Jim Johnson

The Orioles avoided arbitration with one of their key pieces from 2012, agreeing to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with closer Jim Johnson on Friday, according to multiple sources. He can receive another $50,000 in performance bonuses related to games finished. The right-handed reliever, who has been with the Orioles for his entire career, made $2.625 million in 2012. Johnson, 29, had 51 saves in 54 chances to set the franchise's single-season saves record. He also led the major leagues in that category and posted a 2.49 ERA in 71 appearances.

Baltimore County Police Chief James W. Johnson added a much-needed voice of reason to the national debate over gun control last week when he appeared before Congress to testify in favor of universal background checks for gun purchases and a ban on assault rifles and large capacity ammunition magazines. It was only common sense, he told lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee, to extend the reporting requirements for federally licensed firearms dealers to the private individuals who account for 40 percent of gun sales in this country.

When the Orioles open up spring training down in Sarasota two weeks from tomorrow, expect non-roster pitchers Mike Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez, who are among the organization's top pitching prospects, to be among those looking to make an impression in major league camp. With the World Baseball Classic pushing the beginning of spring training up a week, the Orioles likely limit some regulars, especially pitchers, when games begin on Feb. 23. That will give many of the Orioles' younger players an opportunity to make an impression during the opening days of the Grapefruit League season.

Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel, shelved twice in the second half of last season because of injuries to his right knee, said he has no restrictions on the joint after having a check-up with team doctors Friday. Hammel missed nearly eight weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his knee in mid-July, only to re-injure the joint in his second start since coming off the disabled list Sept. 11. The 30-year-old was able to return to start Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Yankees, but said then that rest would be the only way his knee would get healthy.

The Orioles and their three remaining arbitration-eligible players have officially filed salary numbers for 2013. Closer Jim Johnson, who led the majors in saves with 51, asked for $7.1 million while the Orioles countered with $5.7 million. He is in his third year of arbitration and made $2.625 million last year. Starter Jason Hammel, who was 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 20 starts for the Orioles last year, asked for $8.25 million and the Orioles countered with $5.7 million. He is in his fourth year of arbitration and made $4.75 million last year.

Orioles closer Jim Johnson wrestled with his decision to decline an invitation to play for Team USA in this spring's World Baseball Classic. The right-hander was honored to be considered, but believed being in Orioles spring training would best benefit his 2013 season. It's a difficult choice for many who have been invited to participate in the WBC. Orioles center fielder Adam Jones had always wanted to represent Team USA, so when he was invited to play, his decision was a little easier.

Major League Baseball and the players association have agreed to take the next step toward eradicating performance-enhancing drugs from the game by expanding random blood testing for human growth hormone to during the season and conducting additional testing for testosterone. Last year, players were tested for HGH during spring training, the offseason and for reasonable cause. Minor league players have been tested randomly during the season since 2010. "I think with all of us and the players, all we are looking for is a level playing field," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Thursday after the increased testing measures, effective this season, were announced . "We are trying to keep the fans' trust that what they are seeing is real.

I talked to a major league scout Friday whose territory is strictly the American League East and whose opinion I really respect. He's always been pretty spot on with his assessments, so I was curious as to what he thought about what has happened with this division since the postseason ended. I'm going to warn you, Orioles fans, he's not sold on your club. In fact, if rosters were set today, the scout said he'd predict that the Orioles finish fourth in the AL East in 2013, just above the Tampa Bay Rays.

This season's Most Valuable Oriole, center fielder Adam Jones, placed sixth in this year's American League Most Valuable Player voting. Jones became the Orioles' highest vote-getter in AL MVP balloting since Miguel Tejada placed fifth in 2004. He finished just out of the top-five finalists, just seven points short of fifth-place finisher Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers and well ahead of seventh-place finisher Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees by 43 points. "Pretty humbled," Jones tweeted Thursday night.

We already knew Jim Johnson hadn't finished in the top 3 for the American League Cy Young Award, but the Orioles closer ended up getting some love from the Baseball Writers' Association of America voters when the results were announced Wednesday night. Of the 28 voters (two from each AL market), one had Johnson fourth and three put him fifth on their ballots for 5 total points, good for seventh place. Rays lefty David Price (153 points, 14 first-place votes) edged Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (149, 13)