Koji Uehara passed his physical today and signed a one-year contract with a vesting option for 2012.
Uehara will receive a base salary of $3 million, with incentives that could raise the deal to $5 million.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail didn't declare Uehara the closer during the winter meetings. He said the reliever's role would depend on manager Buck Showalter.
If the Orioles sign Kevin Gregg, Uehara could slip into a setup role, though his pinpoint control makes him my...
I woke up this morning to a massive spam attack on my e-mail account and a video of Miley Cyrus taking a bong hit.
It's going to be one of those days.
My BlackBerry refused to accept anymore e-mails from my account after about 30 "undeliverable messages." Now that's a smart phone.
Meanwhile, my laptop held about 1,850 of them, plus another 241 in my spam basket. Had to change my password to log on, and I'm still receiving them and, apparently, sending them out to the innocent...
A few days ago, I wrote about outfielder Nolan Reimold's workouts with former Oriole Brady Anderson. You also can include third baseman Mark Reynolds on the list of Anderson's clients.
In an interesting coincidence, Reynolds contacted Anderson before the Orioles traded for him at the winter meetings.
"It was a nice circumstance that he's with the Orioles now," Anderson said.
Anderson had a lot of favorable comments about Reynolds.
"Reynolds is a stud," Anderson said. "I've...
It's much too early to break down the Orioles' 25-man roster. This team will need a first baseman - it's in the rules - or a new designated hitter. The bullpen is incomplete.
However, as I sat here last night, I thought about the potential composition of the bench. Cesar Izturis appears to have a spot as a reserve middle infielder. Brendan Harris and Robert Andino are expected to compete for another utility spot (Harris isn't on the 40-man roster, Andino is out of minor league...
Not much to report here, but I'm asked about the first base situation multiple times a day.
It happened again this afternoon while I was stuck in traffic on Rt. 32 and cars were blocking the Liberty Rd. intersection and preventing me from going the last half-mile to my house. (A Sun photographer captured the scene, which included my reddening face.)
A guy in the vehicle next to my rolled down his window, shouted out my name and asked if the Orioles were going to sign Adam LaRoche. I smiled...
No announcement has been made, but the Orioles have agreed to terms with infielder Cesar Izturis on a 1-year contract.
The deal will become official once Izturis passes his physical.
Izturis apparently will compete for the utility job along with newly acquired Brendan Harris, while J.J. Hardy is penciled in as the everyday shortstop.
Earlier this week, President Andy MacPhail stated after confirming the Hardy/Harris deal that he would continue negotiations with Izturis' agent.
Update: I...
I caught up with Brady Anderson a few days ago while covering the Winter Meetings in Orlando. He returned a call as I was transcribing quotes from president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, and I ended the game of phone tag a few minutes later after hitting the "publish" button.
I knew that outfielder Nolan Reimold was working out with Anderson. I knew that Anderson was impressed with Reimold's progress after a disastrous 2010 season. I knew that Anderson offered up a favorable...
I finally made it home around 10:30 p.m. after my flight was delayed an hour. Something about a mechanical issue with the plane, which is always nice when it's discovered before we take off.
I'll be driving my daughter and her friend to school and crawling back into bed for a few hours, the images of the Titans' "meaningless" touchdown last night with no time left on the clock still dancing in my head.
Meaningless...unless you took the Colts -3.
Like I didn't see that coming with...
The Orioles made new shortstop J.J. Hardy available on a conference call. Here's a sampling:
On his reaction to the trade:
"I'm excited about it. I've been through this whole getting ready to be traded the last three off-seasons and I'm pretty excited that the Orioles want me."
On whether he's familiar with the team:
"I feel like I know a lot of them from playing against them. Mark Reynolds I played against quite a bit, and Luke Scott was another one. Adam Jones, Brian Roberts. I...
Today's trade between the Orioles and Twins assures that Brendan Harris will be packing his bags again.
Or maybe he never unpacks them.
Harris, 30, has batted .260 in 458 career major league games with the Chicago Cubs (2004), Montreal Expos (2004), Washington Nationals (2005-06), Cincinnati Reds (2006), Tampa Bay Rays (2007) and Twins (2008-2010).
Does it become easier or harder as he gets older and it's time to order more change-of-address cards?
"It can go both ways," said Harris,...
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail tackled a variety of subjects following the Rule 5 draft. For example:
On what he's accomplished at the meetings:
"We have made some progress on the left side of the diamond. We made some progress with Koji. We have some other things we think we have in the offing that are encouraging. So by and large, we're happy that we're able to make a couple trades, bring a free-agent back subject to a physical, and other encouraging conversations. It was...
I've got a ton of work staring at me, so I'll have to just approve the comments quickly and get back to your questions later. Sorry.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed that the Orioles re-signed Koji Uehara to a one-year deal with a vesting option. Uehara will earn a base salary of $3 million, and incentives can increase the total to $5 million.
The vesting option for 2012 is based on games finished and appearances.
Uehara earned $5 million this season and would have...
With the fourth pick in today's Rule 5 draft, the Orioles selected right-hander Adrian Rosario, 21, from Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.
Rosario was 4-0 with a 4.50 ERA and two saves in 14 games covering 32 innings at Single-A Wisconsin this year. He also went 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA and one save in five games covering 14 1/3 innings with Helena of the Pioneer League. He walked 18 and struck out 59 for the year.
The Orioles had 33 players on their 40-man roster when the morning...
As we approach the Rule 5 draft, the Orioles have made two trades and re-signed their closer.
So much for "doubtful," right Andy?
Multiple reports confirm that the Orioles and Twins completed a deal after midnight that will send shortstop J.J. Hardy to Baltimore for minor league pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson.
The Orioles also would receive utility infielder Brendan Harris, which doesn't bode well for Robert Andino. I'd also put away my Cesar Izturis jersey unless you're into...
The Orioles are still trying to work out a trade for Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy.There's also a feeling here that the Cardinals could move shortstop Brendan Ryan later tonight.
In case you hadn't heard, the Orioles need a shortstop.
The Padres no longer are in the running for Ryan after acquiring Jason Bartlett from the Rays earlier today. The Orioles and Pirates could end up splitting the remaining candidates.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters around 6 p.m. that...
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters tonight that he never made an offer to free-agent first basemen Carlos Pena or Paul Konerko.
MacPhail met with their respective agents, but he insisted that no offers followed those discussions. He knew after one conversation that Konerko wasn't leaving Chicago.
Pena told a few reporters earlier today that the Orioles made an offer, but agent Scott Boras passed that information to him. MacPhail said he met with Boras once here,...
Following word that trade talks for Jason Barlett were "dead," the Orioles are trying to finalize a deal with Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy.
Backing a report in The Sun, an industry source confirmed that the Orioles are engaged in serious talks for Hardy, though a deal might not be completed today.
You know how easily these things can fall apart, so don't get your hopes up until it's final.
At least Nolan Reimold's name hasn't come up in talks.
Hardy hit 50 home runs with the Brewers...
We have conflicting reports on whether the Nationals have reached agreement with first baseman Adam LaRoche. One tweet says it sounds like LaRoche is headed to D.C. Another one says nothing is imminent and "not at all a lock."
The Orioles can only hope that the second report is more accurate. They've expressed interest in LaRoche every winter since his T-ball days.
Their choices are dwindling this winter, with LaRoche and Derrek Lee the most desirable options left on the free agent...
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail met again this morning with the representative for closer Koji Uehara.
It's believed that the Orioles remain Uehara's first choice.
The right-hander would prefer a two-year deal. If I'm the Orioles, I'd be a lot more comfortable with one year, heavy in incentives, plus a club option.
One official told me that the Orioles never had serious interest in Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami. The Braves have contacted every team, trying to unload the right-hander and a portion of his contract. The Orioles listened but weren't close to making a deal.
The Orioles want to add a veteran starting pitcher, but the bullpen, first base and shortstop are higher priorities.
The Orioles are still interested in re-signing Cesar Izturis to be their everyday shortstop or backup middle...
