The timing of today's announcement that the Orioles signed shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year extension, a day before Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, could best be described as a curiosity among reporters. It made perfect sense to manager Buck Showalter, who sat with Hardy and executive vice president Dan Duquette during today's press conference at Camden Yards. "Is there ever a bad time to announce J.J. continuing as an Oriole?" Showalter asked. "I'd do it anytime....

Here are some quotes from a press conference earlier today at Camden Yards with Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Game 1 starter Chris Tillman. Showalter told reporters he feels confident the Orioles can get the game in tomorrow despite the possibility of rain. He also said the O's players will know the makeup of the roster before they leave tonight, even if it is not yet released or announced. "We'll tell everybody that needs to know tonight," Showalter said. "But there's... we feel...

The Orioles just confirmed that they've signed shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year contract extension with an option for 2018. Hardy, executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter will meet with reporters at 6:30 p.m. As I wrote earlier, the deal is worth $40 million and includes a vesting option for 2018 based on at-bats. Also, $6.5 million is deferred. Hardy, 32, joined the Orioles in 2011 and has won two Gold Gloves and leads all major league shortstops with 86 home...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year contract extension with an option for 2018. Hardy, 32, joined the Orioles in 2011 and has won two Gold Gloves and leads all major league shortstops with 86 home runs in that time. He was also voted the American League's starting shortstop in the 2013 All-Star Game and won the Silver Slugger Award that year. In 2014, Hardy ranked 7th among all AL players in Defensive bWAR (2.1) and led AL shortstops in...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter revealed the first piece of his rotation for the American League Championship Series, naming Chris Tillman the starter for Game 1 at Camden Yards. Showalter said he's going to inform the other starters before leaving the ballpark this evening. He just needs to announce what order Bud Norris, Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez will work in the series. The other starters will be in the bullpen for Game 1, just in case it runs long or there's an...

J.J. Hardy's teammates were asked several questions today about the Orioles shortstop. Even though a new deal for Hardy is not official and there has not been any announcement from the club, the sides have reached an agreement on an extension. That news, as you might expect, was met with a very positive reaction by Hardy's teammates. "Besides playing a prime position, what he brings to the club is not just baseball," outfielder Nick Markakis said. "All the things J.J. brings are things...

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy smiled today as a herd of reporters and cameramen rushed to his table at the far end of the row during player availability for the media on the club level at Camden Yards. Hardy warned that his contract extension isn't "official" and he can't comment on it, but he understood why the questions needed to be asked before the Orioles took batting practice in preparation for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. "It's going to be a big...

Former Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie never got to play on a winning team in Baltimore. He missed it by one year. His last season was 2011 and the Orioles returned to the playoffs the following season. Back at Camden Yards today with the Kansas City Royals, Guthrie said he could sense something good was coming for the Orioles, even though he was not around to see it to completion. "Yeah, I always said that and there weren't many people that agreed," Guthrie said during a Royals interview...

BALTIMORE - Josh Willingham readily admits there were times during his 11 major league seasons that he wondered whether he'd ever taste the promised land of baseball's postseason. He was a part of the Nationals squad that went 59-103 in 2009, setting the stage for the team to take outfielder Bryce Harper with the first selection in the following year's First-Year Player Draft. Five times during his career, he's been on teams that lost 91 or more games. It would have been six had the...

1 p.m. - One more sleep until ALCS baseball in Baltimore After a few days of downtime once the Orioles won the Division Series, we're back in action gearing up for the American League Championship Series - set to begin tomorrow night at Camden Yards! The Orioles started the afternoon with exciting news that the team reached an agreement with J.J. Hardy on a contract extension. PARTY HARDY: The #Orioles have reached an agreement on an extension with J.J. Hardy! Details:...