It shrinks? Like a frightened turtle! The Padres reportedly have reached agreement with Brad Hawpe on a one-year contract, which figures to impact the Orioles. Hawpe will platoon at first base in San Diego despite extremely limited experience at the position. He's appeared in only nine games there, all of them in 2010. By comparison, he's played 748 games in right field over seven seasons. Derrek Lee wants to play for a contender, Well, the Padres no longer need him. The same with Adam...

If you're heading out to do some last-minute shopping, I'll just ask...are you crazy?! I'm out of milk and I'm afraid to venture to the grocery store. I'll eat my Cheerios dry. All I need is a highchair and a sippy cup. It would be an upset of monumental proportions if the Orioles signed a free agent today - or scheduled a physical so they could sign a free agent. I'm on call as always, but I don't anticipate any news on Christmas Eve. If Adam LaRoche finally agrees to terms, he might...

In case you missed Ben Goessling's outstanding update on Baseball America's list of Top 10 prospects in Nationals organization, here it is again. I spoke with Aaron Fitt of Baseball America who works to put together the prospect list each season and asked him to run down the Nats top prospects. We begin at number 10, right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock. Peacock's numbers were pretty impressive in 2010, as he was promoted from Single-A to Double-A. He finished 6-11 with a 4.50 ERA overall in...

Growing up as a kid on Third Street in Overlea, Christmas was a magical time for me. As another holiday season has arrived, I hope we all can experience some of that magic we felt as a kid and remember the special friends and family in our lives. Since my parents would always let us open a few presents on Christmas Eve after returning from my aunt's house, here are a few presents for the Orioles on this Christmas Eve. Nick Markakis: A Gold Glove and continued leadership ability. Everyone in...

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...