The Orioles finalized their roster this afternoon and created two openings on the 40-man roster for reliever Evan Meek and outfielder Delmon Young. Left-hander Mike Belfiore was designated for assignment and pitcher Edgmer Escalona was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Belfiore allowed one run and five hits in two innings with the Orioles last season and went 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 37 games at Triple-A Norfolk. Escalona made one appearance in an exhibition game this spring before being...

The Orioles today announced several roster moves to finalize their 25-man roster. Four players have been placed on the 15-day disabled list: infielder Michael Almanzar (retroactive to March 23 - left patellar tendinitis), infielder Manny Machado (retroactive to March 21 - recovering from left knee surgery), outfielder Francisco Peguero (retroactive to March 21 - right wrist tendinitis), and outfielder Noman Reimold (retroactive to March 26 - cervical spine fusion surgery). Additionally,...

The Orioles are working out indoors today because of the rain. They haven't posted a lineup due to the uncertain status of right fielder Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup in Norfolk with neck stiffness. Markakis received treatment again today and told me that his neck is "much better than yesterday." Asked about playing on opening day, he replied, "I don't know." Neither does manager Buck Showalter, who's written two lineups for Monday - one with Markakis and...

They are two young players who got their first tastes of big league baseball during the 2013 season. Going into spring training, it looked like one had a better chance to make the Orioles' opening day roster than the other. Kevin Gausman looked like he could emerge from camp in Florida pitching in the O's rotation and Jonathan Schoop looked like a player likely to begin the season at Triple-A. But as it turned out, Schoop will run down the orange carpet tomorrow while Gausman will begin...

NEW YORK - Adam LaRoche's 2013 struggles have been well-documented. Struggles when it comes to his offensive performance. Struggles when it comes to keeping weight on his frame. The good news for both LaRoche and the Nationals is that on the eve of the 2014 season, the 34-year-old first baseman feels good. He feels good at the plate after a strong spring training. He feels good health-wise. And he feels ready to be a big part of what many people feel will be a strong offensive ball...

I'm heading to Camden Yards this morning for the workout that precedes opening day. Don't try to stop me. The weather may force the Orioles indoors for batting practice. As long as the clubhouse still has a roof over it, the media will be perfectly fine. I'll check on Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup due to neck stiffness. I'll check on Nelson Cruz, who took an Alex Cobb curveball off his batting helmet during Thursday's game against the Rays. I'll check on...

NEW YORK - Hello from the Big Apple, where it's cool, dreary and dark. Only one day remains until opening day, however, so that brightens things a bit. Not a single pitch was thrown off the Nationals Park mound yesterday, and we didn't see any batters dig into the batter's box. The tarps covering the field and the rain that persisted throughout the day prevented all that, as yesterday's exhibition at Nats Park was canceled due to the weather. It still was a long day for Nationals players...

NORFOLK, Va. - After today's game was called due to rain with the Orioles winning 4-3 over Norfolk in six innings, manager Buck Showalter touched on a variety of topics in the manager's office at Harbor Park. He said he let the position coaches tell players that they had made the opening day roster. So infield coach Bobby Dickerson got to tell Jonathan Schoop he'd be on the roster come Monday. "He's been with him a long time too," Showalter said of the Dickerson-Schoop relationship. "I...

NORFOLK, Va. - Jonathan Schoop has made the Orioles' opening day roster and will likely be in the starting lineup Monday against Boston. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that after today's game. It was pretty obvious, but Showalter told reporters that Schoop, Evan Meek, Steve Pearce and Delmon Young had claimed roster spots. The Orioles optioned Kevin Gausman, T.J. McFarland and Jemile Weeks to Triple-A after the game, getting the roster down to 32 players. Tomorrow they are expected to...

The Orioles reduced their roster to 32 players following today's rain-shortened 4-3 win at Harbor Park by optioning pitchers Kevin Gausman and T.J. McFarland and infielder Jemile Weeks to Triple-A Norfolk. They will get down to the required 25 by putting Manny Machado, Edgmer Escalona, Francisco Peguero, Nolan Reimold, Michael Almanzar and Johan Santana on the disabled list, and by having Troy Patton on the restricted list while he serves a 25-game suspension. Barring a late addition,...