closing. The surgery was performed by sports...

Source: Orioles talked to Cubs about Soriano

Source: Orioles talked to Cubs about Soriano
Another day passed without any news from the warehouse, leaving me with little to do besides count the number of calls and text messages that went unreturned and sweeping up about 12 pounds of pine needles that fell off my Christmas tree as I carried it outside. At least some of my energy wasn't wasted. For what it's worth, I've heard from an industry source that the Orioles and Cubs discussed a trade involving Alfonso Soriano. It may have been a while ago and it may not have gone far -...

A non-update update on Adam Jones

A non-update update on Adam Jones
Who were you expecting, Prince Fielder? It's a slow morning for me, mostly because I don't have to prep for "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report." I no longer need to know that the Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom, their leading scorer with 42 points - including three assists in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Calgary - is day-to-day after being elbowed in the head by the Flames' Rene Bourque. I no longer need to know that New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford, who...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Yesterday's trade for Jai Miller further crowds the Orioles' outfield and make it impossible to craft a 25-man roster from the current crop of contenders. Who's starting in left field? Who's on the bench besides backup catcher Taylor Teagarden? Is there room for both Miller and outfielder Endy Chavez? Could Nolan Reimold get most of his at-bats as the designated hitter, with Miller and Chavez sharing left? Is Adam Jones really going to be traded? Executive vice president Dan Duquette's...

Orioles acquire Jai Miller, trade Brandon Snyder in separate deals (updated)

Orioles acquire Jai Miller, trade Brandon Snyder in separate deals (updated)
The Orioles got their outfielder, and he comes from the Oakland Athletics. Just not that outfielder. The team announced that it acquired Jai Miller from the A's for cash considerations. In a separate deal, they sent former first-round pick Brandon Snyder to the Rangers for cash considerations. The 40-man roster remains full with these moves. Miller, 26, batted .276/.368/.588 with 32 home runs, 88 RBIs and 16 stolen bases without being caught in 110 games for Triple-A Sacramento in 2011. He...

Orioles in market for outfielder, Scott update

Orioles in market for outfielder, Scott update
To follow up on a tweet that I sent earlier today (@MASNRoch), the Orioles most definitely are in the market for another outfielder. Signing Endy Chavez as a free agent didn't end their search. Coco Crisp isn't coming to Baltimore. Put that rumor to bed and turn out the lights. One official termed a report that they were close to signing the veteran free agent as "speculation," but he confirmed that the Orioles are looking for another outfielder. What should we read into it? Does this...

Cooling off the Crisp rumor (and update on hires)

Cooling off the Crisp rumor (and update on hires)
Well, that was fun. I've heard from a team source that the Orioles spoke to Coco Crisp's agent a while ago, but nothing significant came from it. Another source shot down any possibility that the Orioles were on the verge of signing Crisp. Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com sent two tweets early this morning that read as follows: While Orioles talked to Crisp's agent, it sounds like its not them (I need a new crystal ball). Not a perfect fit for Baltimore. Orioles are looking for a...

Is Crisp coming to Baltimore?

Is Crisp coming to Baltimore?
Free agent outfielder Coco Crisp reportedly is close to signing with a new team, and a hot rumor tonight links him to the Orioles. Jon Heyman from CBSSports.com is speculating that the Orioles have emerged as the mystery team. Crisp's agent, Steve Comte, recently told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that his client had made a decision. The Orioles already have Adam Jones in center field, and they signed Endy Chavez as a fourth outfielder. However, Heyman is speculating that...

Are more changes coming to the outfield and rotation?

Are more changes coming to the outfield and rotation?
I've been pleading with the Orioles to do something this week. Trade a player. Sign a player. Announce their minor league staffs. Release the names of all the six-year minor league free agents that are under contract. Anything to make my job a little easier. Purely for selfish reasons. I admit it. Perhaps we'll find out today that outfielder Coco Crisp has signed with the Orioles. That's the hot rumor, which I couldn't get confirmed late last night. If it's true, executive vice...

Orioles have "interest" in Hisashi Iwakuma

Orioles have "interest" in Hisashi Iwakuma
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette, still searching for another starting pitcher and also committed to increasing the club's presence in the international market, remains interested in Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, according to an industry source. Iwakuma's name has been floated in the media over the past few months as one possibility for the Orioles, who signed Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada to a two-year deal in December. The Mariners also are in the hunt for...

Did you know ... ?

Did you know ... ?
Before we leave 2011 completely behind, I wanted to share a few items from the Orioles' season summary that I brought home from the Winter Meetings. Nick Markakis fell out of the 40-doubles club, but he became only the eighth player in baseball to record 30 or more doubles in each of the last five seasons. He's recorded 180 or more hits in five seasons, the most in club history. Jeremy Guthrie became the 11th pitcher in Orioles history to start 30 or more games in four seasons....

What about Ryan Adams?

What about Ryan Adams?
I woke up with a headache, so I'm asking that everyone please blink a little softer today. Thanks much. Each time that I've written about the lineup and how second base could shape up, I'm inevitably asked about Ryan Adams. I've been excluding him because his name hasn't come up in discussions with executive vice president Dan Duquette. It could be a simple matter of Duquette focusing on Brian Roberts, Robert Andino and the players who have been acquired over the last few months - Matt...

Will a new year bring a new DH?

Will a new year bring a new DH?
As we begin the countdown to midnight, I've set up my own sobriety checkpoint. If you still believe that the Orioles will pay $20 million a year for Prince Fielder, you need to hand over your car keys. Also, the ball is dropping in Times Square, as usual, not in left field at Camden Yards. The location changes after September. One of my traditions during this time of the year is contributing information for a preview on the Orioles, including a mock rotation and lineup, for a national...

The rotation, bullpen, Fielder, minor league managers and Mora

The rotation, bullpen, Fielder, minor league managers and Mora
As the Orioles continue to pursue starting pitchers, with two of their targets being Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-Yin and free-agent lefty Joe Saunders, I wonder whether a trade is in the works. Otherwise, the Orioles might be going with a 10-man rotation. I can immediately rattle off five starters: Jeremy Guthrie, Tsuyoshi Wada, Tommy Hunter, Jake Arrieta and Zach Britton. Then I'm reminded that the Orioles traded for left-hander Dana Eveland at the Winter Meetings. He's supposed to be a...

Orioles still pursuing Chen Wei-Yin, interested in Saunders

Orioles still pursuing Chen Wei-Yin, interested in Saunders
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette hasn't ended his search for starting pitching, and an industry source confirmed that the club remains interested in Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-Yin. Chen, 26, was 8-10 with a 2.68 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) this year for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. The Orioles have scouted Chen multiple times. Unlike Yu Darvish, he doesn't require a posting fee. Duqette already has signed Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi...