Bryce Harper has done some pretty impressive things early in his major league career. Not many players can say that they hit 42 home runs and posted an OPS higher than .830 over their first two big league seasons. Harper did that before turning 21, and he did it while spending the first month of his rookie season in the minors and then missing significant time in 2013 due to a knee injury. Harper is a special talent. We know this. That said, entering Harper's third season in the majors,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - So much for easing into the mini-camp schedule. Yesterday was supposed to be a light day, with players trickling into the complex. Who knew that the Orioles would sign Delmon Young to a minor league contract and invite Jack Cust for a workout this week? Dylan Bundy provided an update on his throwing program and targeted June 28 as his first competitive game. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Manny Machado wouldn't be here, but might be cleared for baseball activities...

Ken Rosenthal said Tony Bosch is not exactly a high-character person on MLB Network Monday and he is right. On the same broadcast, Harold Reynolds said it was the players, though, that brought Bosch into the game and he was right. Rosenthal said no one came off looking good during the "60 Minutes" telecast Sunday night - not Bosch, not Major League Baseball and certainly not Alex Rodriguez - and he was right. If a fan said or I said I can't wait for a day when performance-enhancing drugs...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles decided not to wait until Delmon Young arrived at their mini-camp before signing him to a minor league contract. Young is expected to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex later this week, and he already will be a member of the organization. The Orioles just announced that they signed Young to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training. Young, 28, is a candidate to serve as a right-handed designated hitter due to his .303/.341/.471 career...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have invited outfielders Delmon Young and Jack Cust to their mini-camp, according to an industry source, and both players are expected to arrive Tuesday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles are interested in signing Young and Cust to minor league deals with invitations to spring training, according to the source. Young is more likely to be signed than Cust, but it's possible that the Orioles extend contracts to both of them. Young, 28, is viewed strictly...

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico - One of the Orioles not in mini-camp in Sarasota this week is catcher Johnny Monell, who was acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants on Nov. 30 in exchange for cash considerations. Monell, who got his first taste of the majors in 2013, is expected to compete for the role of Matt Wieters' backup in spring training. Monell is currently playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League - officially Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente - with los Criollos de Caguas,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy has set June 28 as his target date to pitch in a "competitive" game, exactly one year after undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Bundy, regarded in some circles as the Orioles' top prospect - slightly ahead of pitcher Kevin Gausman - is throwing from 60 feet and said "everything's great." "I'm throwing without pain for the first time in a year, so that's always a positive," Bundy said after participating in today's mini-camp...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles annual mini-camp officially begins on Tuesday, but about a dozen players gathered on one of the practice fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning to participate in conditioning drills and do some throwing. Five of the players were easy to identify - pitchers Tommy Hunter, Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and Mike Wright, and outfielder Henry Urrutia. Bundy, recovering from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow, played catch with minor league...

Nationals second baseman prospect Tony Renda is ready to take the next step in the system after a very successful 2013 campaign with low Single-A Hagerstown. Renda batted .294 in 135 games with 99 runs, 51 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, 43 doubles, three triples and three home runs for the division champion and league finalist Suns. He also was the club's first recipient of the newly established Bob Boone award, which exemplifies "a player that has demonstrated professionalism, leadership, loyalty,...

Yesterday was quite a day of television. Two NFL Divisional Round playoff games, a very interesting "60 Minutes" episode that featured a piece on Alex Rodriguez's alleged PED usage (I guess we still have to say "alleged," even though Rodriguez might be the only person left on the planet who doesn't believe he took PEDs), and then the Golden Globes. I'm usually not a big awards show guy, but I flipped over to the Golden Globes right as Jon Voight won an award for the Best Supporting...