Not much to report here, but I'm asked about the first base situation multiple times a day. It happened again this afternoon while I was stuck in traffic on Rt. 32 and cars were blocking the Liberty Rd. intersection and preventing me from going the last half-mile to my house. (A Sun photographer captured the scene, which included my reddening face.) A guy in the vehicle next to my rolled down his window, shouted out my name and asked if the Orioles were going to sign Adam LaRoche. I smiled...

No announcement has been made, but the Orioles have agreed to terms with infielder Cesar Izturis on a 1-year contract. The deal will become official once Izturis passes his physical. Izturis apparently will compete for the utility job along with newly acquired Brendan Harris, while J.J. Hardy is penciled in as the everyday shortstop. Earlier this week, President Andy MacPhail stated after confirming the Hardy/Harris deal that he would continue negotiations with Izturis' agent. Update: I...

I caught up with Brady Anderson a few days ago while covering the Winter Meetings in Orlando. He returned a call as I was transcribing quotes from president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, and I ended the game of phone tag a few minutes later after hitting the "publish" button. I knew that outfielder Nolan Reimold was working out with Anderson. I knew that Anderson was impressed with Reimold's progress after a disastrous 2010 season. I knew that Anderson offered up a favorable...

The Washington Nationals today named their minor league managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2011 season. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcements. Among the changes from last season, Randy Knorr was promoted from his managerial post at Double-A to skipper the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League....

Way to go, sweater vest! Is it possible that Andy MacPhail, who was getting crushed by fans on this blog just a week or so ago, is now becoming popular among many O's fans? I haven't seen a comeback this dramatic since that O's-Red Sox game in May 2009. One thing the last few days have shown us. Just because the O's were not mentioned in every rumor over the last few weeks didn't mean they were not busy behind the scenes. And just because they missed out on a few guys (Victor Martinez...

I finally made it home around 10:30 p.m. after my flight was delayed an hour. Something about a mechanical issue with the plane, which is always nice when it's discovered before we take off. I'll be driving my daughter and her friend to school and crawling back into bed for a few hours, the images of the Titans' "meaningless" touchdown last night with no time left on the clock still dancing in my head. Meaningless...unless you took the Colts -3. Like I didn't see that coming with...

New Syracuse Chiefs manager Randy Knorr guided the Scottsdale Scorpions to the Arizona Fall League title last month with several Nationals prospects on his roster, including No. 1 overall selection Bryce Harper. Harper had a great month in Arizona, batting .343 with three doubles, two triples, a homer and seven RBIs in nine games. He had an RBI single in the championship game, a 3-2 win over Peoria. "Everybody sees him hit the ball out of Yellowstone Park, per se, and he does do that,"...

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is rehabilitating on schedule from Tommy John surgery in early September. Strasburg is in good spirits and says he is one or two months away from baseball activities. "They have a plan in place that is normal to start throwing about four or five months after surgery," Strasburg said. "I am now three months post-surgery. So, in a month or two, I will be able to get throwing again. Right now, I am concentrating on getting my elbow stronger." Strasburg...

The Orioles made new shortstop J.J. Hardy available on a conference call. Here's a sampling: On his reaction to the trade: "I'm excited about it. I've been through this whole getting ready to be traded the last three off-seasons and I'm pretty excited that the Orioles want me." On whether he's familiar with the team: "I feel like I know a lot of them from playing against them. Mark Reynolds I played against quite a bit, and Luke Scott was another one. Adam Jones, Brian Roberts. I...

It has been an eventful few days for the Orioles at the winter meetings. But all good things sometimes end and so these meetings in Orlando finished up today. The O's filled needs on the left side of their infield with Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy and also with the re-signing of Koji Uehara for the bullpen. They would still like to add some offense and still have an opening at first base. It looks like they have improved their team here in Orlando, but, per usual, the Red Sox got a lot...