A very happy Independence Day to everyone out there as we celebrate this great country that we live in! If you do not already have plans for this evening and want to see some fantastic fireworks and great baseball, there are two Orioles minor league affiliates that have you covered. While the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, high Single-A Frederick Keys and short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds are on the road, the Double-A Bowie Baysox and low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are at home this...

The non-waiver trade deadline alone can fill up a mailbag. When the Orioles are connected to it, we're talking about a major overflow. You could paper the streets. The same five or six questions, but still ... There's a burning desire to separate fact from fiction, which is as complicated as splitting the atom - or knowing whether the Orioles will split from Adam. Let's get to it and check off another blog-entry sequel. Which team is the favorite to sign Manny Machado? I don't understand...

A visit with Bryce Harper's agent, Scott Boras, illuminates his take on why his client has had struggles at the plate this season. Boras said it boils down to a couple of major issues: the fear factor and the effect of shifts on left-handed power hitters. Boras said pitchers get more amped up to strike out the Nationals slugger than they do other players because he is who he is. "I just believe there's an intimidation factor that comes with Bryce and it may have to do with lineup dynamics,...

PHILADELPHIA - The Orioles have made official the signing of their second draft pick, Oregon State shortstop Cadyn Grenier. He will report to Single-A Delmarva. Grenier was taken with the No. 37 overall pick in Competitive Balance Round A. The slot value for that pick is $1,923,500 and Grenier was signed for $1.8 million. Grenier was considered the top defensive shortstop in the college ranks and won the Brooks Wallace Award, which goes to the top shortstop. His Oregon State team won the...

PHILADELPHIA - Outfielder Colby Rasmus is no longer on the Orioles. He has decided - at least for now - to stop playing Major League Baseball. The Orioles have placed him on the restricted list and they will work to get another player here for Wednesday's game. They will take on the Phillies tonight with a 24-man roster. "Colby talked to me this afternoon and said he made a decision to go home and discontinue playing," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "We're going to honor that and...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a solid bullpen session before today's game against the Red Sox. Strasburg is rehabbing from right shoulder inflammation that landed him on the disabled list. "He threw really well, around 60 pitches," Martinez said. "I think the next step will be to get him a sim game, sometime maybe this weekend. But we will see how he feels tomorrow." First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, also on the DL, continues rehab and core exercises...

PHILADELPHIA - Tonight is the fifth Orioles game since catcher Chance Sisco was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on June 28. It will be his fifth start. Optioned on June 17, Sisco spent a brief time in the minors. Since he's been back, he's been busy. "It is always a good feeling to come to the park and have your name in the lineup," said Sisco, who is batting .208 with two homers and 16 RBIs over 51 games. He's in there tonight batting eighth as the Orioles begin a two-game series against...

The Nationals have agreed to terms with their first round selection, right-hander Mason Denaburg, along with their 10th round selection, second baseman Carson Shaddy, and the 15th round selection, left-hander Evan Lee. Denaburg said he is thrilled to be a member of the Nationals organization. "It's a dream come true, really," he said. "As a kid, I've always grown up wanting to play professional baseball and today I finally met that goal." Agent Scott Boras said Denaburg reminds him of...

After homering twice in the last four games, Bryce Harper returns to the cleanup spot for tonight's Nationals game against the Red Sox. Harper is still mired in a slump, batting .183 in his past 27 games, but he's slashing .300/.419/.577 in 123 career games in the four-hole. Harper previously hit cleanup this year on June 19 and 20 against the Orioles at Nationals Park. Left fielder Juan Soto is hitting second and second baseman Daniel Murphy is batting fifth, one night after his first home...

The Orioles haven't confirmed a starter for Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia, but they made right-hander Yefry Ramirez a candidate earlier today. Ramirez has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and infielder Steve Wilkerson went on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle. The timing works for Ramirez and the Orioles, since he was scheduled to start Wednesday for Triple-A Norfolk. Ramirez tossed five scoreless relief innings against the Mariners on July 28 and was...