It was a few minutes after 9 a.m. Central time last Thursday and T.J. McFarland was by his computer to see if his name would be called in the Rule 5 draft. But before he could hear his name called, a former teammate in the Cleveland organization (no doubt one with a very fast Internet connection) reached out to him. "I actually got a text message from a former teammate (Donnie Webb, now with Miami) and that is how I found out I was drafted (by the Orioles). Guess the Internet wasn't up to...

Henry Urrutia is the 25-year-old Cuban outfielder the Orioles signed to a $778,500 bonus in July. Urrutia remains in Haiti, awaiting a visa that will allow him to play for a team in the Dominican Winter League. The Orioles had hoped to send Urrutia to Double-A Bowie late last season, but without a visa, that was not possible. How good is Urrutia? I asked Ben Badler his opinion. Badler covers international player signings for Baseball America. He said it can be difficult to project how Cuban...

The Orioles selected lefty pitcher T.J. McFarland in last week's Rule 5 draft. McFarland went a combined 16-8 with a 4.03 ERA last season at Double-A and Triple-A in the Cleveland Indians' farm system. Ben Badler of Baseball America feels the Orioles made a good selection and he sees McFarland, a 2007 fourth-round pick out of an Illinois high school, as a player who could make the Orioles' opening day roster next April. "I think that was a solid pickup. I think he has a pretty solid...

I'm back from my mini-vacation through Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, three states that I hadn't ever visited prior to last week. I ate lots of fantastic food, heard some excellent live music and drank one or two adult beverages. I could say that I'm happy to now be home, but that would be a bit of a lie, and I wouldn't dare lie to you fine folks. While I was gone, the Nationals' signing of Dan Haren became official. Both the veteran right-hander and his new team claim that...

Tickets for FanFest, which will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, are now on sale. You may purchase tickets online at www.orioles.com/fanfest, via phone at 1-888-848-BIRD, at the Oriole Park box office and at the Official Team Store at the York Galleria in York, Pa. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 14 and under and those over 55. On the day of the event, FanFest tickets will be sold at the Convention Center and the Oriole Park box office....

The kickoff to the 2013 baseball season will begin on Saturday, January 19, as the Orioles host their annual FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center. 2013 FanFest, presented by Visit Sarasota County, will feature appearances by current and former Orioles players and coaches as part of a day-long celebration of baseball that will also include clinics, exhibits and interactive games. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with early entry for Orioles Season Plan Holders to...

So what should we read into the Orioles' total lack of interest in bringing back first baseman Mark Reynolds, who has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Cleveland Indians? Several people at the Winter Meetings suggested that money wasn't the issue. The Orioles simply felt that they could upgrade at first base. Reynolds' contract with the Indians is for a guaranteed $6 million. He reportedly can make another $1.5 million in bonuses based on plate appearances. He made $7.5 million...

Well, with not millions, but billions pouring in through their megabucks television contract, the Los Angeles Dodgers had to put that money somewhere. They could have used it instead on firewood to warm themselves, but I guess this seemed like a better plan. The Dodgers agreed to give pitcher Zack Greinke a six-year deal worth $147 million on Saturday. Last season, they acquired a total of $260 million in contracts when they added Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford. It wasn't...

What a difference a year makes. Or three years. Remember those days when free agents shied away from D.C. as a preferred destination? Zack Greinke turned down the Nationals a couple of years back (that worked out for him with the Dodgers this year, but that is not my point). There were a few seasons where high-priced free agents couldn't be persuaded to consider the Nationals. Not anymore. After two miserable seasons, the Nationals grabbed Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper with the...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has a pretty good idea of which player will bat leadoff next season if all the candidates are healthy, but he'll allow the process to play itself out in spring training. Showalter doesn't think he can go wrong with Brian Roberts, Nate McLouth or Nick Markakis sitting atop the order. "I feel comfortable that we have people who are capable of doing it," he said. "One guy (Roberts) has a great track record if he's healthy. I hope all three do well and are...