Baseball's lockout and the slamming of brakes on offseason business only impacts the major league side. The minors are proceeding as usual, with their Winter Meetings in Orlando going along uninterrupted. And largely in silence. If an event is held and no one is there, does it make a sound? It used to be for the minor league people anyway. The majors crashed the party and took over, with media descending upon the hotel site and crowding the lobby area while team executives worked trades,...

The news yesterday that DL Hall is going to miss the remainder of his season at Single-A Frederick with a mild strain of his left lat muscle shouldn't cause a massive panic. The key word here is "mild," which is confirmed by the Grade 1 diagnosis. Resist the urge to replay all the images of past injured pitching prospects. But try to say it three times fast. An earlier occurrence would have gotten Hall back on the mound this summer, but the Keys don't have many games remaining and there's...

The decision to select Stevie Wilkerson's contract yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk was primarily tied to the Orioles' needs through 23 games of the season. Credit goes to Wilkerson for presenting himself as an attractive option. He's become a super-utility player. He's embraced the role. No one had to do a hard sell on him. Cedric Mullins was mired in a lengthy slump and organizational concerns grew over the potential impact on his confidence and development. He needed to start over with...

The Orioles are inviting 18 non-roster players to spring training, with the possibility of further additions depending on other moves that could be made before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12. The group of invites includes eight pitchers - right-handers Dean Kremer, Gregory Infante, Gabriel Ynoa, Zach Pop, Josh Lucas and Bo Schultz, and left-handers Chris Lee and Sean Gilmartin. Also receiving lockers at the Ed Smith Stadium complex are catchers Martin Cervenka, Carlos Pérez and...

As the Orioles continue making their final preparations for this weekend's FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center, they're also nearing the announcements on their major league and minor league coaching staffs and their non-roster invitees to spring training. One domino falls and others will tumble. The list of invitees could include infielders Ryan Mountcastle, Jace Peterson, Engelb Vielma, Sean Miller and Zach Vincej, outfielders Ryan McKenna, Yusniel Díaz and Christopher...

The activity that's been aimed at the Orioles' 25- and 40-man rosters in the offseason hasn't produced national headlines. There were three acquisitions in the Rule 5 draft and depth moves for the pitching staff, infield and catching position. Some of them haven't been announced and there could be others still under wraps. The decision to use the first pick in the Rule 5 draft on infielder Richie Martin has the potential to be one of the most impactful, considering that he's a candidate to...

A new year carries with it the same tasks placed in front of executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, assistant Sig Mejdal and manager Brandon Hyde. No one has been hired to replace director of player development Brian Graham and director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Only two coaches are known to have joined the staff, with a third offered a job in the bullpen, per sources. And how's that analytics department coming along? Openings remain for a manager at Triple-A Norfolk, a...

Orioles fans aren't likely to find a new player under their tree on Christmas morning. The stocking stuffers won't include a pitcher or outfielder. Dump bourbon in your egg nog - unless rum or brandy is your preference - and stay patient. Not a creature is stirring, but there's going to be roster activity by spring training. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias issued the warning at the Winter Meetings. Not the one about reports being "overzealous" and "inaccurate."...

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles are a bit short on middle infielders and they added two today via the Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings. They selected Oakland shortstop Richie Martin with the No. 1 pick in the draft. After the draft, it was announced they had acquired infielder Drew Jackson, who been selected by Philadelphia from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Orioles sent international bonus money to the Phillies for Jackson. In the Triple-A phase of the draft, the Orioles selected right-handed...

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles left the Winter Meetings today with two Rule 5 picks and a full 40-man roster. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias used the first overall selection to take shortstop Richie Martin from the Athletics organization and the Orioles later acquired infielder Drew Jackson from the Phillies, who had plucked him from the Dodgers system earlier in the morning. Jackson, 25, was a fifth-round selection by the Mariners in 2015 out of Stanford University. He's a...