What to watch for on Hall of Fame election night

What to watch for on Hall of Fame election night
It's Hall of Fame announcement day, which means two things: Several of the greatest players in baseball history are about to become immortalized forever, and far more attention will be paid to those very good-to-great players who aren't elected this year, for a variety of reasons. Personally, I think it's a real shame that we spend way more time and energy arguing over who didn't get in than celebrating who did get in. But that's the world we live in today. Why celebrate positives when we...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
We've reached the point today where arbitration-eligible players and their teams exchange salary figures for 2015 and hope to avoid a hearing next month. You know the dance. They usually split the difference. It's only interesting to me if there's a huge discrepancy. Wake me if the Orioles offer Ryan Flaherty $1 million and he counters at $200 million. Reliever Tommy Hunter settled for $4.65 million earlier this week, leaving 10 Orioles who are eligible for arbitration. Here's another look...

Notes on catchers, Santana, Zobrist, Rasmus and more

Notes on catchers, Santana, Zobrist, Rasmus and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles' minicamp begins today, it seems like an appropriate time to also talk about spring training. It's only a month away and the fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex are in superb condition. The Orioles will bring at least six catchers to spring training. They would like to keep Ryan Lavarnway as a non-roster invitee if he clears waivers. Inviting Brian Ward also is a possibility. Ward is a defensive specialist who intrigues the Orioles despite his offensive...

Young signing expected today

Young signing expected today
The Orioles are expected later today to announce the signing of outfielder Delmon Young to a one-year contract. Young agreed to terms Dec. 24 on a deal that guarantees him $2.25 million and includes a possible $750,000 in incentives. Who comes off the 40-man roster to make room? Stay tuned. Here's the roster again. Give me your prediction: Pitchers Tim Berry Brad Brach Zach Britton Dylan Bundy Wei-Yin Chen Oliver Drake Eddie Gamboa Jason Garcia Kevin Gausman Miguel Gonzalez Tommy...

Orioles met with Markakis' agent at GM meetings

Orioles met with Markakis' agent at GM meetings
The Orioles re-opened contract talks with the agent for right fielder Nick Markakis this afternoon during the general managers' meetings in Phoenix. Executive vice president Dan Duquette met with Markakis' representative, Jamie Murphy, one day after sitting down with Diego Bentz, the agent for outfielder Nelson Cruz. Duquette didn't indicate that a deal with Markakis is close, but it's still expected to be completed after a lull in conversations that lasted more than a week. "We've...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
After back-to-back nights facing left-handed starters, the Orioles will take their cuts against White Sox right-hander Hector Noesi in the finale of their three-game series at Camden Yards. David Lough's chances of returning to left field improve slightly, but Steve Pearce keeps forcing his way into the lineup. He won't cool down enough to warrant a seat on the bench. Pearce and Nelson Cruz are conspiring, though unintentionally, to keep Lough out of the lineup. And Lough hasn't helped his...

Johan Santana won't pitch for O's this year, but impacted organization

Johan Santana won't pitch for O's this year, but impacted organization
Johan Santana won't throw a pitch in a game for the Orioles this year, but that doesn't mean he has not had a positive impact on the organization. Santana tore his left Achilles tendon Friday during his final extended spring training start in Sarasota. It could end the career of the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Santana was hit on the left gluteus by a line drive, and his Achilles tore as he stumbled while chasing the ball. He was about to join an O's minor league affiliate and probably...

Showalter speaks after 4-3, 11-inning loss

Showalter speaks after 4-3, 11-inning loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter wanted to talk about Adam Jones' opposite-field single in the 10th inning tonight that nearly won the game, but he understood that the the focus would shift immediately in other directions. Nelson Cruz's decision to break for home with two outs and a 2-2 count on Chris Davis. He was an easy out. Third base coach Bobby Dickerson's decision to send Nick Markakis on Jones' single. Markakis was out on a close play. The decision to have Manny Machado bunt after...

Santana out for year with torn Achilles

Santana out for year with torn Achilles
Veteran left-hander Johan Santana's 2014 season has ended before he made it back to the majors with the Orioles. In a cruel twist of fate, Santana tore his left Achilles tendon today during his final extended spring training start in Sarasota. An MRI confirmed the extent of the injury, which also could end the career of the two-time Cy Young winner. Santana was hit on the left gluteus by a line drive, and his Achilles tore as he stumbled while chasing the ball. Executive vice president Dan...

Update on Santana injury and flurry of roster moves

Update on Santana injury and flurry of roster moves
Veteran left-hander Johan Santana injured his Achilles tendon today while pitching at extended spring training. He was examined and the Orioles are awaiting the results. Santana was hit on the backside by a line drive, and he felt pain in his Achilles while chasing the ball. Santana, on the 15-day disabled list while recovering from shoulder surgery, likely was making his last start in extended spring training before joining an affiliate. Kevin Gausman will be officially recalled on Saturday...

Orioles lineup versus Athletics (Gausman in clubhouse, Santana hurt)

Orioles lineup versus Athletics (Gausman in clubhouse, Santana hurt)
Steve Pearce is starting in left field tonight in the Orioles' series opener against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Nelson Cruz remains the designated hitter. Nick Hundley gets the start against A's left-hander Tommy Milone despite his odd splits. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Nelson Cruz DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Steve Pearce LF Jonathan Schoop 2B Nick Hundley C Wei-Yin Chen LHP Update: Right-hander Kevin Gausman is in the Orioles clubhouse, but...

Gausman, Santana and game updates (Davis homers)

Gausman, Santana and game updates (Davis homers)
ARLINGTON, Texas - Johan Santana is scheduled to throw five innings or 75 pitches Friday at extended spring training in Sarasota. The rest of Santana's schedule must be determined, but he could report to Triple-A Norfolk to begin a rehab assignment. Kevin Gausman worked one inning and threw 26 pitches tonight for Norfolk, allowing three runs and two hits, walking one, striking out two and serving up a home run. He was removed from the game in case the Orioles need him to start Saturday night...

Showalter on an injury in bullpen, Hunter and Santana

Showalter on an injury in bullpen, Hunter and Santana
ARLINGTON, Texas - Are the Orioles poised to make another roster move? Manager Buck Showalter hinted at it during today's pregame session with the media. Apparently, there's a health issue in the bullpen. "You get to the park and there's one or two things you weren't expecting," he said. "We've got a couple we're kind of looking at that may alter some things. But not tonight. One of them potentially might. We'll sit down with Dave (Wallace) and Dom (Chiti) after we get through with...

More notes and Cruz meets the press

More notes and Cruz meets the press
ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter left open the possibility of going with a six-man rotation if Johan Santana is ready to come off the disabled list later this month. The Orioles had projected Santana to join them on June 18, but it's been pushed back a day after they purchased his contract yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the DL. Showalter figures that Santana could use the extra rest between starts, and the two-time Cy Young winner isn't a candidate for...

Cleaning out my notebook

Cleaning out my notebook
ARLINGTON, Texas - So much for a quiet and relaxing off-day. Nelson Cruz found out that he's leading all designated hitters in All-Star voting. Then, he learned that Major League Baseball named him the American League's Player of the Week. Then, he gripped a bat without pain in his left hand. Johan Santana opted out of his minor league deal with the Orioles and landed on their 15-day disabled list. He could be pitching for them in a couple of weeks. How would the Orioles make room for him?...

Orioles place Santana on disabled list

Orioles place Santana on disabled list
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles have purchased the contract of veteran left-hander Johan Santana from Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the 15-day disabled list while he recovers from left shoulder surgery. Santana had a provision in his contract that he could request his unconditional release if not added to the major league roster by May 30. The Orioles already had an opening on their 40-man roster, which Santana will fill, after they outrighted reliever Evan Meek. "His rehab took a...

Orioles still working to retain Santana

Orioles still working to retain Santana
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles have until midnight to work out an agreement with veteran left-hander Johan Santana to push back the opt-out date on his minor league contract, and they remain optimistic that he will remain in the organization. Santana didn't make his scheduled start today at extended spring training. He was supposed to go six innings or throw 85 pitches. Santana threw 76 pitches in 4 1/3 innings in his most recent outing, allowing two runs and six hits, walking none and...

Pregame notes on Hunter, Wieters, Santana and more (updated)

Pregame notes on Hunter, Wieters, Santana and more (updated)
HOUSTON - Reliever Tommy Hunter threw a bullpen session today at Double-A Bowie and the feedback was positive. Hunter will join the Orioles in Arlington and throw on Tuesday for pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. He's expected to pitch in two rehab games before being activated from the disabled list. Hunter, on the DL with a strained left groin, could be activated on June 9 - four days after he's eligible. Matt Wieters' second throwing session today went extremely...

Updating tonight's game, Santana and Bundy (O's lose 8-3)

Updating tonight's game, Santana and Bundy (O's lose 8-3)
Not only does Nelson Cruz continue to hit home runs, he has developed a fondness for driving the ball to right-center field. That was the landing spot again tonight in the top of the second inning at Miller Park, as his 18th home run tied the game 1-1. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo threw two 91 mph fastballs to Cruz, the second one traveling much farther than he wanted. Cruz leads the majors in home runs and ranks second in RBIs with 47, two behind the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Cruz...

Updating Johan Santana's start at extended spring training

Updating Johan Santana's start at extended spring training
Johan Santana made what's expected to be his final start today at extended spring training, throwing 76 pitches in 4 1/3 innings. The Orioles wanted to stretch out Santana to 75 pitches or five innings. The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits, walked none and struck out eight. His fastball was clocked at 86-88 mph, his changeup at 72-78 mph and his slider at 77-81 mph. The Orioles want Santana to keep about a 10 mph difference between his fastball and changeup. Santana has an opt-out...