SARASOTA, Fla. - At 35, left-hander Wade LeBlanc is the oldest player in Orioles camp. But just like some pitchers much younger, he is simply just trying to make the team. There is a track record and resume there. One that saw him pitch to an ERA of 3.91 over a three-year run from 2016 through 2018. But in 26 games last season with Seattle, he went 6-7 with a 5.71 ERA. He's pitched well in his first two spring games as he tries to win a rotation spot. Over five innings, he has allowed two hits...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's much-needed and celebrated break in the exhibition schedule should have provided a little more clarity to the 26-man roster for opening day. It doesn't always work out that way. Trey Mancini could begin the season on the injured list, which creates an unexpected vacancy in right field. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't want to talk about possible alternatives yesterday while meeting with the media. He doesn't know and he doesn't want to be disrespectful to Mancini,...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Circumstances may have left Erick Fedde in a tough spot to force his way onto the Nationals' opening day pitching staff, but the right-hander is nonetheless going to do whatever he can to make a positive impression as long as he remains in the running this spring. Outings like the one he authored today can only help. Fedde was sharp through three innings against a Tigers lineup featuring plenty of regulars before fading as his pitch count got too high in the fourth,...

SARASOTA, Fla - The Orioles are bringing a relief candidate into camp and filling a vacancy on their 40-man roster. Right-hander Hector Velázquez was claimed off waivers today from the Red Sox to increase the camp roster to 55 players and the 40-man to 39. Velázquez, 31, was designated for assignment on Thursday. He's gone 11-7 with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.428 WHIP in 89 games (19 starts) over the past three seasons. The Orioles like the length that Velázquez can provide and view him more...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals made their first round of cuts of the spring this morning, demoting seven players to the minors, including catching prospect Raudy Read. Read, the only player cut today who is on the 40-man roster, was optioned to Triple-A Fresno. The six others who were cut, all non-roster players, were reassigned to minor league camp: right-handers Jhonatan German, Derek Self and Paulo Espino, catcher Jakson Reetz, infielder Drew Ward and outfielder Mac...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The job of a major league manager can expand in unexpected and unfortunate ways. Brandon Hyde, in his second season with the Orioles, is learning about it with Trey Mancini away from the team and facing a non-baseball surgical procedure later this week. Hyde is trying to comfort players and also keep them focused on the task at hand. The business side of spring training. "When you're in this role, you never know what's going to happen, what's going to come to your desk on a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing their 17th exhibition game later this afternoon, forced to remain focused on preparing for the 2020 season and the various competitions that will determine how the 26-man roster is constructed. They understand the business side of baseball, but their concerns for a teammate and friend keep tugging hard at their emotions. Trey Mancini isn't in the lineup again today and no longer is at the facility. He's left the team to undergo a non-baseball medical...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If you needed more evidence that Victor Robles and Eric Thames emerged from Saturday's return from injury feeling strong, here it is: Both are back in the lineup today against the Tigers. Robles will again lead off and serve as designated hitter. Thames, who was the DH in Saturday's home split-squad game, will bat second and play first base. All of this is a good sign that both guys are fully healed and ready for the two-week push to get ready for opening day. Robles...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kohl Stewart finally makes his spring debut this afternoon against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium, a sore right biceps muscle no longer limiting his workload. Stewart is trying to stay in the rotation race. He's got some catching up to do. Yusniel Diaz is playing right field today with Trey Mancini away from the team. Anthony Santander is the designated hitter, but will make his outfield debut on Tuesday. Richie Martin is playing second base again, with José Iglesias...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Davey Martinez had to decide which of Saturday's split-squad games to attend in person. He could stay at home and watch Joe Ross and a few Nationals regulars face the Marlins, or he could go to Port St. Lucie and watch Austin Voth and his entire projected starting infield face the Mets. Martinez chose to stay here, in large part because he wanted to watch Ross' third start of the spring firsthand. If you needed another tea leaf to read about the Nationals' intentions...