WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - One of the few legitimate roster decisions the Nationals need to make this spring is behind the plate, where Matt Wieters returns as the No. 1 catcher but the backup position is up for grabs. As much conjecture as there was over the winter about the Nationals pursuing an upgrade - J.T. Realmuto? Alex Avila? Jonathan Lucroy? - general manger Mike Rizzo continues to stand behind Wieters, who he believes is primed for a bounceback season. The backup job? That's up for...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reassigned infielders Erick Salcedo and Garabez Rosa to minor league camp following yesterday's game in Clearwater. Salcedo was competing for a spot as the utility infielder. He impressed at second base and shortstop and also went 4-for-8 with a double. Rosa, who was 3-for-16 with a double and home run, played first base and is expected to remain at the position in the minors. "Salcedo can catch the ball," said manager Buck Showalter. "Very intelligent, a smart...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's a split-squad day for the Nationals, with one group staying back here in West Palm Beach to face the Tigers and another group heading north to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets. Between the two games, nearly everybody of consequence on the roster is playing somewhere today, and there even will be some prospects from minor league camp coming off the bench (including outfielder Juan Soto here at the home game). Gio Gonzalez starts against a Tigers lineup that includes...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman wanted feedback from his teammates following yesterday's simulated game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Give him the good and the bad and don't hold back. Mincing words serves no purpose as he eases back into competition. Tillman threw 42 pitches in two innings and drew positive reviews. Most important, they were honest reviews. "I thought he had a nice mix to his pitches," said Mark Trumbo. "Thought his changeup looked real nice. He dropped some really...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Danny Valencia is serving as the designated hitter for the Orioles' 1:05 p.m. game today against the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. He's wearing No. 47. Tim Beckham is leading off. Mark Trumbo is the first baseman with Chris Davis unavailable due to soreness in his right elbow/forearm. Davis just arrived at the complex. His MRI yesterday came back clean, according to manager Buck Showalter. Other pitchers listed behind starter Gabriel Ynoa include Darren O'Day, Brad Brach,...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Trea Turner knows the primary criticism with his approach at the plate. And he doesn't entirely disagree, even if he adds a qualifier to the sentiment. "I think a lot of people made a big deal out of me not walking the last couple years, I guess rightfully so," the Nationals shortstop said. "But I feel like if they give me pitches to hit, I should put them in play. And if they don't, I need to walk." Turner is an aggressive hitter, always has been and always will...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Don't expect Danny Valencia to be the last player plucked by the Orioles from the free agent market. Their enthusiasm is gaining momentum as they sort through the bin. They're up to their armpits in it. Players who weren't a consideration or didn't fill an identified need early in camp have become more appealing. Pedro Álvarez isn't a plus defender and the Orioles already have Mark Trumbo as their designated hitter, but he fell to them at a modest price. Valencia isn't...

The last week of stories in this space featured a look back at a pretty great trade for the Orioles, a look at a prediction for the opening day 25-man roster and a look at improved outfield depth on the farm. I really enjoyed writing this blog entry on Monday. In an interview with long-time Orioles scout Jim Howard, we got some insight into the 2008 trade of left-hander Erik Bedard to Seattle. It brought five players to Baltimore, including current O's outfielder Adam Jones and pitcher Chris...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The day began with Stephen Strasburg on the mound for the first time against an opponent this spring. And Strasburg's outing - two innings of one-run ball, plus another 20 pitches in the bullpen afterward - was important, in that he needed to make his first start of the spring at some point and begin the process of ramping up before the season begins. These days, though, there's not that much new for Strasburg to do in spring training. After several years of tinkering,...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The MRI on Chris Davis' right elbow/forearm today didn't reveal any structural damage, according to manager Buck Showalter, and the first baseman is projected to be out only three to five days. Concerns about Davis were raised throughout the organization when the discomfort increased and it appeared that the issue may not have been muscular. "Anytime you've got something that's not healing and what they think, you worry about if there's something structurally in there,...