Orioles News

Sources: O's, Uehara agree on two-year deal
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January 6
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Orioles appear to have filled one vacant spot in their wide-open rotation while at the same time officially opening the door to the Far East. Two industry sources have confirmed that the Orioles have agreed in principle on a two-year deal with Japanese right-hander Koji Uehara. The deal is pending specific contract language and a physical, which is expected to occur possibly later this week, though an appointment in Baltimore has not been scheduled. Uehara, who turns 34 in April, will become the first Japan native to play for the Orioles in their big league history. The club made an orchestrated effort to boost its international presence last year, moving pro scouting director John ..."
White Sox not ready to deal for Brian Roberts
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January 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"While the White Sox made their major off-season moves early—trading Javier Vazquez and Nick Swisher—they may not be done retooling in hopes of going deeper than four games into the playoffs, as they did last season. But even though one source said things "were quiet" for the time being, the rumor mill hasn't stop churning. The most interesting gossip is a supposed trade of pitcher Gavin Floyd to his hometown Orioles for second baseman Brian Roberts. A trade for Roberts makes plenty of sense, given that second base is the Sox's most inexperienced position, but general manager Ken Williams said Monday, through a spokesman, he hasn't spoken to the Orioles since November. Plus, Williams has ..."
Two Chicago Suitors for Brian Roberts
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January 5
Washington Post
 
"The Cubs have long coveted Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, but Baltimore -- to this point -- has been hesitant to move the former All-Star infielder. Well, now the Cubs may have company from the other side of the Windy City, and the Orioles might just been a bit more receptive to a deal this time around. According to Roch Kubatko of MASN, the White Sox are making a move to try and add Roberts, and they're offering young starting pitcher Gavin Floyd, fresh off a 17-win season. It sounds like the Orioles want more than just Floyd for Roberts, so it'll be interesting to see if White Sox GM Ken Williams sweetens the pot with any kind of a second significant piece, but Williams has other ..."
Hendrickson signing shouldn't cause O's fans to reach height of frustration
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January 3
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Peter Schmuck
"When this offseason began, just about everyone in Birdland was hoping and praying for the Orioles to get the big guy, which is why the signing this week of former NBA forward Mark Hendrickson has been viewed in certain quarters as some kind of cruel joke. The big guy, of course, was free-agent slugger Mark Teixeira, and big was a figurative term. He was the top position player in the free-agent market, and he's from Severna Park and he would have made a big difference in the way a generation of disengaged Orioles fans view the beleaguered O's franchise. Very big. Hendrickson is a very big guy. He's listed as 6 feet 9 and 230 pounds, which makes him one of the biggest pitchers in major ..."
Hendrickson could find way into rotation
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January 1
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Orioles officially added a veteran pitcher to their 40-man roster yesterday, announcing that left-hander Mark Hendrickson passed his physical and has agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5million. It could increase to $2 million if he pitches and/or starts enough games to earn incentives. Hendrickson, 34, has a career 50-63 record and a 5.07ERA over parts of seven seasons. He went 7-8 in 2008 with a 5.45 ERA in 36 games (19 starts) for the Florida Marlins. The versatile pitcher, 6 feet 9, could get an opportunity to win a spot in the rotation behind Jeremy Guthrie but for now is being penciled in as a long reliever. "Our scouts really like him; we feel there is some hidden value ..."
Nationals officially lock up P Cabrera
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December 30
Miami Herald
 
"The Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million contract with free-agent pitcher Daniel Cabrera. The right-hander passed his mandatory physical before signing the contract on Monday. Cabrera, who had to be shut down last September due to elbow pain, was not tendered a contract by Baltimore, making him a free agent. He had spent his entire career with the Orioles since breaking into the majors in 2004, and went 8-10 with a 5.25 earned-run average in 30 starts last season. The 27-year-old has a career mark of 48-59 with a 5.05 ERA."
Orioles Decline Sarasota's Spring Training Offer
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December 30
Tampa Tribune
 
"The future of the Ed Smith complex, and Spring Training in Sarasota as a whole, is in a state of uncertainty after the Baltimore Orioles sent an official letter to the Sarasota County Commission declining the city's offer to lure the franchise away from their current Fort Lauderdale facilities when their lease ends after the 2009 season. The Orioles, who had previously trained at the Ed Smith facility from 1989-1991, declined the city's formal offer of a $30 million renovation of the current facilities with $22 million of that funding coming from the county's tourism tax. The team had already declined a similar effort in November and instead were asking for a $57 million deal that would ..."
How would you handle the O's top prospects?
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December 26
Baltimore Sun
 
"Yesterday's post showed that Orioles supporters are among the most passionate fans in professional sports. The response to my take on the Orioles' inability to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira was remarkable. Many people agreed with my thoughts and added other perks of being a fan of the team, including the storied history and memories of players like Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray. Despite my request to keep a positive mood because of the holiday, several fans took a pessimistic approach while voicing their thoughts on the team. After 11 consecutive seasons of disappointment, I can't blame them. Almost every reader comment had excellent points on why it's ..."
No joy in Mudville over Teixeira news
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December 24
Baltimore Sun
 
"Feelings of outrage, frustration and betrayal swept the Orioles' fan base yesterday as once-hopeful supporters heard that hometown boy Mark Teixeira had signed with the New York Yankees. "What?" Jimmy Mengle of Hampden shouted when informed of the news over a beer at the Midtown Yacht Club. "Come on!" Mengle was one of many Orioles fans hoping owner Peter Angelos would open the vault to lure the slugging first baseman away from the sport's usual heavyweights. "I thought he could be a real figurehead for the team," he explained. "We really haven't had that since Cal Ripken. He's a hometown guy, and that means something extra. He could've been a face of the franchise for 10 years. That's ..."
O's hopes fading for Teixeira
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December 23
Baltimore Sun
 
"When he made his first offer to Mark Teixeira two weeks ago, club pres