You can stop worrying. Garrett Atkins has found a job. The Pirates announced that they signed Atkins to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Atkins lasted 44 games with the Orioles last season, batting .214 with one homer and nine RBIs. They released him on July 6. Atkins signed for $4.5 million last winter. Now he's settling for a minor league deal from a club that already signed first baseman Lyle Overbay. Let the comeback begin. By the way, the Orioles didn't...

Well, I am now back from vacation and back on the East Coast. After several days in Las Vegas, my energy and bankroll were both running low so I made it home just in time. I would say more, but, as you all know, what happens in Vegas....... Thanks to the MASNsports.com staff for publishing some stories I had left behind to run over the past few days, mostly on the minor leagues and reader comments also. Thanks to our great fans/readers for leaving some good comments even when I wasn't able...

The D.C. City Council has approved a lease with the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation to build the long-awaited baseball academy at Fort Dupont Park, Mike Henderson of Nats Daily News reports. The measure, which was approved Tuesday, will allow construction and operation of the youth baseball academy on land transferred to the city in June, as well as an opportunity for the District to provide a $10.2 million grant for financing the project. Chairman Vincent C. Gray pushed for this...

While wondering whether Brett Favre texted pictures of his feet to Rex Ryan ... I saw the mlbtraderumors.com post ranking each club according to its offseason spending and braced for the inevitable Orioles bashing. I knew it was coming, so I may as well address it. (It also allows me to mention Adam LaRoche again, keeping my streak intact.) The Orioles rank 23rd out of 30 teams at $5.58 million, which is broken down as $3 million for reliever Koji Uehara, $1.5 million for infielder Cesar...

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail says the club hasn't imposed a deadline for free agents to accept their offers, which means Adam LaRoche can continue to mull his options while the Orioles resume talks with other players. MacPhail didn't reveal names, but it's clear that LaRoche hasn't been given a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum. "I'm not a big deadline guy," MacPhail said. "There's nothing to prevent you from talking to other people in certain scenarios. I don't know...

Former Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez texted me earlier today and mentioned that he's receiving a lot of interest, "especially from AL East teams." A few Japanese teams also are interested in the free-agent outfielder. Montanez is batting third for first-place Criollos de Caguas of the Puerto Rican Winter League. He's 13-for-28 with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. He writes that his team's starting nine is comprised entirely of former major league players. Today would have been...

We have a theme going here. As you might have noticed, another shopping day bit the dust yesterday. We're down to a precious few. I've got errands to run this morning, but my laptop goes everywhere I go, so I'll pass along any news that might break. It usually stays in my trunk. It doesn't sit on the passenger seat with the window cracked. In case you hadn't heard, the Orioles need a first baseman. They'd like to add at least one more reliever, a veteran starter and another utility...

So how is Philadelphia reacting to the loss of Jayson Werth? Former Phillies standout John Kruk was on ESPN talking about the team's signing of Cliff Lee. He told the story of when he woke up his son with the news, "Guess who the Phillies signed?" His son answered, "Did they get Jayson Werth back?!" It gives you an idea of the impact of Werth had on the Phillies and their fans. Matt Gelb covers the Phillies for the Philadelphia Inquirer. I asked Gelb to go back to the first time...

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Rick Ankiel on a one-year contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ankiel is a career .248 (311-for-1255) hitter with 64 doubles, 55 home runs and 181 RBI in 416 big league games with Atlanta (2010), Kansas City (2010) and St. Louis (1999-2009). 25 of Ankiel's 55 career long balls came with the Cardinals in 2008, when he hit .264 with 21...

If you're looking for someone to critique the Orioles' winter additions at third base and shortstop, Cal Ripken seems like the logical person for the assignment. He's played both positions and his opinion always counts. Ripken has added next month's coaching clinic at the University of Maryland to his busy schedule (more on that later), but he took time earlier this morning to talk to MASN and The Sun in a conference call. Ripken gave high marks to the trade that brought third baseman...