The Orioles have discussed signing free-agent first baseman Nick Johnson to a minor league contract. No word yet on whether an agreement has been reached, but his name has come up in the warehouse. Update: No deal is in place, but the sides are close to an agreement. 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 six doubles, six homers and 13 RBIs. Johnson has dealt with a myriad of health issues over the...

Shortstop Zach Walters, acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Jason Marquis deal last summer, was a nice pickup for the Nationals and is expected to make another big step this season. The Nationals showed their confidence in the San Diego product by selecting him to play in the Arizona Fall League. This experience, coupled with a hot bat, will pay dividends for him this upcoming campaign. Nationals infield coordinator Jeff Garber kept a watchful eye on Walters and sees various top-level tools...

It's hard to believe Camden Yards has been around since 1992. I can still recall driving past the construction site as the stadium rose where the B&O Railroad yards used to be, the protestations of politicians who insisted a downtown stadium was pure folly and my first glimpse of the new ballpark on a mid-winter's day when mini-plan holders were invited down to see where their new seats would be. Mine were in the upper deck in Section 324, three rows from the top of the stadium, looking...

With Opening Day of the 2012 season less than two months away, the Orioles today announced the official launch of CamdenYards20.com, a website designed in conjunction with Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM), that celebrates the 20th anniversary season of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, The Ballpark that Forever Changed Baseballâ„¢. CamdenYards20.com features all things Oriole Park , including a look back at the greatest moments of the past 20 seasons and a...

Here is a mild surprise to me: Keith Law of ESPN.com rates the Orioles' farm system 17th out of 30 in baseball. Frankly, with all the criticism the Orioles' farm system has been getting, I would have expected a ranking a little lower, maybe in the 20-25 range. The Orioles, according to Law's ranking, which cannot be linked as premium content, still rank fourth among American League East teams. 2nd - Tampa Bay 3rd - Toronto 10th - New York 17th - Orioles 18th - Boston I was shocked to see...

Remember that feeling of satisfaction that washed over you last week when Baseball America ranked the Nationals' farm system No. 1 in baseball? We all knew the ranking, decided upon before the trade that sent four top prospects to the A's in exchange for left-hander Gio Gonzalez, would take a hit once the loss of pitchers Tommy Milone, Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole and catcher Derek Norris were factored out of the equation. Baseball America promised a revised ranking in mid-March to accommodate...

Just a reminder that Brad Bergesen's arbitration hearing is scheduled for today in St. Petersburg, Fla. Bergesen is seeking $1.2 million and the Orioles are offering $800,000. He made $434,000 last season. Adam Jones' hearing is scheduled for Feb. 17. He's seeking $7.4 million and the Orioles countered at $5 million. He made $3.25 million last season. I'll say it again: The Orioles need to figure out whether they can sign Jones to a long-term deal. He's a free agent in 2014. His value...

If a healthy Brian Roberts is batting atop the Orioles' lineup, they have one of the best leadoff hitters in the game to ignite their team. If Roberts is out - and his status remains very much in question for 2012 - the Orioles don't have a bonafide leadoff hitter in that spot. Orioles leadoff hitters didn't rate very highly among American League teams in 2011: * Runs - ranked tied for eighth with 92 * Batting average - ranked 14th and last at .240 * On-base average - ranked 14th and last...

Anthony Rendon made national headlines during his career as a power-hitting third baseman at Rice University. Rendon was expected by many to be the No. 1 overall selection in June's draft, yet his stock dropped because of injury concerns. The Nationals grabbed Rendon with the sixth pick and felt they got a steal. Many baseball authorities agreed. Baseball America Jim Callis called the the haul of Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Rendon as the best three-year run he had ever seen....

The Orioles are still trying to determine their level of interest in Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. The next step is for Fred Ferreira, their executive director of international recruiting, to take another look at him. Ferreira will head to the Dominican Republic in about 10 days to watch Cespedes work out. This will be his first look at the 26-year-old Cuban defector since shortly after the Winter Meetings in December. Ferreira has been reading reports provided by a few of his scouts...