The Orioles today announced that they have claimed infielder Russ Canzler off waivers from the Yankees. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, catcher Luis Martinez has been designated for assignment. Canzler, 26, is a career .278/.347/.472 hitter in nine minor league seasons with the Cubs, Tampa Bay and Cleveland. He has hit .271/.304/.396 in 29 major league games in 2011 (Tampa Bay) and 2012 (Cleveland). In 31 major league plate appearances against left-handed pitching, Canzler has hit...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has added a hitter one week before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, claiming first baseman/outfielder Russ Canzler off waivers from the New York Yankees. The Orioles also designated catcher Luis Martinez for assignment to make room for Canzler on the 40-man roster. Canzler, 26, is a career .278/.347/.472 hitter in nine minor league seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians. He's hit .271/.304/.396 in 29...

Podcaster, administrative assistant at Google and saxophone player. You could label 30-year-old Sam Dingman a Renaissance man. And this offseason, the 30-year-old is looking to add another title to his resume: MLB Fan Cave Dweller. Since 2010, the MLB Fan Cave has given a few baseball die-hards the opportunity to spend a season in its event space in New York City, with their ultimate goal being to watch every single major league game of the season. Participants create blog posts, videos and...

Of all the positions on the diamond, the Nationals might have the most organizational depth at catcher. Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos appear poised to make up one of the most talented catching duos at the major league level, and waiting in the wings on the farm, the Nats have Jhonatan Solano, Sandy Leon and Carlos Maldonado, ready to step in if needed. But with Ramos coming back from major knee surgery, the Nationals aren't willing to take any chances. That's why they've signed veteran...

Just a little over a year after being shipped out to Oakland as part of the Gio Gonzalez trade, Brad Peacock finds himself switching organizations yet again. Peacock, the former Nationals right-hander who was a key piece in the Gonzalez deal last January, was traded to the Astros last night in a five-player deal that will send infielder Jed Lowrie to the Athletics. The trade threw a minor wrench into Peacock's plans to make a cross-country drive from West Palm Beach, Fla. to Phoenix, where...

There were some very interesting responses over the weekend to my latest edition of "10 questions for O's fans." I was a little surprised by some of the responses to the question about pitchers Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. I asked readers that if they believe one or both could make the major league rotation this year, when might that happen? The surprise was in the restraint many of you showed by responding they would not get there until September, if then. Here some numbers from the...

While wondering why Vegas has made the Ravens a 4 1/2-point underdog at their own parade ... As we continue to wait for the Orioles to announce the signing of Jair Jurrjens to a one-year contract, it's fair to wonder whether they ordered more tests on his surgically repaired right knee as part of his physical. Otherwise, they're really studying those results while making absolutely certain that he's healthy before completing the deal. Jurrjens underwent arthroscopic surgery for a torn...

With spring training just around the corner, the makeup of the some of the minor league rosters are starting to take shape as names are quietly appearing on the Web sites of Nationals affiliates. For the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, pitchers Yunesky Maya, Jeff Mandel, Pat Lehman, Brad Meyers, Hassan Pena and Tanner Roark are familiar. Also on the list is right-hander Matt Torra. Torra, out of the University of Massachusetts, is 6-foot-3 and 225-lb. righty starter who made 26 appearances (23...

A club official has confirmed the Orioles have agreed to terms with 38-year-old lefty Mark Hendrickson on a minor league contract. Hendrickson last pitched in the majors during the 2011 season, going 1-0 with a 5.78 ERA for the Orioles in eight games. He went 8-11 with a 4.80 ERA for the Orioles from 2009-11 in 113 games. The Orioles are intrigued to see what the 6-foot-9 Hendrickson can do using a new sidearm delivery. He threw for the club a couple of times during the team's mini-camp at...

Given his druthers, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo would prefer to build his club the old-fashioned way: through effective scouting and a well-honed farm system. But trades for the past two offseasons that yielded the Nats left-hander Gio Gonzalez from the A's and center fielder Denard Span from the Twins have left the Nats' farm system a tad barren past a handful of top prospects. In his annual ranking of minor league systems (subscription required), ESPN's Keith Law says the...