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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...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The end is in sight.
The sunlight shining into the lobby of the Swan and Dolphin Resort has started to dissipate as we get to the nighttime hours of the last full day of the Winter Meetings.
Soon enough, we'll be on our way back to the 30-degree temperatures many of you are experiencing, although if that means I get to sleep in my own bed, eat dinner before 10 p.m. and not have to chase down rumors all day, I'll be perfectly fine with it.
Within the last two...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with reporters and other media types again today in his suite, part of his daily routine at the Winter Meetings.
Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda's suite is directly across the hall. I mention it only because he joked that we were trying to break into his room while we waited for Duquette.
Probably didn't help that I was swiping the lock with my credit card.
Anyway, here's a sampling of quotes from...
Duquette on possible Hardy extension talks, the Rule 5 draft and more (O's offers report and update)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - During his briefing with reporters this afternoon and again later during a one-on-one video interview with MASNsports.com, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said today the club is hopeful of pursuing a contract extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy, who can be a free agent after the 2014 season.
Duquette said no talks have taken place yet, but it could happen later in the winter.
"He had a great year this year," Duquette said. "He got the Gold Glove...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Executive vice president Dan Duquette said he's made offers to starting pitchers, relievers and hitters as he increases efforts to add players to the roster before heading home from the Winter Meetings.
No names were provided, of course, but he indicated that the Orioles retain interest in more than one closer.
Duquette also said he's been active on the trade front, though a couple of left-handed hitters came off the board.
Duquette said it's possible that the...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Mark your calendars for Jan. 25 - that's when the Nationals will hold NatsFest, which is moving this year to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. According to team officials, the Nationals worked diligently to hold the event again at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, but could not because of limited date availability at that facility.
Tickets will be available for purchase online at nationals.com/natsfest starting tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 12 at...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the Nationals looked over the market for left-handed relievers, considering both free agent and trade options, they were looking to find a certain type of player: a relatively young southpaw whose contract offered more than a year of team control and who came with a price tag that made sense for the organization.
Under those qualifications, they were able to narrow their search. It left them discussing three or four trade proposals with various teams and making an...