WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - On the heels of a 29-save season, an All-Star appearance and some high-profile outings in the Nationals bullpen from August through October, Brandon Kintzler figured he'd have plenty of suitors this winter, not to mention a contract commensurate with those signed by many other prominent relievers. In the end, perhaps suffering from advanced metrics that don't love him as much as relievers who strike out more batters, Kintzler settled for a deal to return to the Nats...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielders Austin Hays and Jaycob Brugman are the latest Orioles to report early to spring training. The first full-squad workout is Monday. Players are taking their physicals before heading out to the field around noon. Darren O'Day will be shaving off his beard. Zach Britton was sitting at his locker as the media ventured inside the clubhouse, joking that it was unintentional and he couldn't run away from us. He could have walked, however, as his recovery continues from...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's been a long, slow four months since Game 5 of the National League Division Series, and it only felt longer and slower because of the lack of baseball news - not only in Washington, but across the sport - during the strangest offseason in recent memory. But the long wait is over, and it's OK to smile just a bit this morning. Because Nationals pitchers and catchers officially are reporting for spring training. (Pause here for applause.) As always, reporting day is...

When the Orioles get their full squad into spring training camp, we will begin to find out if rookie Austin Hays is going to begin the 2018 season as the club's everyday right fielder, wind up in a reserve role or head back to the farm for more minor league seasoning. Door No. 3 - more seasoning in the minors - is not necessarily the worst thing for a kid of just 22 and with only 64 games at the Double-A level under his belt. But Hays has come on fast and was the first player from the 2016...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard can be added to the list of position players who reported early to camp, joining a group that includes Adam Jones, Tim Beckham, Anthony Santander and Trey Mancini. Rickard is competing for a spot as an extra outfielder, whether he's platooning in right field with an unidentified left-handed hitter or serving as a backup. His primary competition comes from Craig Gentry and Austin Hays. Improved play in the field has enhanced Rickard's chances,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will be counted among the teams attending Tim Lincecum's showcase later this week. The two-time Cy Young Award winner will throw Thursday at Driveline Baseball's facility outside Seattle, allowing him to dive into a flooded free agent market. Executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated earlier today that the Orioles are more likely to sign a couple of veteran pitchers than consummate a trade, though both avenues remain open. The rotation still has three...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have both of their starting pitchers under contract for 2018 after Kevin Gausman reached agreement today on a $5.6 million deal to avoid Wednesday's arbitration hearing in Arizona. Gausman and Dylan Bundy will be joined by three other starters. The Orioles aren't going to experiment with a two-man rotation this summer. The issue is reaching agreements with free agents or with executives in trade talks. Interest remains in bringing back Chris Tillman, who's...

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with the following 17 players on Minor League contracts with invitations to 2018 Major League Spring Training: right-handers Brady Dragmire, David Goforth, Edwin Jackson, Jaron Long, Roman Mendez, Chris Smith and Cesar Vargas; left-handers Tim Collins, Ismael Gullion, Bryan Harper and Tommy Milone; catchers Miguel Montero and Jhonatan Solano; infielders Reid Brignac and Chris Dominguez; and outfielders Ryan Raburn and Moises Sierra. Additionally,...

Sixty-one players in total will report for spring training this week, 21 of them non-roster invitees including several with significant major league experience and several prospects from within their own organization, the Nationals announced today. With pitchers and catchers officially set to report Wednesday, the Nationals finally revealed the full spring roster, which still could expand given the plethora of prominent free agents who have yet to sign. For now, camp will feature a full 40-man...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Center fielder Adam Jones, infielder Tim Beckham and outfielder Anthony Santander are counted among the position players who reported early to camp. Only pitchers and catchers are required to show up today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The first full-squad workout is Monday morning. Beckham has inherited J.J. Hardy's old locker at the end of a row. They no longer play the same position. The rest of the roll call, as observed by media allowed inside the clubhouse from 8-9...