I finally made it home around 10:30 p.m. after my flight was delayed an hour. Something about a mechanical issue with the plane, which is always nice when it's discovered before we take off.
I'll be driving my daughter and her friend to school and crawling back into bed for a few hours, the images of the Titans' "meaningless" touchdown last night with no time left on the clock still dancing in my head.
Meaningless...unless you took the Colts -3.
Like I didn't see that coming with...
The Orioles made new shortstop J.J. Hardy available on a conference call. Here's a sampling:
On his reaction to the trade:
"I'm excited about it. I've been through this whole getting ready to be traded the last three off-seasons and I'm pretty excited that the Orioles want me."
On whether he's familiar with the team:
"I feel like I know a lot of them from playing against them. Mark Reynolds I played against quite a bit, and Luke Scott was another one. Adam Jones, Brian Roberts. I...
Today's trade between the Orioles and Twins assures that Brendan Harris will be packing his bags again.
Or maybe he never unpacks them.
Harris, 30, has batted .260 in 458 career major league games with the Chicago Cubs (2004), Montreal Expos (2004), Washington Nationals (2005-06), Cincinnati Reds (2006), Tampa Bay Rays (2007) and Twins (2008-2010).
Does it become easier or harder as he gets older and it's time to order more change-of-address cards?
"It can go both ways," said Harris,...
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail tackled a variety of subjects following the Rule 5 draft. For example:
On what he's accomplished at the meetings:
"We have made some progress on the left side of the diamond. We made some progress with Koji. We have some other things we think we have in the offing that are encouraging. So by and large, we're happy that we're able to make a couple trades, bring a free-agent back subject to a physical, and other encouraging conversations. It was...
I've got a ton of work staring at me, so I'll have to just approve the comments quickly and get back to your questions later. Sorry.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed that the Orioles re-signed Koji Uehara to a one-year deal with a vesting option. Uehara will earn a base salary of $3 million, and incentives can increase the total to $5 million.
The vesting option for 2012 is based on games finished and appearances.
Uehara earned $5 million this season and would have...
With the fourth pick in today's Rule 5 draft, the Orioles selected right-hander Adrian Rosario, 21, from Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.
Rosario was 4-0 with a 4.50 ERA and two saves in 14 games covering 32 innings at Single-A Wisconsin this year. He also went 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA and one save in five games covering 14 1/3 innings with Helena of the Pioneer League. He walked 18 and struck out 59 for the year.
The Orioles had 33 players on their 40-man roster when the morning...
As we approach the Rule 5 draft, the Orioles have made two trades and re-signed their closer.
So much for "doubtful," right Andy?
Multiple reports confirm that the Orioles and Twins completed a deal after midnight that will send shortstop J.J. Hardy to Baltimore for minor league pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson.
The Orioles also would receive utility infielder Brendan Harris, which doesn't bode well for Robert Andino. I'd also put away my Cesar Izturis jersey unless you're into...
The Orioles are still trying to work out a trade for Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy.There's also a feeling here that the Cardinals could move shortstop Brendan Ryan later tonight.
In case you hadn't heard, the Orioles need a shortstop.
The Padres no longer are in the running for Ryan after acquiring Jason Bartlett from the Rays earlier today. The Orioles and Pirates could end up splitting the remaining candidates.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters around 6 p.m. that...
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters tonight that he never made an offer to free-agent first basemen Carlos Pena or Paul Konerko.
MacPhail met with their respective agents, but he insisted that no offers followed those discussions. He knew after one conversation that Konerko wasn't leaving Chicago.
Pena told a few reporters earlier today that the Orioles made an offer, but agent Scott Boras passed that information to him. MacPhail said he met with Boras once here,...
Following word that trade talks for Jason Barlett were "dead," the Orioles are trying to finalize a deal with Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy.
Backing a report in The Sun, an industry source confirmed that the Orioles are engaged in serious talks for Hardy, though a deal might not be completed today.
You know how easily these things can fall apart, so don't get your hopes up until it's final.
At least Nolan Reimold's name hasn't come up in talks.
Hardy hit 50 home runs with the Brewers...
We have conflicting reports on whether the Nationals have reached agreement with first baseman Adam LaRoche. One tweet says it sounds like LaRoche is headed to D.C. Another one says nothing is imminent and "not at all a lock."
The Orioles can only hope that the second report is more accurate. They've expressed interest in LaRoche every winter since his T-ball days.
Their choices are dwindling this winter, with LaRoche and Derrek Lee the most desirable options left on the free agent...
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.
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...
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...
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...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter just finished a lengthy interview session with reporters. One interested spectator was Luke Scott, who lives about an hour away and showed up with the usual winter beard and carrying an envelope with color photographs of the kills from his latest hunting trip.
Not for the squeamish. Trust me.
Showalter spoke about Josh Bell's efforts to get in better shape. The Orioles pushed him to avoid playing winter ball and instead place more emphasis "on some things he...
Enough dirt has been dumped on the possibility of Paul Konerko signing with the Orioles, but I'll break out the shovel one more time.
Konerko's agent, Craig Landis, met in the lobby with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf a few minutes ago, and they headed up one of the elevators for another round of talks.
I'm told again that Konerko has no interest in playing for the Orioles. He lives in Arizona and the White Sox train in Glendale. He also wants to end his career on a winning team.
Also,...
Multiple reports surfaced earlier today that the Orioles and Braves have held trade talks regarding Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami. MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski recently got confirmation from an industry source.
Kawakami, 35, is owed $6.67 million, and the Braves would have to eat a large chunk of it. They seem willing to do so.
The Orioles made offers to Kawakami and Koji Uehara two winters ago. Uehara accepted their proposal, of course, while the Braves signed Kawakami, who's 8-22...
The common feeling here among executives and scouts is that the Orioles are more likely to re-sign shortstop Cesar Izturis if they land a big bat at first base.
We can debate whether Adam LaRoche would constitute a big bat.
The Rays wanted reliever David Hernandez for Jason Bartlett, and they're still more interested in acquiring bullpen arms. Same with the Twins in any deal involving J.J. Hardy. It seems like every team here is looking for relievers.
Again, we go back to Hernandez's...
