Showalter on Wieters, O'Day and more

Showalter on Wieters, O'Day and more
The Orioles will find out later today whether catcher Matt Wieters has accepted or declined the $15.8 million qualifying offer. It's the only drama attached to the 5 p.m. deadline. First baseman Chris Davis and left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will turn it down. They're going to cash in big this winter and the Orioles are going to receive a compensatory draft pick if the duo signs with other clubs. Davis is more likely to re-sign than Chen despite the monstrous contract that will be attached to him....

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...

Taking a look at three possible reunions

Taking a look at three possible reunions
While the Orioles continue negotiations to sign right fielder Nick Markakis to an extension and discuss which arbitration-eligible players may be non-tendered at the deadline, they also must figure out whether to bring back three former players who gladly would take part in a reunion. Outfielder Nolan Reimold already elected free agency earlier this month after appearing in seven games with the Diamondbacks, his third organization in 2014, and relievers Koji Uehara and Jim Johnson will hit the...

The final (maybe) Jim Johnson update

The final (maybe) Jim Johnson update
Former Orioles closer Jim Johnson has signed a minor league deal with the Tigers, according to an industry source. Johnson threw a bullpen session yesterday in Sarasota, with pitching rehab coordinator Scott McGregor and minor league medical coordinator Dave Walker in attendance. The Orioles maintained interest in signing Johnson to a minor league deal, but they had no room for him on the roster until it expanded in September. Manager Buck Showalter said he made that point clear to Johnson...

Orioles and Nationals lineups

Orioles and Nationals lineups
WASHINGTON - Back at Nationals Park for the makeup of a July 8 rainout, the Orioles will be without a designated hitter again as they take on the National League East frontrunners. Nelson Cruz is in left field and batting cleanup, Chris Davis is at first and Ryan Flaherty is at second against the Nationals. The Orioles will pit right-hander Kevin Gausman against Nats righty Tanner Roark. Gausman has allowed four runs in 13 2/3 innings for a 2.63 ERA over his last two starts. Roark is 4-0...

A few pregame notes from D.C.

A few pregame notes from D.C.
WASHINGTON - Nothing much to report on Jim Johnson's bullpen session today in Sarasota. He completed it and the Orioles are still interested in signing him to a minor league deal. Scott McGregor watched Johnson's workout today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles remain the favorites to sign Johnson to a minor league deal. The only way he probably goes elsewhere is if a team steps up with a major league offer. Johnson would be an option as a September call-up when rosters expand...

Updating Orioles' interest in Jim Johnson

Updating Orioles' interest in Jim Johnson
Orioles pitching rehab coordinator Scott McGregor left Baltimore today and is headed to Sarasota, Fla., to watch reliever Jim Johnson throw a bullpen session Monday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Johnson, who lives in Sarasota, is free to sign with any team after the Athletics released him over the weekend. Manager Buck Showalter spoke of the Orioles' interest in Johnson and the former closer's solid relationship with McGregor, who spent the past two days filling in as pitching coach...

Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more

Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more
Nelson Cruz is out of the Orioles lineup today for only the second time this season. Cruz's average is down to .262. He batted .215/.282/.364 in June and .211/.292/.379 in July, and he's 1-for-8 with four strikeouts this month. "They're not getting him out. He's getting himself out mostly," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's so tough. You get down 1-2, you just miss a pitch, you hook a ball foul you might normally have kept fair because you're a little quick with your front hip....

Orioles sign Saunders to minor league deal, Showalter on roster move

Orioles sign Saunders to minor league deal, Showalter on roster move
The Orioles have signed veteran left-hander Joe Saunders, part of their 2012 playoff roster, to a minor league contract. Saunders will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday and initially will be used out of the bullpen. He's never pitched in relief in 229 major league games. The Royals released Saunders, 33, after he went 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Omaha. He was 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA in eight starts with the Rangers, who released him on July 4. Saunders went 3-3 with a 3.63...

A look at the O's recent struggles on offense and a take on Jim Johnson

A look at the O's recent struggles on offense and a take on Jim Johnson
As the Orioles get ready to begin the third and final leg of their 10-game road trip, their bats once again need to heat up. In the final series before the All-Star Game, the Orioles scored six runs in three games against New York. They then scored 14 runs in Oakland and just 10 in Anaheim. The Orioles have seven hits or less in 10 of their last 11 games. The team average is .205 and they've scored 36 runs in those games. They've scored three or fewer runs six times in that stretch. Now...

Orioles acquire Paredes, Athletics DFA Jim Johnson

Orioles acquire Paredes, Athletics DFA Jim Johnson
The Orioles announced today that they acquired infielder/outfielder Jimmy Paredes from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. If the name sounds familiar, it's because the Orioles claimed Paredes off waivers from the Marlins on Feb. 15, and the Royals selected him off waivers two days later. He never made it to major league camp. Paredes, 25, batted .305/.332/.457 with five home runs and 36 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Omaha this season. The...

Jim Johnson on his return to Camden Yards

Jim Johnson on his return to Camden Yards
I'm not certain whether I'm setting up a reverse jinx here, but Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis has homered in back-to-back games for the second time this season. He's never homered in three straight. Last night, Chris Tillman became the first Orioles pitcher to make two starts lasting one inning or fewer in the same season since Zach Britton on July 8 and July 30, 2011. Bob Turley and Joe Coleman each made four such starts during the 1954 season, the most in club history. Due to the...

O's receive catcher David Freitas to complete Jim Johnson trade

O's receive catcher David Freitas to complete Jim Johnson trade
ORLANDO, Fla. - Now that the Rule 5 draft has been completed, the Orioles received minor league catcher David Freitas from the Athletics as the player to be named in the Jim Johnson trade. Freitas, who turns 25 on March 18, is the exact kind of hitter Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is looking to add to the organization - a high on-base guy. The backstop has a career .377 on-base percentage in 373 minor league games spanning four seasons since he was a 15th-round pick of the...

Updating the Balfour negotiations

Updating the Balfour negotiations
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles are creating quite a buzz this morning in their pursuit of a closer. While they continue to negotiate with John Axford's agent - meeting with him this week at the Winter Meetings - it's become apparent that Grant Balfour is their No. 1 choice to serve as the ninth inning specialist in 2014. The Orioles are expected to make an offer to Balfour later today, and they have emerged as the frontrunners to sign him. The Orioles have talked parameters with...

Notes on Wolf and J. Johnson (and McLouth)

Notes on Wolf and J. Johnson (and McLouth)
I've been asked about possible interest in left-hander Randy Wolf. The Orioles weren't among the teams that watched him work out last week. Doesn't sound like there's any interest. FOX Sports reported that Wolf auditioned for eight teams as he attempts a comeback from ligament-reconstructive surgery in September 2012. He didn't pitch this year. Wolf, 36, went 2-0 with a 5.28 ERA in five games (two starts) with the Orioles after signing as a free agent on Aug. 31, 2012. Earlier this...

Throwback Thursday: Johnson's last save with the Birds

Throwback Thursday: Johnson's last save with the Birds
The big news of the week was the Orioles' trade that sent Jim Johnson to the Atheltics in exchange for infielder Jemile Weeks and a player to be named. Many Baltimore fans were sad to see the closer go after back-to-back seasons with at least 50 saves. In honor of Johnson's time with the Birds, we're throwin' it back to his 50th save of the 2013 season, his last save in an Orioles uniform. Your browser does not support iframes.

More random thoughts and ramblings

More random thoughts and ramblings
The Orioles played their final game on Sept. 29. Are they any better today? No. About the same? No. It's still early, right? We're not supposed to be fooled by the flurry of trades and signings. We haven't reached the Winter Meetings yet. This date qualifies as "early" for the offseason. But the Orioles have backpedaled by removing Jim Johnson, Nate McLouth, Brian Roberts, Scott Feldman and Jason Hammel from the roster. Oh yeah, and Manny Machado had knee surgery. So, how's your day...

More from Duquette and another rumor

More from Duquette and another rumor
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette phoned into "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" earlier today on MASN. Not surprisingly, last night's trade was the first topic of discussion. What motivated the Orioles to send closer Jim Johnson to the Athletics for infielder Jemile Weeks and a PTBNL? "Jimmy did a nice job and that was a difficult choice for us, but we were looking to create some flexibility for the team to go out and staff some of the other areas. And we think we'll be able...

Jim Johnson on trade: "It just hit me like five minutes ago"

Jim Johnson on trade: "It just hit me like five minutes ago"
Jim Johnson is known as a stoic figure on the mound and inside the clubhouse. Nothing seems to faze him. Not the pressure situations in the ninth inning or the blown saves or the fan criticism. It wasn't until Johnson began to talk about his tenure with the Orioles, which ended with last night's trade to the Oakland Athletics, that the emotions bubbled to the surface. Johnson choked up several times during a phone conversation while reflecting on the past two years and the role he played in...

More on J. Johnson and Gamboa, plus some Wieters speculation

More on J. Johnson and Gamboa, plus some Wieters speculation
The trade of Jim Johnson sure brought on an avalanche of reaction, much of it questioning the return the Orioles got in Jemile Weeks from Oakland. In acquiring Weeks, the Orioles got a player who didn't even play much in the majors last year and has not been able to duplicate his big league success of 2011, when he hit .303 in 97 games. It appears Weeks is not being handed the second base job, so the O's did not get back a top prospect or a player guaranteed to be a regular in exchange for...