--RF Nick Markakis and the Orioles finalized a six-year, $66.1 million deal, avoiding arbitration. The deal runs through his entire arbitration-eligible period as well as the first three years that he would have been eligible for free agency.
The team also settled with arbitration-eligible OF Luke Scott on a one-year, $2.4 million deal. --RHP Chris Ray, who is attempting to bounce back from Tommy John surgery in August 2007, avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $850,000 deal. He missed all of the 2008 season.
--INF Oscar Salazar was designated for assignment by the Orioles to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed C Gregg Zaun.
--CF Felix Pie finally ran out of chances with the Cubs, but the Orioles are ready to give him another shot at regular playing time.
Baltimore acquired the 23-year-old from Chicago in exchange for RHP Garrett Olson and minor league RHP Henry Williamson.
Pie, who started in center for the Cubs on Opening Day in 2008, is out of minor league options, and Chicago has Kosuke Fukudome, Reed Johnson and Joey Gathright all capable of playing center. Pie hit .241 in 43 games last season, leaving his two-season big-league average at .223.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Pie could platoon in left with Ryan Freel, and he also could see action in center and right.
Olson, 25, has made 33 starts for Baltimore the last two years, going 10-13 with a 6.87 ERA. He figures to be a candidate for Chicago's rotation.
Williamson, 23, has never played above the high Class A level.
--RHP David Pauley, designated for assignment by the Red Sox last week, was acquired by the Orioles in exchange for RHP Randor Bierd. Pauley made six appearances (two starts) for Boston last year, going 0-1 with an 11.68 ERA. Bierd pitched in 29 games for Baltimore last year, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA, and he was outrighted to the minors after the season.
--OF Justin Christian, INF/OF Jolbert Cabrera, 1B Craig Brazell, RHP Scott Chiasson, RHP Ross Wolf and LHP Alberto Castillo received non-roster invitations to the Orioles' spring camp.
--C Gregg Zaun signed a one-year contract, with a club option for 2010, to keep the position warm for top prospect Matt Wieters. The switch-hitting Zaun will likely be the Orioles' starter until midseason, when Wieters is expected to be recalled.
--RHP Danys Baez will get an opportunity to start in spring training, Orioles president Andy MacPhail said recently. The former closer had experience as a starter when he was with the Cleveland Indians, though he is coming back from Tommy John surgery.
--RHP Chris Tillman was among 23 non-roster invites to spring training, a reward for going 11-4 with a 3.18 ERA at Class-A in his first season with the organization. Tillman, 20, will not make the Opening Day roster, however. The club plans to take its time with the talented hurler, who was obtained in a trade with Seattle last February.
--1B Brandon Snyder was invited to spring training after a solid season with Class A Frederick. Snyder, 22, is a former first-round draft pick and catcher who recovered from shoulder surgery to bat .315 with 13 home runs and 80 RBI. He's like to begin 2009 at Class AA Bowie.
BY THE NUMBERS: 23 -- Non-roster spring training invites by the Orioles, including four pitchers with prior major league experience.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I believe that everybody knows Cal Ripken Jr. played for the Baltimore Orioles. I think that's about it." -- RHP Koji Uehara, through an interpreter, on the name recognition of the Orioles in Japan.
