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...

When the Boston Red Sox traded a haul of prospects for San Diego closer Craig Kimbrel, some fans wondered if the Orioles could get a similar return for their closer, Zach Britton. Britton said he has heard that his name has come up in trade rumors. But he also seems convinced those are mostly just rumors and he knows the Orioles are certainly not looking to trade him. "It feels good (that they want to keep me)," Britton said. "I heard through my agent maybe there was some talk of teams...

The Orioles added three pitchers to their 40-man roster on Nov. 20 when they selected the contracts of right-handers Parker Bridwell and Andrew Triggs and left-hander Chris Lee. The additions kept the trio from being taken in the Rule 5 draft and moved them one step closer to the big leagues. Of the three, Triggs might have the best chance to impact the Orioles roster in 2016 as he is a reliever and the other two are starters. They could certainly be moved to the bullpen to help, but Triggs is...

Kevin Gausman knows the Baltimore-to-Norfolk shuttle so well he could drive the route forward and backward. And probably with his eyes closed. But as he looks toward 2016, he hopes this is the season he gets the ball every fifth day and is in a major league rotation for the entire season. Gausman made five starts for the Orioles in 2013, 20 the next season and 17 among his 25 outings last year. "That is what you work to get to. I'm just ready to take the ball every fifth day and be one of...

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...

Despite the fact that they pitched just 22 innings last year between them, Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey remain ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on the top 10 Orioles prospects list released this morning by Baseball America. They are ranked one and two for the second straight year. At a time when the O's farm system has gotten some criticism, it still has two hurlers topping the rankings who have big upside and the potential to still be top-of-the-rotation pitchers and potential aces. Now they just need...

The Nationals need Ryan Zimmerman in the lineup to reach the next level in 2016. Nagging injuries have made it difficult over the past two seasons as "Mr. Nat" has become "Mr. DL," missing a combined 168 games. "The last two, three years have been frustrating for me," Zimmerman said at Winterfest. "I mean, nobody wants to be on the field more than I want to be on the field. But unfortunately, some of those things happen. That's not the amount of work you put in. It's hard to go 10, 15...

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...

Late Sunday afternoon, with Jayson Werth sitting on his lap, Aaron Barrett came barreling down the cement floors of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on a motorized scooter. The two zoomed around batting cages and slides on their way to an autograph session while fans hurried to snap pictures. Though highly entertaining, it wasn't a skit planned for Winterfest. After a tough season of injuries, Werth is healthy. But Barrett needs the scooter after undergoing surgery to repair bone...

The Nationals' three newest pitching acquisitions met with the media Sunday at Winterfest. Right-handed reliever Trevor Gott, 23, arrives from the Los Angeles Angels. Gott pitched in 48 games last season for the Angels with a 4-2 record and 3.02 ERA. Gott was thrilled to get the call that he was heading east, closer to his native Lexington, Kentucky. "I was excited. I think it'll be a good opportunity for me," Gott said. "Obviously, the Angels did a lot for my career and gave me the...