Orioles' international efforts stretch to New Zealand (updated)

Orioles' international efforts stretch to New Zealand (updated)
The Orioles continue to focus a lot of their energies on the international market, the latest example being the reported signing of New Zealand native Pita Rona. Rona, 17, is a former softball player who switched codes so he could concentrate on baseball. The Orioles apparently scouted him this week and signed him to a "seven-year major league deal," according to this report. The Orioles reportedly will send Rona to their developmental program In Australia. A seven-year major league deal?...
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Talking about Bordick, Chen, rotation and promotions

Talking about Bordick, Chen, rotation and promotions
Now that I've managed to slow my heart rate after the excitement of the Orioles exchanging salary figures with their four arbitration-eligible players - it can't be over-written enough - it's time to move onto another topic. Let's go back to former shortstop Mike Bordick, who will serve as a MASN analyst on 81 Orioles games this season. He accepted the job last Thursday, as first reported here. Bordick expressed some concerns over finding enough time to handle his on-field duties with the...
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Orioles exchange salary figures with four players

Orioles exchange salary figures with four players
The Orioles and pitcher Jeremy Guthrie are $3 million apart after exchanging salary figures earlier today. Guthrie is requesting $10.25 million, and the Orioles countered at $7.25 million. He earned $5.75 million last season while going 9-17 with a 4.33 ERA in 34 games and 208 innings. Adam Jones submitted a figure of $7.4 million, and the Orioles countered at $5 million. Jones made $3.25 million last season and was named Most Valuable Oriole after batting .280/.319/.466 with 26 doubles, two...
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Joe Saunders off the board (Orioles sign Galarraga to minor league deal)

Joe Saunders off the board (Orioles sign Galarraga to minor league deal)
Free-agent pitcher Joe Saunders has agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Steve Henson of Yahoo! Sports. The Orioles were interested in Saunders, a native of Falls Church, Va., who was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks, and they had discussions with his agent. Shortstop J.J. Hardy works out with Saunders in Arizona, and he mentioned on Jan. 3 during a phone interview on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" that Saunders confirmed how the Orioles made "recent"...
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Duquette talks about Peterson, arbitration and Cespedes (updated)

Duquette talks about Peterson, arbitration and Cespedes (updated)
Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed earlier today that the Orioles hired Rick Peterson as the organization's director of pitching development. Peterson signed a one-year contract. He'll basically replace former minor league pitching coordinator Alan Dunn, with expanded duties. "We've been talking to Rick since early November," Duquette said. "I was looking at my phone the other day. We've been talking to him since around Nov. 15. He's an accomplished pro. We want him to...
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Cespedes, arbitration, Chen and Cordero

Cespedes, arbitration, Chen and Cordero
Because you can't get enough of the Yoenis Cespedes updates, I'll pass along that he went 1-for-4 last night for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League. He was removed for a pinch runner in the ninth inning. Miguel Tejada started at second base. I'm serious. Actually, Tejada made four starts at second base for the Giants last season - the only four of his career. As for Cespedes, he's 2-for-19 with six strikeouts in five games. He's gotten two balls out of the infield. I'm facing...
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Peterson accepts position with Orioles (Johnson update)

Peterson accepts position with Orioles (Johnson update)
It took a while, but former major league pitching coach Rick Peterson has accepted a job with the Orioles. An announcement has been anticipated for more than a month. Peterson met with team officials on at least three occasions, the first time Dec. 1, before an agreement finally was reached today. Peterson basically will replace Alan Dunn as minor league pitching coordinator, though his title is expected to be director of pitching development. Peterson was named pitching coach in Oakland...
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O'Day signs, update on Hudson

O'Day signs, update on Hudson
The Orioles are down to five unsigned arbitration-eligible players. They reached agreement with reliever Darren O'Day last month, according to a team official, so his name should have been crossed off the list I provided over the weekend. O'Day, claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers on Nov. 2, earned $1.25 million last season while going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 16 relief appearances. He had a much better and healthier 2010, going 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 72 games. The Sun is reporting...
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Who's the next player to come off the 40-man?

Who's the next player to come off the 40-man?
In 32 more days, I'll be boarding a flight to Sarasota for my 16th spring training on the Orioles beat. The players, managers and top executives have changed along the way. So have the home complexes and my employers. But I'm pretty sure that I get stuck with the same rental car every year. Executive vice president Dan Duquette hasn't crossed every item off his to-do list. He still needs to add at least one more hitter, and we're not sure whether he's done searching for starting...
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Hoiles is still waiting for a chance to rejoin the Orioles

Hoiles is still waiting for a chance to rejoin the Orioles
Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is 1-for-11 with an infield hit and five strikeouts in three Dominican Winter League games. He hasn't gotten a ball to the outfield. At this rate, the Orioles will be able to sign him to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. I had a nice conversation a few nights ago with former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles. He's looking to get back into the organization where he played from 1989-1998. And he's pretty much willing to work in any...
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Orioles purchase Fatse's contract from independent team

Orioles purchase Fatse's contract from independent team
In case I failed to mention this transaction in a previous entry, I'll pass along today that the Orioles have purchased the contract of infielder/outfielder Peter Fatse from the Newark Bears, according to the independent league team's Web site. It's more minor league depth, and another player from Massachusetts (Hampden, to be exact.) Here's what I know about Fatse after doing a little research: He's 24 and a former 24th-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers out of the University of...
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A few quick hits

A few quick hits
So much for the Yankees being quiet this winter. I blinked last night and they acquired two frontline starters. It must be nice to slot Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda behind CC Sabathia. The Yankees are about seven deep in starters right now, and they'd love to dump A.J. Burnett. They'll gladly drive him to your front door. Last night's activity takes the Yankees off the market for free agent Edwin Jackson. I'm still loving the idea of a Scott Boras package-deal involving Jackson,...
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Fielder not slated to visit Charm City

Fielder not slated to visit Charm City
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported earlier today that free agent first baseman Prince Fielder and agent Scott Boras are in Dallas to visit with the Texas Rangers. Apparently, the Fielder/Boras Tour is cranked up again. This will come as no surprise, but I'm told that the tandem isn't scheduled to meet with Orioles officials. At least not yet. We'll leave the door a little cracked, but that's it. The Rangers are viewed as one of those teams that's been lying in the weeds, waiting for...
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Cespedes, Jones and a new question (updated)

Cespedes, Jones and a new question (updated)
Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, playing his first game last night with Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League, struck out three times and was hit by a pitch in four plate appearances. One observer noted on Twitter that Cespedes had trouble with the slider. That does it. He's overrated. You'll recall that the Orioles scouted Cespedes during a private workout in the Dominican immediately after the Winter Meetings. They aren't commenting on him, perhaps waiting until he establishes...
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Alan Mills returns to organization

Alan Mills returns to organization
Former Orioles reliever Alan Mills, who never met a brawl he didn't like, is returning to the organization as pitching coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Mills, who pitched for the Orioles from 1992-1998, and again from 2000-2001, will replace Scott McGregor. The former Orioles' left-hander has been reassigned to a position in Sarasota. Mills found out about his hiring shortly after Jan. 1. I wrote about his interest in coming back to the Orioles on Nov. 29, and again shortly after...
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Bordick accepts analyst job at MASN (updated)

Bordick accepts analyst job at MASN (updated)
Former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick has accepted a job as analyst at MASN after meeting earlier today with network officials. Bordick will sign a multiple-year deal with the network. He'll work 81 games, splitting commentary duties with Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. Bordick also has been offered a chance to do some on-field work for the club, including infield coordinator and baserunning instructor at the minor league level. Bordick said he'll need to talk further with John Stockstill,...
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Luke Scott talks about new contract and old team

Luke Scott talks about new contract and old team
Luke Scott signed his new contract with the Tampa Bay Rays earlier today. He'll make $5 million in 2012, and his deal includes a $6 million option in 2013 with a $1 million buyout. He was paid $6.4 million last season. Scott says the Orioles never made him an offer after non-tendering him on Dec. 12. His agent, Page Odle, only heard from the club once, a little more than a week ago. "They just did not show much interest at all," said Scott, who was named Most Valuable Oriole in 2010. "At...
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Orioles hire Boulanger as hitting coordinator (Scott contract info)

Orioles hire Boulanger as hitting coordinator (Scott contract info)
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette inched closer to completing his minor league staff by hiring Michael Boulanger as hitting coordinator. Boulanger held the same title with the Texas Rangers until June 8, when he replaced Scott Coolbaugh as hitting coach at Triple-A Round Rock. Coolbaugh replaced Thad Bosley as the Rangers' hitting coach. Boulanger has ties to Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. He previously served as a a minor league manager with the Minnesota Twins and Boston...
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This and that

This and that
I'm filing a shorter entry this morning, so there's no "other." Luke Scott's agreement with Tampa Bay should become official later today. The Rays are expected to make an announcement on his one-year deal, which reportedly includes an option for 2013. The Orioles must have someone else in mind for the designated hitter role. Nolan Reimold remains in play, if manager Buck Showalter is comfortable with Endy Chavez as his left fielder/leadoff hitter. Scott wanted to return, but the...
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Luke Scott off the DH board

Luke Scott off the DH board
The Orioles won't be re-signing Luke Scott as their designated hitter. Scott has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Rays on a one-year contract, according to an industry source. The deal will become official once he passes a physical. Scott batted .220 with 11 doubles, nine homers and 22 RBIs in 64 games with the Orioles last season. He underwent surgery July 26 in Pensacola, Fla., to repair posterior and SLAP tears in his right labrum. In 2010, Scott was voted Most Valuable Oriole after...
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