A lot of fans are wondering why the Orioles have yet to begin talks on a contract extension with Adam Jones. After four seasons and 551 games with the Orioles, the 26-year-old Jones can be a free agent after the 2013 season. Jones was voted as the Most Valuable Oriole last year when his 16 outfield assists led all major league center fielders and he set career highs in doubles (26), homers (25), RBIs (83), stolen bases (12), extra-base hits (53) and slugging (.466). When I asked Orioles...

I'm filing a shorter entry this morning, so there's no "other." Luke Scott's agreement with Tampa Bay should become official later today. The Rays are expected to make an announcement on his one-year deal, which reportedly includes an option for 2013. The Orioles must have someone else in mind for the designated hitter role. Nolan Reimold remains in play, if manager Buck Showalter is comfortable with Endy Chavez as his left fielder/leadoff hitter. Scott wanted to return, but the...

The Nationals and Scott Boras, the agent for Prince Fielder, have reached an impasse in negotiations for a long-term contract that would bring the slugging first baseman to D.C. A baseball source has confirmed that the Nationals are balking at the length of the deal, not wanting to commit seven or more years to the 27-year-old Fielder, who has been rumored to want 10 years and more than $240 million. While NatsTown is understandably unhappy with this turn of events, fans should realize that...

The Orioles won't be re-signing Luke Scott as their designated hitter. Scott has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Rays on a one-year contract, according to an industry source. The deal will become official once he passes a physical. Scott batted .220 with 11 doubles, nine homers and 22 RBIs in 64 games with the Orioles last season. He underwent surgery July 26 in Pensacola, Fla., to repair posterior and SLAP tears in his right labrum. In 2010, Scott was voted Most Valuable Oriole after...

One hundred years ago, in January 1912, the Washington Nationals were owned by the principal publisher of the Washington Star, Tom Noyes. Noyes has assumed ownership of Washington's new American League team in 1904, but had despaired of ever seeing a winner in D.C. after a decade of cellar-dwelling teams. Then, in November 1911, serendipity linked Noyes with a giant of the game, Clark Griffith. Known as "The Old Fox," Griffith saw in Washington a unique opportunity and took the managerial...

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...