SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo is in the lineup on back-to-back days with today's start as the designated hitter against the Twins in Sarasota. Trumbo is batting second again for the Orioles, who also have Chris Davis in the lineup at first base. Trumbo grounded out twice yesterday in his spring debut and his right knee responded favorably. Cedric Mullins leads off and slides over to left field. Austin Hays is in center. Trey Mancini gets the day off. The third base competition continues with...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Don't fall in love with spring training statistics. But when is it wrong to ignore them? Anthony Santander has become a fascinating study in Orioles camp. Given virtually no chance of making the club based on his struggles last summer and prospects moving past him. His inclusion in a round of cuts seemingly a matter of when instead of if. Until he arrived in Sarasota in tremendous shape and starting ripping line drives all over Grapefruit League ballparks. Until he amassed 11...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles selected him in the third round out of Jacksonville University and he might have a real bright future with the club. Yes, we could be talking about outfielder Austin Hays, but also pitcher Michael Baumann. In 2016, the O's selected Hays No. 91 overall out of Jacksonville. A year later, they selected Baumann No. 98 overall from Jacksonville. In his first full season of pro ball last year, Baumann began the year in the Single-A Delmarva rotation, got off to a very...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We are, believe it or not, only two weeks away from opening day. Yes, a mere 14 days from now Max Scherzer will be taking the mound at Nationals Park to face Jacob deGrom and the Mets in the opener not only of a potentially dramatic season but of a potentially dramatic first two weeks to the season. The Nationals play their first 11 games against the Mets and Phillies, two division rivals who made big moves this winter and spring to try to improve, one of those moves of...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Thoughts, observations and quotes from the Nationals' 8-4 victory over the Braves today ... * Though he has been touting the Trea Turner-Adam Eaton 1-2 combo atop his lineup for the last week-plus, Davey Martinez has flip-flopped the duo in each of the last two games they've started. And today offered some evidence of the benefits of that arrangement. Eaton led off the game drawing a walk, then moments later coasted around the bases on Turner's two-run homer to left....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb knew that it was coming. His first career opening day start. He read the pitching chart on the wall and did the math. All of it added up for him. What remained was the official word from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, which arrived this morning accompanied by a combination handshake and hug. "I had some ideas," said Cobb, who takes the mound on March 28 at Yankee Stadium. "I've been to a few spring trainings in my day, so I can map out what the schedule looks like...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The process of trying to get Mark Trumbo ready for opening day accelerated this afternoon with his two at-bats in his spring debut against the Blue Jays. No more cages and simulated games. Trumbo batted for the first time with one out and nobody on base in the bottom of the first inning. He got ahead 3-1 in the count, swung through a Marcus Stroman fastball, stayed alive on a couple of foul tips and bounced to shortstop Richard Ureña. Eight pitches total and a sprint up the...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals had been interested in Tony Sipp all winter, but it took until this morning before they and the veteran left-hander could agree to terms on a contract. Sipp, who in 2016 got a three-year, $18 million contract from the Astros, waited out the market, hoping for a significant contract. In the end, he settled for a one-year deal from the Nationals, with $1 million in guaranteed salary this season and a $2.5 million mutual option (or $250,000 buyout) for 2020,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - One year after reporting late to Orioles camp as his free agency dragged along and suffering through a miserable stretch in the first half, right-hander Alex Cobb has been chosen as the opening day starter March 28 at Yankee Stadium. Manager Brandon Hyde shared the news with Cobb this morning, a conversation that turned emotional for both parties. "He's real excited," Hyde said. "Obviously, it's an honor. He understands that and he's very, very grateful and I'm just...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb returns to the Orioles spring rotation Saturday afternoon with his start against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Cobb hasn't pitched beyond a simulated game since March 5 against the Pirates, when he allowed one run and two hits over three innings. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his debut against the Rays on March 1, charged with four runs and three hits. The birth of Cobb's daughter on Friday night has forced adjustments to his schedule. He worked four innings...