The Orioles today announced that they have claimed infielder Cord Phelps off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. Phelps, 26, appeared in 53 games for Cleveland over the last three seasons, batting .159/.221/.248 (18-113) with two homers and 11 RBI. He saw action at second base, third base and shortstop for the Indians. In 2013, the switch-hitter batted .267/.333/.443 (68-255) with nine homers and 46 RBI in 65 games for Triple-A Columbus and appeared in four games for Cleveland, where he was...

Baltimore baseball historians take note: A new discovery has unearthed a previously unknown photograph that details the exact location of Maryland Baseball Park, former home of the Baltimore Black Sox of the Negro Leagues. Research by University of Delaware associate professor of English Bernard McKenna, a Baltimore baseball historian, uncovered the groundbreaking 1927 aerial photograph, which shows Maryland Park's location on Russell Street, several blocks south of where M&T Bank Stadium now...

The Orioles made another move today to bolster their bullpen, acquiring right-hander Brad Brach from the Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Devin Jones. Brach, 27, posted a 3.19 ERA with 19 walks and 31 strikeouts in 31 innings over 33 games for the Padres this season. In three major league seasons, Brach has gone 3-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 109 relief appearances, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. In six minor league seasons, Brach registered a 2.34 ERA and recorded 118 saves...

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-hander Brad Brach from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league right-hander Devin Jones. Brach, 27, posted a 3.19 ERA (31.0IP, 11ER, 31K) in 33 games for San Diego in 2013. In three major league seasons with the Padres, he has gone 3-6 with a 3.70 ERA (104.2IP, 43ER) in 109 relief appearances, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. In six minor league seasons, Brach pitched to a 2.34 ERA (277.1IP, 72ER) and recorded 118...

Dan Haren is heading back west. After a roller-coaster 2013 season with the Nationals, the 33-year-old California native reportedly has agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Dodgers that includes an option for 2015 that vests if Haren pitches 180 innings. The deal, first reported by FOXSports.com, is obviously contingent on Haren passing a physical. Haren went 10-14 with a 4.67 ERA with the Nats this season, allowing 28 home runs in 169 2/3 innings, but after coming off the...

This may surprise you, but the position in the Orioles' minor leagues that may currently feature the most depth is catcher. There was a time a year or two ago when we certainly could not say that. But now the Orioles may have five catchers among their best 25 or 30 prospects. This comes after a season where two catchers - Caleb Joseph and Michael Ohlman - had big years on offense, and the club drafted three other high school catchers, all of which are already showing some promise. Among the...

Bill Castro most likely will be out of baseball next season after spending 37 years with the Brewers as a player, scout and coach, and the last two with the Orioles as bullpen coach. Here's hoping that the man has hobbies. Castro replaced Rick Adair as pitching coach on Aug. 15. The Orioles offered him a scouting position, which he turned down, and he didn't bother to seek a major league job. Castro says he found out too late that the Orioles weren't going to retain him as bullpen coach...

Earlier this week here I wrote about the Scott Boras factor. Baseball's most well-known and powerful agent is a key guy when it comes to the Orioles this winter. If the club seeks a contract extension with Chris Davis and/or Matt Wieters, they'll be dealing with Boras, who represents both players. Years ago, there was talk that the Orioles and Boras had a frosty relationship. If that was true then, it certainly doesn't appear to be any issue now. Former Orioles executive Jim Duquette...

The Nationals officially cut ties with Yunesky Maya this weekend, releasing the right-hander who general manager Mike Rizzo viewed as a top-of-the-rotation type of starter when he signed the Cuban defector to a four-year, $6 million deal in 2010. Maya's release was first reported by Baseball America's Matt Eddy. This move ends the Nationals' experiment with the 32-year-old righty, a guy who the Nats trumpeted as a major international signing a little more than three years ago. Maya had...

New Yankees catcher Brian McCann is a career .417/.475/.528 hitter in 10 games against the Orioles. He's 5-for-9 with two RBIs and two walks at Camden Yards. Be sure to give him a warm welcome next season. McCann batted only .231 with three home runs against left-handers last season, but he's 2-for-3 with a double and home run against Brian Matusz. Small sample size. McCann also is 2-for-3 with a home run and two walks against right-hander Bud Norris, in case you were wondering. McCann...