Tommy Hunter responded to my text message yesterday with a phone call, asked how I was doing and said he would be sitting in a tree later in the afternoon. I imagined him placing the star on top - the final touch to his holiday decorating - until I figured out that he meant a tree stand. He's a hunter in more ways than one. Why did I contact Tommy Hunter? Because I'm lonely and it's the holidays and I tend to get bluesy. But seriously ... I wanted to gauge his interest in becoming the...

Some baseball writers detest the Winter Meetings. There's too much time spent on too little happening, they say, and prowling a hotel lobby for hours on end in search of the tiniest shreds of information pertaining to the team you cover can be a tedious ordeal. For me, being around the game's movers and shakers for four days is nothing short of baseball geek nirvana. And because there are scouts among the executives hanging out for late-night happy hour or at the morning breakfast buffet,...

The Orioles must have been determined to sign an Australian-born player this winter. The club announced today that it claimed pitcher Liam Hendriks, 24, off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs actually claimed Hendriks off waivers from the Twins on Dec. 13 after he went 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA in 10 games, including eight starts, over 47 1/3 innings. Hendriks also made 16 starts for Triple-A Rochester, going 4-8 with a 4.67 ERA in 98 1/3 innings. He allowed 115 hits, walked 15 and struck out...

The Orioles today announced that they have claimed right-hander Liam Hendriks off waivers from the Cubs. Hendriks, 24, was claimed off waivers by the Cubs from Minnesota on December 13. He appeared in 10 games (eight starts) for the Twins in 2013, going 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA (47.1IP, 36ER). He also made 16 starts for Triple-A Rochester. Originally signed by Minnesota as an international free agent in 2007, Hendriks will be the third Australian-born Oriole in club history when he makes his...

With tomorrow approaching, some Orioles fans must feel like a kid that anticipated nice presents, but never got that Red Ryder BB gun. If you've never seen a Christmas Story you won't get that one, sorry. But I'm pretty sure the word disappointing comes to mind for fans with this offseason so far. Things can always change and get better, but right now, not so much. The word maybe comes to mind for me. Maybe, David Lough will be a solid left field acquisition. He did hit .297 with a .349...

Has former Orioles reliever Francisco Rodriguez been linked to any teams looking for a closer this winter? He's still a free agent, and he's largely gone ignored. The Orioles don't appear to have any interest in bringing him back despite giving up minor league infielder Nick Delmonico in a July 23 trade. His name was floated in the warehouse, but it must have gone right out the window. Rodriguez posted a 1.09 ERA in 25 games with the Brewers, and a 4.50 ERA in 23 games with the Orioles....

While Mike Rizzo has finished most of his offseason heavy lifting, the Nationals general manager can't sit back and coast until opening day against the Mets at Citi Field. What few holes existed on the blueprint for 2014 are filled; now Rizzo can turn his attentions to more far-reaching pursuits. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond are both in line for long-term extensions. Both want to remain in Washington, which is pretty logical considering they are both home-grown and...

Reliever Grant Balfour told MLB Network Radio's Jim Duquette and Jim Bowden today that four teams are "excited to have me on board," and he's got at least one offer on the table. Duquette, the former Orioles executive, shared some of Balfour's comments on Twitter. And guess what? Reds physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek chimed in again. More on that later. In case you've been living in a cave, the Orioles reached agreement with Balfour last week on a two-year, $15 million contract, but they...

There will be a game, an at-bat where the signing of Nate McLouth will become a huge difference-maker for the Nationals. It will be a pinch hit in the late innings of a crucial game against the Braves, or a must-win in the playoffs. His experience with good teams in clutch situations will become an invaluable asset to the Nationals. How many times do you think manager Davey Johnson went to the bench and did not have the answer he needed in a certain situation to attempt to win a game? ...

I've had a few fans ask whether this is the craziest offseason that I've experienced since joining the Orioles beat full-time in 1997. Sidney Ponson once punched a judge on a beach in Aruba. That alone probably makes everything else take a backseat. Leave it to Sir Sidney to keep me busy. And try covering that story from home. Not easy. I'll never forget getting a call from my editor at The Sun shortly after Christmas as I sat down to eat dinner. "Did you see what AP is reporting about...