The "MLB Network Countdown" will rank the top 40 greatest teams in baseball history at 9 p.m. It probably comes as no surprise that the 1970 Orioles made the final cut. The 1984 Detroit Tigers, 1998 New York Yankees and 1995 Atlanta Braves also will be featured. Teams are ranked from 1961 to the present, and the 1970 Orioles made the Top 10. Meanwhile, the NFL Network is currently showing a replay of last weekend's Ravens-Steelers game. I think I'll pass, so to speak. By the way,...

I just got off the phone with Kevin Millwood, who doesn't sense that he's close to signing with another team. Millwood has been linked to the Royals, Indians and Yankees at various times, and he indicated that all three teams remain in play. He's confident that he'll secure a major league deal rather than having to settle for a minor league contract with a spring training invite. So what about the Orioles? Millwood said his agent, Scott Boras, mentioned the Orioles among the teams that...

Here are some more quotes from my conversation with Orioles' scouting director Joe Jordan on the selection of Matt Hobgood with the O's 2009 first-round pick. The 20-year-old right-hander, who was taken with the fifth overall pick, is 4-9, 4.48 in 29 starts covering 120 2/3 innings the past two seasons with Bluefield and Delmarva. Hobgood has been criticized by fans for his performance and conditioning and Jordan has received criticism for his selection of the former California high school...

Team exchanges salary arbitration figures with RHP Jeremy Guthrie and DH Luke Scott The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with SS J.J. Hardy, OF's Adam Jones and Felix Pie and RHP Jim Johnson on one-year contracts, avoiding arbitration. Hardy, 28, batted .268 (91-340) with 6 home runs and 28 RBI in 101 games with the Minnesota Twins in 2010. He hit 26 home runs and was a National League All-Star in 2007 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Jones, 25, batted .284 (165-581) with...

I'll start with some alumni news: Former Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to this tweet from Baseball America's Matt Eddy. The Cubs made Montanez the third overall pick in the 2000 draft. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez was taken first by the Florida Marlins. The Minnesota Twins used the second pick on right-hander Adam Johnson. You must remember that the Orioles used the 14th pick on University of Texas pitcher Beau Hale. See how...

Recently in this space, Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' first-round draft pick in 2009, talked about his shoulder injury. Hobgood has a strained rotator cuff and has begun the process to rehab the injury. He cannot pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred, but does know that the fastball velocity he had as a high school senior has been missing in his two pro seasons. On Tuesday, O's scouting director Joe Jordan spoke candidly and at great length with MASNsports.com about his selection of...

The Orioles announced that they exchanged salary figures with their two remaining arbitration-eligible players today: pitcher Jeremy Guthrie and designated hitter/outfielder Luke Scott. According to an industry source, Guthrie is seeking $6.5 million and the Orioles countered at $5 million. He earned $3 million last season. Scott is seeking $6.85 million and the Orioles countered at $5.7 million. He earned $4.05 million last season. Hearings will be scheduled, most likely next month, if...

While examining possible trade options for a starting pitcher, it's been noted that Detroit's Armando Galarraga could be made available. Well, he's really available now because the Tigers designated him for assignment earlier today. Galarraga agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million deal a day earlier, but he wasn't really off the board. The Tigers needed to make room for Brad Penny, and Galarraga apparently is the odd man out. Galarraga came within a blown call by first base umpire Jim Joyce...

With all the talk this week about starting pitching, it would be a very good thing if the Nationals' depth at catcher could be bolstered by a healthy return of Jesus Flores, who missed last season with a shoulder injury. From all indications, general manager Mike Rizzo believes Flores will be back to "100 percent" for spring training. Flores has been limited to 29 games the past two seasons. "Jesus Flores had a terrific Venezuelan Winter League. He was happy and healthy, swinging the...

Today is the date that players and teams exchange arbitration figures, a process that makes my eyes glaze over. These players aren't going anywhere. They can't become free agents. They just need to have their contracts finalized. Here's the drill: The players' agents will submit a figure, the Orioles will make a counter offer and they'll end up settling near the middle. I would care a lot more if half of it was being deposited in my checking account. Otherwise, they can make $500,000...