This will be a very quick update on the Orioles' general manager search, since I'm less than an hour away from The start of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Report on MASN. The Orioles are placing calls to numerous teams seeking permission to interview candidates to replace Andy MacPhail. I've heard that the teams include the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. That's only a partial roll call. It's fair to speculate that one of the names is Mike...

The Orioles claimed right-hander Darren O'Day off waivers from the Texas Rangers, continuing their roster infatuation with the American League champions. O'Day, 29, was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 16 games and 16 2/3 innings this season. He also was 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA, four walks and 27 strikeouts in 18 games and 21 1/3 innings with Double-A Frisco (one game) and Triple-A Round Rock (17). O'Day, a submarine-stylist similar to Chad Bradford, also has pitched for the Angels in 2008, the Mets in...

The Orioles today announced that they have claimed right-hander Darren O'Day on waivers from the Texas Rangers. O'Day, 29, was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (16.2IP, 10ER) in 16 games for the American League champions this season. He was also 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA (21.1IP, 6ER), 27 strikeouts and four walks in 18 total games with Double-A Frisco (one game) and Triple-A Round Rock (17 games). In four major league seasons with the Angels (2008), Mets ('09) and Rangers ('09-'11), O'Day is 8-5 with a...

Nick Markakis has played plenty of games in right field with Brian Roberts patrolling second base. Markakis talked to Roberts recently and hopes Roberts can return to regular duty next season after playing in just 98 combined games the last two years. "I talked to him not too long ago," Markakis said. "I know 100 percent he plans on coming back. He wants to be a part of this as much as anybody else. It's unfortunate with the injury he has right now. It's a long healing process and I hope...

On a conference call to talk about his Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Nick Markakis updated reporters on an injury. If you recall, he was taken out of the last game of the season with a bone bruise in the abdomen area. "It happened a couple of weeks prior to the end of the season, stealing a base, just dove in and hurt myself. As far as healthy right now, I'd say I'm about 70 to 75 percent. Just a slow healing process. I'm taking it easy, resting. That's about all you can do for a bone...

Catcher Matt Wieters was made available to reporters in a conference call earlier this morning. Here are some of his comments regarding his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award: "I take a lot of pride in the award," he said. "It's definitely something I always work at to get better, and to be able to win a Gold Glove, I'm honored to be in the same class as the other great catchers in the game defensively. It's an honor, for sure. I'm very blessed to be able to win the award this early in my...

I opened yesterday's entry by saying that we might have an announcement on a new president of baseball operations, and I came close to being right. An offer was made to Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava. He turned it down yesterday. Otherwise... LaCava returned home, huddled with his family and broke the news to the Orioles that he wasn't leaving the Blue Jays. I'm sick of this topic, but it won't go away. Dodgers executive De Jon Watson is waiting to find out whether...

Orioles outfield prospect Xavier Avery rode an 11-game hitting tear right onto a roster spot for the East squad in Saturday's Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game. The rosters were released Tuesday and Avery earned a spot on the East squad that will take on the West team Saturday night at 8:10 p.m. Eastern time in a game that will be televised live on the MLB Network. "I'm happy about it. It's a compliment. It's great," Avery said by phone last night from Arizona. In 19 AFL games...

Late tonight, Rawlings announced that Orioles catcher Matt Wieters and right fielder Nick Markakis have been named this year's American League Gold Glove Award recipients for defensive excellence at their respective positions. The award for Wieters culminates a season in which the 25-year-old was also named to his first All-Star team and set new career-highs in eight offensive categories, including hits, home runs, runs and RBIs. His .995 fielding percentage tied for the American League lead...

I just got off the phone with Tony LaCava, who earlier today turned down the Orioles' offer to become their president of baseball operations. LaCava insisted that, in the end, he didn't want to leave Toronto. And he understands that most people will think he's crazy. "I really enjoy my job in Toronto, and I have a GM that I work with (Alex Anthopoulos) who's like a brother to me," LaCava said. "We're very, very close. We have a really good dynamic between us. I wasn't looking to...