Orioles News, Notes, and Links

• Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that the Orioles are definitely not the team that offered LHP Cliff Lee a 7-year deal. I'm actually pretty glad of that, as a 7 year deal for a guy that turns 33 this year is probably a long-term loser.
• Jerry Crasnick of ESPN and Baseball America says that the Orioles will definitely be interested in free-agent 1B Derrek Lee, "..if the medicals check out..".
• Paul Konerko resigned with Chicago; a 3-year deal worth a total of $37.5 million.
• Luke Scott is an extremely decent, extremely right-wing, extremely quotable guy who obviously ate a dozen too many crazy sandwiches this week. You can't make this stuff up... a must read.
• The Chicago Cubs decided that they couldn't let their frequent-trading-partner, the Baltimore Orioles, suck up all the guys who hit under .200 with more than 150 Ks. So they went out and signed Carlos Pena to a 1-year, $10 million deal. They're probably hoping to deal him to Baltimore.
• According to SB Nation, the Orioles are showing interest in Kenshin Kawakami, a 35 year-old junk-balling RHP for the Braves. Originally from Japan, Kawakami was 1-10 with a 5.15 ERA last year. 
• According to Jon Heyman @ SI, DH's Jim Thome and Vlad Guerrero have both been approached by the Orioles.
• And given all the free-agent movement at first base over the last few days, the Orioles are now talking to the agent for Adam LaRoche (brother of Andy and son of Dave), who's also being courted by the Nationals and other teams.