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...

Torii Hunter is no longer a free agent consideration for the Orioles. Hunter has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Twins, according to multiple reports. He's returning to his original team. Hunter spent 11 seasons in Minnesota and included the Twins over the weekend among the clubs that could sign him this winter. However, he appeared to place them below the Orioles, Rangers and Mariners. The preference to play for a contender seemed to elevate the Orioles and Hunter had...

Nelson Cruz is gone and Nick Markakis may be the next to go. But one outfielder that we know will be a part of the 2015 Orioles is center fielder Adam Jones. He remains among the best Orioles and one of the top center fielders in the game. While Jones is a lightning rod for criticism and drives some fans crazy when he chases pitches, he filled up the stat sheet again in 2014. Jones batted .281 with 30 doubles, 29 homers, 96 RBIs and 88 runs. He was voted a starter in the All-Star Game for the...

The Orioles today announced that they have tendered contracts to all 11 arbitration-eligible players: catcher Matt Wieters; infielders Chris Davis, Ryan Flaherty and Steve Pearce; outfielder Alejandrop De Aza; right-handers Miguel Gonzalez, Tommy Hunter, Bud Norris and Chris Tillman; and left-handers Zach Britton and Brian Matusz. Wieters, 28, batted .308/.339/.500 in 26 games in 2014. Davis, 28, batted .196/.300/.404 with 26 home runs and 72 RBI in 127 games. Flaherty, 28, batted...

The Orioles have tendered contracts to all 11 of their arbitration-eligible players, with confirmation coming this evening via the team. The group includes first-timers Chris Tillman ($546,000 in 2014), Zach Britton ($521,500), Miguel Gonzalez ($529,000) and Ryan Flaherty ($513,000). The Orioles already were bracing for significant raises due to the three pitchers. Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Steve Pearce, Alejandro De Aza, Tommy Hunter and Bud Norris are entering their final year under team...

The Nationals announced today that they have tendered contracts to all 10 of their remaining arbitration-eligible players - left-handers Jerry Blevins and Ross Detwiler, right-handers Tyler Clippard, Doug Fister, Craig Stammen, Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg, infielder Danny Espinosa and catchers Jose Lobaton and Wilson Ramos. This means that, at least for now, all 10 of those players will remain under the Nationals' control. It is still possible, however, for these players to be traded...

The Orioles aren't expected to take their decisions on their arbitration-eligible players down to the midnight deadline tonight as they did in 2013. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said he's hoping to "bring this to closure by the end of the business day." Meanwhile, it's OK to keep speculating that all 11 players will be tendered contracts for next season. Trade discussions always heat up on the final day, but the Orioles don't seem as likely to make a move. They dealt closer Jim...

Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette has been named Baseball America's 2014 Executive of the Year. The Orioles were the 2014 American League East champions and advanced to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 1997. Baltimore's 96-66 record was tied for second-best in the majors in 2014 and the club's best single-season mark since 1997, when they went 98-64. Duquette is the first Oriole to be recognized with the award, which has...