Monday Bird Droppings

Winter Meetings are a strange animal. In most years, they seem like a dog that won't bark, but this year...who knows? The period between GM Meetings and this week has been uncharacteristically hyperactive with several large dollar signings and multi-player trades in the books. This could make for a different kind of uneventful session or lead to an unprecedented flurry of activity.

...and then there's also the Rule 5 draft on Thursday.

School of Roch: Day One of the Winter Meetings
The latest from the Professor.

Baltimore Orioles, Dan Duquette look to unearth 'value' in offseason | MLB.com: News
Keep digging, Dan!

Five things Orioles need to do at winter meetings | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore Abbreviated: Get better.

Cubs, Orioles, Mariners in on John Axford - CBSSports.com
A potential bidding war for John Axford? These here are strange times.

Camden Depot: Acquiring Jonathan Papelbon, dealing out J.J. Hardy Jon does a little GM roleplay with fomer colleague Nick.

On this day in 1999, Harold Baines signed with the Orioles for the fourth and final time in the 90s and in his career. Baines also was traded to and from the Orioles twice. On this day in 2010, J.J. Hardy was acquired along with Brendan Harris for Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson.

It's the birthday of Tony Batista and Tony Tarasco. It's also the birthday of Darold Knowles.