The World Baseball Classic coming in March will pit some major league teammates against each other in the 16-nation tournament and that could happen for Orioles teammates Adam Jones and Pedro Strop. The 27-year-old right-hander will pitch for the Dominican Republic and he could wind up facing Jones at some point instead of watching him play center field behind him. "Something like that would be fun," Strop said today when asked about the possibility of facing Jones in the tournament. "You...

As manager Buck Showalter met with reporters following today's press conference, making the rounds from radio to television to print, he kept glancing out a window on the sixth floor of the B&O warehouse, where he spotted a few Orioles playing catch on the Camden Yards field as part of today's mini-camp. Though his five-year contract extension is proof that the organization has an eye pointed toward the future, Showalter remains focused on the present. "I'm hoping personally that this...

The Nationals are elated to get right-hander A.J. Cole back in a trade with the Oakland A's. After trading away the top prospect to the A's in the package for left-hander Gio Gonzalez, the Nats re-acquired Cole in a trade that sent Michael Morse to the Seattle Mariners. Cole struggled at high Single-A Stockton, going 0-7 with a 7.82 ERA in eight starts in the hitter-friendly California League. After going down to low Single-A Burlington, Cole rebounded to go 6-3 with a 2.07 ERA in 19 starts....

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with reporters following today's press conference, just in case we forgot to ask him something important or if we wanted to hear the same thing. That's what we do in this business. Here are a few highlights: On the extension: "I'm really grateful for the opportunity from the Angelos family and also the opportunity to serve the fans of Baltimore. I have been out of it for a while. I truly missed it and I appreciate being back. Every day, I...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked today about Brian Roberts. He has been optimistic when talking about the veteran second baseman and his outlook for the 2013 season. He was asked after today's press conference if Roberts has had a winter free of any health concerns or issues. "That wouldn't be completely honest if I said that," Showalter said without elaborating on exactly what he meant. "He feels really good right now and he's working out. He'll be here in a day or two and you...

After today's press conference at Camden Yards, Louis Angelos of the Orioles ownership group was asked about the club making such a long commitment to Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette, with their contracts extended all the way through 2018. "Continuity is important for an organization," Angelos said. "Buck came in and he rejuvenated just about every aspect - what happens on the field, in the dugout and clubhouse. Dan came in and his impact was immediate as well. During the interview...

Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez said he will decline an offer to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Gonzalez's wife is expecting their first child, which factored into his decision. It's also clear that the Orioles would prefer that he stay in camp. "Obviously, this is more important than me going down there," he said. "This is my first big league spring training. I'll be focused on doing my stuff here first. "It was a tough decision, but you always have to think about...

Michael Morse joined the Nationals organization on June 28, 2009, coming over from the Mariners in return for outfielder Ryan Langerhans. At the time, Morse had just 300 major league at-bats under his belt, having struck out 65 times and had hit just three home runs and in his brief big league tenure. He was a 27-year-old without a set position, a guy who broke into the major leagues as a shortstop despite the fact that he was 6-foot-5 and didn't have great quickness. Morse leaves the...

Did you ever imagine that Buck Showalter would one day become synonymous with the Orioles? The same guy who began his managerial career in pinstripes? The same guy who was named the first manager of the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks? The same guy hired and fired by the Texas Rangers? Showalter has a chance to guide the Orioles through the 2018 season after agreeing to a five-year extension. He took over the helm in August 2010. That's a little more than eight years on the job, if my math...

Now that is a contract extension. Both Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter get extensions through the 2018 season, so get used to this duo running the Orioles. By the way, Adam Jones' extension from May also runs through 2018. I sense a theme here. If Buck finishes this contract, he will have over eight seasons under his belt as Orioles manager and only Hall of Famer Earl Weaver will have managed the club longer. We can probably surmise a few things from yesterday's announcement. First of all,...