Remember when the Nationals shipped David DeJesus to the Rays in August just four days after they had acquired the veteran outfielder from the Cubs, and Nats general manager Mike Rizzo said that he'd be open to reuniting with DeJesus this offseason should he hit the free agent market? Yeah, that won't be happening. The Rays have reportedly picked up DeJesus' $6.5 million option for 2014 and are working on a new two-year deal, according to the Tampa Bay Times, keeping the friendly, speedy,...

Today is the final day for teams to reinstate players from the 60-day disabled list. It's also the day that the Orioles are expected to decline the $3 million option on infielder Alexi Casilla's contract, removing him from the 40-man roster and making him a free agent. Casilla will receive a $200,000 buyout as a nice parting gift. No word on whether he also gets a lifetime supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat. Today is also the last day that teams may tender qualifying offers to...

There is no doubt that team on-base percentage is one offensive stat where the Orioles need to improve. Their .313 mark last year - which actually ranked just ahead of their .311 mark in 2012 - was behind the league average of .320. Boston led the American League in team OBP at .349 and Detroit was second at .346. The O's were fourth in the league in runs scored, but 10th in OBP and, moving forward, that stat needs to improve. Will that improvement need to come from players who are not...

I might have missed Friday's press conference where the Nationals introduced Matt Williams as their new manager, but I didn't miss the quotes where Williams discussed how he wants the Nats to be aggressive under his watch. From the sound of things, Williams wants to put pressure on the opponent, be it on the basepaths, at the plate or in the field. The more that the Nationals can press the teams they're playing, the more that they can force mistakes and gain an edge. That's the way...

With Matt LeCroy moving on to become the Nationals bullpen coach, there will be some alterations in the minor league coaching lineup. I have been told there will be some changes, but not a lot of new faces. The Nationals have made a habit of promoting from within and I expect that to be the case this upcoming season. LeCroy told me he has been ecstatic the past few days after being offered the position. He said he has faced Matt Williams as a player, but has not coached with him. However, he...

Henry Urrutia and Michael Ohlman were two of the better hitters in the Orioles minor leagues this season and both have continued to hit well in the Arizona Fall League for the first-place Surprise Saguaros. Urrutia is batting .364 with two homers, eight RBIs, a .568 slugging percentage and .997 OPS in 12 games. Of note, he has five extra-base hits in his last seven games with three doubles and two homers after producing just one extra-base hit in 58 at-bats with the Orioles. After seeing...

Eduardo Rodriguez tossed a scoreless inning and was credited with a hold last night in the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game. Rodriguez walked one batter in the fourth in the West team's 9-2 victory over the East. And I honestly don't know why that qualifies as a hold, but it says so in the box score. Might have something to do with the West breaking a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the third. I'm not really in tune with the hold rule, and by admitting it, I feel as...

The Orioles made the anticipated roster move official tonight, declining the $5 million option on left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada's contract. Wada, 32, is removed from the 40-man roster and becomes a free agent. Wada signed a two-year, $8.15 million deal on Dec. 14, 2011, but he never pitched for the Orioles after undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow on May 11, 2012. The Orioles kept Wada at Triple-A Norfolk this season and sent him to Sarasota in September rather than...

As the Orioles look to improve their pitching for 2014, manager Buck Showalter wonders if the club has some answers now or looking to the future already within their organization. Last night, Showalter indicated the Orioles are open to adding pitching this winter via free agency while at the same time expressing some optimism for some of the current pitchers in the minor leagues. Showalter recently spent some time checking out O's prospects in person in the Arizona Fall League. "I went out...

While handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters Thursday, I had a neighbor ask which Red Sox player I'd take if I were in charge of the Orioles. He happened to be wearing a Red Sox jersey, and he wasn't in costume. He's a big fan of the World Series champions. After pausing for a few seconds to consider my options, I chose second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Fills a need, gets on base, has won three Gold Gloves. And who wouldn't want a player with the nicknames Laser Show and The Muddy...