Though they may seem hidden in the Arizona Fall League, which doesn't generate a tremendous amount of coverage, Orioles farmhands Jonathan Schoop and Mike Belfiore haven't gone unnoticed. Schoop and Belfiore have been chosen to play in Saturday's Rising Stars Game that will air live at 8 p.m. on MLB Network. Schoop, a middle infielder and the third-ranked prospect in the Orioles' system according to Baseball America, is batting .310/.453/.548 with four doubles, two homers, seven RBIs,...

As the offseason kicks into high gear, the Nationals are a defending champion in an unusual position: They could stand pat and be picked to win the National League East for a second consecutive season in 2013. But that's not how the Nationals operate. They'll likely be looking for an experienced pitcher and a leadoff batter. The Nationals rotation will have Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Ross Detwiler, but the fifth guy is up for debate. It could be Zack Greinke,...

Not only was Bryce Harper apparently pretty excited to welcome kids to his doorstep for Halloween, he also threw on a costume himself. What did the 20-year-old dress up as?

I always look forward to MLBTradeRumors.com's list of the Top 50 Free Agents and where they may end up. The Orioles are projected to sign three of them, including left-hander Joe Saunders, who started seven games after being acquired from the Diamondbacks, and two more in the playoffs. I'll agree with that prediction. He's the kind of reasonably priced veteran starter that executive vice president Dan Duquette is seeking, and Saunders would like to return. Plus, he's kinda/sorta local as...

Outfielder Brian Goodwin is leading off for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League and has gotten off to a fast start with a league-best nine extra-base hits. His outstanding play earned the 21-year-old an invitation to play in the AFL Rising Stars Game on Saturday night, alongside teammates Aaron Barrett and Anthony Rendon. Pitching coach Mark Grater has watched Goodwin since May and has seen what the talented center fielder has to offer the Nationals. "Brian Goodwin (was)...

If you are an elite prospect like Dylan Bundy, you can make it on your team's 40-man roster the day you sign a contract - and he did. Zach Clark took a longer road, but the former UMBC pitcher and Wilmington, Del., native finally made it yesterday. Clark got an important phone call Wednesday morning as he drove in his car with his wife. He was told that at 29 and after seven seasons, 171 games and 758 innings pitched in the Orioles' minors, that he was added to the 40-man. Not bad for a...

The Orioles got some love in the unlikeliest of places. Laurel resident Greg Merson won the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas early this morning, claiming the top prize of just over $8.5 million at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. His victory was broadcast on a 15-minute delay on ESPN (the delay was necessary to protect the integrity of the tournament, according to a press release). And he did it wearing an Orioles jersey, as this photo from Joe Giron of WSOP-Poker News clearly shows. What...

The Yankees have returned right-handed pitcher Brad Meyers to the Nationals, according to reports out of New York. The Nats lost Meyers, 27, to the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft last winter. At that time, Meyers was expected to battle for a long-relief job in the Yankees' bullpen during spring training, but he spent nearly the entire season on the disabled list because of a shoulder injury suffered during a weight lifting session over the winter. Meyers appeared in just one professional game...

Mark Reynolds wasn't surprised by today's news that the Orioles declined to pick up his $11 million option for next season. He expected this outcome based on his diminished production this season. "Obviously, I didn't have the year I wanted," Reynolds said in a phone conversation. "I didn't play to my standards and obviously the Orioles' standards. But I've still got an arbitration year to go and we'll see what happens. Nov. 30 is the date, right?" Correct. And the Orioles could...

The Orioles have declined to pick up first baseman Mark Reynolds' $11 million option for 2013. They exercised the $1 million option on reliever Luis Ayala's contract. Both of these moves were anticipated for months. Reynolds, 29, is arbitration-eligible, which leaves the Orioles with another decision. He made $7.5 million this season and a raise could increase his salary to around $9 million. The Orioles may non-tender Reynolds and attempt to re-sign him, but they'd risk losing him as a...