Catcher Derek Norris made quick leaps at the end of the 2010 season with a championship at Potomac, expert education at instructional league, followed by another title in the Arizona Fall League. Along the way, newly appointed Syracuse manager Randy Knorr kept tabs on the talented backstop and liked what he saw. Knorr says Norris is closer to making that next step but still has work to do in the minor leagues. "I don't see him as a big league catcher yet," Knorr said. "I think there is...

Cliff Lee is out of the American League, and he took Zack Greinke with him - and dropped off the right-hander in Milwaukee. This season should be a breeze for the Orioles. All they need is for Andy Pettitte to retire and they'll win 90 games. Greinke reportedly has been dealt to the Brewers for shortstop Alcides Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and pitching prospects Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi. The Brewers also will receive shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and $2 million. I don't...

Howard Megdal at mlbtraderumors.com posted the top five Phillies general managers since 1960, with Paul Owens placing first. I suppose we could do the same thing here with the Orioles. Feel free to submit your top five GMs in franchise history. Extra credit if you include the reasons. Homework on a Saturday? That's so not fair! The Orioles still haven't announced their minor league coaching staffs because they're waiting for a few contracts to come back. Should happen early next...

Greetings from the spectacular Pacific Northwest, I am writing to you from Corvallis, Ore., on the campus of Oregon State University. I am here with George Washington basketball for a game tonight. (By the way, who are the most famous major league baseball players from Oregon? My picks are Harold Reynolds, Dale Murphy, Aaron Rowand, Wally Backman and Larry Andersen. Do you have a few?) But I am always thinking Nationals baseball and have contemplated the long-term impact Jayson Werth in...

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin on a minor-league contract that includes a Spring Training invitation. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operation and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 27 year-old Gaudin is 35-39 with a 4.61 ERA (339 ER/661.2 IP) in 258 games/75 starts spanning eight big league seasons with New York (AL), Oakland, San Diego, Chicago (NL), Toronto and Tampa Bay. Gaudin has pitched...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed free agent RHP Jeremy Accardo to a one-year contract. Accardo, who turns 29 on Saturday, went 3-2 with 24 saves and a 3.48 ERA (44.0IP, 17ER) in 42 games with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2010. In his six season major league career, the right-handed Accardo has held left-handed hitters to a .205 average, .292 on-base percentage and .279 slugging percentage. He set career-highs with 30 saves, 4 wins and a 2.14 ERA (67.1IP, 16ER) in 2007 for the Blue...

I received a call at 6 a.m. with an automated message alerting me that Carroll County schools are opening two hours late. I texted my daughter, who responded with a "Yes!!" and went back to sleep. I had two dreams that I can remember: Rushing somewhere to conduct an interview for the blog, and co-hosting a sports talk show on MASN. Not exactly an escape from reality. I remember the days when I'd dream about Salma Hayek. What's happened to me? (I'm sure my parents remember the days...

The Washington Nationals tonight signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year Major League contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Wang, 30, returns for a second season with the Nationals organization. He did not pitch in 2010 while working with the Nationals' training staff on a rehab program designed to regain full health from July 2009 right shoulder surgery. Wang is 55-26 with a 4.16...

The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez and outfielder Corey Brown from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for left fielder Josh Willingham. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rodriguez went 1-0 with a 4.55 ERA in 29 appearances last season with Oakland in just his second season as a full-time reliever. He posted 10.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (33 K/27.2 IP) and a .240 batting...

The Founders Club will host event to benefit the Miracle League of Manasota On Thursday, February 17, the Orioles will hold the inaugural OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic at The Founders Club in Sarasota to benefit the Miracle League of Manasota, a new organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for every person to play baseball, regardless of their ability. The event begins with registration and lunch at noon, with a shotgun start set for 1:00 p.m. The classic will feature a silent...