SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles turned more international signing bonus slots into a trade acquisition, landing outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. from the Blue Jays. The announcement came this afternoon. Smith has slashed .293/.365/.467 in 47 games with the Blue Jays over the past two seasons. He was selected in the first round (53rd overall) of the 2011 draft out of McIntosh (Ga.) High School. "Dwight Smith is a young outfielder with a strong track record of performance and a plus-hit tool from the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - After leaving the only organization he has ever known as a professional reliever, pitcher Josh Osich is starting to get used to his new team. He's been an Oriole since Feb. 19, when they claimed him on waivers from the San Francisco Giants. A lefty reliever with a mid 90s fastball, he's trying to make the opening day roster against stiff competition. There are four bullpen lefties on the O's 40-man roster, and the other three are Richard Bleier, Tanner Scott and Paul Fry....

BRADENTON, Fla. - Left-hander Donnie Hart, designated for assignment by the Orioles on March 1, has been claimed off waivers by the Dodgers. The Orioles designated Hart to make room for infielder Hanser Alberto. He posted a 5.59 ERA and 2.224 WHIP in 20 appearances with the Orioles last summer. In his only spring inning, Hart retired the side in order with two strikeouts. The former 27th round pick has a 3.43 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 93 major league games. Branden Kline fell behind 2-0 to the...

BRADENTON, Fla. - No matter what role fits Mike Wright in the eyes of manager Brandon Hyde, the most important point is how the right-hander has done everything needed to stay with the club. Leaving nothing to chance. Wright is out of options but he hasn't run out of time. Three more scoreless innings today against the Pirates raised his total to 10. If there's no room in the rotation, especially with early off-days eliminating the need for a fifth starter until April 10, the Orioles can...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The lessons that are distributed in Orioles camp don't skip past the manager's office. Brandon Hyde is finding out a lot about his team, the layers of mystery peeled away as the days pass. "I'll tell you what, I just like our guys," Hyde said yesterday while standing in the visiting dugout at Charlotte Sports Park. "I like the way our guys work. I didn't know what kind of work ethic our guys had. I didn't know how guys prepared. I didn't know the makeup of our players...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Renato Núñez is a third baseman by trade who had no issues with moving across the diamond this afternoon. He's just trying to make the club. The glove won't be a primary reason if it happens. It's the bat that keeps teams intrigued and Núñez's might be heating up. Núñez crushed a fastball from Twins reliever Addison Reed in the third inning, his grand slam to left-center field giving the Orioles a lead they didn't surrender in a 9-4 win. Jordany...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Hanser Alberto makes his Orioles debut today against the Twins in Fort Myers after returning to camp via another waiver claim. Alberto is starting at second base, with Rule 5 pick Richie Martin at shortstop. Chance Sisco is batting third. DJ Stewart is in right field, Cedric Mullins in center and Eric Young Jr. in left. Dylan Bundy, working on three days' rest, is making his second spring start. Left-hander Josh Osich will make his Orioles debut. Also on the trip are David...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate Karns is close to getting back into the Orioles rotation after informing manager Brandon Hyde this morning that his arm responded favorably to yesterday's bullpen session. Karns was scratched from Friday night's start in Tampa due to some arm soreness. Karns said he didn't bounce back at the usual rate after debuting Monday against the Twins in Fort Myers and lasting 1 2/3 innings, which raised some red flags based on the elbow injury last summer that cost him the...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Alex Cobb is making his Grapefruit League debut in Friday's split-squad game against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Nate Karns is making his second start in the night portion against the Yankees in Tampa. No way to shield them from a division opponent, especially with the Orioles returning to Fort Myers on Saturday to play the Red Sox. Cobb has been slotted ahead of Andrew Cashner after throwing live batting practice yesterday on Field 2 at the Sarasota complex. Cashner threw...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jonathan Villar said this morning that he expects to play second base for the Orioles this season. Not his preferred spot in the infield, but it keeps him in the lineup. The signing of Alcides Escobar to a minor league deal and the presence of other shortstop candidates in camp make it more likely that Villar stays at second, where he made 36 starts for the Orioles after coming to them in the Jonathan Schoop trade with the Brewers. He started 18 games at short. "For me, I...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Yefry Ramírez has been tabbed to start the Orioles' first exhibition game Saturday afternoon against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. "I feel great. Very excited when I was told about the news," Ramirez said via translator Ramón Alarcón. "It makes he feel really good having this opportunity, so I feel there's a priority in order and I'm looking to try to take advantage of that." Manager Brandon Hyde didn't say it, but you shouldn't read too much into it....

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made another waiver claim this afternoon, selecting Josh Osich from the Giants, while also adding a fifth left-handed reliever to their 40-man roster. Osich, 30, joins Richard Bleier, Tanner Scott, Paul Fry and Donnie Hart. Non-roster southpaws Sean Gilmartin and Chris Lee also are in camp. Infielder Hanser Alberto has been designated for assignment to make room for Osich on the 40-man roster. The Orioles claimed Alberto off waivers from the Yankees last month. The...