Over the first third of this season, there has been considerable discussion about how well Nick Markakis has performed. Depending on your perspective, he has been doing poorly, has been a breath of fresh air or something in between. Amazingly, all of those stances are somewhat equal in being accurate. Markakis has been doing poorly, he has been excelling and he has been merely adequate. How is this so? It depends on what you choose as your baseline. Back in the day, we nailed what Markakis...

ARLINGTON, Texas - So much for a quiet and relaxing off-day. Nelson Cruz found out that he's leading all designated hitters in All-Star voting. Then, he learned that Major League Baseball named him the American League's Player of the Week. Then, he gripped a bat without pain in his left hand. Johan Santana opted out of his minor league deal with the Orioles and landed on their 15-day disabled list. He could be pitching for them in a couple of weeks. How would the Orioles make room for him?...

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles have purchased the contract of veteran left-hander Johan Santana from Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the 15-day disabled list while he recovers from left shoulder surgery. Santana had a provision in his contract that he could request his unconditional release if not added to the major league roster by May 30. The Orioles already had an opening on their 40-man roster, which Santana will fill, after they outrighted reliever Evan Meek. "His rehab took a...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of left-hander Johan Santana from Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the 15-day disabled list (recovering from left shoulder surgery). Santana, 35, was signed to a minor league contract on March 4. A two-time Cy Young Award winner (2004 and '06), four-time All-Star (2005-07 and '09) and a Gold Glove winner (2007), Santana is 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA (2025.2IP, 721ER) in 360 career games (284 starts) with the Twins and Mets since...

ARLINGTON, Texas - The swelling in Nelson Cruz's left hand has lessened to the point where he can grip a bat without pain, according to team officials. If he gets through batting practice on Tuesday, he should be in the Orioles lineup for their series opener against the Rangers. Manager Buck Showalter may wait to post his lineup, which he's been known to do, until making certain that Cruz gets through BP without a hitch. Cruz, named the American League's Player of the Week earlier today,...

Manager: Ron Washington, eighth year Record: 29-28 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: LF Shin-Soo Choo (.289/.414/.456, 6 HR, 18 RBIs); RF Alex Rios (.320/.352/.473, 22 XBH, 29 RBIs, 11 SB); 3B Adrian Beltre (.291/.354/.442, 5 HR, 20 RBIs); RHP Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.75 ERA) Season series vs. O's (2013): 2-5, 25 runs scored, 32 runs allowed Pitching probables June 3: Joe Saunders vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD June 4: Nick Martinez vs. Bud Norris, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD June 5: Colby Lewis vs....

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles have until midnight to work out an agreement with veteran left-hander Johan Santana to push back the opt-out date on his minor league contract, and they remain optimistic that he will remain in the organization. Santana didn't make his scheduled start today at extended spring training. He was supposed to go six innings or throw 85 pitches. Santana threw 76 pitches in 4 1/3 innings in his most recent outing, allowing two runs and six hits, walking none and...

Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 24-31 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Chase Utley (.319/.378/.517, 30 XBH, 27 RBIs); RF Marlon Byrd (.274/.330/.476, 8 HR, 17 doubles, 32 RBIs); 1B Ryan Howard (.226/.300/.428, 11 HR, 40 RBIs); RHP A.J. Burnett (3-4, 3.79 ERA) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 11 runs scored, 7 runs allowed Pitching probables June 3: David Buchanan vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 4: A.J. Burnett vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 5: Kyle Kendrick...

Nelson Cruz already tops the major leagues in home runs and RBIs. Now he leads in another category. Cruz, who has hit 20 homers and collected 52 RBIs this year, is now the American League leader among designated hitters in the most recent All-Star Game balloting results. Cruz jumped ahead of Boston's David Ortiz in the latest figures after setting an Orioles record for the most RBIs before the end of May. Cruz has received 888,855 votes and leads Ortiz (766,631), Victor Martinez of the Tigers...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Have yourself a day, Nelson Cruz. And a week. Cruz has been named the American League's Player of the Week after batting .476 (10-for-21) with three doubles, four home runs, eight RBIs, five runs scored and four walks in seven games. Cruz led all major league hitters in slugging percentage (1.190) and was second overall with 25 total bases. Among his AL counterparts, Cruz was tied for second in batting average and homers and was third in RBIs and on-base percentage...