Skipping around the baseball world today with some random thoughts on random topics. Are the Orioles sending their young pitchers a message?: With the signings of Dana Eveland, Tsuyoshi Wada and Wei-Yin Chen, it is getting crowded in the Orioles' rotation. Depending upon who you considered a candidate for the starting five, there are now a dozen or so candidates for starting rotation spots on this team. Seems to me the message is clear to the young guys like Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz and...

Left-hander Sammy Solis is progessing well following elbow soreness that shut down his Arizona Fall League campaign. Solis visited two doctors in Los Angeles to check the elbow pain and there was concern as to the extent of the injury, as there would be with any pitcher who suffers such a setback. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris reports that Solis is "doing well" at this time and the team is receiving "positive feedback" as Solis rests the elbow. He is day to...

Looking back at yesterday's interview with executive vice president Dan Duquette, I find myself again trying to read between the lines without straining my eyes. Duquette isn't going to reveal much to reporters. He downplayed interest in Wei-Yin Chen on at least three occasions this winter, saying that he didn't know much about the Taiwanese pitcher. He wasn't going to admit that the Orioles had scouted Chen for years in anticipation of the left-hander becoming a free agent and moving to...

Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today that the Orioles haven't approached Adam Jones' agent about a contract extension. Jones, who's represented by Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, is two seasons away from free agency. Jones has been the subject of trade rumors, most notably involving the Atlanta Braves, despite Duquette's insistence that he wants to build around the center fielder. When asked today about a possible extension for Jones, Duquette said, "We're not focused on that...

The annual announcement of the Baseball Writers' Association of America balloting for the Baseball Hall of Fame always brings polar opposites in emotions: elected candidates thrilled yet humbled to be recognized among the game's immortals and the lamentations of those bypassed or ignored who don't understand why. In that way, voting results are much like the game - there are clear winners and losers. But debate about those not elected goes on long after the lucky party - in this case, Barry...

The offseason is chugging along and we'll soon be talking about guys arriving at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. The next step for the Nationals is to come to contract terms with their six arbitration-eligible players: right-handers Tyler Clippard and Jordan Zimmermann, left-handers Tom Gorzelanny and John Lannan, outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse and catcher Jesus Flores. Clippard and Zimmermann are first-timers in the arbitration process, while Lannan and Morse are getting their...

The Orioles today announced that they have signedleft-hander Wei-Yin Chen (pronounced Way-Ying) to a three-year contract with a club option for 2015. He will wear number 16. Chen, 26, will be the first Taiwanese-born player in Orioles history. The 6-foot, 195-pound left-hander went 36-30 with a 2.48 ERA (631.1IP, 174ER) and 1.06 WHIP in 117 games (88 starts) over the last four seasons with the Chunichi Dragons in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. "Chen works off of a...

The Orioles announced today that they signed Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to a three-year contract with a club option for 2015. He will wear No. 16. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles have designated outfielder Kyle Hudson for assignment. Chen, 26, will be the first Taiwanese-born player in Orioles history. The 6-foot, 195-lb. left-hander went 36-30 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 117 games (88 starts) over the last four seasons with the Chunichi Dragons in the Central...

Thoughts on the Hall of Fame voting: * I voted for shortstop Barry Larkin, who played his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds, but I don't understand why my colleagues in the Baseball Writers' Association of America don't give more support to Alan Trammell, who was the American League's version of Larkin. Their stats are eerily similar, and Trammell actually had more hits and RBIs. So Trammell should have more than 34 percent of the vote. * Next year, will pitcher Jack Morris be able...

Sometimes, when national analysts contend the Orioles lack a lot of solid hitting prospects in their minor league organization, they overlook Tyler Townsend, a third-round pick and first baseman out of Florida International in 2009. Not so much because of a lack of good numbers, but a lack of consistent at-bats. Townsend has been dogged by hamstring issues in his left leg the last two years that limited him to 52 games in 2010 and 67 last summer. But consider these numbers: In three seasons...