Left-hander Matt Purke, the former Texas Christian star, will join the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League at the conclusion of fall instructional league in Viera, Fla., according to a Nationals source. Former Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon, however, will stay at instructional league for now, and the Nationals' future plans for him are not known. Rendon, the team's first-round selection in June's First-Year Player Draft, was previously announced as part of the Scorpions'...

When the Mesa Solar Sox open their season at 2:35 p.m. Eastern Time this afternoon, playing Phoenix in the Arizona Fall League, there will be seven Orioles minor leaguers on their roster. But two players that were slated to play for Mesa are dealing with injuries right now in Joe Mahoney and LJ Hoes, and pitcher Chorye Spoone is no longer on the Mesa roster. Hoes was listed as on the Mesa squad, but for now, he is with the other players at the Orioles' instructional league in Sarasota as he...

I won't make any promises, but we could find out today whether Andy MacPhail is staying in the organization and being given a different set of responsibilities. Wait, where have I written that before? It's now apparent that MacPhail is deciding his next move, and perhaps there's more for him to consider than previously known. We had every indication that he wasn't going to remain as president of baseball operations, but not because he was being forced out. It just came down to whether he...

Shortstop J.J. Hardy has been selected as the Orioles' nominee for the 2011 Hank Aaron Award. Fan voting begins today on mlb.com and runs until Oct 9. A winner will be chosen from each league. The winners will be announced during the World Series. A panel of Hall of Famers, led by Aaron, will join fans in voting for the award, which has recognized the most outstanding offensive performer from each league since 1999. Joe Morgan and former Oriole Robert Alomar have joined the panel this...

Fan voting begins today at MLB.com; Award recognizes Most Outstanding Offensive performers in each League Roberto Alomar and Joe Morgan Added to Hall of Fame Panel, with Returning Members Tony Gwynn, Paul Molitor, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams and Robin Yount Major League Baseball and MLB Advanced Media announced that J.J. Hardy was named the Orioles' nominee for the 2011 Hank Aaron Award. Fan voting begins today exclusively online at MLB.com and the 30 Club sites. For the second straight...

The facts are there for everyone to see. Nick Markakis hit .284 this year with 31 doubles, 15 homers, 73 RBIs and a .756 OPS. His slugging percentage has dropped every year from 2008 on, from .491 to .453 to .436 to this year's .406. His 31 doubles is much fewer than recent seasons when he had 48, 45 and 45. That .756 OPS is a career low. It all started with a terrible start. Through the end of May, Markakis was batting just .249 with only four doubles, four homers, 17 RBIs and a .640...

While in Hagerstown to see Stephen Strasburg rehab, one of the outfield stories that really caught my eye was the power displayed by Kevin Keyes. Keyes is continuing his season at the Nationals' instructional camp in Florida. Single-A Potomac Nationals hitting coach Mark Harris is one of the many coaches at instructs and likes what he sees from the former Texas Longhorn. "I think he opened some eyes with his production," Harris said. "A lot of coaches are anxious to see how he will do at...

I won't make any promises, but we could find out today whether Andy MacPhail is staying in the organization and being given a different set of responsibilities. I've been led to believe that the first announcement would clear up MacPhail's status and the next one would reveal his replacement - whether that's Buck Showalter or someone else. But it's possible that the delay has something to do with combining both pieces of news and eliminating the ongoing speculation. I just want to get...

As we all await the next few days to see how much gets resolved in the Orioles' front office, I will weigh in today with a few thoughts. I have no doubt that Buck Showalter could do a good job in the role of general manager. But I also realize he has never served in that role. I think the best move here is for Showalter to remain as manager and have the team add someone in the GM's role that he has total trust and confidence in. Then, those two men need to go out and fix the Orioles. They...

In case you missed it, outfielder Felix Pie elected to become a free agent. He can sign with any team. I don't think the Orioles are near the top of the list. And speaking of lists, the Orioles rank starting pitching first among their priorities this winter. They need a bat in the middle of their lineup. They might need a left fielder, corner infielder, designated hitter and second baseman. They might need a late-inning reliever. But another arm for the rotation tops all of them. The...