LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles were among nine teams making selections in the major league phase of this morning's Rule 5 draft, taking third baseman Michael Almanzar off Triple-A Pawtucket's roster. Almanzar, 23, batted .268/.328/.432 last season at Double-A Portland of the Red Sox's organization, with 29 doubles, 16 homers, 81 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 131 games. He's a career .250/.302/.373 hitter in six minor league seasons. Almanzar, a right-handed hitter from the Dominican...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals won't be selecting anyone in today's Rule 5 Draft because their 40-man roster is full, but they lost minor league catcher Adrian Nieto to the White Sox with the No. 3 pick in the major league phase of the Rule 5. Nieto, 24, was a fifth-round pick out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla., in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. He hit .285/.373/.449 with 11 homers and 53 RBIs at high Single-A Potomac in 2013. The White Sox will pay the...

Between icy weather and offseason moves, it's safe to say we're in the meat of the offseason. With that said, it's easy to lose sight of those exciting summer nights - those nights that remind you why you love the Nationals. This week, we're throwin' back to one of those nights. On a warm summer night in Philly, Ian Desmond came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 11th. If you don't remember what happens next, I'm sure you can guess. Relive Desmond's...

Many Orioles fans have felt a little more anxiety and frustration this week because the team has yet to make a big move at the Winter Meetings. With that said, this week's Throwback Thursday is dedicated to giving fans a little pick-me-up with a small dose of Orioles magic. Early in the season, the Birds were trailing 5-3 headed into the top of the ninth in Boston. The O's managed to tie the game thanks to a Chris Davis solo home run and a wild pitch that allowed Alexi Casilla to score from...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Well, the Winter Meetings are finally almost complete. I wish I could say they've flown by, but that hasn't exactly been the case. These things are a grind. Pretty much all that's left on the schedule here at the Swan and Dolphin Resort is this morning's Rule 5 Draft, in which teams can sift through unprotected minor leaguers in other organizations and try and supplement their own 40-man rosters. There are more specific rules on this process that I'll explain...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles are heavy favorites to select another player in the Rule 5 draft, which begins at 9 a.m. at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. I won't leave you in suspense any longer. I'm in the Dolphin building. This explains why Larry Csonka left a mint on my pillow. I'm anticipating that the Orioles will take another reliever, as they did last winter with T.J. McFarland. But they chose infielder Ryan Flaherty the previous year. "The Rule 5's a bit of a crap shoot,...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Call it the Buster Posey rule. Or the Mike Matheny rule. Major League Baseball decided Wednesday at the Winter Meetings to ban home plate collisions between a hard-charging runner and a sitting duck catcher. The rule change needs to be approved by the players' union. If the union doesn't approve, MLB can implement the rule in 2015. "Ultimately, what we want to do his change the culture of acceptance that these plays are ordinary and routine and an accepted part of...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles have made a two-year offer to free-agent closer Grant Balfour, according to an industry source. Executive vice president Dan Duquette told reporters earlier today that he had offers on the table to starting pitchers, relievers and left-handed hitters. He also indicated that the Orioles were interested in more than one closer, and it's believed that they've extended an offer to John Axford. The Orioles talked parameters with Balfour's agent earlier this...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Major League Baseball's Rule 5 draft will be held Thursday morning at 9 a.m. at the Winter Meetings and the Orioles will have the 16th pick. Any player selected in this draft must remain on the selecting team's 25-man roster for the entire 2014 season or be offered back to his original club. This is the draft where the Orioles got Ryan Flaherty two years ago and pitcher T.J. McFarland last winter. The Orioles' 40-man roster is at 38 so they have room to take a...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles director of player development Brian Graham will get a nice honor tonight at the Winter Meetings. Graham will be receiving the sixth annual Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award, presented to an individual with distinguished service who has been instrumental in player development. Graham just completed his sixth season with the Orioles, his first in his current role and his 32nd in professional baseball. Prior to joining the Orioles, he spent six years as the...