When the 2014 season begins, will Kevin Gausman pitch as a starter or reliever for the Orioles? If he begins the year in the major leagues, I would expect that to happen with him in the rotation. I would guess Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette feel that way too, but Duquette did not 100 percent rule out a bullpen role for Guasman when asked about that earlier this week. "We can decide that in spring training," Duquette said. "I think long-term, he is more valuable to the club as a starting...

I'm not sure whether the timing of my trip to Orlando, Fla., this morning is perfect or dubious, considering the "wintry mix" that's predicted in the area. I'm leaving it behind. That's perfect timing. I'm driving in it and facing the possibility of a delayed flight. That's dubious timing. The Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., stretch over five days, counting today, but the busiest period is Monday through Wednesday. The local beat crew will sit down tonight with executive...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed free agent outfielder Francisco Peguero to a one-year contract. Peguero, 25, spent the majority of the 2013 season with Triple-A Fresno in the San Francisco organization, batting .316/.354/.408 in 70 games. He also appeared in 18 major league games, going 6-for-29 with his first big league home run. In eight minor league seasons in the San Francisco organization, Peguero is a career .306/.337/.427 hitter in 690 games. He has appeared in 35...

Outfielder Francisco Peguero passed his physical and has signed a one-year contract with the Orioles, who made the announcement this morning. The deal is worth $555,000. Peguero, 25, batted .316/.354/.408 in 70 games with Triple-A Fresno. He also appeared in 18 games with the Giants, going 6-for-29 with his first major league home run. His at-bats during 2013 were limited because of a concussion sustained in June that shelved him for a month. The Giants non-tendered Peguero and attempted to...

Robinson Cano. Huroki Kuroda. Scott Feldman. Curtis Granderson. Ryan Webb. J.P. Arencibia. Nate McLouth. Mike Napoli. Carlos Beltran. Most offseasons, that's a busy week when it comes to free agent signings. In the winter of 2013, however, that's just one day's worth of free agent action. All nine of the players listed above agreed to terms on contracts yesterday, crossing a handful more names off the list of available free agents going into the Winter Meetings. I texted a major league...

The Orioles talked to the Tigers about acquiring pitcher Doug Fister, but executive vice president Dan Duquette said there wasn't a match. The Tigers preferred the players being offered by the Nationals: infielder Steve Lombardozzi and left-handers Ian Krol and Robbie Ray. The Orioles had early interest in Mike Napoli, but it didn't last long. Just a little bit of tire kicking and that was it. Napoli agreed to terms with the Red Sox last night on a two-year, $32 million contract. The...

It's been interesting to track the reaction of fans after news broke today that Scott Feldman signed with the Astros and Nate McLouth agreed to terms with the Nationals. Two players that the Orioles wanted to bring back, but only under their conditions. They didn't want to give Feldman three guaranteed years. They wanted to avoid giving McLouth two years at $10-$11 million. Executive vice president Dan Duquette spoke to both agents and knew those players no longer were a fit based on what...

The natives are getting restless. Orioles fans are watching other teams sign players, watching 2013 Orioles sign elsewhere and not seeing their own team make what they feel are significant acquisitions. Some fans were not happy with the Jim Johnson trade. Yesterday, pitcher Scott Feldman signed with Houston and outfielder Nate McLouth with Washington. Some fans see those players leaving and feel their team is not as good now as it was at end of a 2013 season, which did not conclude with a...

The Winter Meetings are still a few days away. However, that didn't stop the Nationals from making moves and headlines this week. Heading into the offseason, the Nats were looking for a left-handed bat and possibly another starter to fill out the rotation. They got both in the past week. Today, former Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth signed a two-year deal with the Nats. On Monday, the Nats made a deal with the Tigers, bringing right-hander Doug Fister to D.C., for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian...

Mike Rizzo got his experienced starter in Doug Fister earlier this week. Now he has his left-handed-hitting reserve outfielder in Nate McLouth. The Nationals have signed McLouth to a two-year contract, a source confirms, giving the Nats their fourth outfielder, one who can play any outfield spot and has a little bit of pop from the left side of the plate. FOXSports.com was the first to report the signing, and according to the Baltimore Sun, McLouth will get $10.75 million over the two-year...