The Toronto Blue Jays recently completed a blockbuster 12-player trade where they acquired Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio from the Marlins. It's a deal that some believe has shifted the balance of power in the AL East. It's a deal some Orioles fans seem to feel the team has to counter with a move or moves of their own. I asked executive vice president Dan Duquette just that question this week. Do the Orioles feel pressure to counter the Toronto...

It doesn't appear that the Orioles will hire a third base coach before convening in Nashville for the Winter Meetings. Rich Dauer is in their Hall of Fame. He's on their list. Now he's just waiting for their phone call. Dauer spent all 10 seasons of his major league career with the Orioles and played on the 1979 and 1983 World Series teams. Recently fired as Rockies third base coach following manager Jim Tracy's resignation, he's hoping to go full circle and land in Baltimore. "I...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said he tried to figure out a way to fit first baseman Mark Reynolds on the team before non-tendering him tonight. "The way his contract is structured and the arbitration process made it challenging," Duquette said. "We just thought the value was too high. The price was too high on his option and the value in the arbitration system was too high to tender him a contract." Asked about the lack of negotiations leading up to tonight's deadline,...

The Orioles tonight announced that they have declined to tender a contract offer to three players: infielder Mark Reynolds, infielder Omar Quintanilla and right-hander Stu Pomeranz, allowing them to become free agents. Reynolds, 29, batted .221/.335/.429 with 23 home runs and 69 RBI in 135 games for the Orioles last season. In two years with Baltimore, he hit .221/.328/.458 with 60 home runs and 155 RBI in 290 games. Reynolds has hit 20 or more home runs in each of the last five...

The Orioles didn't negotiate a new deal with Mark Reynolds and they didn't trade him. Faced with tonight's deadline for offering contracts to their arbitration-eligible players, they chose to non-tender their first baseman and allow him to become a free agent. "It's official," he said. Reynolds made $7.5 million this year while batting .221/.335/.429 with 26 doubles, 23 homers and 69 RBIs in 135 games. The Orioles declined to pick up his $11 million option for 2013. Reynolds could...

The Orioles today announced that they acquired INF Yamaico Navarro from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for minor league right-hander Jhondaniel Medina. Navarro, 25, batted .279/.366/.491 with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 66 games with Triple-A Indianapolis and .160/.232/.220 with one home run and four RBI in 29 games for the Pirates last season. He is a career .279/.350/.437 hitter in 536 games over seven minor league seasons. Medina, 19, went 1-3 with a 4.14 ERA (50.0IP, 23ER) in 11...

The Orioles have made a flurry of moves as the deadline approaches for offering contracts to their arbitration-eligible players, including a trade and three signings. Infielder Yamaico Navarro was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league right-hander Jhondaniel Medina. Pitcher Stu Pomeranz was designated for assignment to make room for Navarro, 25, who batted .279/.366/.491 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 66 games with Triple-A Indianapolis and .160/.232/.220 with one home run...

The Nationals plan to cut ties with left-handed starter John Lannan, catcher Jesus Flores and left-handed reliever Tom Gorzelanny, a source confirmed, declining to tender those players a contract. Lannan was twice the Nationals' opening day starter, Flores was once viewed as the team's catcher of the future and Gorzelanny was a productive long reliever during the Nats' 2012 playoff run. All three would be free agents if they are indeed non-tendered. Teams have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to...

It's been an interesting few days for now-former Orioles prospect Joe Mahoney, who this afternoon was claimed on waivers by the Miami Marlins. Just two days ago, Mahoney was designated for assignment by the Orioles when they traded for Danny Valencia. Now he is headed to a new club and feels he'll be given a good chance to win an opening day roster spot come next April. "It's a new opportunity for me and it's exciting," Mahoney said this afternoon. "My wife and I are excited to see a...

The Miami Marlins have claimed Joe Mahoney off waivers from the Orioles, who designated him for assignment on Wednesday to make room for third baseman Danny Valencia on the 40-man roster. Mahoney batted .265 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs in 132 games for Triple-A Norfolk in 2012, and made his major league debut for the Orioles, going hitless in four at-bats over two games. So much for "The Big Irish" being the Orioles' first baseman of the future. Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post first...