WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Perhaps the most difficult roster question the Nationals face in the final days of spring training is how to fill in the final vacancies in their bullpen. It doesn't help that more vacancies have opened up during the course of the spring. Koda Glover's recurring shoulder woes and now Joaquin Benoit's forearm strain have created some openings that might not previously have existed. Not that there's an easy answer to this quandary. Let's begin with the bullpen slots...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Because Alex Cobb won't be able to break camp with the Orioles, his signing this week doesn't do much to clear up the pitching picture as opening day approaches. A fifth starter is needed, same as before. It wasn't going to be José Mesa Jr., designated for assignment yesterday, and Hunter Harvey was more of a temptation than a realistic consideration. Does Cobb actually increase the chances of Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. making the club and staying with it? The Orioles...

TAMPA - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will wait until Thursday morning to make his next round of cuts. The roster currently holds 39 players. Miguel Castro's struggles continued tonight with five runs (four earned) and five hits allowed over three innings. He also walked three batters and threw 66 pitches, 38 for strikes, in a 9-4 loss to the Yankees. "I felt well despite the results," Castro said via translator Ramón Alarcón. "I thought I was trying to make good pitches. Some...

For 22-year-old right-hander Cody Sedlock, the 2018 season provides a chance to show he's healthy and a chance to get back to pitching well again. Taken by the Orioles with their top selection - the No. 27 overall pick - in the First-Year Player Draft in 2016, Sedlock had a solid debut that summer. He pitched to an ERA of 3.00 at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. When the Orioles sent him to Single-A Frederick to start last season - bypassing Single-A Delmarva - big things were expected out of...

Nationals prospect Tomas Alastre, a 19-year-old right-hander has been bestowed accolades courtesy of MiLB.com, making its top under-21 prospect list. "He's an interesting kid," said Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart. "Well beyond his years. He's got the feel for three pitches. Tall, lanky, leverage-type pitcher. He throws the fastball, curveball and changeup." The Nationals have been impressed with how quickly Alastre has picked up English as a second language through their...

TAMPA - Alex Cobb worked out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex today and eventually will be throwing at extended spring training and with a minor league affiliate. The Orioles intend to carry 12 pitchers on opening day, including five starters, but Cobb will have to stay back. "Roger (McDowell) and I are going to sit down with him," said manager Buck Showalter. "He had a pretty whirlwind day today. Roger talked to him a little bit. But we're going to sit down with him tomorrow and map out the...

TAMPA - While Alex Cobb was busy getting to know his new Orioles teammates today and mapping out a plan with manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell following an extremely late arrival in camp, he could lock into a familiar face in the row of lockers set up for infielders and outfielders. At the far left end sits third baseman Tim Beckham, who also came to the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays. They were together at Tropicana Field since 2013. No need for introductions. "Oh,...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez might as well have been speaking for every ballplayer (and perhaps a few reporters) when he summed up today's rough outing - eight runs allowed in 4 2/3 innings - in simple terms that can be applied to lots of matters that take place in spring training. "There were more positive results than what we saw out there," the left-hander said. "Don't read into what you see. It's all B.S." It's easy to say that after a bad start, of course. Why would...

TAMPA - Adam Jones only knew about Alex Cobb from the opposite dugout, the batter's box, the usual chatter that exists in pregame and among friends. He politely asked the media today to wait until he met Cobb before commenting on his new teammate. "I've only see him in battle between the lines," Jones said afterward. "We haven't said too many words while we were playing against each other. Nice, firm handshake, solid hug, very manly, very teammate-esque." So far, it's a solid scouting...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb has met his new teammates and the media and fulfilled all of his interview obligations. He's ready to focus on pitching again, whenever he's able to debut for the Orioles after signing his four-year, $57 million contract. Cobb is expected to stay back at extended spring training and report to a minor league affiliate to build up his innings. There's no timetable set for his return to a major league rotation. Here's a sampling of Cobb from his first session with...