Despite the exciting news yesterday and the optimism that greets us each year at the Winter Meetings, there is a cloud hanging over NatsTown today. This weekend, former Nationals closer Chad Cordero and his wife lost their 3-month-old daughter, Tehya. We are sending condolences to Chad and his family during this very difficult time. Chad was and still is a beloved part of this organization and its history. His loss is heartbreaking. There will be a "Moment of Silence" to support the...

I'm set up in the media workroom again, with a clear view of the podium where team executives announce their winter trades and signings. Still waiting for the Orioles to take the microphone. It became more apparent during yesterday's 20-minute interview with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail that the club's best chance to upgrade its lineup is via trade rather than a free-agent signing. I'm not saying the Orioles are out of the running for Carlos Pena, but they seem resigned...

It should come as no shock to any O's fan by now, that barring something very unlikely, the Orioles are just not going to be offering any megabucks contracts this winter in free agency. Could that change? I guess so, but it sure doesn't seem to be the case. While some fans seem to think the reason for that could be owner Peter Angelos, last night's interview session with Andy MacPhail was another indicator that the O's president just doesn't think the time is now to throw big money...

After Scott Boras held court tonight at the winter meetings with Washington reporters about the Jayson Werth signing, he briefly answered another question or two before exiting stage left. I asked him if Baltimore was a possibility for his client Carlos Pena? "I don't see why not," Boras said. "I mean he's an AL East player and has done well there and likes to play there, certainly." Have the O's shown interest? "You'd have to talk to Andy about that." I said it was...

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail says he has more than one offer on the table for free agents. He won't go into specifics, but Adrian Beltre isn't one of them. MacPhail has spoken to Beltre's agent, Scott Boras, but it's apparent that the third baseman still has no interest in coming to Baltimore. Boras said earlier today that Beltre won't dismiss teams based on geographical preference, but he didn't champion the Orioles as a serious contender for his client. It...

Among the topics O's president Andy MacPhail addressed tonight in a meeting with reporters here at the winter meetings, is the prospect of the O's offering a big contract to a free agent. I asked him if considering the 13 consecutive losing seasons, aren't the O's in a position now where they simply have to overpay to get a top talent, even if that contract seems to not make much economic sense? "There comes a time when you do, but I think it's the guy that will get you over the hump in...

O's president Andy MacPhail is scheduled to meet with reporters here at the Winter Meetings in Orlando in about a half hour. Roch and myself will both be there with any updates from that briefing. If there wasn't enough fan pressure on the Orioles before today, it just got ratcheted up when the Nationals signed Jason Werth, an O's first-round pick in 1997, to a seven-year deal reportedly worth about 126 million. His agent Scott Boras is holding court now and if anything O's related comes...

Reports indicate that the Red Sox couldn't reach agreement on a contract extension with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, so their deal with the Padres could be dead. What does this mean for the Orioles? If they had any ideas about making a run at third baseman Adrian Beltre, and I have no indications that they're willing to hand over a five-year contract, they better do so in a hurry. You know the Red Sox will go hard after Beltre if they can't resuscitate the Gonzalez talks. SI.com's Jon...

I'm minutes away from heading to the airport for my Southwest flight to Orlando and the start of Hell Week, also known as Major League Baseball's winter meetings. I'll be way past my feet in tweets, so I'll need to watch my step. Reporters will try frantically to get their links posted first on mlbtraderumors, whether the news is accurate or not. The truth can come out later. I don't know what some of these scouts look like, so I'll spend a lot of time asking, "Who's that guy?" As...

Two pitchers from the Orioles minor leagues have left their winter ball teams. Pedro Beato is no longer pitching with Licey in the Dominican and Raul Rivero has left the Lara club in Venezuela. Beato, the O's second pick in the 2006 draft, the 32nd overall, pitched in just two games in the Dominican and gave up three runs and two hits over 1 2/3 innings. Beato ended the year on Bowie's disabled list with right shoulder tendonitis, but was healthy enough to pitch in the Dominican and...