Johan Santana and game updates (updated twice)

Johan Santana and game updates (updated twice)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Free agent pitcher Johan Santana stopped by the Ed Smith Stadium complex today, and the Orioles are nearing an agreement on a minor league deal. Former executive Jim Duquette, in camp today with MLB Radio Network, tweeted that Santana got into his car and drove away from the complex. Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez posted a photo of himself with Santana on Instagram. Welcome to today's media. A team official confirmed that Santana was here, and a source said a minor league deal...

Notes on Reimold, Lough, O'Day and more

Notes on Reimold, Lough, O'Day and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Nolan Reimold contracted food poisoning last night and was sent back to the hotel. "He was sick during the night. Ate something wrong," said manager Buck Showalter. "He won't be having the skillet breakfast anymore. I can tell you that. "We make them come in. He came by my office and started opening his mouth, and I said, 'Go home.' He looked bad." Showalter indicated that his initial plans don't call for David Lough to play against left-handers, which...

Note on Young and information on services for Monica Barlow

Note on Young and information on services for Monica Barlow
SARASOTA, Fla. - Delmon Young is back on the bench today after collecting two hits for the Orioles yesterday in Fort Myers. Young could get an at-bat or two later, and he's expected to make the trip to Tampa for Tuesday night's game against the Yankees. He's on a typical spring schedule as he attempts to crack the 40-man roster and break camp with the team. The work day started early for Young, who already was bathed in a heavy sweat before players took the field for batting practice....

Hardy leading off today (with Twins lineup)

Hardy leading off today (with Twins lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Shortstop J.J. Hardy is leading off and left fielder David Lough is batting ninth today for the Orioles' game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Don't read anything into it. Nelson Cruz is playing right field, with Nick Markakis serving as the designated hitter. This is Cruz's first start in the outfield. For the Orioles J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz RF Matt Wieters C Ryan Flaherty 2B Alex Gonzalez 3B David Lough LF Bud...

A few early spring standouts

A few early spring standouts
SARASOTA, Fla. - We're only three games into the exhibition schedule. Much too early to draw any conclusions. Much too early to ... Oh, who am I kidding? Let's take a look at a few Orioles who have grabbed my attention. Jonathan Schoop came off the bench yesterday and delivered a two-run double in the ninth inning of the Orioles' 8-6 loss to the Red Sox. The ball slammed off the replica Green Monster at JetBlue Park. The kid is swinging the bat like a man. The Orioles want Schoop, their...

Showalter speaks after 8-6 loss

Showalter speaks after 8-6 loss
FORT MYERS, Fla. - These Orioles are a scrappy bunch. Jonathan Schoop had a two-run double in the top of the ninth, Buck Britton had an RBI single and Christian Walker added a two-run single, as the Orioles tried to pull off another come-from-behind victory. But Xavier Paul struck out to complete the Red Sox's 8-6 victory at JetBlue Park. The Orioles batted around in the inning. Mike Yastrzemski, who grounded out in his first at-bat, drew a walk and hustled to third on Walker's...

Updates on Rodriguez, Yastrzemski and Matusz (Orioles fall 8-6)

Updates on Rodriguez, Yastrzemski and Matusz (Orioles fall 8-6)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6 Recap: The Red Sox scored four runs in two innings off 20-year-old left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to take a 4-0 lead. Brian Matusz tossed two scoreless innings and was most pleased with his changeup. Need to know: Steve Clevenger has made a strong early push for the backup catching job, driving in a run with a two-out, base-loaded single to make him 3-for-6 with two RBIs this spring. On deck: Monday, home vs. Twins, 1:05 p.m. FORT MYERS, Fla....

Game update and more notes (O's down 2-0)

Game update and more notes (O's down 2-0)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz tossed two scoreless innings today against the Red Sox, allowing singles to Dustin Pedroia in the first and Xander Bogaerts in the second. Matusz didn't walk or strike out anyone. He threw 35 pitches, 18 for strikes. Former Red Sox farmhand Brock Huntzinger replaced Matusz to start the third inning and retired the side in order on a fly ball, pop up and bouncer to the mound. Other pitchers on the trip include Troy Patton, T.J. McFarland,...

Yaz and Yaz moment in Fort Myers, plus assorted notes

Yaz and Yaz moment in Fort Myers, plus assorted notes
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles minor league outfielder Mike Yastrzemski found out yesterday during lunch that he would make the trip to JetBlue Park for today's exhibition game against the Red Sox, the news coming from director of player development Brian Graham. Yastrzemski already knew that he'd have a chance to visit with his grandfather, Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, a minor league instructor with the Red Sox. And sure enough, they stood behind the coach during batting practice while...

Quick update on Urrutia

Quick update on Urrutia
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles outfielder Henry Urrutia remains shut down through Monday because of soreness in his right shoulder. Urrutia is taking anti-inflammatory drugs and resting. He was scratched from today's trip to Fort Myers. Urrutia said the shoulder began to bother him during Friday's exhibition opener in Port Charlotte after he made a throw to third base. "I feel better," he said through his interpreter, first baseman Chris Marrero, who is sidelined with a strained oblique. "I...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (updated)

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will try to stay unbeaten in the Grapefruit League with today's 1:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. Brian Matusz will start today and fly to Philadelphia Monday morning to have a wart removed from the middle finger on his left hand. He will return to camp later that night. Update: Matusz said he's delaying his trip because of the pending storm up north. Now he must wait on the weather and the doctor's availability. He's already stated that it...

Matusz and Alderson: Rivals, teammates, friends

Matusz and Alderson: Rivals, teammates, friends
SARASOTA, Fla. - This spring's camp has provided a few more reminders that the baseball world is a small one, but I wouldn't want to paint it. (Hat tip to Steven Wright). We learned that Ubaldo Jimenez and Alexi Casilla played in the same Little League as kids in the Dominican Republic. Probably half of the players in the clubhouse have been teammates of Nelson Cruz. Here's another one: Brian Matusz and Tim Alderson threw dueling one-hitters in a high school game in Arizona. Matusz,...

Notes and quotes following today's 9-7 victory

Notes and quotes following today's 9-7 victory
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are shutting down outfielder Henry Urrutia for the next two days due to inflammation in his right shoulder. Urrutia has been scratched from Sunday's trip to Fort Myers for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox. Manager Buck Showalter said he will bring minor league outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski. That's an instant note. Delmon Young will serve as the designated hitter on Sunday. Outfielder Quintin Berry, no longer...

Hearing from Davis, Cruz and Jones (O's win 9-7)

Hearing from Davis, Cruz and Jones (O's win 9-7)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 9, Blue Jays 7 Recap: Reliever Edgmer Escalona gave up five runs in the sixth inning to wipe out the Orioles' 2-1 lead, but Francisco Peguero's two-out, bases-loaded triple in the eighth capped a seven-run rally. Steve Johnson retired all six batters he faced, striking out two, in relief of Miguel Gonzalez, who was charged with one run in the second. Need to know: A day after Jemile Weeks doubled, walked and scored twice, Jonathan Schoop came off the...

Davis, Lough, Johnson early standouts in second exhibition game

Davis, Lough, Johnson early standouts in second exhibition game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Many of the Orioles are wearing gray wristbands with Monica Barlow's initials written in black marker. A member of the club's PR staff said manager Buck Showalter, hitting coach Jim Presley, first base coach Wayne Kirby, bench coach John Russell, first baseman Chris Davis, center fielder Adam Jones, right fielder Nick Markakis, shortstop J.J. Hardy, catcher Matt Wieters, second baseman Ryan Flaherty and third baseman Manny Machado are wearing the bands. Davis gave the...

Injury updates and more

Injury updates and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Henry Urrutia received treatment today for a sore right shoulder. He's still able to swing a bat, but the Orioles will limit his throwing until he's better. Outfielder Quintin Berry worked out on the back fields today and could play on Sunday. An MRI on his back earlier this week came back clean. "He's trying to do everything today," said manager Buck Showalter. Infielder Alexi Casilla remains shut down with a sore right hamstring. "Little by little,"...

Lough likes idea of leading off

Lough likes idea of leading off
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's too early to read anything into pitching orders and lineups, but somebody had to bat leadoff today and Orioles manager Buck Showalter chose left fielder David Lough. Nick Markakis is considered the frontrunner to bat first this season, but he easily could drop down if he's back to driving the ball and considered more valuable in a run production spot. Lough, a career .278/.308/.396 hitter in parts of two major league seasons, led off in 36 games with the Royals. He...

Lough leading off today for Orioles

Lough leading off today for Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter has slotted left fielder David Lough atop the order for today's home exhibition opener against the Blue Jays. Nelson Cruz is batting second and serving as the designated hitter. Alex Gonzalez is playing third base and batting ninth. Today's game will air on MASN HD and WBAL Radio. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Ryan Flaherty 2B Alex Gonzalez 3B Miguel...

Orioles playing home exhibition opener today

Orioles playing home exhibition opener today
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will try to make it two in a row today and we'll all try to make it through the day without shedding anymore tears. Yesterday took a lot out of us. Miguel Gonzalez gets the start for the Orioles after bullpen sessions and live batting practice didn't bring a recurrence of his back spasms. The Blue Jays will start right-hander Drew Hutchinson, in case you were considering a wager. Manager Buck Showalter kept most of his regulars back in Sarasota yesterday, but...

Wrapping up Orioles' 4-2 win over Rays

Wrapping up Orioles' 4-2 win over Rays
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Left-hander Nick Additon retired the side in order in the eighth inning, Tim Alderson survived a one-out walk in the ninth and the Orioles opened their Grapefruit League schedule with a 4-2 win over the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Francisco Peguero, Steve Clevenger and Alex Gonzalez each had two hits. Jemile Weeks reached base twice and scored two runs, and Gonzalez had two RBIs. Manager Buck Showalter described Chris Tillman as being "sharp" today. "There were...