ricky nolasco

Jeremy Hellickson fails to stick with the Nationals. Wade Miley receives a retention bonus from the Brewers, and Edwin Jackson gets one from Washington.

Ubaldo Jimenez pitched for the last time at Camden Yards on Friday, and as ever, Buck Showalter looked for positives.

Twice this month, the Orioles have demoted a starting pitcher from the rotation, only to have him rejoin it shortly thereafter out of circumstance and necessity. There are only so many alternatives inside the organization, and when the Orioles begin to assess the market to add starters through trades over the next few weeks, they might be left wanting as well.

Orioles slugger Pedro Alvarez didn¿t wait long to show why he was considered one of the more dangerous power hitters in the National League.

He allowed six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings on the way to a 14-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium.

The Orioles entered the final month of the regular season with the second-best record in the major leagues, a sizable American League East lead and their offense catching fire at the right time.

After an unsightly April in which he was winless and struggled with control while pitching to a 6.59 ERA, Jimenez turned the calendar to a new month Friday night and dominated a Twins team he¿s had much success against in his career.

SARASOTA, Fla. ¿ Even though the Orioles handed out a historic four-year, $48-million deal to right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, the club believes it has gotten a deal given the money being handed out on the free-agent market.

The Orioles main priority heading into July 31¿s non-waiver trade deadline is adding a starting pitcher, and the club has been actively scouting potentially available arms, according to several sources.

There will be plenty of rumors over the next five weeks and the Orioles will likely be involved in many of them. The Orioles have some trade chips, but at what price would the club make a deal?