Today's attendance at FanFest is 15,000, the second-highest total behind last year's 18,000. And more fans are filing into the building. Nick Markakis is entering his final season before free agency unless the Orioles pick up his $17.5 million option for 2015. Brian Roberts already left, signing a one-year deal with the Yankees. Does Markakis think about how he's in similar situation? "That I'm going to play for the Yankees? No, not at all," he quipped. Thick beard, dry sense of...

Matt Wieters' name came up in trade rumors this winter, but in a Fanfest media interview he deflected those rumors and indicated he doesn't think much about it. "Until I'm told I'm going somewhere else, I'm going to be happy to be here in Baltimore," he said. "I love the guys in the clubhouse and love the guys here and we're looking forward to this year." Wieters said he hopes to avoid an arbitration hearing with the Orioles. He is seeking an $8.75 million contract for 2014 while...

Orioles hitting coach Jim Presley is already a David Lough fan. Presley became one even before Lough became an Oriole. He said he admired the way Lough had played last season with Kansas City and he and manager Buck Showalter talked about him in the dugout one night. Presley told Showalter he's a player he'd like to have on his team one day and in December, the O's acquired Lough for Danny Valencia in a deal with Kansas City. "I really like the way he plays," Presley said. "He plays...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter still figures that third baseman Manny Machado will be ready for opening day as long as he's playing in exhibition games the middle of March. Shouldn't be an issue. Showalter will slow-play left-hander Troy Patton, who must serve a 25-game suspension to start the season. Patton may not find many innings in Grapefruit League games. Nick Markakis is still sporting a full beard, thick enough to carry his glove. Executive vice president Dan Duquette met with...

A slightly heavier Ryan Flaherty showed up at FanFest today. He has added a few pounds during a winter where he spent a lot of time here in Baltimore working out with two former Orioles. He knows he has a chance to be the club's everyday second baseman come opening day, but he is not calling himself the leading candidate for that job. "You know, I am not looking at it that way," Flaherty said. "I'm ready to get going. They got a lot of guys they brought in and there will be a lot of...

Wei-Yin Chen said his right knee feels fine after undergoing surgery in October to remove bone spurs. He expects to be ready when the season opens on March 31. "I was back in Taiwan and I took a rest for three months," Chen said through his new interpreter. "At this point, I feel like I'm pretty good and I will be able to get into the bullpen when spring training starts. I feel very good. Chen said the knee actually bothered him two seasons ago. "Doctors said to take some rest and...

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is about to enter the final year of his contract and could be a free agent at the end of the 2014 season. He says he is very open to remaining an Oriole, but so far there have been no contract talks about an extension. "Obviously, I love it here in Baltimore," Hardy said this afternoon at FanFest. "The last three seasons here have been awesome and I like the direction that this organization is going. I said that three years ago when I signed that...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter kicked off a day-long series of fan forums by taking questions from season plan holders, a session that lasted about 30 minutes. J.J. Hardy can become a free agent after this season, and Duquette said the club will attempt to sign him to an extension before opening day, bringing a round of applause from the crowd. Duquette noted how the Orioles offered Chris Davis a long-term extension, "but it hasn't really...

Orioles pitcher Troy Patton said he let the team down and he has some repair work to do with the team and the O's fans. Patton was suspended for 25 games without pay in December after testing positive for an amphetamine in violation of Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program. Patton says he has an issue with attention deficit disorder and took something late last year to try to boost his energy. "I took an Adderall and I don't have a prescription for it, at the...

The Nationals announced this morning that they have agreed to terms with right-hander Doug Fister on a contract for 2014, avoiding arbitration. Update: The New York Post reports that the Nats and Fister agreed to a one-year, $7.2 million deal. The Nationals had offered Fister $5.5 million through the arbitration process and Fister had countered at $8.5 million. Fister, who went 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 2013, made $4 million last season. Fister was acquired by the Nats in a December trade...