PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - During these dog days of spring training, when the bus rides feel longer than usual and opening day is still just too far away to get excited about, some extra motivation is sometimes needed. So Davey Martinez made a promise to the young players who made the long trip to Fort Myers on Thursday: score 10 or more runs, and everybody would get to eat Popeyes on the ride home. They proceeded to defeat the Twins 10-4, so the bus smelled like chicken and biscuits for the next 2...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Struggling in spring training is a new development for Orioles right-handed reliever Mychal Givens. This spring, over four outings, he's allowed nine hits, nine runs and three homers in just 2 2/3 innings. In four spring trainings combined between 2015 and 2018, he gave up four earned runs over 26 innings. Now he's allowed nine earned runs. When Givens pitched in a simulated game yesterday in Sarasota - and not against Minnesota as the schedule originally listed - it was not...

Baseball in 2020 will be finally getting rid of the most confusing rule in the game: the waiver rule that allows teams to make trades - even after the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. What good is a July 31 trade deadline if teams can use a convoluted rule to make trades anyway? In 2019, the old system will stay in place. Teams can make any trades they see fit before the July 31 trade deadline. This season will be the final August that a team can trade a player after he clears waivers. It's...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - This morning's MRI of Michael A. Taylor's left leg revealed both a sprained knee and hip, and the Nationals outfielder is going to miss a "significant" amount of time while recovering, according to manager Davey Martinez. "It stinks," Martinez said following the Nats' 11-3 exhibition victory over the Mets. "It's a little bit more than we were hoping for. But he's going to rehab, and as soon as we get him back, we get him back." Taylor injured himself making a...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles right-hander David Hess began his outing today with a spring ERA of 3.48, a batting average against of .237 and with a WHIP of 1.06 through four spring games. But he leaves with an ERA of 9.00 as Minnesota beat the Orioles 12-9 at Hammond Stadium. The Orioles have lost five of six, two in the last two days to the Twins, and are 10-10-2. Minnesota improved to 12-9-2. Hess elevated some pitches and paid for it, allowing four homers among nine hits and nine runs over 2...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Shortstop Luis Garcia has done a nice job in 15 games with the Nationals this spring training, slashing .316/.381/.316 with six hits, seven runs scored and two RBIs. Garcia, 18, is currently listed as the No. 3 rated prospect in the Nats system, according to MLB Pipeline. Director of player development Mark Scialabba said his hitting skills have been apparent since the Nats signed the youngster in July 2016. He said it's only a matter of time before Garcia adds power to...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Tony Sipp arrived at Nationals camp Thursday and immediately threw his first bullpen session with the club that signed him to a $1 million contract the previous day. He hasn't faced any live hitters yet, obviously hasn't appeared in any spring training games and certainly hasn't appeared in back-to-back games, all hurdles he'll need to cross before joining the Nats' active roster. So the pertinent question this morning when Sipp met with reporters in West Palm Beach...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Richie Martin didn't figure to keep his average above .400 for an entire spring training. He was bound to cool off, baseball's odds catching up to the kid. Martin is handling his mini-slump or whatever it should be termed with the same poise and maturity that's gotten him this far. No hits in his last four games brings fewer worries, if that's possible. Don't overthink it. Martin isn't. "That's just how baseball goes," he said yesterday morning while relaxing at his...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - For the fifth time this spring training the Orioles have taken the interstate south to Fort Myers. They've faced Boston and Minnesota twice each in the area and are back today to face Minnesota with David Hess on the mound. The Orioles are playing the Twins for the fifth time among seven matchups this spring. They are 2-2 versus the Twins after Thursday's 7-6 loss in Sarasota. The Orioles have lost four of five and are now 10-9-2 with 12 games remaining in Florida before...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Michael A. Taylor is getting an MRI on both his left knee and left hip today, leaving the Nationals to potentially cope with a thin outfield following Thursday's injury on a diving catch in Fort Myers. Taylor hurt himself diving to snag a Byron Buxton drive to right-center during the Nationals' 10-4 exhibition victory over the Twins, revealing today the turf was "a little soft and my knee stuck in the ground." Taylor was still limping in the clubhouse this morning as...