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...

Tommy Hunter's chances of closing for the Orioles this season improved dramatically tonight. Reports have surfaced that Fernando Rodney agreed to terms with the Mariners on a two-year, $14 million contract. The deal, first reported by Jonah Keri of Grantland, includes another $1 million in possible incentives. The deal is pending the results of his physical. Those things don't always go smoothly. The Orioles maintained dialogue with Rodney's agent and were deemed as one of the finalists...

Well, the Super Bowl was nice and all, but guess what? It's baseball season! Before we talk more about how pitchers and catchers report this coming Thursday, here's a fun fact: Did you know that quarterback and Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson was once drafted by the Orioles? Anyway, back to baseball. Spring training will officially be under way in just six days. While pitchers and catchers report in less than a week, there are still many questions surrounding the Orioles. We have to...

Heard there was a big sporting event this past week? I'm kidding - of course, I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, and as many have said, I found it really hard to get into. I'm sure I'd be thrilled if I were a Seahawks fan. However, at the end of the game, only one thing had me really excited, and that's that baseball is right around the corner. In less than a week, Nats spring training will be under way, with pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 13. Recently picked up by the Nationals,...

In November, eight Orioles prospects were on the championship team in the Arizona Fall League. In fact, several O's players came up big in the championship game as Surprise beat Mesa 2-0 for the title. Eduardo Rodriguez got the win with three shutout innings and the two runs were scored by Jonathan Schoop and Henry Urrutia, who doubled twice in the finale. Now some O's young players could be part of another league championship. They've helped Perth to the Australian Baseball League...

The Orioles currently have 60 players on their spring training roster, with the intention of adding at least one more pitcher. They're still trying to finalize a deal with Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon and are heavily involved in negotiations with A.J. Burnett and Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo reportedly is willing to accept a two-year deal, which puts him in play for the Orioles. Meanwhile, there are doubts about whether Burnett actually wants to pitch in Baltimore despite the proximity to his...

Don Larsen was a no-name pitcher who became a baseball legend when he pitched a perfect game for the New York Yankees in their 2-0 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series in Yankee Stadium. The game is remembered with an iconic picture of Yankees catcher Yogi Berra jumping Larsen's arms after the game's final out. Larsen, 84, and now living in Idaho, is the only pitcher to throw a perfecto in the World Series. But in the days before he was a Yankee, he played for...

Beginning today at 10:00 a.m., the Washington Nationals will once again offer popular NATITUDE Flex Pack ticket packages for the upcoming season, allowing fans to select four games among five affordable packs and receive a fifth game FREE. The 2014 Flex Packs allow fans to secure seats to some of the hottest games of the season, including the March 29 exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers, before single game tickets go on sale to the general public. Nationals fans can choose from the...