Thursday Bird Droppings: Where we're all protected from the Rule 5 Draft

Hello, friends.

There are now 136 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day 2015. We've been through this offseason for such a long, long time, just tryin' to kill the pain...

It's been a week where there's nothing much to discuss about the Orioles so people are resorting to crazy ideas about trading Ubaldo Jimenez for Nick Swisher, which I personally think would be horrible beyond belief, so much so that I don't know how anyone can seriously advocate that position.

But hey, on the bright side, it being Thursday means there is new Serial today! If you'd like to discuss the latest episode, please keep any spoiler-y talk in the Fanpost.

Maybe Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz, or Andrew Miller will sign with somebody today, or at least be reported to be in some talks with somebody by a reputable enough reporter that it's worth talking about. Probably not, though, because remember the law of baseball rumors: Probably nothing will happen.

And now to get on with some links from around Birdland to keep you occupied...

Orioles face tough decisions on which players to protect from Rule 5 draft - Baltimore Sun
The Orioles have 34 spots on their 40-man roster, and five players they may want to protect from the Rule 5 draft. The players: Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson, Brian Ward, Parker Bridwell, and Mychal Givens. Being as 39 is less than 40, this seems easy to me.

Orioles re-sign Almanzar, to minor league contract | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore
Yesterday, the O's signed a bunch of guys to a minor league contract. Well, a different contract for each one of them, but if I said "minor league contracts" that makes it sound like each one signed multiple contracts. English is the worst language.

Five Things To Know About Orioles Prospect Mike Wright (Press Box)
Speaking of Wright, here are some things to know about him. One of these things is that he is 6'6".

Elsewhere around the world of SB Nation MLB...

Athletics sign switch-pitcher Pat Venditte - Athletics Nation
Our counterparts on the Athletics blog are appropriately excited that the A's have signed the fantastic switch-pitcher, Pat Venditte, to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. If you haven't ever seen the classic Switch Hitter vs. Switch Pitcher, you should really watch. (They changed the rules after this.)

Born on this day are some former Orioles: Don Leppert (1955), Herm Starrette (1963-65), and the unlamented Jo-Jo Reyes (2011). It was also a black day in O's history for fans of The Curse of the Andino, as Robert Andino was traded to Seattle for Trayvon Robinson in 2012.

And that's the way it is in Birdland on November 20 - or at least until something happens. Have a safe Thursday.