Orioles News, Notes, and Links

• The O's made a very smart move over the weekend, and re-signed veteran SS Cesar Izturis to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract, plus incentives. This gives them a solid, defense-oriented backup middle infielder, which they needed as they don't have a lot of organization depth at those positions. The other infield backup will probably be either Robert Andino (26) or the recently-acquired Brendan Harris (30).
• The Nationals feel like they're still in the running to sign RHP Carl Pavano, and would rather do that than trade for either Matt Garza or Zack Grienke, since those moves would "...almost certainly require giving up shortstop Ian Desmond and probably Jordan Zimmermann."
• The Nats are also looking at Derrek Lee to help fill the void at 1B left by Adam Dunn. Supposedly, the O's are still interested, too. (TELL US SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW, BUDDY).
• This article on MLB.com talks about the power struggle in the AL East, and how the Yanks, O's, Rays, and Blue Jays are all trying hard to counter the Red Sox recent acqusitions.
• The same article points out that the Rays have had a pretty deflating offseason, already losing an All-Star OF in Carl Crawford (BoSox), their starting 1B in Carlos Pena (Cubs), and their setup man, Joaquin Benoit (Tigers). Closer Rafael Soriano is also a free-agent, and unlikely to re-sign with the team.
• KFFL has a nice JJ Hardy health update, with quotes from the man himself:

"Last season was pretty good other than the fact I had a little fluke injury that kind of nagged me the whole year. My left wrist was diagnosed with a bone bruise and basically it never went away. It just kind of bothered me. Right now it feels fine. I haven't picked up a bat since the end of the season, so I don't know how that will feel, but I don't feel like it's going to bother me. I feel like it just needed a little bit of rest that I didn't get last season."

• In the midst of the Cliff Lee schmoozing currently being affected by the Rangers and Yankees in the form of a potential seven-year deal, MLB writer Tom Singer warns all parties that this sort of thing doesn't typically pan out well for anyone.
• Per Jeff Zriebec at the Baltimore Sun, Brian Roberts is feeling good, and extremely excited for 2011.

"I’m as excited as I’ve ever been coming off a year where I didn’t get to go on the field a lot and do what I love to do... To go through those struggles, that was one of the hardest years of my life baseball wise. Every chance I get to go the gym and continue to progress, I’m excited as I’ve ever been. I’m looking forward to 2011, that for sure."

• Yankee outfielder Nick Swisher got married to actress Joanna Garcia on Saturday.
• Foxsports' Ken Rosenthal thinks that the acqusition of any one of Derrek Lee, Jorge Cantu, Adam LaRoche, or Jim Thome could help the Orioles in 2011.