Hello, friends.
There are now 114 days until Orioles Opening Day 2015. On the bright side, the start of spring training is much closer, a number of days that I'm not going to bother looking up because spring training is totally boring to me. But to some of you, the whole ritual of pitchers and catchers reporting may be important, and is at least within double-digit days.
While other teams were wheeling and dealing this week, the Orioles finagled their way into a couple of Rule 5 picks. Maybe one of them will work out. If you'd like to know a little more about the two guys, as much as you can tell from someone's Twitter timeline, you can check them out there: Logan Verrett (blue check mark and everything) and Jason Garcia. I think Jason is going to have to pick a new number.
Here are your links from around Birdland on this Saturday...
Some thoughts on Orioles' next moves after winter meetings - Baltimore Sun
After doing nothing at the Winter Meetings, the Sun ponders what's next for the O's, which might also be nothing.
The Orioles would consider Melky Cabrera on a 2-3 year deal | HardballTalk
Melky Cabrera is out there trying to find a five year deal, supposedly. He's probably not going to get it, but he could end up being a guy who is still dangling out there late in the free agent period. There are worse ideas.
Top prospects continue rising in Baltimore Orioles Organization All-Stars | MiLB.com News
MiLB.com ranks their organizational All-Stars, which includes the names you'd expect: Hunter Harvey, Tim Berry, Christian Walker, and Chance Sisco.
School of Roch: Orioles remain in running to sign Reimold
Dare we hope that the O's might bring back Nolan Reimold? He's in search of a major league contract, which I wish him the best of luck in finding. If he doesn't get one, the O's are waiting with a minor league deal with a spring training invite.
Elsewhere on the SB Nation MLB network...
The one powerful dimension of Mark Reynolds, the newest member of the St. Louis Cardinals - Viva El Birdos
Our counterparts over on the Cardinals blog ponder their latest acquisition, our old friend Mark Reynolds. Everyone who was on that 2012 team will always have a special place in my heart.
There are no living former Orioles who have a birthday today.
O's transactions on this date include the signing of Ramon Hernandez (2005), the signing of Mike Bordick (1996), and a couple of re-ups with existing guys: Koji Uehara (2010) and Nate McLouth (2012).
And that's the way it is in Birdland on December 13 - or at least unless something happens later. Have a safe Saturday.