The Orioles are bringing back one of their free agents, signing infielder Alexi Casilla to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Casilla, 29, batted .214/.268/.295 with four doubles, a triple, one homer and 10 RBIs in 62 games last season. He also was 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts. Casilla made $1.7 million last season. The Orioles declined his $3 million option for 2014, but brought him back after second baseman Brian Roberts agreed to terms on a $2 million contract with the...

First/third baseman Matt Skole would like nothing better than to be able to have a healthy 2014 season after last season ended abruptly. Skole underwent Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow on a play at first base early in the Double-A Harrisburg Senators season. Skole was able to play in the Arizona Fall League, but still was never completely 100 percent. Finally, he will get his shot this season to log several at-bats and games to get his season going and prove again he is the power...

Thirty-four days until pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota, Fla., for the start of spring training. But who's counting? This week, MASN announced its spring training broadcast schedule, with six games being aired on MASN HD. Something even closer to look forward to is the Orioles' annual FanFest event. We have exciting games, events and more planned for the MASN booth. While I have spent many days and nights at Camden Yards, I will admit that this will be the first year that I attend...

As of yesterday morning, Danny Espinosa was the clear favorite to land a job as the Nationals' reserve middle infielder this spring. He and Zach Walters (eight career major league at-bats) were the only middle infielders on the Nats' 40-man roster behind Ian Desmond and Anthony Rendon. Former Rays and Tigers second baseman Will Rhymes was also an option, after the 30-year-old re-signed with the Nats on a minor league deal back in December. But with his major league experience the last few...

Pitcher Wei-Yin Chen's recovery from knee surgery in October has been "a little slow," according to manager Buck Showalter. Reason for concern? Not at this point, but it's worth tracking. Chen won't be attending next week's mini-camp in Sarasota, as I wrote previously, but pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti will fly to California and check on him. Chen is working out with Chris Tillman, Zach Britton, Bud Norris and Brian Matusz. Chen had small bone spurs removed...

During tonight's "Hot Stove Baseball" show on WBAL Radio, I asked manager Buck Showalter whether he found it unusual that physicians from other organizations made public comments on the Orioles' interpretation of closer Grant Balfour's physical and the decision to back away from a two-year, $15 million agreement. Rays physician Dr. Koko Eaton and Reds medical director and chief orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremchek questioned why the Orioles were concerned about the results of an MRI...

It seems as if I have been asking myself if it's baseball season almost every day this offseason. Since the Nationals took care of filling the holes on their roster early, this past month has seemed even more slow-paced than the rest of the offseason. But now, instead of me rumbling and grumbling about how far away baseball is, we can officially count down the days until spring training. This week, the Nationals stated that pitchers and catchers would report to Viera, Fla., on Feb. 13. In...

The Orioles announced their minor league staff for the 2014 season yesterday and the eight men that managed in the minors last year all return to the organization. As noted yesterday, low Single-A Delmarva and high Single-A Frederick are basically switching managers with Ryan Minor headed back to Delmarva where he managed from 2010-12 and Luis Pujols taking over at Frederick. Director of player development Brian Graham said this was the best fit for the Orioles in terms of putting the best...

In the aftermath of the Hall of Fame voting, it is fair to say that the system works, but it doesn't hurt to look at alternatives to make the voting better. There is no perfect voting system, and for the most part, the Baseball Writers Association of America got the vote right when they elected Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas. All three were on the ballot for the first time. Maddux (who appeared on 97.2 percent of the ballots) and Glavine (91.3 percent) were part of the Atlanta...

Major League Baseball released its full spring training schedule this afternoon, and if offers confirmation that the Orioles will play Triple-A Norfolk in a March 29 exhibition game at Harbor Park. First pitch is slated for 3:05 p.m. The Orioles break camp the previous day after a light workout in Sarasota. Their final Grapefruit League game is March 27 against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 13. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 19. Where has the winter...