The Orioles today announced several front office staff promotions. Neil Aloise, previously Director of Sales and Fan Services, has been named Vice President of Ticketing and Fan Services. Greg Bader, previously Director of Communications, has been named Vice President of Communications and Marketing; and Mike Hoppes, formerly Director of Finance, has been named Vice President of Finance. Aloise served as the team's director of Sales and Fan Services since 2007. He joined the organization in...

The Orioles today announced several front office staff promotions. Neil Aloise, previously director of sales and fan Services, has been named vice president of ticketing and fan services. Greg Bader, previously director of communications, has been named vice president of communications and marketing; and Mike Hoppes, formerly director of finance, has been named vice president of finance. Aloise served as the team's director of sales and fan services since 2007. He joined the organization in...

Outfielder Lew Ford, outrighted by the Orioles on Friday, has elected to become a minor league free agent, according to this list provided by Baseball America. The Orioles signed Ford, 35, out of the independent Atlantic League this summer and he batted .183/.256/.352 with three home runs in 25 games, his first major league action since 2007 with the Minnesota Twins. Left-hander Zach Phillips and infielder Steve Tolleson also refused their outright assignments. You can read more here and...

Ian Desmond wants you to help Spread the Glove. Through his Web site, the Nationals shortstop has begun a campaign - called Spread the Glove - to partner up with fans and help worthy charities. When fans purchase wrist bands, or sweatshirts and t-shirts featuring Desmond's facsimile signature, proceeds from the sale will be donated to three charities selected by fans. "This is just the beginning of how all of us can help make a difference," Desmond said. "We cannot help everyone at one...

Right-hander Brad Meyers would just as soon forget 2012. It started off well with a new opportunity with the New York Yankees following his selection from the Nationals in the Rule 5 draft at last year's Winter Meetings. But a shoulder injury and just one appearance altered that momentum quickly. Eleven months later, the Santa Ana, Calif., native has been returned to the Nationals and is excited about being back with the club that originally drafted him. "I feel like I am coming back...

It's always tricky to project a major league roster in early November. Too many players could be signed or non-tendered. The list can become outdated in the blink of an eye. However, there isn't much else to write about in early November, so why not? Perhaps the Red Sox name Rick Peterson as their pitching coach. The Orioles could claim another player off waivers. I won't plan my entire day around it. I'm focusing on the bench this morning. Assuming manager Buck Showalter carries four...

How much should the Nationals be prepared to pay in order to keep Adam LaRoche in D.C.? How long a contract should they be willing to offer? Those are questions that are being tossed around both by people within the Nationals organization and within LaRoche's camp. Contract talks are still not to the point where a deal is expected in the very near future, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. But don't take that to mean that the Nationals aren't still very much in the...

For more than 10 years, Will Lingo of Baseball America put together the Orioles top 10 prospects list. But this year, those duties were turned over to Matt Forman. Last week he released this list of the Orioles top 10 prospects: 1 - P Dylan Bundy 2 - P Kevin Gausman 3 - IF Jonathan Schoop 4 - IF Nicky Delmonico 5 - P Eduardo Rodriguez 6 - OF LJ Hoes 7 - OF Xavier Avery 8 - P Mike Wright 9 - P Branden Kline 10 - IF Adrian Marin Recently, I interviewed Forman about this top 10 list. In this...

Infielder Steve Tolleson has refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected to become a free agent. The Orioles designated Tolleson on Friday to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Tolleson, 29, batted .183/.227/.310 with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs in 29 games over four stints with the Orioles in 2012. He hit a game-tying three-run homer off the Phillies' Cliff Lee on June 10 at Camden Yards. Tolleson played second base, shortstop, third base and left field for...

After spending the last six seasons with the Nationals, Pat Corrales has left the organization to become a special assistant to Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. Corrales served in a number of roles during his time with the Nationals. He was the team's bench coach on three separate occasions (2007-08, the second half of 2009 and the second half of 2011), served as a special assistant to the GM and most recently spent this last season working in player development. Corrales roamed...