Would you believe we've reached the final countdown to spring training? That's right, pitchers and catchers are holding their first official workout in West Palm Beach, Fla., in four days. So it's time to count down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with perhaps the club's greatest need for improvement: defense ... Why did the Nationals struggle so much in 2020? It's easy to point the finger at a starting rotation that didn't come close to living up to its...

All you have to do is remember that catcher Jake Fox once looked like an All-Star during spring training. Some fans were clamoring for him to play over Matt Wieters. Yep, that did happen. Every year, we see players crush the ball in spring training but struggle when the season starts. And the reverse is often true. Every year, we wonder how much stock, if any, to put into spring training stats. It's all we have throughout February and March. I've always felt we certainly can't just dismiss...

Less than 24 hours after Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias told the media that he wanted to sign another veteran starting pitcher, the club has reached agreement with right-hander Matt Harvey on a minor league contract. A source confirmed the agreement with Harvey, 31, the seventh-overall pick of the Mets in the 2010 draft out of the University of North Carolina. The deal is pending the completion of a physical. Harvey, joining his fourth team since 2018, provides more...

Here in the real world, it's still winter. Short days, cold nights, walking with eyes peeled for any stray patches of ice. But in the Sunshine State, baseball is back and hope springs eternal. Pitchers and catchers have made their way to West Palm Beach, and the Nationals will soon be playing exhibition games and getting ready for both the parent club and its minor league affiliates to begin their seasons. We're not quite there yet, so for a few more Thursdays we'll continue in this space to...

Would you believe we've reached the final countdown to spring training? That's right, pitchers and catchers are holding their first official workout in West Palm Beach, Fla., in five days. So it's time to count down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We begin today with a familiar battle for the No. 5 starter's job ... So much about this spring will be different for the Nationals, from the new faces in uniform to the new protocols in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But...

Among a few adjustments Orioles fans have to get used to with minor league baseball in 2021 is seeing Aberdeen play as their high Single-A full-season affiliate and no longer as a short-season club. As of yesterday we also have to get used to new and very generic league names for these farm clubs. In many cases their league will be similar to where they have been in terms of the teams they will play, but no longer will those clubs play in the International, Eastern, Carolina or South Atlantic...

Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias revealed this afternoon why outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the second overall pick in the 2020 draft, was withheld from the alternate camp site and fall instructional league. Kjerstad didn't participate in any activities after having "an episode of myocarditis," which is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The Orioles included Kjerstad, who turned 22 today, on their list of camp reserves. "He's doing really well," Elias said on his...

The Orioles today announced that they have invited 10 non-roster players to Major League Spring Training in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes two left-handed pitchers, four right-handed pitchers, three catchers, and one infielder. Additionally, the Orioles have invited 22 players to Spring Training as camp reserves. A complete list of both the Orioles' non-roster invitees and camp reserves for 2021 Spring Training is below: Non-roster invitees:Pitchers (6):LHP Fernando AbadRHP Marcos...

The Orioles are opening spring training next week with 10 non-roster invites and 22 players designated as "camp reserves." The restructuring is done in order to more easily execute the proper social distancing during the pandemic. Players will be filtered into the Ed Smith Stadium complex in the same manner as the summer training camp in Bowie. The non-roster invites consist of six pitchers, three catchers and one super-utility player. Pitchers LHP Fernando Abad RHP Marcos Diplán RHP...

The Nationals unveiled a revised spring training schedule today, and though it doesn't feature many changes, it is missing something notable from every previous spring: long road trips. In an attempt to reduce travel and the number of opponents faced to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Nationals will only face the four clubs that train within a 45-minute drive of West Palm Beach, Fla. They'll continue to face the Astros at their shared complex, plus the Marlins and Cardinals in...