WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's been a busy morning already around here, with the Nationals having just signed veteran lefty Tony Sipp to a one-year contract and having apparently made some cuts from big league camp as well. (Saw at least four guys cleaning out their lockers earlier, but nothing has been officially announced yet.) There's also a game to be played this afternoon, with the Braves making the long trek down the turnpike to face their division rivals. Kevin Gausman is today's...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are bringing in an experienced left-handed reliever after all. The Nats have agreed to terms with veteran Tony Sipp on a one-year contract with an option for 2020, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. Sipp, 35, will need to pass a physical before the contract is official, but he's expected to report to spring training within the next few days. Sipp fills an obvious need for the Nationals, though one club officials had been downplaying in significance...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Eventually, it happens to all pitchers. They give up a big hit that contributes to a loss and have to bounce back in their next outing. Last Thursday in Bradenton, Orioles right-hander Branden Kline allowed a walk-off, solo homer to Cole Tucker on a 2-0 pitch as the Orioles lost to the Pirates 5-4. It came on the third pitch of his outing. It was over fast. Kline had to wait three days to get back in a game, but that happened Sunday, when he threw a scoreless inning against...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo makes his spring debut this afternoon by serving as the designated hitter for the Orioles in their 1:05 p.m. game against the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium. Trumbo is batting second behind leadoff hitter Jonathan Villar. Drew Jackson is starting in center field. Trey Mancini is the first baseman, with Chris Davis out of the lineup following last night's return. Jesús Sucre is catching. Pitchers available behind starter Andrew Cashner include Yefry Ramirez, Cody...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's the simplest pitch in baseball. A first-pitch fastball, preferably taken for strike one. But it's also the most predictable pitch in baseball. And it has burned Stephen Strasburg enough times over the years to convince him to start trying something different. So during his Tuesday night outing against the Astros, Strasburg often eschewed that first-pitch fastball and instead opened up at-bats with a breaking ball or a changeup. "I've always had a lot of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - He's played in 479 major league games with over 1,500 career plate appearances for four teams, but 28-year-old Jace Peterson finds himself in familiar territory as this spring training is winding down. He's trying to make a team. After batting .195/.308/.325 in 235 plate appearances for the 2018 Orioles, the versatile Peterson is in a real battle - maybe an uphill battle - to make this team. But he said he can only control what he can and he's enjoying every minute under the...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Carter Kieboom stepped to the plate in the bottom of the second tonight, dug in and stared out at a pitcher who needed no introduction. Yes, that was Justin Verlander, future Hall of Famer, preparing to deliver a pitch to Kieboom, potential future infielder for the Nationals. The gap in experience was striking: When Verlander made his first career World Series start for the 2006 Tigers, Kieboom had just turned 9. "I think I'd be lying if I said I didn't know who was...

TAMPA - The Orioles built an early four-run lead tonight, but right-hander Mychal Givens struggled again as the New York Yankees rallied against him in the last of the eighth for an 8-7 win. The Orioles fell to 9-8-2 in front of 9,743 at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Givens, who had allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings in his first three outings, entered with a lead of 7-5. But he allowed a leadoff homer to Kyle Higashioka and he went on to just get one out as two runs scored to tie the game...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Whatever stigma is attached to the designation of utility infielder can evaporate like a puddle in the Florida sun. Want to be a major league player? Accept any role handed to you. Are you a Rule 5 pick who wants to avoid going back to the minors? Embrace any role handed to you. Squeeze it like a popup - camping under it from whichever position you're assigned on a given day. Drew Jackson has an excellent chance of being introduced on opening day at Yankee Stadium because of...

TAMPA - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis returned to the lineup tonight here versus the Yankees and went 1-for-2 with an RBI single. It was his first game action since March 3, as he's been out with a sore left hip. Davis began this game 1-for-12 with a homer and seven strikeouts in spring games. In the O's first, batting as the designated hitter versus right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, he took three straight strikes. But an inning later, with the Orioles rallying for five runs, he lined a...