Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy spoke to Nick Markakis earlier this afternoon, two friends getting caught up on today's news. Two friends coming to grips with being former teammates. Markakis has agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves, removing the longest-tenured Oriole from the clubhouse. "He gave me a call and kind of let me know how it all went down," Hardy said. "As a friend and teammate of Nick's, it sucks to watch him go, but it looks like he'll be in a good...

What seemed very unlikely is now going to happen: Nick Markakis is going to leave the Orioles. The O's right fielder since 2006 and a first-round draft pick in 2003 will leave the organization after 1,365 games sporting the orange and black. Markakis has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth $44 million with Atlanta. So much for reports he might have had a deal for four years and $48 million from the Orioles. This will be a gut punch for some fans. Fans that get attached to players for...

Within the span of a few days, the Orioles have lost the leading home run hitter in the majors last season and their longest-tenured player. Nelson Cruz agreed to a four-year, $57 million contract with the Mariners on Monday, and Nick Markakis has agreed to a four-year deal with the Braves today worth $44 million, according to an industry source. The Orioles have been notified of Markakis' decision. Yahoo! Sports first reported the agreement. The Orioles were negotiating a four-year deal with...

One year after declining to offer Eddie Gamboa a contract and removing him from the 40-man roster at the non-tender deadline, the Orioles have signed the knuckleballer to a major league deal. The Orioles re-signed Gamboa to a minor league contract last winter and he went a combined 5-7 with a 3.81 ERA and a career-high 8.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 19 games (17 starts) with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He's currently pitching in the Mexican Winter League, where he's gone 4-2 with...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed right-hander Eddie Gamboa to a major league contract. Gamboa, 29, went a combined 5-7 with a 3.81 ERA (108.2IP, 46ER) and a career-high 8.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 19 games (17 starts) with Double-A Bowie (five starts) and Triple-A Norfolk (14 games/12 starts) in 2014. He is currently pitching for Navajoa in the Mexican Pacific League Winter League, where he has gone 4-2 with a 1.33 ERA (54.0IP, 8ER) in eight starts, striking out 49 and...

The Washington Nationals today released new details about NatsFest, taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, December 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Season Plan Holders will have exclusive access to the event for an entire hour (10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.) before NatsFest opens to the general public at 11:00 a.m. * For more information on becoming a Season Plan Holder and receiving exclusive benefits like this, stop by the Ticket Sales booth at NatsFest or visit...

Forget the notion that the Orioles will reunite with former closer Jim Johnson. He's off the board. The Braves announced today that they signed Johnson to a major league deal, the transaction coming a year and one day after the Orioles traded him to the Athletics at the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Johnson is joining his third organization since that deal. He posted a 7.14 ERA and 2.058 WHIP in 38 appearances with the A's and a 6.92 ERA and 1.615 WHIP in 16...

Left-hander Matt Purke has started his throwing program as he rehabilitates from Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old says the program commenced Tuesday and started with soft tosses. "I felt really good and (am) excited to be back out on the field," the southpaw reported via text message. Purke said he will gradually build up his throwing over time. He still has plenty of time before spring training begins. Purke was signed to a minor league contract on Nov. 18, five days after being taken off...

Nationals center fielder Denard Span underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, the team announced today. The surgery was successful, per the team, and Span is expected to be ready for spring training, which will begin in a little less than three months. Span tweeted out a picture of himself in a hospital bed earlier this morning, sending off alarm bells among some Nats fans. The Nationals quickly announced the news of the sports hernia surgery, which should calm any major concerns. With the...

With the Orioles deciding to tender contracts to all 11 of their arbitration-eligible players, we can now look forward to the Winter Meetings that start Monday in San Diego. Another key date has been crossed off the baseball calendar. I'm still searching for my vacation on it. I'll make the usual prediction that the Orioles avoid going to arbitration hearings in February. The sides will exchange figures next month and meet somewhere in the middle. Not that the Orioles are afraid to sit down...