While Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon remains in police custody tonight in Santiago, Dominican Republic, his agent says that a preliminary ballistic report shows that the bullet that killed a 25-year-old man on New Year's Eve doesn't match the reliever's gun. Phil Isaac of the Para Sports Group just passed along the news in a text message. Meanwhile, one of Simon's lawyers, Carlos Olivares, told CNN that "The ballistics tests have been favorable. We are waiting for the formal...

The Orioles' two-year deal with reliever Kevin Gregg includes a vesting option for 2013. Gregg's agent, Danny Horwits, said six or seven teams were involved in serious negotiations at various points during the winter. "Baltimore, for Kevin, has a lot of pluses," Horwits said. "One is all the acquisitions that they've made. Kevin is real excited about Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy and Derrek Lee. He wanted to be part of that. And he's familiar with the team from pitching in the...

A team source has confirmed that the Orioles have reached an agreement today with free agent reliever Kevin Gregg on a two-year contract. The deal will become official once Gregg passes his physical. Various reports have placed the value of the deal from $8-$10 million. Manager Buck Showalter must choose between Gregg and Koji Uehara to be the team's closer in 2011. Gregg wanted to sign with a team that would give him that opportunity and he'll go into the camp as the early...

Let's get this out of the way first: Nothing new to report on Alfredo Simon, but I haven't been awake for that long. It's believed that he's incarcerated while police try to determine whether the bullet that killed a 25-year-old man on New Year's Eve came from his gun. The story grows more complicated by the day, including the revelation that the victim, Michael Esteban Castillo, was Simon's cousin. Simon has stated that he was close friends with the victim and the fatal shooting was...

After tearing it up as a college hitter and then being named the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters had a strong rookie year in 2009. He seemed poise for a possible breakout, all-star-type season in 2010. Instead, Wieters took a step back offensively. While some just felt Wieters was over-hyped and not as good as advertised, it's just too soon to make that call. But I think there was a reason - call it an excuse if you want - for Wieters' statistical dropoff...

According to this tweet from The Associated Press' Dionisio Soldevila, Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon could be held without bail for one year in his native Dominican Republic until his case goes to trial. Simon's lawyers reportedly will appeal the decision, according to Soldevila. Simon met with law enforcement officials today at national police headquarters in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he was questioned about the shooting that left one man dead and another injured. Simon...

MASN, the television home of the Orioles and Nationals, has announced that well-known Mid-Atlantic sports journalist Pete Kerzel has joined the network as full-time managing editor of MASNsports.com. Kerzel will begin shaping and overseeing sports news coverage at MASN beginning on Monday, January 3, 2011. A creative, jovial, team-oriented professional, Kerzel will lead MASN's Nationals and Orioles reporters and bloggers, as well as network talent to strengthen MASN's news gathering and...

According to this report on CNN, Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon claims that the shooting death of a 25-year-old man in the Dominican Republic was accidental. Simon also states that he was friends with the victim. "In truth, that young man was my friend, like a brother," Simon said of Michael Esteban Castillo. "It wasn't a thing like we began arguing and I started shooting. It was some accident; it happened by accident. That's why I came here - to open my soul." Puerto Plata District...

Phil Isaac, one of the agents who represents Alfredo Simon, is waiting to hear back from the Orioles' reliever after this morning's meeting with law enforcement authorities in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. According to published reports, Simon is the primary suspect in the shooting death of a 25-year-old man on New Year's Eve. Isaac, of the Para Sports Group, said by phone earlier today that he remains optimistic that "this thing will get resolved in his favor." "Again, we're...

One of the other big signings coming out of the 2010 draft is Oviedo, Fla., right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole. The Nationals gave the 18-year-old (he turns 19 Wednesday) a $2 million signing bonus, reportedly the highest ever given a fourth-round selection. The 6-foot-5 Cole pitched one inning for Single-A Vermont last summer, and then spent a great deal of time honing his skills at fall instructional league in Viera, Fla. Aaron Fitt of Baseball America ranked Cole as the No. 4 overall prospect...