Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail met again this morning with the representative for closer Koji Uehara. It's believed that the Orioles remain Uehara's first choice. The right-hander would prefer a two-year deal. If I'm the Orioles, I'd be a lot more comfortable with one year, heavy in incentives, plus a club option.

When I interviewed Baseball America's Jim Callis here yesterday, we also talked about tomorrow's Rule 5 draft. In last year's Rule 5 draft, the Giants took O's minor league pitcher Steve Johnson, but he eventually was sent back to the Orioles during spring training. Callis feels reliever

One official told me that the Orioles never had serious interest in Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami. The Braves have contacted every team, trying to unload the right-hander and a portion of his contract. The Orioles listened but weren't close to making a deal. The Orioles want to add a veteran starting pitcher, but the bullpen, first base and shortstop are higher priorities. The Orioles are still interested in re-signing Cesar Izturis to be their everyday shortstop or backup middle...

As of this morning, the Orioles' interest in reliever Kevin Gregg still appears to be strong. The Orioles met with his agents here at the winter meetings on Monday and several teams are reportedly in on Gregg. The 32-year-old right-hander went 2-6, 3.51 with Toronto last season with 37 saves. He fanned 58 over 59 innings. Toronto had two chances to pick up options on Gregg and keep him, but passed. The Jays could have retained him for next year for $4.5 million and they also had an option...

I've read enough lies this week to last me a while. This one is true: Carlos Pena is off the board after agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Cubs. There was lots of talk here about agent Scott Boras' ridiculous asking price for Pena. One veteran scribe that I spoke with yesterday predicted that Pena would settle for a one-year deal. Boras got his $10 million annually, but on short term. Put 100 executives, scouts and writers in a room - and we've done that here - and...

With the Nationals signing of Jayson Werth this week, the focus on 2012 becomes even more exciting for Nats fans with the prospect of a healthy Stephen Strasburg paired with Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and say, even Bryce Harper? That is what Bryce is hoping for. He talked about making his debut in 2012 with Strasburg to MLB Network during the Arizona Fall League championship. But a more realistic debut for Harper would be 2013, according to Jim Callis, executive editor for Baseball...

He is one of the best evaluators of baseball talent, especially in the minors, in the country in my humble opinion. Today at the winter meetings here in Florida, I had a chance to once again interview Jim Callis of Baseball America. I got his take on a few O's related topics. Callis on the Mark Reynolds trade: "I think it's a great trade from the Orioles' perspective. Yeah, Mark Reynolds strikes out and is not going to hit for high average, but he hits home runs. I think that shores...

This had to have been an interesting day for the Orioles' Nolan Reimold. Today his cell phone had to be blowing up with reports that he might be traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. He must have gotten several calls and texts; he may have even gotten one or two from the media. I can think of one guy I know that called him. Andy MacPhail recaps Day Two of the Winter Meetings with Steve Melewski At the same time, as of this writing, he has not been traded and maybe after all the rumors, tweets,...

I'll post quotes shortly, but here are some topics that president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail addressed a few minutes ago - after he mocked all the false rumors that have been swirling. He even dropped a "kicking the tires" reference with a roll of his eyes. According to MacPhail: * We shouldn't expect any trades or signings to be announced tonight. * No trade talks are dead at this time "until they (players) go off the board." * No deals with free-agent relievers have been...

A Rays official says nothing is imminent on the trade front regarding shortstop Jason Bartlett, and that most of the talks with clubs have been "bullpen-centric." Various reports are surfacing that talks with the Orioles are dead. We're heading up to Andy MacPhail's suite in a few minutes. Also, I'm told the Nationals had some interest in former Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez, but that may no longer be the case. Montanez is getting ready to play winter ball in Puerto Rico. Former...