Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has denied a FOXSports report that the club made an eight-year, $130 million offer to free-agent outfielder Matt Holliday. MacPhail said there's "no validity" to it. And he was adamant. MacPhail and agent Scott Boras discussed Holliday once, during negotiations with free-agent closer Mike Gonzalez, but the Orioles weren't willing to meet his price. Sorry to disappoint you, but Holliday's demands far exceed what the Orioles are...

Was it supposed to snow again? Wasn't I supposed to buy a shovel and gloves? I hate winter. The Orioles still need to fill a few more positions on their minor league staffs, but they've already made an interesting hire at Single-A Delmarva. Former center fielder Mike Devereaux will serve as field coach for the Shorebirds in 2010, replacing former third baseman Ryan Minor, who has been promoted to manager. It's nice to have Devereaux in the organization again. I didn't know he had any...

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail indicated yesterday that the Orioles aren't nearing any deals for a corner infielder or starting pitcher. These things can change abruptly, but nothing is expected to happen in the near future - unless they offer Matt Holliday $200 million over 10 years. It appears that first baseman Carlos Delgado could begin playing in Puerto Rico this weekend, which would give the Orioles a chance to scout him. I'll see if his name starts appearing in any...

I can't let Danys Baez join the Phillies without wishing him the best of luck with team No. 6. Baez reportedly has agreed to a two-year deal, pending a physical next week. I'm a little surprised that he netted more than one year, but good for him. A few notes about Baez from the 2009 season: • He went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA, 59 hits allowed, 22 walks and 40 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings. • He allowed one earned run or fewer in 50...

Happy New Year to everyone here at the School of Roch. I hope your head isn't pounding so loudly that the neighbors can hear it. I'm not big on resolutions, but I refuse to watch any bowl game that's named for a corporate sponsor. That means the Outback Bowl can bite it. Same to you, Capital One Bowl. The Konica Minolta Gator Bowl gets a pass, but just barely. Do they still play the Tangerine Bowl? Yes, they do. It's now the Capital One Bowl. So, did anyone make a sports-themed...

The NFL Network still lists the Denver Broncos as one of the two wild card teams in the AFC, and the Ravens as being "in the hunt" with an identical record. Shouldn't that be reversed, since the Ravens beat the Broncos earlier this season? I understand that it's a complicated formula, but the Ravens are in if they win. Picking winners against the spread is especially challenging in the final week of the regular season, with teams that have clinched first-round byes often choosing to rest...

Please tell me why I'm forced to watch the San Diego-Washington game on FOX-45, instead of the Dallas-Philadelphia matchup that's much more interesting and important? Who's the pinhead behind that decision? Is it coming from the network or the league? I need answers. I want his name and home address. I know we're supposed to be slobbering all over the Ravens today, but my television comes with a remote. Dallas-Philly is a big game. I wanted to switch back and forth. It's what I do on...

Carlos Delgado made his long-awaited debut tonight in the Puerto Rican Winter League, going 1-for-4 while batting fourth as the designated hitter for Gigantes de Carolina. That's good enough for me. Sign him. Kidding. I don't want a singles hitter batting cleanup for the Orioles. Again, kidding. We'll judge him later in the month. More important, the Orioles will do so after scouting him. Lou Montanez's team, Criollos de Caguas, provided the opposition, but he hasn't played since...

While wondering if Gilbert Arenas simply misunderstood what his coach meant by a morning shootaround... I've got about six more weeks before I fly into the Sarasota airport with a look of confusion and angst on my face. I don't know how to fly a plane. Actually, it's because my comfort zone for spring training will be gone. I'll feel lost for a while, not knowing the best routes to my hotel, the ballpark, a bar that's still serving at 2 a.m. It's never too early for me to stress out....

If you missed it, former Oriole John Parrish signed a minor league deal with the Royals. Here's hoping that Parrish doesn't report to spring training in a body cast. Also, ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the Cardinals and outfielder Matt Holliday are close to a deal, which has pretty much been the word around baseball today. And SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that the Red Sox are nearing an agreement with third baseman Adrian Beltre. I walked outside earlier today and noticed an...