tsuyoshi wada

Orioles first baseman Christian Walker made a strong impression in his first spring training game Tuesday, driving in three runs and hitting a two-run homer in the Orioles' 4-4 10-inning tie with the Atlanta Braves in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams.

South Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon¿s time with the Orioles could be nearing an end before he ever pitches in a major league game.

If it's true that Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon has decided to leave the Orioles organization one year into a three-year deal and return to South Korea, you can be sure that Dan Duquette and the club's front office will take some criticism.

When Tommy Hunter received a call about two weeks ago inviting him to play on a team of major leaguers in the All-Star Series exhibition this month in Japan, the Orioles relief pitcher said the choice was easy.

Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter is joining a team of major leaguers that will travel to Japan this month to participate in the Japan All-Star Series throughout the country.

But on Sunday afternoon, left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada held the Orioles hitless for the first six innings in a 2-1 loss as the Cubs completed a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field.

The Orioles will play against two familiar faces in their three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field this weekend. Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta is scheduled to start Friday's series opener, and left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada is set to start Sunday.

Nick Markakis' catch to rob a home run in Monday's 8-2 win over the Chicago White Sox received some national attention. While Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Markakis deserves that recognition, the right fielder often shuns it.

Miguel Gonzalez gets the start tonight in Pittsburgh ¿ his first since May 10, when he registered a quality start in a no decision against Houston. His last outing was in relief of Kevin Gausman on Wednesday.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter has talked often this spring about the challenge of selecting the club¿s Opening Day roster ¿ and saying the best 25 players might not necessarily be the right 25 players to start the season with.

On the eve of the first workout for pitchers and catchers this spring, the Orioles once again traveled an international route Thursday in an attempt to improve their pitching staff, agreeing to terms with South Korean right-handed pitcher Suk-min Yoon on a three-year deal, according to an industry source.

While there have been some international hiccups during executive vice president Dan Duquette's time in Baltimore, there's no question that the overall impact of the Orioles' recent effort to expand their global reach has been positive.

In another episode of how the Orioles' offseason turns, Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon posted a "selfie" Twitter photo on Tuesday evening of him wearing an Orioles hat and flashing the peace sign. But there is no deal in place, yet.

The Orioles are one of multiple teams that have made an offer to Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon, a source says.

Back in October, we asked how many of the Orioles' nine free agents were likely to return in 2014. With less than five weeks until spring training, it could end up that none of them return to Baltimore.

The Orioles have added more depth for the organization, signing left-handed hitting outfielder Xavier Paul to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to a SportsNet Canada report.

As expected, the Orioles have declined left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada's $5-million option for next season, the club announced on Saturday evening.

The Orioles are expected to decline 2014 options for Tsuyoshi Wada on Saturday and Alexi Casilla on Monday.

Outfielder Chris Dickerson and infielder Dan Johnson, who were taken off the 40-man roster Thursday and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, have to decided to become free agents.

The free-agency season is officially underway, and the Orioles made their first pair of roster moves since on Thursday, outrighting infielder Dan Johnson and outfielder Chris Dickerson to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have nine pending free agents -- Alexi Casilla, Scott Feldman, Jason Hammel, Nate McLouth, Michael Morse, Brian Roberts, Francisco Rodriguez, Chris Snyder and Tsuyoshi Wada -- and executive vice president Dan Duquette said: ¿We haven¿t moved on any of those free agents yet.¿

Jonathan Schoop was hanging out at his locker Wednesday afternoon when Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who had been talking with shortstop J.J. Hardy nearby, pointed to Schoop and said, "You and J.J. today."

Adam Jones still would love to keep his consecutive games streak going, but it could end tonight.

Six of the eight Orioles who played all 18 innings in Friday's six hour, 54-minute marathon were in Saturday's starting lineup. It took them until the ninth to score in Saturday's 5-1 defeat to the Rays.

Orioles and Rays play longest game in their histories.

Darren O'Day is back and available in relief tonight. Showalter said he wasn't going to use O'Day on Wednesday.

Former Orioles star and current front office executive Brady Anderson jokes that he began planning how to celebrate Chris Davis' 50th home run about three months ago after Davis hit his 30th homer of the season.

Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel will start Friday's series opener in Tampa Bay, manager Buck Showalter announced before Tuesday's game in Boston.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter still believes his team is capable of putting together a lengthy winning streak, something it really hasn't done this season. To date, the Orioles' longest streak of the season is five games.

The Orioles have selected the contract of outfielder Chris Dickerson and designated Alex Liddi for assignment.

CLEVELAND -- With Triple-A Norfolk¿s season over, the Orioles are expected to add three new players to their expanded roster Tuesday in Cleveland.

The Orioles made major switches at the catcher position on the first day of roster expansion Sunday, designating backup Taylor Teagarden for assignment while purchasing the contracts of veteran Chris Snyder and Baltimore native Steve Clevenger from Triple-A Norfolk.

In their ongoing pursuit of adding a hitter to a potential postseason roster, the Orioles have claimed Seattle Mariners outfielder-first baseman Michael Morse off trade waivers -- which comes on the heels of the news that the Orioles also had claimed Minnesota Twins outfielder Josh Willingham.

Monday was a pretty productive off day for the Orioles since both the Rays and Yankees lost. So the Orioles head into tonight's series opener in Boston trailing the Rays by four games for second place in the AL East, as well as the first AL Wild Card spot.

Right-hander Jason Hammel will likely make his first minor-league rehab on Thursday for Double-A Bowie. Hammel, who has been on the the disabled list with a right forearm strain, will throw 45-50 pitches. He will likely make two starts before rejoining the club, and he could return in either a starting or relief role.

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said he believes players are glad that baseball has taken added measures to try to rid the game of performance-enhancing drugs.

The Orioles placed right-hander Jason Hammel on the disabled list with a flexor mass in his right arm retroactive to Monday, manager Buck Showalter said before Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. He's eligible to return Aug. 13.

Matt Wieters' bat has sizzled coming out of the All-Star break, but the Orioles' catcher said he doesn't think the four days of rest over the break has anything to do with it.

The Orioles designated right-hander Jair Jurrjens for assignment Friday to clear room on the 40-man roster for right-hander Jairo Asencio, who joined the Orioles before the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Infielder Jonathan Schoop, the Orioles¿ top position player prospect who has missed the past two months with a stress fracture in his lower back, returned to action earlier Thursday in the Gulf Coast League.

Chris Dickerson was scratched from Wednesday's lineup after batting practice

The Orioles will recall Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk before tonight¿s game to serve as a right-handed long-relief arm tonight behind left-hander starter Wei-Yin Chen, according to a club source.

The Orioles optioned left-hander Zach Britton and right-hander Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk after the team¿s 8-4 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

To make room for Brian Roberts on the roster, the Orioles designated right-hander Jair Jurrjens off the 25-man roster.

Despite the success of left-hander Wei-Yin Chen's rehab start at Double-A Bowie on Saturday night, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the organization is still deciding whether or not he needs another rehab start before rejoining the team.

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy will have elbow surgery on Thursday.