david murphy

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he has the Opening Day roster set in his mind, but at this time of year, the team is closely monitoring its options for players who can come in and help off the waiver wire.

With less than a week to go before Opening Day, teams are paring down their rosters, which has led to an influx of free agents on the market.

The Orioles will play their final game in a stretch of five road games in their first seven to open their Grapefruit League schedule this afternoon against the Boston Red Sox at Jet Blue Park.

The Orioles collectively attempted to move on from the Dexter Fowler fiasco on Friday, one day removed from being blind-sided by news that the veteran outfielder was remaining with the Chicago Cubs instead of joining the Orioles. Now, the club is left with more questions than answers.

Signing Chris Davis to the largest deal in club history won't complete the Orioles' offseason to-do list. They are still seeking to upgrade their rotation and solidify their corner-outfield situation, despite rapidly dissolving markets in both areas.

Up until Saturday, free agents were only able to negotiate with their 2015 clubs, but this morning the market is officially opened up to all teams. Free agents are now free to negotiate and sign with any team.

The traded Tommy Hunter hadn't allowed a hit in 12 combined at-bats against Trout and Pujols.

The struggles of right-hander Miguel Gonzalez don't seem to be going away, and though he says he's healthy and confident, the results have been problematic since he returned from a groin strain in late June.

The Orioles (56-54) have dropped three games behind the Angels (59-51) for the second American League wild card and remain five games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East. The Orioles head to Seattle for the last leg of their three-city West Coast swing with a 3-3 record on this trip.

Keep in mind Buck Showalter once ordered an intentional walk to Barry Bonds with the bases loaded, so the decision on Sunday to walk Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to load the bases with two outs in the 11th inning shouldn't have shocked anyone. That doesn't mean I agree with it.

Although they were playing 3,000 miles away from home and against an American League West opponent, the Orioles had a chance to make some serious headway in their playoff hunt beginning Friday.

As Friday¿s 4 p.m. nonwaiver trade deadline looms, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is still attempting to improve the club¿s 25-man roster by adding an outfielder with on-base skills and potentially another pitcher. According to sources in and outside the organization, every indication is that Duquette will make at least one deal by Friday afternoon ¿ though it is not expected to be a blockbuster.

The Orioles (26-30) continue to lurk under .500, but head home having won three of their past four. Even though they finished the road trip with a 3-4 record, they recovered well after losing their first three in Houston.

The Orioles hope to salvage their seven-game road trip with a series win here in Cleveland this afternoon.

Left-hander Troy Patton, the Orioles' fifth reliever, gave up two runs and three hits in the 13th, sending the club to its first loss in five extra-inning games this season with an 8-7 loss to the Indians.

The Orioles didn't make offers to Nate McLouth or Scott Feldman. Is that a terrible thing?

Baltimore Sun reporter Eduardo A. Encina talks about some recent moves involving the Orioles and more.

ARLINGTON, Texas ¿ The defensive deke play that Adam Jones made Saturday night to fool Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski on the basepaths in the second inning of the Orioles¿ 7-4 win over Texas got lost in Baltimore¿s offensive outburst, but it might have been one of the most important plays of the night.

As the Orioles open up the unofficial second half of the season, they know that the texas Rangers could be one of the teams they end up battling for a possible playoff spot.

The Orioles began the season¿s unofficial second half with a gritty 3-1 win Friday night over the Texas Rangers in front of an announced 40,068.

As much focus has been placed recently on the Orioles starting rotation¿s inability to consistently carry the team deep into games, right-hander Miguel Gonzalez has been a steadying force throughout.

Stephen Strasburg surrendered three hits over two innings -- including a single and home run to the first two batters he faced -- in his first action since Sept. 7.

Catcher Matt Wieters is up for his second consecutive American League Gold Glove Award, center fielder Adam Jones will be going for the second (2009) of his career and shortstop J.J. Hardy is seeking his first.

The Orioles grinded out a 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers to advance to the best-of-five American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, which begins Sunday evening at Camden Yards.

In Saturday's 6-5 victory, the trend looked like it finally would be snapped, with their most consistent starter, Jason Hammel, cruising and Adam Jones and Nick Markakis each hitting two-run homers against the Washington Nationals to take a 6-0 lead into the fifth.

The Orioles hit home runs in their first three at-bats ¿ getting solo shots from Ryan Flaherty, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis in the first inning ¿ part of a five-homer game in a 6-5 win in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold is scheduled to undergo an epidural injection in his sore neck, but it appears very doubtful that he¿ll be ready to come off the disabled list as soon as he becomes eligible Wednesday.

The Orioles hit home runs in their first three at-bats of the game -- getting solo shots from Ryan Flaherty, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis -- as part of a five-homer game in a 6-5 win in Game 1.

Baseball's big three look like the only teams with legitimate shots at World Series because of pitching and hitting