LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - We're scheduled to meet with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo in less than an hour, but I've got a few notes from the lobby to pass along before we head up to Rizzo's suite to quiz him on the Nats-related happenings during Day One of the Winter Meetings. The Nats continue to monitor the market for left-handed relievers, and as they do so, they might have to take one interesting wrinkle into account. I've heard that Boone Logan, a lefty who has spent the last...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Would the Orioles part with a top draft pick to sign a free agent? One industry source today said the answer is likely yes. If that is true, then the player the club has interest in is one of the six remaining players that turned down a qualifying offer. The list includes outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Nelson Cruz, shortstop Stephen Drew, first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales and pitchers Ubaldo Jimenez and Ervin Santana. The club has been linked, at least to...

LAKE BUENVA VISTA, Fla. - Former Oriole general manager Roland Hemond is here at the Winter Meetings. Hemond is now in his sixth season as special assistant to the president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was GM of the Orioles during a very interesting time, one that spanned the club's terrible start in 1988 which was followed by the 1989, "Why Not" season and he was GM when the club moved into Camden Yards. "I joined the team and we lost our first 21 games," he said with a...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - A key figure in the National League East for the last four years has decided to step away from the game. Roy Halladay has just taken to the podium in the media room at the Swan and Dolphin resort to announce his retirement, marking the end of a tremendous 16-year career. Halladay will finish with a record of 203-105 and a career 3.38 ERA. He won two Cy Young awards, finished in the top five of the Cy Young voting seven times and was an eight-time All-Star. Is he a...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles are interested in signing free-agent pitcher Bartolo Colon, according to multiple industry sources. Executive vice president Dan Duquette told reporters last night that he has "a couple offers out to some pitchers." It's not known whether Colon is on the list, but the Orioles apparently have spoken to his representative. That's the buzz in the lobby at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. Not an ear-piercing, drown-out-the-Christmas-music buzz, mind you, but...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles amateur scouting director Gary Rajsich is with the front office contingent at the Winter Meetings. He is looking to fill a few positions on his scouting staff. Chris Gale, the Orioles' area scout in the Carolinas and southern Virginia, left the organization recently to take a pro scouting position with Cleveland. Bob Szymkowski, the club's area scout covering Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota, did not have his contract renewed. James...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Expansion Era electorate has chosen former managers Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre for induction into baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Other candidates for the honor included former players Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Dave Parker, Dan Quisenberry and Ted Simmons, manager Billy Martin and executives Marvin Miller and George Steinbrenner. The 16-member electorate includes former Orioles executive Andy MacPhail, who later gave his...

The Nationals traded their fifth-ranked prospect, pitcher Robbie Ray, to the Detroit Tigers last week. But it is still a pretty good list of prospects, and the organization did not have to give up their best to make the deal for Doug Fister. Here is a look at the Nationals' top 10 prospects according to Baseball America following the trade of Ray. Over the next few weeks, we will count down to No. 1 with the help of Baseball America national writer Aaron Fitt. No. 10, LHP Matt...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The hotel lobby has emptied out here at the Swan and Dolphin resort and the free agent and trade chatter has temporarily hit a lull, as a trio of elite managers were just announced as the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre have all been unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame as part of the Expansion Era ballot, voted on by 16 longtime major league players, executives and historians. Cox spent 29 years as a...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Greetings from the Hemisphere Ballroom, which functions as the media work room for the Winter Meetings. The lobby is starting to buzz and the work room is beginning to fill up with reporters, many of whom are finally arriving after having their flights from the great white - and icy - north delayed, postponed or canceled. I won't throw the fact that the weather forecaster on the local FOX affiliate told me it was going to be "really, really warm for December" here...