The Orioles are planning to bring some of their minor league players to Sarasota for an early spring training and there could be 30 or more players asked to report Feb. 23. They are several reasons to do this. In the case of some players, like outfielder Trent Mummey, who will report early, he was hurt and missed a lot of last year and could use some extra work. In the case of some pitchers, like Bobby Bundy, they could potentially be used in one of the early major league exhibition games to...

I had the opportunity to speak with New York Yankees president Randy Levine, who was in town to announce a new strategic plan to improve the athletics and recreation programs at his alma mater, George Washington University (class of 1977). As the subject turned to baseball, Levine was complimentary concerning the Nationals as the Yankees prepare for their first trip to Nationals Park in June. Here is my audio interview with Levine on the Nationals and Yankees. Levine was especially...

Predictably enough, there's been some discontent from the City of Brotherly Love about the Nationals' announcement of the "Take Back the Park" initiative, a well-intentioned effort to put tickets for the team's May 4-6 series against the Phillies at Nationals Park in the hands of D.C.-area fans instead of having the park packed with Philly Phanatics. In a series of Thursday afternoon tweets, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat representing Pennsylvania, fired off the following plea: "I'm...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette found another late-inning reliever without making a trade. The club has reached agreement with right-hander Luis Ayala, and the deal will become official once his physical is completed and the results are known. It's believed to be a major league deal, which would require a corresponding 40-man roster move. Ayala, 34, was 2-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 52 appearances with the Yankees last season. He's 31-41 with a 3.47 ERA in seven seasons with six...

If you're strolling through downtown near Camden Yards tomorrow and hear some strange sounds emanating from the stadium that harken you to warmer weather and the game of summer, your ears aren't playing tricks on you. Tomorrow afternoon, the Orioles have invited 25 finalists to Camden Yards to audition for the opportunity to be the new public address announcer at the stadium. The new voice will replace Dave McGowan, the longtime PA announcer who announced in December that new job...

Now that the dust has settled from that flurry of activity yesterday - Brad Bergesen's arbitration ruling, Nick Johnson's minor league contract - it's time to wonder whether the Orioles are finished with the roster before pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 18. I'm guessing that at least one more move is made before that date. Perhaps another late-inning reliever is added to the mix - Koji Uehara's return remains a possibility if the Rangers lower their demands, though I...

Orioles minor leaguer LJ Hoes could not quite contain his excitement this week. He got an important phone call Wednesday morning and before long posted this via his Twitter account: "Just got the best news ever God is good...Big league Camp here I come." Hoes will join Xavier Avery as O's farmhands that are getting an invitation to the Birds' major league spring training camp, where they join the big leaguers in the clubhouse and on the field. "I'm just very excited," Hoes said by...

The Orioles have reached agreement with first baseman Nick Johnson on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. Johnson could give manager Buck Showalter another option at first base and designated hitter. He also could share time at those spots with Joe Mahoney at Triple-A Norfolk. No promises come with the deal, only an opportunity. Johnson, 33, didn't play in the majors last year. He appeared in 53 games with Triple-A Columbus and batted .201/.316/.332 with...

Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen came out on the losing side in yesterday's arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla. Bergesen will make $800,000 this season after earning $434,000 in 2011. He sought $1.2 million. The Orioles haven't lost a hearing since 1995 with pitcher Ben McDonald. They're 7-0 with general counsel H. Russell Smouse. Yesterday's hearing included Smouse, executive vice president Dan Duquette, director of baseball administration Tripp Norton and assistant director of...

Right-handed pitcher Brad Bergesen has been awarded the Orioles' contract offer of $800,000 in salary arbitration, it was announced today. Bergesen, 2-7 with a 5.70 ERA (101.0 IP, 64 ER) in 34 games (12 starts) last season, had sought a $1.2 million contract for the 2012 season.