Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette swung three deals in July before the non-waiver deadline, and another one Aug. 31 before the deadline to set postseason rosters. Did you have a favorite? One that brought instant regret - like that trip through the Taco Bell drive-thru at 2 a.m., or that round of drinks for the women at the other end of the bar at 2 a.m.? Nothing good happens after 2 a.m., right? Let's examine the first trade, which sent pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to...

With 51 saves last year and 50 this season, Jim Johnson joined a small club that also includes Mariano Rivera and Eric Gagne. They are the only pitchers in big league history with two 50-save seasons. No one has ever had three. But we know that doesn't tell the whole story of Johnson's 2013 season and his nine blown saves were very costly for the Orioles. But he didn't have any blown saves from mid-August through the end of year, going 11-for-11 with an ERA of 0.57 over his last 16 games...

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has landed another studio gig during the playoffs. Jones will work as a TBS guest analyst on Oct. 8-10, joining Keith Olbermann, Pedro Martinez, Tom Verducci and Dirk Hayhurst on set. Jones should be properly warmed up for the assignment. His studio debut comes on Sunday and Monday as a guest analyst on the MLB Network. If Jones is in need of some rest, he may have to wait until spring training. Meanwhile, minor league pitcher Chris Jones - no relation -...

There was an all-American League East matchup in the American League Division Series last year and there will be one this season - just not involving the Orioles and Yankees. The Boston Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon in Game 1 of the ALDS. The Red Sox are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 after a 97-win regular season. Tampa Bay is back in postseason play and, after winning games Sunday at Toronto, Monday at Texas and Wednesday at Cleveland, they try to...

Nationals hitting prospect Matt Skole recovered from a well-known baseball injury this summer: Tommy John surgery. But what was unusual is that Skole is not a pitcher and the injury occurred to his non-throwing arm. Therefore, he didn't need a long, drawn-out recovery. And he will not be placed on an innings limit in his comeback. In the second post of our two-part interview with Skole, he said that with this time off from throwing, he has been able to strengthen other parts of his body and...

The Nationals' search for a manager is officially under way, and not surprisingly, Joe Girardi's name has found its way into the discussion. According to David Kaplan of CSNChicago, the Nationals have requested permission to interview Girardi, who just finished up his sixth season as manager of the Yankees. Girardi is an interesting name to watch this offseason. His contract with the Yankees expires at the end of the month, and he's one of the more proven and respected managers that could...

While watching a host of games last night - and man, was there a lot of entertaining sports action on TV with two MLB playoff games, an overtime Capitals game and "Thursday Night Football" - I got into a discussion with my buddy about who should take home National League MVP honors. I feel Andrew McCutchen is deserving of the award after leading the Pirates to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, sitting among the league leaders in the three major offensive categories, stealing 27...

Before the 2013 season officially came to a close for the Orioles, manager Buck Showalter already had discussed 2014 with two of his relievers. Brian Matusz and Tommy Hunter want to be starters again despite their successes in the bullpen. They stopped by Showalter's office - his door is always open to his players and occasionally to the media - to gauge whether they would be given a chance to crack the rotation next season. Both pitchers are out of minor league options. Otherwise, the...

The Orioles have a young pitcher on their roster who could be a candidate for next year's starting rotation. He is only 24. He's left-handed. And he now has a year of major league experience under his belt. T.J. McFarland went 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA this season and he finished well, going 3-0 with an 0.80 ERA in 10 September innings and pitching in some key spots. As a Rule 5 pick from Cleveland in December 2012, McFarland could have been returned to the Indians at any point during the season,...

The Orioles announced today that they reinstated right-hander Eric Beaulac from the 15-day disabled list and outrighted him to Triple-A Norfolk. Beaulac, 26, had his contract selected from Double-A Bowie on Sept. 1 and immediately was placed on the disabled list with a torn labrum in his right hip. The Orioles added him to the 40-man roster in case they made the playoffs, which would have enabled them to replace him with someone else past the deadline for setting 25-man rosters. Beaulac...