Yesterday, I was thankful for family, friends and health. Today, I'm thankful that the button didn't pop off my pants during Thanksgiving dinner and that I won't be forced to participate in any Black Friday shopping. You couldn't pay me to go to a mall today and battle the crowds. Not my cup of tea. Not even close. Steven Souza Jr.'s 2014 season was beyond impressive. The 25-year-old outfielder hit a ridiculous .350/.432/.590 (that's a 1.022 OPS, folks) at Triple-A Syracuse, leading the...

The news came out this week, but didn't get the same publicity and coverage as the Red Sox's signings of free agents Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. The Seattle Mariners agreed to a long-term deal with young third baseman Kyle Seager, a deal that could potentially provide a framework for a future contract for Orioles third baseman Manny Machado. Seager, who turned 27 on Nov. 3, agreed to a seven-year deal worth $100 million with an eighth-year option at $20 million. The Mariners bought out...

Here's hoping that everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving and no one bet the mortgage on the Cowboys. I'm heading out later today to buy a battery for my laptop. The power cord has a short in it, further complicating my efforts to post daily blog entries. Otherwise, it's a piece of cake. Or a slice of pumpkin pie, if that's your preference. I've written how the Orioles are focusing on their bullpen, especially left-handed relief with Andrew Miller set to depart as a free agent. The...

It's arrived - my favorite holiday of the year. Thanksgiving is a time for me to meet up with old friends, spend time with family, lay around watching football all day and smell the fantastic food my mom is cooking up in the kitchen. And then later on, I get to demolish said food. It's also a time, of course, to realize what we're thankful for. We'll save the heartfelt stuff for later on today when we're sitting around the dinner table, but here's a list of some of the things that...

The Orioles currently have 20 pitchers on their 40-man roster, including two left-handed relievers who are recent additions to the group. They claimed Pat McCoy off waivers from the Tigers on Oct. 31, and we're waiting to find out whether it's a trick or a treat. It was a fun-size transaction, small in comparison to other moves made by teams during the offseason. (I know it's a different holiday today. Stay with me here.) The Orioles acquired Scott Barnes from the Indians yesterday for...

Happy Thanksgiving to all the loyal readers here today and to everyone throughout Birdland! I am thankful for so many things, including a great family, wonderful friends and getting to cover and write about my hometown team. But also that so many come here every day to read what I have to say, take the time to leave comments and engage in daily baseball conversations. This is a great community of Orioles fans and I'm appreciative that you are here today and every day. Here a few quick notes...

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-hander Scott Barnes from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations. Additionally, the Orioles have signed infielder Rey Navarro to a major league contract. Barnes, 27, appeared in 25 games (one start) with Triple-A Columbus in 2014, going 3-2 with a 3.69 ERA (31.2IP, 13ER). In two major league seasons in the Cleveland organization, Barnes went 0-1 with a 5.20 ERA (27.2IP, 16ER) in 22 games. The left-hander was...

The Orioles announced today that they acquired left-handed reliever Scott Barnes from the Indians for cash considerations and officially signed infielder Rey Navarro to a major league deal. The moves leave the Orioles with 39 players on their 40-man roster. Barnes, 27, appeared in 25 games (one start) with Triple-A Columbus in 2014, going 3-2 with a 3.69 ERA (31 2/3 innings, 13 earned runs). In two major league seasons in the Cleveland organization, Barnes went 0-1 with a 5.20 ERA (27 2/3...

I feel like Nationals fans got a pretty good idea of the type of player and teammate that Adam LaRoche is over the last four years. And so it shouldn't surprise people that after signing a two-year, $25 million deal with the White Sox, LaRoche - who won a Gold Glove at first base just three seasons ago and was a finalist for another in 2014 - told his new manager, Robin Ventura, that he'd be willing to serve as the designated hitter as often as the team needs him to. The White Sox already...

Too soon for leftovers? There will be lots of cold turkey and stuffing in the coming days. And if you're like me, you'll prefer the cranberry sauce that jiggles out of the can. In the meantime, I've got some leftover Orioles notes and quotes to pass down the table. Try not to spill them on the white tablecloth. As the Orioles began compiling a list of candidates to interview for the job of hitting coach, they briefly considered Melvin Mora before deciding against it. Mora was a career...