Rafael Palmeiro insists he never used performance-enhancing drugs despite having tested positive for a steroid just weeks after he reached 3,000 hits. Palmeiro told Sports Illustrated on Wednesday that he hopes Hall of Fame voters will forgive his mistake of taking a tainted vitamin injection in 2005 while he was with the Orioles and elect him to the Hall in his first year of eligibility. The four-time All-Star with 569 home runs and 3,020 hits famously wagged his finger at a congressional hearing in 2005 and asserted he never took performance-enhancing drugs.

The Orioles are in talks with free-agent reliever Kevin Gregg, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. "the #orioles, who quietly had a decent winter despite all the rejections by free agents, are in talks with rhp kevin gregg," Heyman wrote on his Twitter page.

The Orioles have moved away from Adam LaRoche and engaged in talks with Derrek Lee to play first base, according to league sources. LaRoche and Baltimore were believed to be close to a deal last week, but talks didn't advance.

The Orioles have shown interest in pitcher Freddy Garcia. "Source confirmed the #Orioles have inquired about White Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia," Jen Royle of MASN wrote on her Twitter page.

The Orioles are close to signing first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to a source. LaRoche hit .261 with 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in for the Diamondbacks in 2010.

The Orioles continue to make signing free agent Adam LaRoche their first priority. LaRoche hit 25 home runs and drove in 100 runs for the Diamondbacks in 2010. Baltimore wants LaRoche to play first base. The Orioles have also spoken to representatives for Derrek Lee.

The Orioles and reliever Kevin Gregg are close to a two-year, $12 million contract, according to a league source. The Red Sox and Nationals are also after Gregg, but Baltimore is the front-runner. Gregg posted 37 saves for the Blue Jays in 2010.

The Orioles have re-signed right-hander Koji Uehara to a one-year, $3 million deal. Uehara has endured two injury-riddled seasons with Baltimore, but he enjoyed success in the second half of the 2010 season. He went 1-2 with 13 saves and a 2.86 ERA and the Orioles are hoping he'll continue to excel in the role.

The Twins still have interest in re-signing Jim Thome, but his other suitors are the same as fellow free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero. "Thome's main suitors are the same as Vladdy's: Rangers, Athletics, Orioles," Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated wrote on his Twitter page.

The Orioles have acquired J.J. Hardy and Brendan Harris from the Twins in exchange for minor league right-handers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. ?We?re looking for a little more offence to our regular shortstop position, and we?re confident he can provide that,? Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. ?We also talked to other shortstop targets.?