Washington Avoids Salary Arbitration with Top Bullpen Lefty The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett on a two-year contract extension with a mutual option for the 2013 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In 2010, his finest season to date, Burnett posted career-best efforts in appearances (73), saves (3), innings (63.0), strikeouts...

I'm in between breakfast courses and wanted to check in real quick. The first course included fried ham and French toast made with gourmet Italian panettone bread. The eggs are cooking. Over easy. I'll need the jaws of life to get out of these pants. I would love to pass along an update on the first base negotiations, but I've got nothing. The Orioles preferred Adam LaRoche. They turned their attention to Derrek Lee. They continue to hold discussions with LaRoche's agent. They continue...

Today, I find myself once again writing about Matt Hobgood. Some fans and commenters to this and other blogs just can't get enough of the guy and commenting on his selection by the Orioles with their top pick in 2009. I know the majority of fans and readers here wish him the best and support him. I also know there are a few fans who see him as my boy and were likely outwardly excited at the news of his shoulder injury. They can't wait to tell me again how right they are and that I am just...

The Orioles probably won't announce their full minor league coaching staffs until after Jan. 1, but the top four affiliates have their managers in place. Gary Allenson returns as Triple-A Norfolk manager, Gary Kendall moves up from Single-A Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie, Orlando Gomez returns to Single-A Frederick and Ryan Minor returns to low Single-A Delmarva. Orioles manager Buck Showalter still wants to add a seventh coach, like an eye-in-the-sky, and that hire could influence additions to...

Coming in at No. 7 on Baseball America's Top 10 Nationals prospects is right-hander Cole Kimball, who made a meteoric rise up the rankings with a very successful 2010 in several challenging leagues. The 25-year old Kimball was ranked fourth among minor league hurlers in the Nats organization in 2009, after posting 122 strikeouts for Single-A Hagerstown in 2008. The 2006 12th-round selection was so good this year, he was rewarded with a place on the 40-man roster last month. Aaron Fitt of...

In a few hours, I'll be heading to Ocean Pines to visit my parents, sister and niece. We celebrate the holidays when we're able to gather together. The actual date is insignificant. It also happens when my father finishes shoveling more than a foot of snow from his driveway. Thanks, Dad! As I await the opportunity to feel the warm embrace of my loving family, and eat until I'm dizzy, I wanted to pass along a story that makes me appreciate these moments a little bit more, and also offers...

Do the Orioles need to add starting pitching? I say the answer to that question is a clear yes. Others may say the Orioles already have six pitchers for five starting spots in Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Brad Bergesen, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton. The only problem with that thinking is that having even six is not enough. Not over a full season. The Orioles used nine pitchers to start games last year and 12 in 2009. No doubt, both Tillman and Britton will get their...

My trip to Ocean Pines has been delayed until tomorrow after the area was blanketed by more than a foot of snow. Meanwhile, it's a sunny morning in Sykesville and that light dusting is gone. It must be those 50 mph winds. I thought my car might end up in another parking spot. I asked a few days ago which teams besides the Orioles and Nationals were looking for a first baseman. The Padres reached agreement with Brad Hawpe and the Rangers appear to have settled on Mitch Moreland. As for...

Greetings from Alabama where it snowed here in Birmingham for the first time ever! (That is the rumor.) I am here with George Washington basketball as they take on Alabama-Birmingham tonight. As we did in Oregon last week, how about all the major league ball players from Alabama? Okay, so that would take awhile. The list is much longer than in Oregon, headed by all-time players like Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Ozzie Smith, Bo Jackson, George Foster and Willie Mays plus former Nats outfielder...

It is hard to project what the Orioles batting order could or should be for the 2011 season since all the parts are not in place yet. But I still think the most effective top of the order, or top three spots in the order, could be with Brian Roberts batting first, Adam Jones second and Nick Markakis third. I suspect many fans first thought about this will be negative. They don't see the free-swinging Jones as a number two hitter at all and most realize Markakis statistically hits better...