If odds were placed on which starting pitcher eventually signs with the Orioles, A.J. Burnett currently would be deemed the long shot. The Baltimore/Monkton angle doesn't seem to be working. While negotiations aren't dead, one industry source says it "doesn't look good" because Burnett would rather stay in the National League, where he posted a 3.41 ERA in two seasons with the Pirates. The Orioles remain in the running for Bronson Arroyo, Ubaldo Jimenez and Korean right-hander Suk-min...

Remember that list of players that the Nationals will have as part of their spring training roster? We can add another name to it. The Nationals have signed right-handed reliever Luis Ayala to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training, a source confirmed late this morning. Ayala, 36, spent the 2013 season with the Orioles and Braves, posting a 3.27 ERA in 39 games. He struck out 22 and walked 13 over 33 innings of work. This marks Ayala's second stint with the...

If you thought all the offseason baseball hardware had been handed out, think again. Earlier this week, Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson was honored with the Dr. James R. Andrews, M.D. Award for Excellence in Baseball Sports Medicine. Peterson's connection to Dr. Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert, dates to 1989, when Peterson was with the White Sox organization and served as pitching coach with the Double-A Birmingham Barons....

We're now less than a week away from the official start of Nationals spring training. Six days from now, the home clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium will be swarming with pitchers and catchers, as Feb. 13 is the deadline for battery members to report to camp, with their first official workout scheduled for Feb. 15. Position players will report by Feb. 18, the first full-team workout will be Feb. 20, and the first Grapefruit League game will be on Feb. 28 at Port St. Lucie against the...

As one of four players in the majors last season to win both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award, Adam Jones keeps pretty good company on the field. But after receiving an award last night, he is keeping good company now off the field as well. Jones received the Babe Ruth Museum's Community Service Award at the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards. It was the headline of another "Babe's Birthday Bash," a celebration of the legendary Hall of Famer who was born in Baltimore 119 years ago...

Stop me if you've heard this one: The Orioles are focused on signing a starting pitcher. It could be Bronson Arroyo, now that he's willing to settle for a two-year deal. It could be A.J. Burnett, though the allure of being close to home doesn't have him crawling on hands and knees to the warehouse. It could be Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon, but he's not the innings-eater and proven major league veteran that executive vice president Dan Duquette has been targeting since the free agent...

The Orioles tonight announced that they have agreed to terms with CA MATT WIETERS on a one-year contract, thus avoiding arbitration. Wieters, 27, batted .235/.287/.417 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI in 148 games for the Orioles in 2013 and threw out 35 percent of potential base stealers (24 of 68). In his five seasons with the Orioles, Wieters has batted .255/.319/.420 with 87 homers and 328 RBI in 657 games.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters celebrated his new contract tonight with dinner at a nice restaurant. Nothing too fancy. He wasn't popping champagne corks over his $7.7 million deal for 2014. He's just glad to avoid a possible arbitration hearing later this month. Wieters had filed at $8.75 million and the Orioles countered at $6.5 million. The sides usually split the difference. "It's nice," Wieters said. "I'm very grateful to be able to have it behind me. It's never something that...

Jack Cust will have some company at Twin Lakes Park. The Orioles have signed former first-round pick Matt LaPorta, 29, to a minor league deal. It does not include an invitation to spring training. The Milwaukee Brewers made LaPorta the seventh overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Florida, but he never met expectations and didn't play in the majors last season. The Cleveland Indians acquired LaPorta on July 7, 2008 as part of the CC Sabathia trade. In...

The Orioles have settled with their last arbitration-eligible player, reaching agreement with catcher Matt Wieters on a $7.7 million contract for 2014. Executive vice president Dan Duquette just confirmed the agreement, which was first reported by CBSSports.com. It includes award incentives. Wieters filed at $8.75 million and the Orioles countered at $6.5 million before reaching agreement tonight and avoiding a hearing. Wieters can become a free agent following the 2015 season. The Orioles...