ray flaherty

The emergence of fast-rising minor league prospect Trey Mancini could prompt the Orioles to find out whether fellow first base prospect Christian Walker can play a corner outfield position

Intrasquad game lineups can be unconventional, and the ones for this afternoon's game at Ed Smith Stadium fits that description.

For many of the Rule 5 picks who arrive at spring training this time of the year and are given an opportunity to make a major league roster, timing is everything. Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard, who was selected from the Tampa Bay Rays in this year's Rule 5 draft, knows a little about timing.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones held court following the team's first full-squad workout of spring training Wednesday and touched on a variety of topics, from his desire to meet with club ownership to a pair of new teammates at the corner-outfield spots to the annual rite of prognosticators picking the Orioles to finish last in the American League East.

Even though the Orioles have had great success keeping their Rule 5 draft picks over the past several seasons, this year¿s selection enters spring training as a long shot to make the 25-man roster out of camp.

New Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo could participate in his first workout with his new team as early as Tuesday.

Buck Showalter held his first press gathering of spring training in the media workroom of the Ed Smith Stadium complex, and alluded to the fact that he could be in the same room a few days from now for a press conference to introduce a new free-agent signing. The Orioles are still engaged in negotiations to sign right-hander Yovani Gallardo and outfielder Dexter Fowler. Though neither has agreed to terms with the club, the Orioles were still considered the leading candidates for both.

Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim has been in the United States for less than a month, but the former South Korean baseball star has already begun making adjustments to the major leagues.

The Orioles agreed to one-year contracts for 2016 with star third baseman Manny Machado, starters Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez, and infielder Ryan Flaherty ahead of Friday¿s deadline to exchange salary-arbitration figures, according to industry sources.

The Orioles settled the second of their pending eight arbitration-eligible player contracts Thursday, agreeing to a one-year, $1.25 million contract with reliever Brad Brach, according to an industry source.

Orioles first baseman Mark Trumbo avoided salary arbitration Thursday, agreeing to a one-year, $9.15 million contract, according to an industry source.

As 2015 comes to an end, we take a look at the 10 most memorable moments of last year¿s Orioles season.

Reports that the Orioles are a leading candidate to acquire slugger Yoenis Cespedes might bring a smile to the faces of fans, but the club seems unlikely to meet his price.

The Orioles expected to acquire additional players at this week's winter meetings, but they enter the final day preparing to return to Baltimore with nothing more than a Rule 5 pick. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said Wednesday that the Orioles expect to make a selection in Thursday morning's Rule 5 draft.

The Orioles tendered contracts to eight of their 12 arbitration-eligible players prior to Wednesday's midnight deadline.

Mark Trumbo is an insurance policy for the Orioles if Chris Davis does not re-sign and might prevent Steve Pearce from being on the roster.

That first domino probably fell on Sunday, when the right-hander Jordan Zimmermann reportedly agreed to terms on a five-year, $110-million deal with the Detroit Tigers.

Baseball season is officially over following the Kansas City Royals' Game 5 victory over the New York Mets early Monday morning, meaning it's now time to turn up the hot stove.

To pinpoint exactly when the Orioles' 2015 season veered off the tracks and a 96-win division champion became an also-ran, you first have to go back to before the calendar flipped. In early December, three key 2014 Orioles officially signed lucrative four-year deals with other teams. In each instance, executive vice president Dan Duquette had an explanation for letting the player walk.

Lots of changes in store for the Orioles, and not just because of six pending free agents.

The improbable turned into the nearly impossible Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park, where the Orioles dropped an 8-0 decision to the Boston Red Sox.

The Orioles left the nation's capital on a surprising roll, but they need to stay on it for another 10 days and they need a couple of their key players back to give themselves any chance of completing a miracle run to the playoffs.

It was a sad day for baseball after news broke early Wednesday morning that Hall of Famer Yogi Berra had died at 90, and that news hit Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who carried on a long friendship with the Yankees great, especially hard.

The Orioles didn¿t get a deep outing form their starter, their offense piled up strikeouts and they again relied on the home run. Occasionally, though, that formula works ¿ and it did Tuesday in a 2-1 victory against the New York Yankees before an announced 30,785 in the Bronx.

Nolan Reimold was back in an Orioles uniform and in the starting lineup Sunday, less than two weeks after the club designated him for assignment.

As the Orioles ¿ losers of 10 of their last 11 games ¿ open their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight, their starting lineup has a much different look.

It's hard to find a positive aspect to the injury that sent shortstop J.J. Hardy to the disabled list at such a critical time in the season, but there have been a couple of uplifting developments that have come as a direct result.

The Orioles bashed five homers Wednesday ¿ three off Kansas City¿s prized trade-deadline acquisition, Johnny Cueto ¿ in an 8-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals that snapped their season-worst six-game losing streak in front of an announced crowd 33,003 at Kauffman Stadium.

Monday night's series opener ended in an all-too-familiar way, with the Orioles squandering another lead, falling victim to a nightmare seven-run sixth inning in an 8-3 loss to the Royals in front of an announced 27,797 at Kauffman Stadium.

It¿s not easy to quantify what J.J. Hardy means to the Orioles, but maybe what happened after he had to leave Sunday¿s extra-inning game for a pinch runner illustrated the challenge manager Buck Showalter faces in trying to replace him while he¿s on the disabled list.

J.J. Hardy said the sense is he could be OK in a day or two, but the club needs to fill his spot now.

Two errors, including one by Manny Machado in his first inning as a big league shortstop, gave the Twins a 4-3 win in 12 innings, sending the plummeting Orioles to their fourth straight loss before an announced 35,144.

Steve Pearce is expected back this week in KC

J.J. Hardy, who is battling a sore groin, isn¿t playing shortstop on Sunday; Ryan Flaherty is getting the start.

The Orioles entered the weekend with the fourth-best home record (37-22) in the American League, behind only the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros. So, no one should be surprised that they are having a pretty good homestand. If they could parlay that .627 winning percentage over the final 40 games of the season — home and away — they would finish with close to 90 victories.

Buck Showalter says Miguel Gonzalez will remain in the rotation.

By the time the Orioles¿ 15-2 loss to the Twins ended well after midnight, only about 200 of the announced 20,109 remained to witness the entire battering. The PA announcer¿s voice echoed through the seating bowl. Fans chased for foul balls through empty rows of green seats.

It was easy enough to round up the usual offensive suspects after the Orioles tied their all-time single-game record with 26 hits on Sunday afternoon against the Oakland Athletics, but it was the unusual suspects who carried the day.

The Orioles hope that catcher Matt Wieters, who left Tuesday¿s game against the Mariners in the third inning with a right hamstring strain, can avoid a stint on the disabled list.

The Orioles finally designated outfielder Travis Snider for assignment Friday after making him a centerpiece of their offseason attempt to upgrade the club's on-base potential and replace popular veteran Nick Markakis. The move was not a surprise, since there was speculation a week ago that he would be clearing some room on the roster soon.

Manager Buck Showalter said now that Rule 5 right-hander Jason Garcia is on the 25-man roster, he will pitch for the Orioles. It's impossible, he said, to hide a pitcher in the majors these days.

After just four games with Triple-A Norfolk, Junior Lake was promoted to the Orioles on Friday when the club designated left-handed outfielder Travis Snider for assignment.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter hasn't been afraid to mix up his defensive alignment if it means putting a better offensive club on the field this year.

The Orioles¿ 8-7 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night wasn¿t the way you typically draw them up, but they couldn¿t argue with the result.

When the dust settled following Friday afternoon's nonwaiver trade deadline, the Orioles had filled their most glaring need by dealing for an established, hot-hitting outfielder while dealing away one of the core members of their bullpen in a separate move. On Friday morning, the Orioles acquired 28-year-old outfielder Gerardo Parra from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitcher Zach Davies. Then, at the 4 p.m. deadline, the Orioles sent right-handed reliever Tommy Hunter to the Chicago

The Orioles' acquisition of outfielder Gerardo Parra in Friday's trade-deadline deal with the Milwaukee Brewers marked the end of Bud Norris' time with the team. The Orioles designated the veteran right-hander for assignment shortly after announcing the Parra trade, parting ways with a key piece of their 2014 rotation.

As the Baltimore Orioles try to keep pace in the American League playoff race, the Toronto Blue Jays traded for the best available player, Troy Tulowitzki.

Steve Pearce, who has started at five different positions this season, said he has been getting treatment while on the disabled list, but he hasn¿t been able to do any hitting or throwing as a precaution to avoid aggravating the injury.