Sunday Bird Droppings

Orioles acquire catcher Johnny Monell from Giants for cash | MLB.com: News
But you knew that already.

Steve Melewski: How much can Kevin Gausman impact the 2014 rotation?
Well, if he pitches to his stuff, the answer is "A lot."

On baseball: Counting the days until spring training | The Portland Press Herald
"The Orioles not only signed former Sea Dogs pitcher Brock Huntzinger but they also collected former Portland outfielders Ron Bermudez and Chih-Hsien Chiang on minor league contracts." With moves like that, I'd say we're set for next year, right?

New names and an old one in this week's Orioles chatter | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore
Rich Dubroff does his weekly round-up of all things Orioles.

Seriously. That's it. I couldn't even find a decent non-English clipping.

In Orioles history, it was a busy day:

"1954 - The Yankees and Orioles complete the largest trade in major league history as 17 players, including Don Larsen, Gene Woodling, Bob Turley change teams. The first phase of the transaction began November 18th and will conclude today after the major league draft.

1956 - In the American League, Chicago White Sox shortstop Luis Aparicio is voted Rookie of the Year with 22 points, beating out Baltimore's Tito Francona and Rocky Colavito of the Indians.

1970 - Shortstop Enzo Hernandez and pitchers Tom Phoebus, Al Severinsen and Fred Beene go from the Orioles to the Padres for pitchers Pat Dobson and Tom Dukes. Dobson will win 20 games for the Orioles next season.

1998 - Bypassing his agent and making the deal himself, Rafael Palmeiro turns down a bigger offer from Baltimore and signs a five-year $45 million contract to stay with the Rangers. The Baltimore Orioles sign slugger Albert Belle to a five-year contract.

2002 - Former major league starting pitcher Dave McNally dies from lung cancer at the age of 60. A four-time 20-game winner over the span of four consecutive seasons, McNally helped anchor a Baltimore Orioles pitching staff that featured Hall of Famer Jim Palmer and standout left-hander Mike Cuellar. McNally won Game 4 of the 1966 World Series, cementing Baltimore's sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also won Game 3 of the 1970 World Series, as the Orioles defeated the Cincinnati Reds in five games. At the end of his career, McNally helped change baseball's basic financial structure. After playing the 1975 season without a signed contract, McNally, along with pitcher Andy Messersmith was declared a free agent by arbitrator Peter Seitz. The decision paved the way for the advent of the free agent system.

2011 - The Orioles acquire C Taylor Teagarden from Texas for Class A P Randy Henry and a player to be named after next week's Rule V draft."

Happy Birthday to Jeff Tackett!

Consider this your NFL open thread. Me? I'll be decorating a Christmas tree. And for those who celebrate it, Happy Hanukkah.