At first glance it appears the new rules for the First-Year Player Draft in baseball's new collective bargaining agreement do not enhance competitive balance at all or provide a new system where the have nots can gain on the haves in Major League Baseball. But after an interview this week with Baseball America's Jim Callis, I don't think the new rules are quite as bad for second-division teams like the Pirates, Royals and, yes, the Orioles that can no longer dump any amount they want into...

The Winter Meetings begin Monday in Dallas, and the common perception among reporters is that Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is more likely to swing a trade or two than sign a free agent. "Well, I hope we do both," Duquette said yesterday. "I hope we can make some trades to help our team, and then also sign some free agent players to help our team. Hopefully, we can do both next week." Duquette indicated during his introductory press conference that the Orioles wouldn't...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today that the Orioles are interested in Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and will watch him work out in the Dominican Republic. A date hasn't been set for the workout, but it's on the club's agenda. Cespedes worked out yesterday for Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and international scouting director Johnny DiPuglia. Several other teams have watched him, including the Yankees and Marlins. Cespedes is a 26-year-old right-handed...

We're just days away from the start of baseball's annual Winter Meetings, the time when we click on the burners and watch as the Hot Stove ignites, giving teams a chance to build their rosters for the upcoming season. The Nationals are certainly no exception. After a third-place finish and an 80-81 record, fans are hoping 2012 will see the team take the next step, possibly earning their first postseason berth since moving to Washington. There's a lot of potential in our nation's capital,...

I told you earlier this month that the Orioles signed six-year minor league free agent Scott Beerer, 29, a former second-round pick of the Colorado Rockies, and how Brady Anderson helped him make the transition from pitcher to outfielder. Now here's more of the story. Anderson initially had doubts that Beerer could succeed as a position player until watching him launch baseballs off a tee during their first workout together. That's when Anderson, the former Orioles outfielder, changed his...

In looking ahead to their 2012 rotation, the Orioles probably can't project Brian Matusz as one of their starting five right now. Not after a season where he went 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA, spent time on the disabled list and made just 12 major league starts with 11 more coming in the minors. Matusz was a guest last night on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN and told the hosts he is working out in Irvine, Calif., this winter with former Oriole Brady Anderson. "With Brady, it's getting...

The wait is over. No more piecing together the Orioles' spring training schedule. The club released it today. The Orioles will face 10 different opponents at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, including the Boston Red Sox three times and the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays twice each. The Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals will each make one visit. The Orioles will play 15 games on the road,...

With Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings beginning Monday in Dallas, it is no secret the Nationals have a starting pitcher and leadoff hitter as their two priorities. How difficult will it be to solve both of those issues next week in Texas? It probably will not be an easy task to complete for many teams, not just the Nationals, because the Michael Bourns are not available as free agents. When you look at the Nationals' system, there are some bright stars in the future waiting in...

The Orioles have expressed interest in Venezuelan left-hander Renyel Pinto, 29, a free agent who spent parts of five seasons with the Florida Marlins. David Stockstill, the Orioles' director of international operations, scouted Pinto over the past week in the Venezuela Winter League and recently met with him. I'm told that a deal isn't done, but it's a possibility. In his first seven starts for Caribes, Pinto was 5-0 with a 1.42 ERA, 28 hits allowed, 16 walks and 42 strikeouts in 43 2/3...

I wrote this morning that former Brewers pitcher Bill Castro had emerged as a leading candidate to become bullpen coach, and nothing has changed. He's still the top choice at the moment, but I'm told that a final decision hasn't been made. Castro twice served as bullpen and pitching coach with the Brewers before being fired on Aug. 12, 2009. He was the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic's entry in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. He would give manager Buck Showalter a desired...