The Orioles continue to work the international market while seeking upgrades, and they remain in the running to sign Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon. A member of the organization watched Yoon throw during the weekend on the Cal-Irvine campus, along with a representative for the Giants. It wasn't anyone in international scouting, but the Orioles had a presence. Executive vice president Dan Duquette declined comment on Yoon during Saturday's FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. "We...

Last night featured a lopsided, less-than-thrilling game, a mediocre batch of commercials and an overall boring night on Super Bowl Sunday. Bring on baseball season. We've talked a lot this offseason about Danny Espinosa and how he might fit into the Nationals' plans for 2014. General manager Mike Rizzo says that he feels Espinosa could be valuable to the Nats as a reserve middle infielder, given his defensive ability. Espinosa says he's been told he'll be given a chance to win his...

There was a great crowd Saturday at FanFest. We could hear you often from behind the main stage where the media spent most of the day interviewing O's players and coaches, past and present. Here are a few quotes and notes worth passing along: * Pitcher Troy Patton will miss the season's first 25 games after testing positive for an amphetamine in violation of Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program. He said he took an Adderall pill, not to enhance his...

Orioles fans had a chance to watch Bud Norris pitch last season. Or they didn't. Technically, Norris wore an Orioles uniform after the July 31 trade with the Astros. He made nine starts and two relief appearances. But it wasn't the real Norris. The Orioles scratched him from a September start against the Blue Jays because of elbow soreness, a condition that hindered him over that final month. He was Norris, but he wasn't quite right. Does he feel as though Orioles fans haven't really...

Super Bowl Sunday might be the biggest day of the football calendar, but to me, it always serves as a reminder that baseball is just around the corner. There's just one more football game remaining this winter, one more major sporting event left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training and we start the transition towards the warmer-weather sports. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the heck out of Super Bowl Sunday and all that comes with it (except that the NFL forces...

Anyone surprised that FanFest drew more than 15,000 people yesterday at the Baltimore Convention Center? Yes, the attendance fell short of the 18,000 in 2013, but judging by a few comments here, I assumed that yesterday's crowd would rival a Tuesday night at Applebee's. Not much news came out of the event. Manny Machado poured a little cold water on the optimism that he'd be ready on opening day. Just being cautious, I suppose, but fans would have preferred a Joe Namath-type guarantee that...

He hasn't thrown a pitch in a game for the Orioles in nearly 30 years, but Hall of Famer Jim Palmer remains one of the most popular people in the organization with O's fans. As you may have heard, he knows pitching pretty well, so it was worth hearing his opinion about the O's current pitching rotation and particularly their pursuit of free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett, the current hottest O's topic. What does the three-time Cy Young winner, eight-time 20-game winner, MASN broadcaster and...

Earlier today, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette told season plan holders that the club offered first baseman Chris Davis a long-term deal, but nothing came of it. "Really?" Davis said while meeting with reporters this afternoon. "Did he say anything else? Dang it. Keep me up to speed on that. "I know they talked at the end of last year, but obviously nothing came to a head. It's something we're going to have to wait and see. It's not my job to worry about that. "I've...

Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy continues to progress well from his ligament-reconstructive elbow surgery on June 27. He provided the latest update to reporters this afternoon here at FanFest. "I'm seven months out now," Bundy said. "I was supposed to throw (from) 90 feet yesterday in Florida but it got rained out. Was pretty bummed about that. I just threw 60 feet flat ground. So far, so good. On schedule and it feels great. On schedule for Monday, (throwing from) 90 feet. One set...

Though he's been cleared to start some baseball activities, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado can't guarantee that he'll be in the lineup for the March 31 opener at Camden Yards. Machado is allowed to hit and can start running, but he's not permitted to run the bases or take off after making contact at the plate. "Not full-go yet, but it's a process," he said today at FanFest. "Little by little, I'll be able to get back out there and put on a uniform and play, but that was...