The Orioles have agreed to terms with international player OF Damian Valdez, a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. "Valdez is a gifted, young left-handed hitter," said Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette. "He possesses a discerning batting eye and is capable of hitting the ball to all fields with power. We hope he develops into the type of player our fans enjoy seeing at Camden Yards."

Manager: Craig Counsell (4th season) Record: 75-60 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 1B Jesús Aguilar (.277 with 30 HR, 92 RBIs); 3B Travis Shaw (26 HR, 74 RBIs); CF Lorenzo Cain (.309 with 136 hits, 24 SB); OF Christian Yelich (.319 with 151 hits, 75 RBIs); RHP Jhoulys Chacín (13-5, 3.61 ERA); RHP Chase Anderson (9-7, 4.04 ERA); LHP Josh Hader (2.05 ERA, 10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 31: RHP Jhoulys Chacín (13-5) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (8-13); 7:05...

J.J. Hardy is bound to lose cell phone reception as he drives on a stretch of Montana highway. He's headed back to his ranch, where his family has been living for almost two months. The conversation cuts out and returns, which could mimic his playing career. Though he didn't hook on with a team this season as a free agent, the former Orioles shortstop still hasn't filed retirement papers with Major League Baseball. He might give it another try this winter. Or he could continue to move toward...

No one is calling them the Go-Go Orioles just yet, but an Orioles team that stole 32 bases all of last year has 19 steals in August. Yes, this is very different. The club is making some things happen on the bases, morphing into a team hitting fewer home runs, but trying to make it happen more with speed before our eyes. In the first half the Orioles ranked 12th in the American League in stolen bases. In the second half they rank sixth, and this month they rank fourth. The Orioles have 21 steals...

The Orioles' move to begin signing international amateur talent continued today when the club announced it has agreed to terms with outfielder Damian Valdez, a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. A source said the Orioles signed Valdez to a $200,000 bonus. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said in a team-issued statement: "Valdez is a gifted, young left-handed hitter. He possesses a discerning batting eye and is capable of hitting the ball to all fields with power. We hope he...

Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays and Triple-A Norfolk infielder Steve Wilkerson are the only confirmed Orioles assigned to the Glendale Desert Dogs roster in the Arizona Fall League. The Orioles have four spots saved for pitchers and one for a catcher, who will be announced at a later date. As I wrote yesterday, Bowie catcher Martin Cervenka would have to re-sign as a minor league free agent before the Orioles could send him to Arizona. Orioles minor league infield coordinator Dave...

The Nationals have announced their farmhands selected to play in the Arizona Fall League in 2018. There will be eight players from the Nationals invited and high Single-A Potomac's Luis Ordaz will be the hitting coach. The Nats will play in the AFL East Division with the Salt River Rafters, with top prospects from the Rockies, Twins, Astros, Marlins and Diamondbacks. Tommy Watkins from the Twins organization is the manager. They will be joined by the Mesa Solar Sox and the Scottsdale Scorpions...

He's getting ready to make his final start of the minor league season on Friday night. And for the Orioles 2017 top draft pick, 19-year-old left-hander DL Hall, there has been almost nothing but success in his first full season of professional baseball. He's made all his starts, been healthy, dramatically improved his changeup, posted very good statistics and gained both knowledge and maturity. And he's ending the year on a tremendous roll. He's checked off pretty much every box, so what is...

With the second trade deadline arriving on Friday, the Orioles aren't poised to make other moves after doing the heavy lifting last month. Players must pass through waivers before a deal can be struck - most of them clear - and Friday marks the last day that they're eligible for inclusion on a team's playoff roster. Everything can change with a single phone call or text, but I'm hearing that there's nothing percolating with the Orioles. They checked the market for veteran outfielder Craig...

PHILADELPHIA - While Davey Martinez keeps insisting that his charges are playing better baseball and control their own fate in the most improbable of postseason runs, one look at Gio Gonzalez in the clubhouse after tonight's 8-6 loss to the Phillies demonstrated how the message isn't always getting through and offsetting a poor performance. Gonzalez walked out of the shower, slowly shuffling to his locker stall to put on his clothes and contemplate another start that got away from him in the...