Trade

The New England Patriots' pass defense has been improving lately, and one of the reasons can be traced to the presence of cornerback Aqib Talib, who was acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 1. Talib's personal numbers aren't eye-opening (just one interception and two pass breakups in the team's last eight contests), but the defense's statistics have been much better. After surrendering an average of 285.3 yards, a 66.1 completion percentage and 19 touchdowns in the first nine games, the Patriots have trimmed those numbers to a 253.4 average, a 57.3 percentage and 10 scores.

Joe Flacco isn't above trying something different to become a better quarterback. But the Ravens starter said one change he won't consider is wearing a glove on his throwing hand. After joking that he thinks a glove “looks stupid” on his hand, Flacco said he prefers being able to touch the laces and ridges on the leather of the football while taking a snap or attempting a pass. “I like to feel the football,” he said after Wednesday's practice. “Even growing up playing baseball, I never wore batting gloves.

The Orioles have shown interest in young slugging outfielder Justin Upton, whom the Arizona Diamondbacks appear willing to move, but like most of the Orioles' trade discussions this offseason, the organization seems very unwilling to make a deal that would include any of its top young players. Upton, who will make $9.75 million in the fourth year of a six-year, $51.25-million deal that runs through 2015, is just 25 himself. The Diamondbacks reportedly are open to moving either Upton or outfielder Jason Kubel, whom the Orioles have also shown interest in, but Upton is vastly more attractive on the trade market because of his age and having him under team control for the next three seasons.

Heading into a new year, the Orioles have much of the same team as they did in 2012. That's by design, and apparently there is a push to continue that trend. The Orioles have re-signed left fielder Nate McLouth, maintain dialogue with lefty starter Joe Saunders and, according to an industry source, are among the clubs showing legitimate interest in signing right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom, whom the Orioles traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in August for Saunders. Lindstrom, 32, was 1-0 with a 2.72 ERA in 32 games with the Orioles, striking out 30 batters and walking 12 while allowing 35 hits in 36 1/3 innings.

Despite all the cliff drama in the past week that sent stocks spiraling downward, all three major U.S. stock indices ended the year higher — which might come as a surprise to many investors U.S. stocks rallied Monday in the last hours of trading for 2012, as it appeared Washington lawmakers had reached a deal to prevent a combination of automatic spending cuts and tax increases known as the fiscal cliff. Despite the recent political drama that sent stocks spiraling downward, all three major U.S. stock indices ended the year higher — which might come as a surprise to many investors "If you just read the headlines and took people's pulse, you would think the market was down 5 to 10 percent," said Andy Brooks, head of U.S equity trading at Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price.

Rays landing Myers Juan C. Rodriguez Sun Sentinel The Dodgers signing Zack Greinke or one of the Blue Jays' trades will have plenty of short-term impact. In terms a move having the longest-lasting positive effect on a franchise, let's go with the Rays acquiring a future cornerstone player in outfielder Wil Myers from the Royals. The Rays dealt from a position of strength, moving pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis, and they also got back two promising arms in Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery to add to a young, talented stable.

It's been somewhat amusing to me the vitriol sent my way via Twitter, email and the blog concerning the Orioles' lack of movement so far this offseason. I understand that you want the Orioles to improve, especially considering that all the teams in their division are making news. I get that. But I think there are two things worth noting here: 1. Executive vice president Dan Duquette made a point at the beginning of the offseason that he did not expect the Orioles to pursue expensive free agents.

In a few weeks, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will be reinaugurated with great fanfare in Washington. Shortly after that, in Beijing, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang will ascend to the presidency and premiership of China. (China's premier is the second-highest office but unlike the American vice president is more like the country's chief operating officer, with the president as chief executive officer.) If our political leaders would play their cards right, the concomitant inaugurations could be prelude to a brilliant new start for our relationship with China.

Now that the Blue Jays continue to load up this offseason - agreeing to acquire NL Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey from the Mets pending signing him to an extension - I'm continuing to get questions about why the Orioles are being so quiet. The Red Sox have upgraded with a plethora of signings. The Rays dealt starter James Shields to get one of the top prospects in the game in Wil Myers to boost their anemic lineup. And the Blue Jays are showing there's no concern of a fiscal cliff in Toronto, delving out toonies in bulk like they're out of style.

The Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League today acquired former Johns Hopkins All-American Paul Rabil from the Rochester Knighthawks as part of a blockbuster six-player trade that sends Wings forward Dan Dawson and defenseman Paul Dawson to the Knighthawks. For Rabil, the trade is the third in less than a year. In August, the Edmonton Rush dealt Rabil to the Knighthawks after Rabil refused to play for Edmonton and declared his desire to be with an Eastern team.