No arbitration for Scott

No arbitration for Scott
The Orioles have reached agreement on a one-year deal with Luke Scott on the day that arbitration-eligible players had to submit their salary figures. The Orioles tendered Scott a contract last month and figured to avoid a hearing with him. The team still needs to reach agreement with pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who also was tendered a contract last month.

Matusz interviewed, and upcoming promotions (with Guthrie update)

Matusz interviewed, and upcoming promotions (with Guthrie update)
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, who will be in Baltimore this weekend for FanFest, was interviewed by phone earlier today on the Scott Garceau and Anita Marks Show on MASN and 105.7 The Fan. Matusz would like the Orioles to sign veteran left-hander Erik Bedard, who remains on the free-agent market and continues to draw interest. "That would be another great addition if we could end up landing him," Matusz said. "That's a guy that I could look up to, a veteran left-handed pitcher,...

More from Matusz

More from Matusz
Twitter strikes again. We had a young reporter tweet yesterday that the Blue Jays signed Carlos Delgado - that supposedly was the "word out of Puerto Rico" - but their general manager and Delgado's agent, David Sloane, quickly denied the report. Delgado, it seems, is still a free agent. There's no need to fact-check anymore. Just get the rumor out there and worry about the details later - like whether it's false. I saw plenty of examples at the Winter Meetings. Man, this business...

Spring invitees (updated)

Spring invitees (updated)
The Orioles have invited 12 non-roster players to spring training: Left-handers Chris George and Mike Hinckley; right-handers Jake Arrieta, Frank Mata, Josh Perrault, Alfredo Simon and Ross Wolf; catchers Michel Hernandez, Caleb Joseph and Chad Moeller; outfielder Jeff Salazar; and infielder Scott Moore. The Orioles will have to create room on the 40-man roster if anyone from this group makes the club. Moeller is the most likely candidate. Moore has an outside shot if the Orioles don't sign...

Interest remains in Takahashi

Interest remains in Takahashi
The Orioles have engaged in talks with pitcher Hisanori Takahashi and retain interest in the Japanese left-hander, but they're unsure whether he'll join former teammate Koji Uehara in the organization. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said the club has talked to him "in general terms about what we'd offer and whether he'd be interested." Takahashi is claiming that he's received a major league offer, according to various reports, but he won't reveal the team. MacPhail...

Orioles this, Orioles that

Orioles this, Orioles that
I'll open the morning with a quick thought on Japanese pitcher Hisanori Takahashi: A few readers here are disturbed that the Orioles would bother pursuing Takahashi, but team officials aren't doing it with the same intensity that marked their negotiations with Koji Uehara and Kenshin Kawakami. They're obviously intrigued by him. He's a lefty with an assortment of pitches, including a screwball. He has experience as a starter and reliever. And he's friends with Uehara, which might make...

Where's Blake Davis?

Where's Blake Davis?
Looking at the list of spring training invitees, I have to wonder what happened to infielder Blake Davis. Davis made a solid impression last spring before fracturing a bone in his foot and undergoing surgery that limited him to 55 games with Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles regard him as being ready defensively at shortstop. They just wonder how much he'll hit. I know the minor league camp in Sarasota is close to the major league facility, so the Orioles don't need to fill their roster with...

Because You Asked - Red, White and Blonde

Because You Asked - Red, White and Blonde
It's time once again to tackle the questions that keep popping back up after I've launched myself into them and been flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit. You know the routine. I answer them, you ask me again, I answer them, you ask me again. It's the School of Roch dance. Dim the lights and let me lead. • Do you think the Orioles have any interest in Ben Sheets? Nope. That's mostly because he doesn't have any interest in them. It's like telling everyone you...

Remembering Curt Motton (updated)

Remembering Curt Motton (updated)
I have the unfortunate task of passing along some sad news. The Orioles lost another member of their family when former outfielder Curt Motton died last night at age 69. Only a year ago, Motton appeared to be in good health. Friends were shocked when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and his courageous battle ended last night. Motton played eight seasons in the majors, seven of them with the Orioles. He was a part of the 1969, '70 and '71 World Series teams. Motton also served as a...

Shameless plug alert

Shameless plug alert
The Hot Stove Show returns to 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300 tonight at 8 p.m., with Jim Hunter sitting across from your favorite blogger. I'm referring to myself, in case there was any confusion. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is scheduled to call into the program at the top of the hour. Left-hander Brian Matusz will join us at 8:30 p.m. Once I learned that MacPhail had been confirmed, I wondered if he was going to make a grand announcement. Maybe break a little news for us....

Cornering MacPhail

Cornering MacPhail
The Orioles won't be introducing a new acquisition at tomorrow's FanFest. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail pointed out during the Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan that a player would have to pass a physical first, and since the club hasn't reached agreement with a free agent, "the likelihood of somebody being announced and then popping out from behind a curtain is about zero at this stage." Makes sense. MacPhail sounded encouraged that he'll find another player within the...

MacPhail on Bedard

MacPhail on Bedard
The Orioles retain interest in left-hander Erik Bedard after going over his medical records, but they don't sense that he's on the verge of signing with anyone. "We have had conversations, we have reviewed the medical stuff," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said earlier tonight. "We remember Erik the way he pitched for us, which was just positively dominating over the course of the 2007 season. We have confidence in the human being and his competitive nature. "They've...

Early observations from FanFest

Early observations from FanFest
That was quite the long line wrapping around the Baltimore Convention Center this morning as I arrived here at 9:30 a.m. Hello right back to everyone who shouted out my name. And please, no "Mr. Kubatko." Call me "Roch." Season-ticket holders were allowed early entrance for the Andy MacPhail/Dave Trembley forum, which began with a moment of silence for Curt Motton. MacPhail indicated again that the Orioles should sign a player within the next week. Then he mentioned the likelihood of...

FanFest - Part II

FanFest - Part II
President of baseball operations dropped a heavier hint that the club will sign a third baseman next week. "We made significant progress recently," he said. MacPhail said "nothing is finalized," but he's confident a deal will get done within the next few days. Asked if it's a third baseman, he paused before replying that it's "fair speculation." Garrett Atkins has been swinging a bat for the past month. He's eager to start working with hitting coach Terry Crowley. "He's...

While I was away...

While I was away...
I spent the last hour posing for photos at the MASN booth as fans passed by with updates on Miguel Tejada. The Orioles do their best business when I'm away from my laptop. They reached agreements with Mike Gonzalez and Garrett Atkins while I attended the MASN holiday party, and they've apparently done the same with Tejada. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec has confirmed it. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail did everything except hold up a poster of Tejada during his forum, and later...

Samuel's new challenge

Samuel's new challenge
Third base coach Juan Samuel is responsible for working with the infielders, which means he'll have to ease Miguel Tejada's transition to third base. Assuming that Tejada passes his physical, he'll be playing a new position with the Orioles. It's nice to hear that he's finally willing to move over from shortstop, but can he handle it? The Orioles have only won half the battle. "It's going to take a lot of work for him to get used to that position," Samuel said. "It's a reaction...

Putting on a happy face

Putting on a happy face
More than 10,000 fans are here, and they're still filing through the doors. They're probably having a better time than Ty Wigginton, who's doing his best to hide his disappointment in the Orioles' roster moves. Wigginton agreed to a two-year deal last winter because he was led to believe that he might be a starter in 2010. Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora weren't expected to return, and Wigginton can play first and third base. The Orioles signed Garrett Atkins and reportedly have reached...

MacPhail still dancing around the subject

MacPhail still dancing around the subject
During his latest forum, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail reminded fans that he can't confirm any contract agreements until the player passes his physical. But he did his best to get the message across about Miguel Tejada. He wasn't going to issue any denials. Everyone knows the deal is done. And the crowd broke out in applause as MacPhail dropped more hints. "All I know is Dave (Trembley) has been smiling since I talked to him this morning," MacPhail said. Trembley didn't...

Blair's health scare

Blair's health scare
The latest forum taking place on the main stage includes members of the 1970 world championship team, and it's a huge relief to see Paul Blair on the panel. Blair, my favorite player growing up, suffered a heart attack on Dec. 22. He was released on Christmas Day and said he's feeling much better. Blair said he was bowling when he began to experience tightness in his chest. He never lost consciousness on his trip to the hospital. Doctors told Blair that he had a 98-percent blockage in the...

Wrapping up FanFest

Wrapping up FanFest
It's done. I'm talking about FanFest and the Miguel Tejada rumors. More than 12,000 people attended today's event. I personally counted each one. It would have been nice if you stood still and made it easier on me. I want to thank everyone who waited in line at the MASN booth to have a photo taken with me. You obviously had some time to kill. And it was terrific meeting so many of my readers and putting a face with the name. We really need to arrange a School of Roch night because I...