It may be a relatively quiet Saturday for the Orioles compared to yesterday, when they settled with four arbitration-eligible players, exchanged salary figures with six others, outrighted catcher Ryan Lavarnway to Triple-A Norfolk and announced details on the autograph stations at FanFest. Still no word on a left-handed hitting outfielder, however, which remains a top priority. Nori Aoki reached agreement with the Giants yesterday on a deal reportedly worth $4 million in 2015 that includes a...

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with infielder Chris Davis, left-hander Brian Matusz, right-hander Chris Tillman and catcher Matt Wieters on one-year contracts, thus avoiding arbitration. Davis, 28, hit .196/.300/.404 with 26 home runs and 72 RBI in 127 games for the Orioles in 2014. Matusz, 27, was 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA (51.2IP, 20ER) in 63 games for the Orioles in 2014. Tillman, 26, was 13-6 with a 3.34 ERA (207.1IP, 77ER) in a career-high 34 starts for the Orioles...

No doubt some Orioles fans and local media too are probably a little confused over the situation involving Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and the Toronto Blue Jays. There is plenty of speculation, but few actual answers right now. Will he or won't he become the president and CEO of the Blue Jays? That uncertainty extends north, to Toronto, where reporters are not only not getting answers, they are not getting any comments whatsoever from the management of...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said he expects the team to have one or two arbitration hearings next month after salary figures were exchanged earlier today. The Orioles haven't gone to a hearing since beating pitcher Brad Bergesen on Feb. 9, 2012. They're 7-0 in cases led by general counsel H. Russell Smouse. Hearing dates run from Feb. 1-21. In case you missed it in a previous blog entry, here are the figures: * Alejandro De Aza submitted $5.650 million and the Orioles...

When discussing possible in-house replacements for Tyler Clippard in the eighth-inning role, the names of Aaron Barrett and Blake Treinen have been thrown around by myself and others. Both are young and still relatively inexperienced at the big league level, but both have shown promise in their limited major league action. There's a far more experienced option in the organization that we haven't talked much about since the trade that sent Clippard to the A's, however. That option is Matt...

Catcher Ryan Lavarnway has finally cleared waivers. The Orioles announced today that Lavarnway has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk after they designated him for assignment on Jan. 9 to create room for outfielder Delmon Young on the 40-man roster. Lavarnway was claimed off waivers from the Cubs on Dec. 23. He previously was selected off waivers by the Dodgers on Dec. 5 and the Cubs on Dec. 19. Teams kept claiming Lavarnway until this week. Lavarnway, 27, batted .283/.389/.370 in 62 games for...

The Orioles will have four autograph stations set up at their annual FanFest on Jan. 31 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with early entry for Orioles season plan members at 10 a.m. Autograph vouchers go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at orioles.com/fanfest. The autograph sessions begin at 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:20 p.m. and 4:40 p.m., and each will include three Orioles players, staff or alumni. Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Manny...

The Orioles have released their autograph schedule for FanFest. Autograph vouchers for the Esskay Autograph Stations will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 at orioles.com/fanfest. FanFest will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Baltimore Convention Center from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with early entry for Orioles season plan members beginning at 10 a.m. Autograph sessions will begin at 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:20 p.m. and 4:40 p.m., and each will include three Orioles players, staff...

Here are quotes from Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player development and pro scouting Doug Harris on the recent additions to the minor league coaching staff: On minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart: "Menhart's really done a terrific job. He's earned his stripes at every level. He's an excellent teacher. Mechanically he does a terrific job in developing deliveries, developing specific pitches as well as the mental side of the game. We felt like he was...

The Orioles and left-hander Brian Matusz have reached agreement on a contract for 2015, settling at $3.2 million as the deadline approaches before teams and arbitration-eligible players exchange salary figures. Matusz, who turns 28 next month, made $2.4 million last season and was projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to receive $2.7 million this season. Matusz posted a career-low 3.48 ERA in 63 appearances last season. He pitched to a 1.23 ERA with four walks and 29 strikeouts over his last 27...