LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles are trying to get a deal done with closer Grant Balfour before Friday morning's flight back to Baltimore. Though the lobby area is mostly empty now, minus the tourists, the latest buzz is that the Orioles remain the favorites to sign Balfour. They're the top team on his list of preferred destinations. The Orioles have a two-year offer on the table, as I mentioned last night. Balfour is holding out for a third year, which has presented an obvious...

It was another attention grabbing season for outfielder Steven Souza Jr., in the Nationals organization. Souza also has garnered positive feedback from Baseball America, which has him moved up to the No. 9 spot in the Nationals' Top 10 prospects for 2014, according to Baseball America national writer Aaron Fitt. No. 9 OF Steven Souza Jr. "He is kind of a neat story and a talent," Fitt said. "I have heard scouts saying they really believe in him, that they think he can be a Matt...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - In taking Michael Almanzar today in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft, the Orioles got a player that was once a top international signing by the Boston Red Sox. Jim Callis of MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com, during a video interview after the draft, pointed out that Almanzar was signed to a $1.5 million dollar deal by Boston in July 2007. "He's got big raw power with plus arm strength," Callis said. "Kind of slow to develop, but he's had back-to-back two...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the winter meetings end, the Nationals were like a well-oiled machine shopping for left-handed relievers. They traded for Jerry Blevins from Oakland and now their offseason checklist is complete: Blevins, Doug Fister and Nate McLouth. That makes the Nationals the most complete team in the division and the favorites to win back their NL East title. Here's a look at how the NL East shapes up as baseball departs Disney: ATLANTA - The Braves are weaker without their...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the Winter Meetings come to a close, and the Orioles continue to look for pitching and a left-handed bat, here's what's going on with the other teams in the Americfan League East: BOSTON: The Red Sox lost center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to the Yankees and picked up catcher A.J. Pierzynski to replace Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who signed with Miami. Manager John Farrell says he's confident in prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. in center, especially on defense, but Shane...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles selected third baseman Michael Almanzar during Thursday's Rule 5 Draft. So who is this guy? First and foremost, he's the Orioles' latest Rule 5 acquisition. Almanzar was signed by the Boston Red Sox as a non-tender free agent back in 2007 and the 23-year-old has spent his entire career in the Sox' farm system. Now he's heading south to Baltimore, where he'll join the club's 40-man roster. For reaction from the Orioles front office and notes on the...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rule 5 draft has ended and baseball executives are racing to the airport as if there's a treasure chest waiting at curbside check-in. The Orioles would have settled for a closer, a starting pitcher and a left-handed bat. Keep the trinkets. Technically, the Orioles obtained a left-handed hitting outfielder by selecting Julio Borbon in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5. And their agreement with reliever Ryan Webb became official this week. In reality, they failed...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles selected two players today in the Rule 5 draft, adding corner infielder Michael Almanzar from Boston with the 16th pick in the major league phase and taking outfielder Julio Borbon from the Cubs in the Triple-A phase. Almanzar must stay on the Orioles' 25-man roster all year or be offered back to the Red Sox for half the $50,000 draft price, while Borbon enters the O's minor leagues but may also get a look this spring in major league camp. The...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals added a pair of players in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday morning, selecting fleet outfielder Theo Bowe in the first round and right-hander Martires Arias in the second round. Bowe played in 99 games last season for Double-A Pensacola, the Southern League affiliate of the Reds, where he hit .206 with four homers and 16 RBIs. While those numbers might not be exciting, the fact that the 23-year-old out of Milford High School in...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected third baseman Michael Almanzar of the Boston Red Sox organization in the Rule 5 Draft. In six minor league seasons in the Red Sox organization, Almanzar is a career .250/.302/.373 hitter with 49 home runs and 304 RBI. In 131 games with Double-A Portland in 2013, Almanzar batted .268/.328/.432 (136-507) with 16 homers and 81 RBI. With this move, the Orioles now have 39 players on the 40-man roster. The Orioles today announced that they have...