Orioles reach agreement with Hyun-soo Kim

Orioles reach agreement with Hyun-soo Kim
The Orioles' search for a left-handed hitting outfielder has led them to Hyun-soo Kim, who agreed to terms on a two-year contract and is headed to Baltimore, according to an industry source. The deal is worth $7 million, according to the source, and it's pending the completion of a physical that will take place late Thursday and Friday. Multiple reports out of Korea had Kim flying into D.C. today, a strong hint that the Orioles reached an agreement. Kim, who turns 28 in January, is a career...

Duquette on Davis, extensions and pitching

Duquette on Davis, extensions and pitching
So what exactly do we know about the Orioles' negotiations with first baseman Chris Davis? I reported at the Winter Meetings that they made an offer in the neighborhood of $150 million, which included deferred money. The deal covered seven years. It never was adjusted after the initial round of rejections by agent Scott Boras. And there's no opt-out clause, because the Orioles are strictly opposed to it. Duquette confirmed on Saturday that the offer was off the table, and he replied with a...

Orioles on right path but with many more steps to take

Orioles on right path but with many more steps to take
Another day in the Hot Stove League brought more rumors, conflicting reports and a reheated leftover on the Orioles' interest in free agent outfielder Denard Span. The Orioles have been eyeing Span for months. They just need assurances that he's healthy and durable enough to last through the 2016 season. If I have to recite their shopping list one more time, I may experience a total meltdown. A corner outfielder and a starting pitcher. Those are the main priorities. The Orioles desperately...

Darren O'Day: "They wanted me back and I wanted to come back"

Darren O'Day: "They wanted me back and I wanted to come back"
Reliever Darren O'Day came close to accepting an offer from the Nationals before the Orioles included a fourth guaranteed year. But you already knew it. O'Day also considered his relationship with manager Buck Showalter and how relievers in this organization are handled with care. But you already knew it. There wasn't much in the way of news at today's press conference in the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. O'Day slipped on his No. 56 jersey and confirmed what's been reported,...

Notes and quotes from today's press conference

Notes and quotes from today's press conference
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said today that nothing has changed since Saturday regarding free agent first baseman Chris Davis. Duquette was responding to a question posed to him during the press conference for reliever Darren O'Day, who, I'm happy to report, had no problem buttoning his orange No. 56 jersey. Manager Buck Showalter also attended today's press conference before returning to his Dallas home. Duquette headed back to his office, where he will continue his...

Caleb Joseph on Matt Wieters' return and more

Caleb Joseph on Matt Wieters' return and more
The Darren O'Day signing didn't become official until last night, but at least it happened. For a while there, I thought it was going to make a nice stocking stuffer. At least we already know that Matt Wieters accepted the $15.8 million qualifying offer. There's no turning back and no animosity coming from his backup. Caleb Joseph wanted Wieters to stay with the Orioles and got his wish. He appreciated Wieters' heads-up phone call and reminded us at FanFest why he's such an unselfish and...

O'Day deal is official

O'Day deal is official
The Orioles' deal with reliever Darren O'Day finally is official. O'Day has passed his physical and signed a four-year, $31 million contract that includes $4 million in deferred payments and a limited no-trade clause. The sides reached agreement on the deal last Monday, but a few more details needed to be worked out and a physical needed to be set up. The Orioles were willing to offer a fourth year, which prevented O'Day from signing with the Nationals, their Beltway rivals who had more...

J.J. Hardy's left shoulder is "good, strong" as he tries to rediscover power stroke

J.J. Hardy's left shoulder is "good, strong" as he tries to rediscover power stroke
Brian Matusz, Dylan Bundy and J.J. Hardy offered up positive reports on their health during Saturday's FanFest at the Convention Center. I've passed along quotes from the two pitchers. Now, it's Hardy's turn. Hardy, 33, was hindered by an injury to his left shoulder that he sustained in an exhibition game. It took away his power, as Hardy was forced to "protect" the shoulder by not letting go with his top hand when fooled by a pitch. Limited extension led to limited production. Hardy...

Brach on O'Day: "Darren's leadership is second to none"

Brach on O'Day: "Darren's leadership is second to none"
There's a pretty good chance today that the Orioles will announce their four-year deal with reliever Darren O'Day. Do it quick before he checks Twitter. O'Day agreed to terms last Monday. He took and passed his physical. I believe there was an insurance issue that needed to be worked out. This is one of the more complicated deals with its deferred money and partial no-trade clauses, but the sides finally may have reached the finish line. "Darren's been huge for my career personally, just...

Reheating a few FanFest leftovers

Reheating a few FanFest leftovers
The Winter Meetings are over. FanFest is over. I'm just sitting here crossing items off my list. The biggest news to come out of the Convention Center involved first baseman Chris Davis. He didn't emerge from behind a curtain, arms raised in the air, dollar bills stuffed in his pockets. Executive vice president Dan Duquette stated quite clearly that the Orioles' offer no longer was on the table. I'll stress again that the door isn't closed, but the club's frustration is showing and any...

Matt Wieters on accepting the qualifying offer and more

Matt Wieters on accepting the qualifying offer and more
Todays' FanFest at the Convention Center attracted a crowd that eclipsed 11,500, according to a team official. I'll be dispensing quotes over the next few days, but here's a portion of Matt Wieters' interview, which leaned hard on his decision to take the $15.8 million qualifying offer. "If you asked me going into the offseason, I always hoped to be back and didn't know what the decision was going to be, and very grateful that I was able to make a decision seven days after the season and...

Hearing from Buck Showalter at FanFest

Hearing from Buck Showalter at FanFest
Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't keeping close tabs on Chris Davis or his negotiations. He can't escape the questions, but he won't be consumed by them. "I don't dwell on it. I don't spend much time on it. I really don't," he said at today's FanFest. "We have been and will be competitive to a point. They've got to make a decision, how much is enough, and the game will move on without me, you, him and the Orioles. We'd like to have him, but we'll be fine either way. I know there...

Adam Jones on roster moves and Chris Davis offer: "It shows that the team cares"

Adam Jones on roster moves and Chris Davis offer: "It shows that the team cares"
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones made it clear to ownership and executive vice president Dan Duquette that the club needed to be more aggressive in keeping its core together. He sees the players retained and the offer made to Chris Davis, and he's confident that the message has been received. "By what they're doing right now, offering seven years and north of $150 (million), I think they've grabbed a hold of what I wanted to get through to them," Jones said today at FanFest. "That's all...

Duquette says there's "no offer on the table right now" for Davis

Duquette says there's "no offer on the table right now" for Davis
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today at FanFest that the club has pulled its offer to first baseman Chris Davis. Meeting with reporters on the third level of the Convention Center, Duquette indicated that an agreement remains a possibility and that negotiations could resume again later. However, he also spoke of the depth at first base within the organization and how the Orioles are more focused on finding a left-handed bat for the outfield. The Orioles had a...

A few early notes from FanFest

A few early notes from FanFest
Orioles manager Buck Showalter received a standing ovation from season-ticket holders this morning before his Q&A with executive vice president Dan Duquette. Here are a few nuggets from the session: * Reliever Darren O'Day isn't here, but the club is close to announcing his four-year deal. It should happen on Monday. Manny Machado also isn't here, which Showalter noted after a fan asked about the club's attempts to sign the third baseman to an extension. "Well, if he was here, we could...

Finding storylines for today's FanFest

Finding storylines for today's FanFest
Show of hands if you're attending FanFest today at the Convention Center. Closer Zach Britton is unable to make it due to a snowstorm in Nevada that closed a major highway and prevented him from getting a flight out of there. The Orioles instead will have Britton do some "interactive" stuff and the Orioles were working late last night on the necessary adjustments to the autograph station. Ubaldo Jimenez received permission to skip it because he's getting married. Mark Trumbo and L.J. Hoes...

Quick update on Darren O'Day

Quick update on Darren O'Day
If you're waiting for the Orioles to confirm the Darren O'Day signing today, you probably should enjoy the nice weather and formulate your dinner plans. I'm hearing that the club isn't expected to make an announcement today, so it's more likely to happen at Saturday's FanFest at the Convention Center. Plan accordingly. O'Day passed his physical and signed his four-year, $31 million contract, which includes $4 million in deferred money. The sides reached agreement on Monday. If you're...

Orioles back home and still trying to do business

Orioles back home and still trying to do business
The Winter Meetings are being held in suburban Washington D.C., next year. If I'm still on the beat and haven't gone completely insane, it will be nice to hop in my car after the Rule 5 draft and walk through my front door in about an hour. I might volunteer to drop off the new player at Camden Yards, though it's out of my way. The Orioles left Nashville yesterday with only a Rule 5 pick, as if visited by the ghost of Winter Meetings past. They later claimed left-hander Edgar Olmos off...

Orioles claim left-hander Edgar Olmos off waivers

Orioles claim left-hander Edgar Olmos off waivers
NASHVILLE - The Orioles made a move today as their front office returned to Baltimore, claiming left-hander Edgar Olmos off waivers from the Cubs and designating outfielder Junior Lake for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster. Olmos, 25, went 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 20 games (two starts) with Triple-A Tacoma. He also pitched in six games (two starts) with the Mariners, going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. In 199 career minor league games (73 starts), Olmos has gone 16-38 with a...

Dan Duquette: "Sometimes you need patience and sometimes you've got to move"

Dan Duquette: "Sometimes you need patience and sometimes you've got to move"
NASHVILLE - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette will board his flight home today with a Rule 5 pick and optimism that more players will be added in the coming days. Duquette isn't done after choosing outfielder Joey Rickard from the Rays in the Rule 5. "I always like to try to get the core of the team before Christmas, but it doesn't always work that way," he said. "It doesn't always work that way to get the club set up for the holidays. A couple years ago, remember we got to...