During my second conversation yesterday with Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette, I mentioned how fans are growing impatient with the lack of a big move. How they get the impression that nothing is happening in the warehouse beyond a few small signings and trades. How the offseason is moving along without the club. Duquette chuckled and said, "There's always things going on around the Orioles." We just aren't privy to every conversation. Trust me, I've tried to tap the phones...

Executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated today that the Orioles will tender a contract to outfielder Nolan Reimold. Reimold, 30, is rehabbing from a second surgery to fuse two vertebrae in his neck. He expressed optimism in his recovery during an interview last month with MASNsports.com, and Duquette seems convinced after checking with the Orioles' medical personnel. "He's coming along pretty well. He's ahead of where he was," Duquette said. "We'll see how it goes, but right...

Nationals vice president of player development Doug Harris recently returned from a trip to the team's baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. He again had positive things to say about the progress of the academy. Nationals fans will begin to see a steady influx of players from the Dominican in the next few seasons. Every one of them started at this academy. The academy is run by Fausto Severino, who is their academy administrator. Severino keeps the academy running on a daily basis, and...

The Washington Nationals today acquired outfielder John Wooten from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. A 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter, Wooten spent the 2013 season playing primarily in right field for Single-A Beloit (Midwest League). There, he hit .257 with a .333 on-base percentage and a .430 slugging percentage, clubbing 20 home runs and 22...

The Nationals and Athletics have collaborated on a trade yet again. This time, the Nats are sending left-handed reliever Fernando Abad to Oakland for minor league outfielder John Wooten, a source confirms. MLB Network's Peter Gammons was first to report the trade. Abad was designated for assignment by the Nationals last week, giving the team 10 days to trade or release Abad, or assign him to the minor leagues if he cleared waivers. By sending Abad to the A's, the Nats got back Wooten, a...

We have another roster move. Try to keep up. The Orioles announced that they claimed switch-hitting infielder Cord Phelps off waivers from the Indians. Phelps, 26, appeared in 53 games for the Indians over the last three seasons, batting .159/.221/.248 (18-for-113) with two homers and 11 RBIs. He played second base, third base and shortstop. Phelps batted .267/.333/.443 (68-for-255) with nine homers and 46 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Columbus this year and went 0-for-9 in four games for...

The Orioles today announced that they have claimed infielder Cord Phelps off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. Phelps, 26, appeared in 53 games for Cleveland over the last three seasons, batting .159/.221/.248 (18-113) with two homers and 11 RBI. He saw action at second base, third base and shortstop for the Indians. In 2013, the switch-hitter batted .267/.333/.443 (68-255) with nine homers and 46 RBI in 65 games for Triple-A Columbus and appeared in four games for Cleveland, where he was...

Baltimore baseball historians take note: A new discovery has unearthed a previously unknown photograph that details the exact location of Maryland Baseball Park, former home of the Baltimore Black Sox of the Negro Leagues. Research by University of Delaware associate professor of English Bernard McKenna, a Baltimore baseball historian, uncovered the groundbreaking 1927 aerial photograph, which shows Maryland Park's location on Russell Street, several blocks south of where M&T Bank Stadium now...

The Orioles made another move today to bolster their bullpen, acquiring right-hander Brad Brach from the Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Devin Jones. Brach, 27, posted a 3.19 ERA with 19 walks and 31 strikeouts in 31 innings over 33 games for the Padres this season. In three major league seasons, Brach has gone 3-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 109 relief appearances, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. In six minor league seasons, Brach registered a 2.34 ERA and recorded 118 saves...

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-hander Brad Brach from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league right-hander Devin Jones. Brach, 27, posted a 3.19 ERA (31.0IP, 11ER, 31K) in 33 games for San Diego in 2013. In three major league seasons with the Padres, he has gone 3-6 with a 3.70 ERA (104.2IP, 43ER) in 109 relief appearances, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. In six minor league seasons, Brach pitched to a 2.34 ERA (277.1IP, 72ER) and recorded 118...