Winter Meetings

NASHVILLE -- On the eve of this year's Winter Meetings, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette re-emphasized that the team's top priority is acquiring a middle-of-the-order power bat. Speaking to reporters Sunday night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Duquette said the Orioles are more likely to address that need via trade, but they will continue to monitor the free agent market. "I believe we will be able to do some good here," Duquette said.

The talk about the Orioles' interest in Diamondbacks outfielder Jason Kubel is again gaining steam, and executive vice president Dan Duquette will always inquire about a power bat like Kubel, who hit 30 homers last season and averaged 25 homers his past four full seasons. But the Orioles won't trade away a significant piece and assume Kubel's contract unless they're sold that the 30-year-old slugger will make them dramatically better in 2013. And they're not convinced. Kubel's name previously came up during the winter meetings, but the teams couldn't find a fit then.

A couple quick things to share with you from sunny Nashville (We can only assume it is sunny. But it is very temperate inside the hotel.) Major League Baseball's pre-integration committee reviewed candidates from the sport's beginning until 1946 and chose three people for induction: umpire Hank O'Day, former Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and former player Deacon White. Ruppert is the guy who actually purchased that kid from Baltimore away from the Boston Red Sox in January 1920, in case you were wondering.

There's no secret that the Orioles are interested in acquiring first baseman-outfielder Michael Morse from the Nationals, but they aren't the only ones. Now that the Nationals have re-signed first baseman Adam LaRoche to a two-year deal, the Nats are now reportedly open to shopping Morse, who will become a free agent after the 2013 season. LaRoche's deal was the chip that needed to fall before any discussion regarding Morse intensified. During the MLB winter meetings, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said he was open to being trade partners with the Nationals, even though the teams share the same regional market.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Dan Duquette, the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations, took some time away from the organization's affiliates' reception to talk to reporters tonight at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville. The winter meetings don't start in earnest until Monday. Here are some of his quotes on specific Orioles' topics. Duquette on the club's goal this week at the annual winter meetings: “Our agenda at the winter meetings, of course, is to try to find a hitter.

The Orioles didn't return to Baltimore from the winter meetings with the power bat they coveted, but club executive vice president Dan Duquette was satisfied with the team's progress this week in Nashville, Tenn. One of the team's top priorities was to sign an outfielder, and the Orioles were able to agree to terms with left fielder Nate McLouth on Wednesday. In Thursday's Rule 5 draft, the team selected 23-year-old left-hander T.J. McFarland. “I'm glad we signed an outfielder,” Duquette told reporters Thursday morning following the Rule 5 draft.

A transcript of Buck Showalter's news conference Tuesday afternoon at the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn (provided by ASAP Sports):   Q. Buck, is it any more special having the winter meetings here in Nashville?  Obviously, a place you spent a lot of time. BUCK SHOWALTER:  I spent a lot of time.  Most people don't stay in AA that long. I didn't mean it that way.  Someone said, you're the all time career hits in Nashville.  Yeah, I was here for 20 years playing in AA. No, it's a great city.  Met my wife here.  That's probably the greatest thing.  Spent some off¿seasons here working to make ends meet.  A lot of memories.  A lot of memories.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter just met with the media for his annual winter meetings news conference. Here are some highlights: ** On the health front, Showalter said he believes outfielder Nolan Reimold (neck surgery), Brian Matusz (hernia surgery) and Tsuyoshi Wada (Tommy John surgery) are all recuperating well. Showalter said he believes Wada, who had surgery May 11, could be available before most originally expected, though he wouldn't predict a date. It usually takes a year or more to recover from the surgery.

On the eve of this year's Winter Meetings, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette re-emphasized that the team's top priority this week is acquiring a middle-of-the-order power bat. Speaking to reporters Sunday night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Duquette said the Orioles are more likely to address that need via trade, but they will continue to monitor the free agent market. Duquette fell short of saying he believed he could work a trade here in Nashville, but he sounded optimistic.

The last time the Orioles employed a legitimate big leaguer from the Baltimore area, his name was Cal Ripken Jr. — and he retired in 2001. If new executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette gets his way, that local pipeline will reopen under his tenure. During his Tuesday news briefing at the Hilton Anatole during this week's annual winter meetings, Duquette was asked whether a player's local ties — in this case Chicago White Sox pitcher and Mount St. Joseph alum Gavin Floyd — would play into his decision to pursue that player.

Former Oriole lefty Dana Eveland has agreed to a one-year deal with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization, according to an industry source. Eveland, who made $750,000 with the Orioles last season, will receive $675,000 guaranteed from the Eagles with another $225,000 available through performance bonuses, bringing the total potential package to $900,000. The 29-year-old lefty was 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA in 14 games, two starts, with the Orioles in 2012. He allowed 32 hits and walked 13 while striking out 18 batters in 32 1/3 innings.

Sorry if it is chilly in the bar here this weekend. All the windows are open. I'm just trying to fill my lungs with oxygen after spending all week in the recycled air of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. So grab a bar stool and a parka. Anyway, baseball's winter meetings came and went, and all you have to show for it is a crazy-haired left fielder and a minor league pitcher with a major league name. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said he wanted to get an outfielder.

The annual winter meetings usually contain more style than substance, hyped in the days leading up to the event and ultimately ending with most teams making few moves. While the Orioles spent this week in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel at the root of many trade and free-agent rumors that led to few actual transactions, executive vice president Dan Duquette was pleased with the moves the club made. The Orioles arrived at the winter meetings looking to trade for a power hitter, a goal that didn't happen this week, but will be something to monitor as the offseason progresses.

The Orioles didn't return to Baltimore from the winter meetings with the power bat they coveted, but club executive vice president Dan Duquette was satisfied with the team's progress this week in Nashville, Tenn. One of the team's top priorities was to sign an outfielder, and the Orioles were able to agree to terms with left fielder Nate McLouth on Wednesday. In Thursday's Rule 5 draft, the team selected 23-year-old left-hander T.J. McFarland. “I'm glad we signed an outfielder,” Duquette told reporters Thursday morning following the Rule 5 draft.

Baltimore Sun writers Eduardo A. Encina and Dan Connolly recap Day 3 of the winter meetings in Nashville, where the Orioles addressed a top priority by re-signing Nate McLouth. Find out what that means regarding the team's offseason needs and whether Nick Swisher is still a target. The Orioles also made some other minor moves, signing first baseman Conor Jackson and Czech teen left-hander Jan Novak, both to minor league deals. You can follow all the latest Orioles coverage on baltimoresun.com and follow our writers on Twitter at @EddieInTheYard and @danconnollysun

Live Orioles chat with Eduardo A. Encina

Live Orioles chat with Eduardo A. Encina

Baltimore Sun Orioles beat writers Eduardo A. Encina and Dan Connolly wrap up Day 2 of the winter meetings from Nashville, where the Orioles have had discussions with a number of free-agent targets, including Nick Swisher and former O's Nate McLouth and Joe Saunders. The O's also continue to work the trade front and remain confident a move can be made before that return to Baltimore.

A transcript of Buck Showalter's news conference Tuesday afternoon at the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn (provided by ASAP Sports):   Q. Buck, is it any more special having the winter meetings here in Nashville?  Obviously, a place you spent a lot of time. BUCK SHOWALTER:  I spent a lot of time.  Most people don't stay in AA that long. I didn't mean it that way.  Someone said, you're the all time career hits in Nashville.  Yeah, I was here for 20 years playing in AA. No, it's a great city.  Met my wife here.  That's probably the greatest thing.  Spent some off¿seasons here working to make ends meet.  A lot of memories.  A lot of memories.