WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - I think we can officially say we've reached the home stretch. Following yesterday's off-day, the Nationals now have only four more game days here in Florida before heading north for Monday's final exhibition against the Yankees in D.C. Opening day against the Mets is exactly one week away. So, yes, this is the home stretch of spring training. Which means it's decision time. The Nationals don't have a whole lot of significant decisions still to make, but they do have...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have granted infielder Alcides Escobar his outright release this afternoon, a move coinciding with the opt-out date on the veteran infielder's minor league deal. Escobar, 32, is free to sign with another team and drops out of the competition for a utility infield job in camp. The Orioles reached agreement with Escobar on Feb. 16 and he would have earned $700,000 if placed on the 25-man roster. Appearing in 13 exhibition games, Escobar went 7-for-32 with two doubles...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tony Clark is the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. He heads up the players union and met with the Orioles today at Ed Smith Stadium. After his meeting with the team he took questions from the Baltimore media. He are a few of them and his answers. What is the concern level of so many free agent players signing late or currently unsigned?: "We've got players that see guys at home that can help clubs win ballgames. Guys that have earned their...

The Milwaukee Brewers - thanks in part to former Oriole Wade Miley and former National Gio Gonzalez - won the National League Central last season by a game and then came within a victory of winning their the NL pennant, their first pennant since winning the AL pennant in 1982 and losing to St. Louis in the World Series. Miley and Gonzalez are gone, so the Brewers will bank on young pitchers in the rotation. The biggest addition is Yasmani Grandal, a switch-hitting catcher with power. He played...

The Indians rotation is one of the best in baseball, and because of that, they are the pick to win their fourth consecutive American League Central championship. But unlike other years, the Indians' chances are at their most vulnerable. Their bullpen is weaker and their offense took a hit. They have a no-name outfield, although former Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez signed late a minor league contract with Cleveland. So which team has the best chance to catch them? The Twins are that team....

SARSOTA, Fla. - Lefty reliever Paul Fry is still pitching well for the Orioles. Picking up where he left off last year, he's having a strong spring in Florida. One that should lead him again to a roster spot in the bullpen when this team heads north next week. After going 1-2 with a 3.35 ERA for the Orioles in 35 games last season, Fry has thrown seven scoreless outings for the club in spring games. Over 8 1/3 innings, he's allowed four hits with five walks, four strikeouts, a .148 average...

The Orioles today released additions to the 2019 promotional schedule featuring three more gate giveaway items and a new week-long Theme Night ticket package. On Memorial Day, May 27, the first 20,000 fans 21 and over will receive a set of two Orioles Outdoor Pint Glasses presented by Sam Adams. On June 1, the first 20,000 fans 15 and over will receive a pair of Orioles Retro Sunglasses. On July 21, all fans who attend the game will receive an Exclusive Baseball Card Pack, presented by...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The clubhouse filled up this afternoon with numerous officials from the Major League Baseball Players Association, including former Orioles outfielders Jeffrey Hammonds and Bobby Bonilla, making the Ed Smith Stadium complex their latest stop for the annual round of meetings, which attracted players from minor league camp who are on the 40-man roster and therefore included in the discussions. The hugs were plentiful as Hunter Harvey, Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, DJ Stewart,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini is in left field tonight instead of Drew Jackson for the Orioles' game against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Jackson was supposed to make his debut in left before yesterday's cancellation. Rio Ruiz is still getting the start at third base instead of Renato Núñez. Jesús Sucre is catching Dylan Bundy for the first time this spring. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter and Chris Davis is batting fourth and playing first base. Rule 5 pick Richie Martin is the...

It's been well documented when covering Nationals prospects in 2018 that the outstanding record of right-hander Wil Crowe at high Single-A Potomac was followed with some tough outings after a promotion to Double-A Harrisburg. Crowe, a 6-foot-2, 240-lb. South Carolina product, went 11-0 with the P-Nats and then 0-5 with the Senators. The right-hander told me fatigue set in as his longest season ever wore on and his arm slot started to change, which caused some issues with his mechanics. "It...