Now that Adam Jones is under contract for 2012, we can focus on other matters, like whether the Orioles will sign him to an extension. Executive vice president Dan Duquette prefers to wait until after the season and avoid any distractions. Those talks remain on the back burner, where they've been all along. In the meantime, Jones can report to Ed Smith Stadium later this month and figure out where he's batting and who's setting the table for him. Jones sorely missed Brian Roberts atop the...

His career in the majors lasted one start. He threw 61 pitches and faced 17 hitters, giving up three home runs, five hits and four walks. It was July 30, 2004, and despite giving up four runs, the Texas Rangers rallied to win the game so he didn't get saddled with the loss. That pitcher was Sam Narron. The left-hander spent the rest of his career trying to get back to the majors. This offseason, while considering a return with a major league team at spring training, Narron decided to...

At this time last year, pitcher Dylan Bundy was getting ready to write the final chapter of a high school career that would lead him to the first round of the Major League Baseball draft in June. A year later, he finds himself days away from boarding a flight to Florida for his first major league spring training camp. After leading his Owasso (Okla.) High School team to a 37-2 record and going 11-0 with an ERA of 0.20 last spring, Bundy was named Gatorade National High School Player of the...

According to legal documents which inadvertently failed to redact "Hagerstown Suns baseball club, LLC" from a single line, the Single-A Suns are apparently on the verge of moving their operations to Winchester, Va., for the 2013 season. Winchester must have a suitable stadium in place and the funding by April 21, but this development further illuminates what the parent Nationals expect in field and stadium improvements within their minor league system. Last year, the Nationals were upset...

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones describes himself as happy that he avoided a pending Friday arbitration hearing as he and the club settled on his 2012 contract tonight. But he said he had not heard anything yet from the Orioles about talk of a possible contract extension. "Not to my knowledge," Jones said when asked if contract extension talks have begun. "Maybe internally (among the Orioles) with themselves, but not that I know of. I don't personally know of any talks. If you talk to...

The Orioles have signed center fielder Adam Jones to a one-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Friday morning in St. Petersburg, Fla. Jones, 26, batted .280/.319/.466 and set career highs in games (151), doubles (26), home runs (25), RBIs (83), stolen bases (12) and total bases (264). He was named Most Valuable Oriole by the media covering the team. Jones was the Orioles' last arbitration-eligible player without a contract. They started out with nine and...

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with center fielder Adam Jones on a one-year contract, thus avoiding arbitration. Jones, 26, batted .280/.319/.466 in 2011 for the Orioles, setting career-highs in games (151), doubles (26), home runs (25), RBI (83), stolen bases (12) and total bases (264) on his way to being named Most Valuable Oriole.

Ever watch the ballgirls or ballboys stationed along the outfield foul lines at Camden Yards make a nice grab of a foul fly or grounder and think, "Hey, I could do that!"? Well, now's your opportunity. Come Sunday, March 4, the Orioles will conduct an open tryout to field a new group of, er, ballpersons for 2012. The tryouts will occur - where else? - Camden Yards and will be judged by a panel of O's front office members and WBAL Radio sportscaster Keith Mills. Outgoing and athletic men...

The Orioles have announced they will conduct an open tryout to find ballgirls and ballboys for the 2012 season at Oriole Park on Sunday, March 4. The judges will include members of the Orioles' front office as well as WBAL Broadcaster Keith Mills. Outgoing and athletic men and women ages 18 and older who are interested in serving as ballboys and ballgirls for the Orioles during the upcoming 2012 season are invited to try out for a position at Camden Yards beginning at 1 p.m. on March...

VIERA, Fla. - Are there four more glorious words in the English language than "pitchers and catchers report"? But before the Nationals' batteries charge from Space Coast Stadium to the Carl Barger Baseball Complex - OK, it's actually more of a leisurely stroll, but after nearly five months off, the pace will be quickened - here are the five most important questions facing the club between now and the April 5 season opener at Wrigley Field in Chicago: Is Bryce Harper ready for prime time?...