Merry Christmas to everyone who observes the holiday. I hope your stockings are stuffed, your chestnuts are roasted, your lights are blinking only if you want them to and your credit card bill is lost in the mail.
The Orioles shopped early and picked up Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim. No assembly required, though I started to wonder as the days passed without any word on his physical.
I'm wondering how much we can read into the Orioles' desire to sign another left-handed hitter. When I asked...
Santa Claus arrived early today, which leaves me perplexed. I don't have a chimney and I haven't left the house all day. How did this happen?
Note to the bearded one: Don't scarf all the Double Stuf Oreos, especially after going into the pantry to get them. If they're not on a plate in the living room next to a glass of milk, they're not for you.
One box was marked "non-update updates," which hadn't been on my list. I opened it anyway and found the following:
* The warehouse is closed...
Isn't it nice to wake up and not wonder if the Orioles will announce the Hyun Soo Kim signing or whether he failed the physical or whether his name is spelled correctly?
We're told to lose the hyphen and capitalize the "S" in Soo. Who am I to argue?
Kim never was in real danger of failing his physical, though I understand why some of you experienced Grant Balfour flashbacks. I don't flinch at them because it's a reminder that I broke that story. Not a lot of fun, but still a...
The Orioles reduced their 40-man roster to 39 players by exposing left-hander Tim Berry to waivers and losing him on a claim by the Marlins.
In the blink of an eye, the Orioles learned today that they surrendered Berry to the Marlins, infielder Rey Navarro to the Angels and left-hander Edgar Olmos to the Cubs.
I erroneously tweeted this afternoon that the Marlins claimed Olmos before I quickly made the correction. I knew Miami took one of the Orioles' left-handers. I just had the wrong...
The Orioles created space for outfielder Hyun Soo Kim on their 40-man roster by designating pitcher Edgar Olmos for assignment, and the Cubs claimed the left-hander off waivers.
The Orioles claimed Olmos from the Cubs on Dec. 10, another example of baseball's circle of life.
Kim will wear No. 25 for the Orioles, in case you want to pick up a jersey. He pronounces his first name "Heeyuhn," so hold the hon puns.
"He's excelled in international competition," said executive vice president Dan...
In order to simplify things during the hot stove season, please allow me to introduce myself as the guy who constantly reminds everyone that the Orioles have reached out to or checked in on pretty much every second- and third-tier pitcher on the market. Anyone in need of a bounceback season due to injury or throwing like crap. You can just insert a different name into the tweets on your timelines.
The Orioles want multiple arms - and not just on one body. They want a starter for the top half of...
It was a slow news day yesterday when the final blog entry pertained to outfielder Xavier Avery. I'm fine with the signing because it brings an element of speed into the organization and it's a minor league deal. The Orioles need to fill out the roster at Triple-A Norfolk and there's nothing wrong with taking a look at him in spring training.
It just isn't an impact signing and it has nothing to do with Hyun-soo Kim's physical.
I guess we're easing into the holidays.
If the Chris Davis...
The Orioles continue seeking ways to improve their organizational depth while also planning a reunion of sorts.
A club official confirmed today that the Orioles signed outfielder Xavier Avery to a minor league contract. It's assumed that the deal includes an invitation to spring training.
Avery was a second-round pick by the Orioles in the 2008 draft, one spot before they selected L.J. Hoes. Both players have returned to the organization, with Hoes coming last month in a trade with the...
Is today the day that the Orioles announce the Hyun-soo Kim signing?
I'm no longer making predictions on news releases and conference calls, but I'm expecting the two-year deal to become official today. I've been rearranging my schedule since Friday in anticipation.
Who needs Christmas presents anyway? And those holiday parties are vastly overrated.
Kim was supposed to fly back to Korea early this week. Let's get this done.
* The Orioles have expressed interest in Bronson Arroyo, according...
No matter what the Orioles do with their rotation, whether it's tapping into the trade or free agent markets, they're highly dependent on bounceback seasons from Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez and a major leap forward by Kevin Gausman.
While meeting with reporters last weekend at FanFest, pitching coach Dave Wallace tried to explain the drop off in effectiveness from Tillman and Gonzalez. He tried to shed some light on why Tillman's ERA rose from 3.34 to 4.99 and his WHIP jumped from...
While wondering if the Nationals will try to block Jonathan Papelbon from their spring training facility ...
Michael Cuddyer is following me on Twitter. Is that just random or should I read anything into it?
Hyun-soo Kim's two-year deal with the Orioles may become official later today, though it could take until Monday morning. The press conference that follows will offer the media a chance to learn more about the Korean outfielder and gauge whether his interpreter will be useful in the...
At least for now, outfielder Junior Lake will stay in the American League East.
The Blue Jays have claimed Lake off waivers from the Orioles, who designated him for assignment on Dec. 10. An Orioles official confirmed the transaction, which was reported by 670thescore.com.
Lake appeared in eight games with the Orioles and went 3-for-22 with three doubles and two runs scored. He batted .224/.274/.345 in 21 games with the Cubs before the Orioles acquired him on July 31 for reliever Tommy...
The Orioles' deal with Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim became official today after he passed a physical and signed his new contract.
We finally have Kim closure.
Kim will receive $7 million divided evenly over the next two seasons as the latest international signing under executive vice president Dan Duquette.
The Orioles wanted to introduce Kim to the media in a press conference at Camden Yards, but it's too late with the holidays upon us. He's going back to Korea, where he's getting...
Outfielder Hyun-soo Kim is scheduled to complete his physical this morning and the Orioles could announce his signing later today. As usual, it depends on how quickly they gather the results. But there don't appear to be any glitches or concerns up to this point.
The process shouldn't drag out as it did for reliever Darren O'Day, who attended a press conference eight days after agreeing to terms.
The Orioles' pursuit of another left-handed bat keeps bringing them back to first baseman Chris...
As the free agent market opened for business following the World Series, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen was projected by various outlets to land a contract covering a minimum of four years. The Orioles never were considered serious players for him, in large part because they figured he could squeeze a fifth year out of a team.
I've heard that Chen's representative, Scott Boras, is seeking a five-year contract totaling $100 million.
Check some of the other deals for starting pitchers this winter and...
With the Orioles reaching an agreement yesterday on a two-year, $7 million contract with Hyun-soo Kim, the next question is how the signing will impact other moves.
I'll get the first concern out of the way. The Orioles aren't tapped out. Committing $7 million to Kim, who turns 28 in January, leaves plenty of cash for another hitter and a starting pitcher.
First baseman Chris Davis remains in play with Kim expected to earn $3.5 million next season. They can afford another outfielder and/or a...
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...
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...
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...
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,...