SARASOTA, Fla. - Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada threw 20 pitches off a half-mound today and remained encouraged by his recovery from ligament-reconstructive surgery. Wada found out yesterday that he would throw from the half-mound, something he's done in the past while "taking it easy and having fun," he said through his interpreter/athletic trainer. "This was the first time actually throwing hard on the half-mound. About 70 percent to 80 percent," he said. "The plan for now I have...

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with right-hander Darren O'Day on a two-year contract with a club option for 2015, thus avoiding arbitration. O'Day, 30, went 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA (67.0IP, 17ER), setting career-highs in wins (7 - 2nd among AL relievers), games (69), IP (67.0) and strikeouts (69) in 2012. It was his first season with the O's after being claimed on waivers from Texas on November 2, 2011. He is 15-6 with a 2.73 ERA (247.2IP, 75ER) in 255 career games...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The clubhouse closed to the media at 9 a.m. today because the Orioles were having their annual nutrition meeting. Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman still has packets of mini-powdered donuts taped around his locker, and a few players were munching on the ones distributed yesterday in bags. You had to appreciate the irony. No updates on Luis Ayala, who wants to leave camp to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. It may or may not happen. I may be tired of asking him. Wei-Yin...

VIERA, Fla. - He might have a new team's colors on these days, but Michael Morse can still crush a baseball. That apparently hasn't changed. Now a member of the Mariners after being traded out west this offseason, Morse reportedly struck a ball so well during batting practice yesterday that it not only flew over the outfield fence, but also had enough distance to carry a road before coming down in a parking lot beyond left field. Here's a picture of exactly how far Morse's shot reportedly...

Right fielder Destin Hood would like nothing better than to have a full season with no nagging injuries or games missed due to sickness. Saddled with just 94 games played last season, Hood was never really able to get in the groove that he would've wanted at this point in his career. But he certainly finished 2012 with a flourish. On opening day this season, Hood will be just 23 years old, so there is still plenty of time for the athletic, 6-foot-1, 225 lb., outfielder to show what he is...

SARASOTA, Fla. - If we could name a Most Valuable Oriole for the first week of workouts, I'd cast my vote for left-hander Zach Britton. And then we would discuss how it's a ridiculous award, considering that the Orioles haven't played a single game, intrasquad or otherwise, and I'm basing it exclusively on two bullpen sessions and one warmup. That's still good enough for me. Britton has been exceptional on the side, popping the catcher's mitt while keeping the ball down in the strike...

If there is one thing that stirs up Baltimore sports fans, it is a diss or perceived diss of the Ravens or Orioles by someone with a national forum. I guess over-under odds for the season fits that bill, especially one that sets the number for the Orioles at 76.5. Those of you not familiar with these numbers, they are set by casinos and sports books that can legally take sports bets for a club's wins total for the season. Bettors wager on whether they feel the club will have a wins total over...

VIERA, Fla. - Players, coaches and reporters braved the elements this morning for the first full-squad workout of Nationals camp, spending about 1 hour, 45 minutes on the minor league fields. OK, so I know low-40s and windy is nothing compared to what those of you up north are dealing with these days. But humor me as I continue a baseball writer's spring training tradition of complaining when the temperature dips below 55 degrees. It was a fairly quiet, low-key workout today; pitchers in the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he used "every piece of the facility" for today's workout. All of the mounds and cages. All of the equipment. Every field was occupied. "We needed every piece to get done what we needed to do," he said. Showalter watched Jair Jurrjens warm up before the right-hander's first bullpen session with the Orioles. "I just wanted to see him throw," Showalter said. "I saw him from the other dugout, so I've got a little something to...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals fans got a glimpse of Cole Kimball's immense ability in the early part of the 2011 season. Unfortunately, it was just a brief glimpse. Kimball posted a 1.93 ERA over 12 appearances in 2011, holding hitters to a .174 batting average and not looking at all like an intimidated 25-year-old rookie. A torn rotator cuff derailed Kimball's career, however, costing him the rest of the 2011 campaign and limiting him to just six minor league rehab appearances last season. After...