Nationals manager Dusty Baker and he and his staff's biggest roster decisions before opening day involve who they will keep in the bullpen. Baker said before Friday's exhibition game versus the Twins that the Nats will decide on which relievers they will keep at the conclusion of tonight's contest. "We're going to notify the guys after the game," Baker said. "We would've done it before, but (GM) Mike (Rizzo) is suffering with kind of a bad back. He had to go see the doctor. So we'll do...

The Orioles today announced that right-hander Miguel Gonzalez has cleared waivers and has been given his unconditional release. With this move, the Orioles now have 37 players at major league spring training, including six non-roster invitees. Gonzalez, 31, went 9-12 with a 4.91 ERA (79 earned runs in 144 2/3 innings) in 26 starts for the Orioles in 2015. In his career with the Orioles, he went 39-33 with a 3.82 ERA (246 earned runs /580 1/3 innings) in 101 games (95 starts).

The Orioles officially have parted ways with former starter Miguel Gonzalez. Gonzalez, 31, cleared waivers this afternoon and was given his unconditional release. He becomes a free agent and may sign with any team. Gonzalez was due to make $5.1 million this year after avoiding an arbitration hearing, but the Orioles placed him on release waivers Wednesday before he could embark on his fifth season with the club. Players released by opening day receive 45 days of pay. Projected as a fourth or...

The Nationals are stretching in right field, Dusty Baker is about to address the media and fans are already lining up at the center field gates at Nationals Park. Who cares if it's a meaningless exhibition game? It's baseball and that's what counts. We'll have to see if the weather gods will cooperate to allow the first of two exhibition scraps against the Minnesota Twins to be played tonight. Earlier in the week, it was supposed to rain most of today; the current forecast for tonight's...

Manager: Paul Molitor (second season) Record: 83-79 (second in AL Central in 2015) Last 10 games: Season opener Who to watch: 2B Brian Dozier (28 HR, 77 RBIs), 3B Trevor Plouffe (22 HR, 86 RBIs), 1B Joe Mauer (.265/.338/.380), RHP Kyle Gibson (11-11, 3.84 ERA), LHP Glen Perkins (3.32 ERA, 32 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (7-0 in 2015) Pitching probables: April 4: RHP Ervin Santana vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 3:05 p.m., MASN April 6: RHP Kyle Gibson vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 7:05...

Drum roll, please. And the winner is ... MICHAEL A. TAYLOR! On Thursday, March 10, the Nationals gave you, the fans, 24 hours to vote for which player you wanted to see as a bobblehead to be given away at Nats Park on Sept. 9. All players on the Nationals roster who never had a Nats bobblehead or figurine before were eligible, and Natstown has spoken. Taylor beat out other fan favorites such as Tanner Roark, Jose Lobaton and Trea Turner, and was announced as the winner on MASN's "Nats Xtra"...

Sitting on the roster bubble at the beginning of spring training, reliever Chaz Roe has been placed on waivers as the Orioles break camp and head to Philadelphia for tonight's exhibition game. Roe appeared in 10 games this spring and allowed three runs and 12 hits in 11 2/3 innings, with five walks, nine strikeouts and a hit batter. He left camp for a few days for the birth of his second daughter. Roe is out of minor league options. The Orioles have two openings in their bullpen with...

TAMPA - The Orioles are concluding one of the most bizarre, exasperating and exhausting spring trainings in franchise history. This could be inaccurate, a gross exaggeration, but I'd need examples that trumped what happened in Sarasota. Yovani Gallardo agrees to terms on a three-year contract, concerns about his right shoulder surface during a physical and the deal is restructured. Dexter Fowler agrees to terms on a three-year deal, according to sources, but surprises the Cubs by showing up at...

If Joey Rickard gets the chance to start in left field for the Orioles, he could bring the team two very needed elements - speed and on-base capability. This spring, through Thursday's games, Rickard was batting .387 to rank seventh among all American League players during spring training. He ranked third with a .465 OBP and was 22nd in slugging at .565. Rickard also has played solid defense. Ironically, Rickard could bring some things to the table the Orioles thought they were getting when...

TAMPA - The Orioles have hit a major roadblock in their attempts to persuade outfielder Hyun Soo Kim to accept an assignment to the minor leagues. Kim's Seoul-based representatives at Leeco Sports Agency issued a statement tonight saying that the outfielder has informed the club that he won't agree to the assignment. Word has been passed along via Yonhap News Agency "Kim would like to see his contract honored and executed faithfully," the agency said. "He also hopes to receive fair...