SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Luis Ayala arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning, and an announcement of his minor league deal with the Orioles should be coming later today. There's no word on whether Ayala has been offered an invitation to spring training. I was told yesterday that he'd report to Twin Lakes Park. Stay tuned. The Orioles found a new opponent today. They're playing the Braves, who are sending a split squad to Sarasota. Third baseman Chris Johnson made the trip....

VIERA, Fla. - Let's assume, for the sake of this discussion, that the Nationals end up going with a seven-man bullpen and a five-man bench come opening day. Let's also assume, for the sake of this discussion, that Danny Espinosa has locked up a roster spot as a reserve infielder and that Doug Fister will be stretched out enough to open the season in the Nats' rotation. (More on that last part in a minute.) If that all is the case, then what we're currently looking at, barring any...

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's the Florida edition of our popular mailbag sequel, which means it's tanned, doesn't drain after a heavy rain and thinks the fast lane is only for cars going 25 mph or 125 mph. It also writes checks at the grocery store and becomes confused during elections. You've got questions. I've got answers. You've got the same questions. I've got the same sarcasm. Here we go. Do you think Michael Almanzar can make the club? It's going to be tricky unless the Orioles can...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland allowed a run in the eighth inning tonight and faced three former Orioles in a row in the ninth - Omar Santos, Robert Andino and Travis Ishikawa. A fourth, Chris Dickerson, stood on deck. Dickerson never made it to the plate. Ishikawa grounded to McFarland, and the Orioles defeated the Pirates, 4-2, at McKechnie Field. Manager Buck Showalter thought starter Bud Norris was "good" tonight. "Threw a lot more changeups, around 10 or 12. Got about...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 4, Pirates 2 Recap: Bud Norris became the second Orioles starter to complete five innings, joining Chris Tillman. Andrew McCutchen homered off Norris in the first inning for the only run off the right-hander. Nelson Cruz doubled twice and drove in a run, and Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jemile Weeks and break a 1-1 tie in the seventh. Henry Urrutia had an RBI grounder and Chad Tracy had a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Need to...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Bud Norris has produced much better results tonight in his fourth start of the spring than in his previous outing in Tampa. Norris has held the Pirates to one run and two hits over four innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. He's thrown 60 pitches, 37 for strikes. Andrew McCutchen hit a two-out, opposite field home run off Norris in the first. Norris proceeded to strike out three of the next four batters. Jose Tabata led off the third inning with a...

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles haven't received an update on third baseman Manny Machado's knee exam today in Los Angeles. Manager Buck Showalter has stated that it's up to the team to determine when Machado can start playing in games. Official word won't come from Dr. Neal ElAttrache's office. Showalter said the Orioles could wait until the March 29 exhibition game in Norfolk to decide whether Machado is on the opening day roster or goes on the disabled list. They would likely use him...

In the ongoing search to add young talent to the organization, the Orioles added two international prospects Jan. 30 when they signed 16-year-old third baseman Jomar Reyes and purchased 17-year-old first baseman Carlos Diaz from the Mexico City Reds. They are two big kids that the Orioles believe show good power potential. Diaz, a lefty batter and first baseman from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 lbs. Reyes, a right-handed hitter and third baseman from Santo...

I don't know if you follow us on Facebook or not, but we have been counting down the days until opening day through pictures, like the one to the right. Seeing these pictures makes me even more excited for opening day. Just 10 more days! While we're counting down, the Orioles are still in the process of making cuts and getting their roster whittled down for the start of the regular season. Although there was a lot of rain in Florida this week, Buck Showalter and the rest of the O's staff...

VIERA, Fla. - Reporters didn't get a chance to meet with Matt Williams pregame today, but we did chat with the Nationals skipper following today's 8-1 win over the Tigers. Here are some topics covered in that session, covering everything from Stephen Strasburg to Bryce Harper to Zach Walters: On if he needs to see anything else from Strasburg before opening day: "No, I think he's right on track. He pitched around an early misplay, which is great. And certainly Denard (Span) is going to...