SARASOTA, Fla. - Among the most unsettled competitions in Orioles camp is the job of utility infielder, which ideally requires the player also to have outfield skills. Not a deal-breaker, but a sweet bonus. No one within the current group of candidates has seized the opportunity. There are absolutely no indications that the Orioles will head north with Luis Sardiñas or Engleb Vielma and they reassigned Ruben Tejada yesterday to minor league camp. It's nice to have that kind of middle...

Major League Baseball has gone back and forth this offseason on directives that could help to speed up the pace of play. Unable to come an agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association, Minor League Baseball instead will implement a good amount of these regulations starting this season. The biggest change will be an attempt to shorten games that are tied after nine innings. At all levels of Minor League Baseball, extra innings will begin with a runner on base. The runner will be...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Ryan Madson is the type of person who doesn't provide a quick, stock answer to a question. Ask the 37-year-old reliever something and he'll pause before saying anything, consider his thoughts on the subject and then reveal them in a matter-of-fact tone. Which made his answer to the following question - "After a long and productive career spanning 15 seasons, what drives you to keep pitching in the majors?" - more elaborate and more interesting than a reporter might...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reduced the competition for an extra outfielder and utility infielder today by optioning Joey Rickard to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning Ruben Tejada to minor league camp. The moves leave the Orioles with 42 players on the roster. Rickard didn't play today and was 5-for-33 (.152) with 10 strikeouts. He was trying to become part of a right field platoon with Colby Rasmus and back up at the other spots, roles that are still alive for Craig Gentry and Austin...

SARASOTA, Fla. - When the Orioles' minor league spring training games got underway this afternoon at Twin Lakes Park, the Orioles' two Single-A teams had major league pitchers on the mound. Right-hander Mychal Givens was pitching for the team representing Single-A Delmarva and left-hander Richard Bleier for Single-A Frederick. Both got in two innings, but yielded runs to aggressive young hitters from the Minnesota Twins. Givens allowed three hits and one run with one walk and three...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned left-hander Jayson Aquino to minor league camp before today's game against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. The camp roster is down to 44 players, including 21 pitchers. Closer Zach Britton is on the list, but he's also on the 60-day disabled list. Aquino made three appearances this spring and allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in five innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. The Orioles tabbed him as the starter on Saturday after...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't reached the point where the disabled list becomes a consideration for first baseman Chris Davis, but manager Buck Showalter didn't dismiss the possibility. Davis continues to make gradual progress after receiving a cortisone injection Saturday to alleviate the inflammation in his right elbow. "We're not there yet," Showalter said when asked about the DL. "I still have confidence that we can get this behind us and get enough at-bats to be ready. We're...

SARASOTA, Fla. - For Orioles 2016 top draft pick, right-handed pitcher Cody Sedlock, his first full season of pro baseball did not go as planned. He spent two stints on the disabled list, injured for the first time in his life. He also could look at a stat sheet that he may not have liked, also probably for the first time in his life. He went 4-5 with a 5.90 ERA for Single-A Frederick. He missed time due a right elbow flexor strain and a forearm strain. But he is back now, completely healthy...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo returns to the Orioles lineup today as promised now that he's recovered from a sore right quadriceps muscle. And Trey Mancini is batting first in a 1:05 p.m. home game against the Yankees on MASN. Anthony Santander gets another look in left field. The bullpen behind starter Miguel Castro includes Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr., Darren O'Day and Joely Rodriguez. For the Orioles Trey Mancini 1B Jonathan Schoop 2B Manny Machado SS Adam Jones CF Colby Rasmus RF Mark...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Maybe it was the fact they were playing under the lights for the first time this spring. Maybe it was the fact he was stretched out to five innings for the first time. Or maybe it was simply the fact he's Max Scherzer. Whatever the case, the Nationals ace seemed to be even more amped up than usual for tonight's start against the Mets, one in which he posted five zeros, allowed one hit, struck out nine and strutted around the mound more than once. Scherzer may not be...