Orioles signed INF/OF Jeff Larish to a minor league contract.
The deal does not include a spring training invite. Larish, a fifth-round pick of the Tigers in 2005, batted .240/.330/.449 with 13 homers, 37 RBI and a .779 OPS over 288 plate appearances with the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate last season. The 29-year-old owns an underwhelming .224/.308/.380 batting line over 276 plate appearances in the big leagues, so look for him to serve as organizational depth for Baltimore.
Source: Roch Kubatko on Twitter Feb. 3 - 6:20 pm et

Orioles released RHP Rick VandenHurk.
VandenHurk was designated for assignment last week and is now free to sign with another organization. Although he allowed nine runs -- eight earned -- over nine innings at the major league level in 2011, VandenHurk has a pretty nice minor league track record and is only 26. He should have no trouble catching on somewhere. Feb. 3 - 2:01 pm et

Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles have placed right-hander Rick VandenHurk on release waivers.
VandenHurk was designated for assignment last week after allowing nine runs -- eight earned -- over nine innings at the major league level in 2011. Assuming he isn't claimed by another team, his release should become official by Friday.
Source: Steve Melewski on Twitter Feb. 2 - 1:18 pm et

The Orioles and Adam Jones have an arbitration hearing scheduled for February 17.
Jones, who is arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter, requested $7.4 million and was offered $5 million by the Orioles when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. There's still quite a bit of time before the scheduled hearing, so it's still possible that the two sides can reach a satisfactory agreement.
Source: Dan Connolly on Twitter Feb. 2 - 1:08 pm et

The Orioles and Brad Bergesen have an arbitration hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
Bergesen, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, requested $1.2 million and was offered $800,000 from the Orioles when salary figures were exchanged last month. Despite the small gap between the two sides, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun believes they'll go to a hearing next week.
Source: Dan Connolly on Twitter Feb. 2 - 12:50 pm et

The Orioles and Jeremy Guthrie have an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday.
Guthrie requested $10.25 million and was offered $7.25 million from the Orioles when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. With such a big gap between the two sides, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun gets the sense that they won't be able to find a middle ground before Monday.
Source: Dan Connolly on Twitter Feb. 2 - 12:45 pm et

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports that Vladimir Guerrero and Johnny Damon are looking for contracts around $5 million.
It's pretty easy to understand why they are still looking for a home. Guerrero, who turns 37 next week, had a career-low .733 OPS with the O's last season while the 38-year-old Damon had a .743 OPS with the Rays. With a number of veteran hitters still available in free agency and spring training rapidly approaching, they'll almost certainly have to lower their demands.
Source: Jayson Stark on Twitter Feb. 2 - 10:20 am et

Orioles signed LHP Casey Fossum to a minor league contract.
Fossum hasn't pitched in the major leagues since the 2009 season and posted a rough 6.56 ERA in 35 2/3 innings last year at the Triple-A level. He'll function as organizational relief depth in 2012 for Baltimore.
Source: Dan Connolly on Twitter Feb. 1 - 10:19 pm et

Orioles signed LHP Seong-Min Kim to a minor league contract.
Kim, who was pitching for the 18 and under South Korea national team, stands at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. The southpaw has a fastball, curveball, change up, and slider in his arsenal. "We are glad to sign a player that our scouts feel is one of the top amateur left-handed pitchers in South Korea," said Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette. "Kim has an excellent curveball and very good control." Kim doesn't turn 18 until late-April, so he's a long way off from helping at the big-league level. Jan. 30 - 5:22 pm et

Orioles signed C Ronny Paulino to a minor league contract.
He also gets a spring training invite. Paulino was non-tendered by the Mets in December after batting .261/.312/.351 with two home runs and 19 RBI over 248 plate appearances last season. He'll provide some competition for Taylor Teagarden for O's the backup catcher job. Jan. 30 - 5:01 pm et