WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Jeremy Hellickson knew he pitched well for the Nationals last season. He knew he was sick of bouncing around from team to team every year. He knew the Nats wanted another accomplished starter for the back of their rotation. Hellickson's return to Washington made all the sense in the world. But he, like so many other free agents during this winter of discontent, had to sit at home and wait for the call. "I really wasn't expecting this offseason to be like last, but it...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Pedro Araujo has new eyes casting their gaze upon him in camp. This could be a good thing. This could be a bad thing. Starting with the good, Araujo couldn't handle the jump last summer from the Single-A Carolina League to the majors as a Rule 5 pick. He was overmatched and underwhelming, with the club stashing him on the disabled list on June 11. Whatever bad impression he left - and really, no one should have expected a seamless transition - mostly has...

After a 42-year broadcasting career and 19 seasons in the Orioles radio booth, Joe Angel announced his retirement last night. He appeared on the "Orioles Hot Stove" radio show on flagship station 105.7 FM The Fan. He had a quite a career broadcasting Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Florida Marlins in addition to the Orioles. He was at the mic for seven no-hitters and 44 postseason games, including the Marlins'...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Max Scherzer had been through this before, four winters ago, and though his free agency saga still ended with a huge contract from a franchise he embraces, he also knew the process took longer and included more frustrating developments than he believed it should have included. So when the subject of Bryce Harper's ongoing slog through free agency comes up, Scherzer has no trouble speaking both passionately and intelligently about the situation. And what does he have to...

The Orioles today announced that seven Spring Training games will be broadcast on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), 13 games will be available on the Orioles Radio Network and flagship station 105.7 The Fan, and 16 of the remaining 17 games will be carried live via audio-only streaming exclusively on Orioles.com and MLB At Bat. MASNsports.com reporter Steve Melewski will serve as play-by-play broadcaster for the 16-game digital streaming schedule on Orioles.com and MLB At Bat. He will be...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals most definitely did not report for spring training last year with a fully healthy roster. Adam Eaton and Daniel Murphy were still rehabbing from major knee surgeries. Joe Ross had only recently resumed throwing after Tommy John surgery. Koda Glover had to be shut down with shoulder soreness. The team that reports to camp this spring appears to be in much better physical shape. All 15 pitchers slated to throw in this morning's position groups did so without...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play their first spring training game on Feb. 23 in Sarasota and MASN is providing full coverage as part of its exhibition schedule. Seven games will air on the network, beginning with the opener against the Twins at 1 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium. Six more home games follow on MASN: March 3 against the Detroit Tigers at 3 p.m.; March 8 against the Red Sox at 1 p.m.; March 9 against the Yankees at 6 p.m.; March 14 against the Twins at 1 p.m.; March 17 against the...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The first workout of the spring featured an extended "Circle of Trust," some serious talk, some laughter, a moment of silence, a bunch of bullpen sessions, and plenty of grunts and curse words out of Max Scherzer. Suffice it to say, the Nationals ran through the full gamut during the nearly two-hour session outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, and there was an extra bounce in their steps. "I got here a little early because I was ready, biting at the bit,"...

SARASOTA, Fla. - In his first spring training as a major league manager, Brandon Hyde is bringing some of his previous tactics while running camps to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. Music blared as the Orioles came onto the field for early stretching and warm-ups, the play list including two Pearl Jam songs, and the tunes switched to country later in the morning. The row of mounds on one of the back field areas has been expanded from four to six, allowing for more simultaneous...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dean Kremer, the Orioles right-hander who led the minors in strikeouts last summer, is unable to work out in camp due to a strained left oblique. Kremer sustained the injury two weeks ago while working out at home and expects to be out for two more weeks. "I've got a slow recovery coming back, but I should be back in a couple of weeks," said Kremer, 23, who was obtained from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade. "I'm obviously not happy that it happened, but happy that...