jemile weeks

Orioles top position player prospect Jonathan Schoop will make his first Opening Day start today as the team's second baseman.

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis might not play in Monday's regular-season opener at Camden Yards against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox because of lingering neck stiffness.

Weeks, whom the Orioles acquired in a trade with Oakland for closer Jim Johnson, hit .171 in 18 spring games. Schoop, 22, hit .385 in 22 games.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz, who was hit in the helmet by a pitch during Thursday's Grapefruit League finale and was forced out of the game, is feeling better today and will be ready for Opening Day on Monday.

As Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette sat in his office at the Ed Smith Stadium complex on a sunny afternoon earlier this month, overlooking a well-manicured cloverleaf of fields, a bitter winter seemed like an eternity ago in more ways than one.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. ¿ Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold will open the season on the disabled list, manager Buck Showalter announced on Wednesday evening.

Miguel Gonzalez struggled in his final tune-up before the regular season, but the Orioles still rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox, 5-4, in the Orioles' split-squad day game.

There are probably four spots still up for grabs on the Orioles' roster

The Orioles added another player to their infield mix Monday, acquiring switch-hitting local product Steve Lombardozzi Jr. in a trade that sent veteran infielder Alex Gonzalez to the Detroit Tigers.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- It¿s currently raining heavily here at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, but the Orioles still hope to get this afternoon¿s 1:05 p.m. game in against the Boston Red Sox.

The news that Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will begin the season on the disabled list was bittersweet for top position player prospect Jonathan Schoop.

Orioles All-Star third baseman Manny Machado will open the season on the 15-day disabled list, manager Buck Showalter announced Sunday.

In early December, Jemile Weeks' baseball career was thrown upside down. He was traded away from the only organization he had ever known, the Oakland Athletics, and sent to the Orioles for one of the franchise's most popular players, closer Jim Johnson.

Which Orioles player still fighting for a roster spot do you most want to see run down the orange carpet on Opening Day?

Veteran infielder Alex Gonzalez has a legitimate shot to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster.

One of the most striking things about Orioles spring training camp this year is the maturation — and, perhaps, metamorphosis — of Jonathan Schoop, who is now 22, speaks fluent English and hopes to make this year's club as the starting second baseman.

Orioles pitcher Suk-min Yoon will make his major league debut in a Grapefruit League game Saturday.

The Orioles announced Tuesday that they had agreed to terms on one-year deals with 19 players on for this season and renewed third baseman Manny Machado's contract.

BRADENTON, Fla. ¿ Orioles manager Buck Showalter is considering opening the season with a short bench in order at keep a 13th pitcher on the Opening Day roster.

Chris Tillman is scheduled to start for the Orioles Monday afternoon. T.J. McFarland and Ryan Webb are also scheduled to pitch.

The Orioles haven't given up on signing Ervin Santana, but there hasn't been much dialogue in the past couple days.

The results weren¿t particularly impressive, but Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen seemed happy with his performance in his first competitive appearance since undergoing offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his right knee.

That was the question posed to manager Buck Showalter on Monday afternoon after top infield prospect Jonathan Schoop delivered another strong offensive performance in the Orioles, 9-2, exhibition loss to the Minnesota Twins.

The Orioles have released left-handed reliever Chris Jones, who was designated for assignment on Monday to make roster space for Nelson Cruz.

Orioles prospect Jonathan Schoop homered for the second straight day Thursday, hitting a solo homer off Bud Norris in the first inning of an intrasquad game.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette will not rule out another free agent acquisition to upgrade the team's offensive lineup, though top remaining hitter Kendrys Morales would require the club to give up its third pick in the June draft.

The Orioles interest in Ervin Santana has increased as they still seek a starting pitcher.

The Orioles get spring training under way this week. Who will raise the most eyebrows -- in a good way?

Second baseman Jemile Weeks, who came to the Orioles from Oakland in December's Jim Johnson trade, and catcher Johnny Monell, acquired in a deal with the San Francisco Giants, will likely both have to show their flexibility.

Now that longtime Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts has departed for pinstripes, Ryan Flaherty finally has the opportunity to become an everyday big league player.

Even after a winning season in 2013, the club heads into Saturday's FanFest lacking much of the giddiness that permeated last year.

The Orioles whittled their arbitration-eligible list from five to one Friday by settling with four players, including slugger Chris Davis, who will more than triple his 2013 salary next season.

Chris Davis signed a one-year deal Friday that makes him the club's third highest paid player.

While the Orioles signings of Delmon Young and Alexi Casilla over the past few days aren't groundbreaking -- I know a lot of fans just see it as more frustrating examples of bargain-bin shopping -- and by no means are they going to push the team over the top, they definitely fill some needs.

But on Friday, the Orioles announced that they were re-signing Casilla, whose $3-million option was declined in October, to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Alexi Casilla will be part of the mix for the utility infield and second base jobs.

The Orioles enter 2014 without making any major moves. What would you do?

There's little arguing that on paper, the Orioles don't appear to be better now than they were last season, but they can still lay claim to having the best defense in baseball.

The Orioles' offseason overhaul took some time to gain steam, but two moves in one day have added a little more clarity to the team¿s roster for next season.