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LAKE BUENVA VISTA, Fla. - Jim Duquette was once a key decision maker for the Orioles. Now, he analyzes what the O's and every other club in baseball does as his role as an analyst for Sirius XM radio.
This morning, during a video interview, he mentioned the O's interest in free agent reliever Grant Balfour which has much discussed here today.
Duquette said despite not having a move or moves to announce yet, he is hearing the Orioles have been pretty active at these meetings.
"When you...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The hotel lobby at the Winter Meetings is a magical place. Think of it as nirvana for baseball geeks, a confusing confluence of scouts, executives, agents, players, former players and media types, all trying to sniff out the latest shred of a rumor without being too obvious.
This morning's tour of the Dolphin Resort at Disney brought a lot of chatter about interest in two Nationals relievers - right-handers Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard. Most teams in the majors are...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that the club hasn't extended a formal offer to free-agent closer Grant Balfour.
It's expected to come later today. The Orioles have discussed parameters with Balfour's agent and are regarded as the favorites to sign the veteran reliever, according to multiple sources. As always, it comes down to dollars and years.
The Orioles also have varying levels of interest in John Axford, Chris Perez, Fernando Rodney and Joaquin...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles are creating quite a buzz this morning in their pursuit of a closer.
While they continue to negotiate with John Axford's agent - meeting with him this week at the Winter Meetings - it's become apparent that Grant Balfour is their No. 1 choice to serve as the ninth inning specialist in 2014.
The Orioles are expected to make an offer to Balfour later today, and they have emerged as the frontrunners to sign him.
The Orioles have talked parameters with...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles are in the market for a closer and, as of last night, they were pursuing free agent Grant Balfour and it sounds like they are clearly making progress on that front.
In an interview this morning with MASNSports.com, former Orioles executive Jim Duquette of Sirius XM Radio said the club was the front-runner last night to get Balfour, although a deal was not yet quite at the finish line.
"The guy that I keep hearing his name mentioned over in the closer...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals have four of their starting pitchers set and locked in for 2014, but they're going to go into spring training still unsure of who will be that fifth guy.
That's the way general manager Mike Rizzo wants it, even if left-hander Ross Detwiler - an experienced option who has claimed the No. 5 spot in the rotation the last two seasons - is totally healthy after missing much of the 2013 season on the disabled list.
"He's going to come to spring training as...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - New Orioles pitching coach Dave Wallace is going to have his hands full running the major league staff with the Orioles, but he also would be expected to have some input with the minor league pitching coaches and pitchers as well.
Yesterday, Wallace said he already has talked to O's director of pitching development Rick Peterson and Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin.
"The way we have to do things is (by doing what is) the right way for each guy," Wallace...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will be made available to the media today at 2:30 p.m. The local beat crew will have to share him with the rest of the Winter Meeting's world.
Reliever Ryan Webb will take his physical in Baltimore this morning, and the announcement of his two-year, $4.50 million deal could be announced later in the day.
Webb will leave the Orioles with 38 players on the 40-man roster. Still plenty of room for that Rule 5 pick on Thursday.
Heck, the...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla - Though the door supposedly is open for second baseman Brian Roberts to return to the Orioles in 2014, it doesn't appear that the team has reached out to him since the season ended.
The Yankees need a second baseman, in case you missed that little piece of news, and apparently have spoken to Roberts' agent, though there's no indication that it's anything serious.
For now, Ryan Flaherty appears to be the leading in-house candidate to start at second base for the...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Let's take a look at the news, notes, analysis and conversations that are going on in the hallways of the Walt Disney Dolphin Resort on the first day of baseball's Winter Meetings:
* Nationals owner Mark Lerner is walking the hallways, eager to find out what his general manager Mike Rizzo will do to add a lefty to his bullpen. Lerner says he's confident in Matt Williams' ability to lead the Nationals back into the postseason. Lerner said that Williams aced his...