WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - In need of more right-handed bullpen depth to account for Koda Glover's latest shoulder injury, the Nationals have agreed to terms with veteran Joaquín Benoit on a one-year, $1 million contract, according to a source familiar with the deal. The signing hasn't been announced yet, but Benoit was at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches today and already had a locker with his nameplate above it inside the Nationals clubhouse, according to another source. Benoit, 40, has a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - While the Orioles are staying quiet about Chris Tillman today, with no announcement made on their agreement, executive vice president Dan Duquette isn't necessarily done with the pitching market. Duquette will continue to check on available starters despite the Orioles guaranteeing Tillman $3 million with a chance to increase the overall value to $10 million, and Andrew Cashner $16 million with a chance to max out at $41 million. The club would like to insert a left-hander...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Bryce Harper didn't even wait for the question to be asked. He wanted to make this clear before any reporters assembled for his first media session of the spring could press him on it. "Just want to let you guys know I will not be discussing anything relative to 2019, at all," he said. "I'm focused on this year. I'm focused on winning and playing hard, like every single year. So if you guys have any questions about anything after 2018, you can call Scott and he...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles continue to make news on the first day of full-squad workouts by re-signing pitcher Chris Tillman to a one-year major league contract that guarantees him $3 million, according to multiple sources. Tillman was taking his physical at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The deal is heavy in performance bonuses for innings pitched. He can earn an additional $7 million, according to a source. Tillman had a couple of minor league offers on the table, including one from the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - With a left-handed hitting outfielder on their shopping list and the first full-squad workout held later today, the Orioles announced that they've signed veteran Alex Presley to a minor league deal and invited him to camp. The Orioles have 62 players at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Presley is a career .263/.306/.388 hitter in eight major league seasons with the Pirates, Twins, Astros, Brewers and Tigers. He appeared in 71 games with the Tigers last season and batted...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though he's dealing with discomfort similar to the ailment that sidelined him for much of the 2017 season, Koda Glover insists he's not worried about the long-term state of his shoulder. "No," the young reliever said during a brief session this morning with reporters in the Nationals clubhouse. "Do I look worried? I'm not worried. I'll be fine. I'm fine." Glover, who missed the final four months of last season with a rotator cuff injury, reported to camp last...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis walked into the Orioles clubhouse this morning with a thick moustache and a clear head. He's determined to keep one of them. The facial hair can go, along with the Wyatt Earp jokes, but the former home run champ won't allow his confidence to waver again, for distractions to set in, and a slump to bury him and the team. In a lineup filled with players who swing from the heels - tee it high and let it fly - Davis is the aggressive exception. He needs to regain...

For now, he might get lost in the shuffle amid dozens of pitchers in spring training. But after being acquired by the Orioles last July 31, right-hander Yefry Ramírez might have a shot to make the big leagues during the 2018 season. He was 10-3 with a 3.41 ERA for Double-A Trenton when the Orioles acquired him from the New York Yankees for international bonus pool money. He then went 5-0 with an ERA of 3.66 in six starts for Double-A Bowie to end a strong 2017 season. One where he was an...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will conduct their first full-squad workout this afternoon after the remaining players in camp have passed their physicals and are cleared for baseball activities. Utility infielder Éngelb Vielma isn't expected to arrive until perhaps later in the week due to a visa issue in Venezuela. Everyone else should be in camp. How could practically every team in baseball claim Vielma over the last few months and no one applied for a visa? Chris Davis and Craig Gentry...

MLB.com's Richard Justice put out his list of the top 10 most interesting players and storylines to begin spring training. The Angels' Shohei Ohtani and the Orioles' Manny Machado headed this list. I was asked last week during "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN who I would pick as the most interesting player as the Nationals get going in spring training. It would be an obvious choice to pick second baseman Daniel Murphy (microfracture surgery, right knee) or outfielder Adam Eaton...