VIERA, Fla. - One of the trickiest tasks for any manager is the fine balancing act of playing his everyday regulars as much as possible while still keeping his bench players fresh. Dusty Baker knows how much that plays a role into a team's success over a full season. And he feels like his five decades in baseball give him the kind of perspective that helps make those tough decisions a little bit easier. "Being a former position player, I know how to run this race," Baker said Sunday. "And...

Will having an all right-handed rotation be a problem for the Orioles? Last year, right-handers made 131 of 162 O's starts. Wei-Yin Chen's 31 starts were the only by any left-hander. Will they go 162-for-162 this year? When the Orioles officially add Yovani Gallardo, he will join holdovers Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman and Ubaldo Jimenez. No lefty anywhere. But there are some reasons to think it will not be an issue. For one, the other four American League East teams last year...

VIERA, Fla. - For many ballplayers, the drive to spring training is a long and arduous one, with plenty of opportunities for reflection and goal-setting. For Daniel Murphy, the drive has never been much to think about. Just hop on Interstate 95 from his home in Jacksonville, Fla., head south and exit three hours later in Port St. Lucie, longtime spring home of the Mets. Now? "Just stop an hour short," Murphy said with a laugh Sunday afternoon, his car needing go no farther than Viera, where...

SARASOTA, Fla. - With five right-handers in the rotation following Yovani Gallardo's agreement on a three-year, $35 million contract, do the Orioles need left-hander T.J. McFarland to serve as the long man in their bullpen? McFarland isn't dwelling on it. He'll jump into the competition, but please remove him from the debate. "I definitely don't think about that at all," McFarland said. "It's way too early to even speculate anything, if not later on in camp. I never speculate. It's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles completed their third day of workouts. More position players trickled into camp, including infielder Paul Janish. No one was carted off the field. Center fielder Adam Jones now is expected to report on Monday. Manager Buck Showalter said he would check on pitcher Todd Redmond. The Monday workout will be abbreviated due to the sixth annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic. Showalter expects the place to empty out by 11:30 a.m., and he didn't receive any arguments...

VIERA, Fla. - Official workout No. 2 of the spring is in the books, and there was plenty going on at the complex down the street from Space Coast Stadium. Here are some observations and quotes from various parties: * Lucas Giolito threw his first-ever mound session in front of the full major league coaching staff and team execs, many of whom specifically made their way over to the far left end of the bullpen to check out the club's top pitching prospect in person. They didn't leave...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Yovani Gallardo is expected to arrive in Sarasota on Monday to take his physical after agreeing to a three-year, $35 million contract that includes a $13 million option for 2019. There wasn't enough time for Gallardo to get to the Ed Smith Stadium complex this afternoon. The Orioles are confident that Gallardo will pass his physical. They've already done extensive homework on him and have no concerns. Efforts continue to sign outfielder Dexter Fowler, who has become a...

VIERA, Fla. - There was a time, about five years ago, when a good number of people who followed the Nationals on a daily basis believed their starting shortstop should not be Ian Desmond, but rather Danny Espinosa. Espinosa, many thought, was a far superior defensive shortstop than Desmond. And at that time, he was thought of as a better offensive threat, a switch-hitter who could both drive the ball over the fence while also showing impressive patience at the plate. That, of course, isn't how...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo and Trey Mancini showed up in the clubhouse today, two more early arrivals in camp. Position players aren't due until Tuesday. The early returns on Yovani Gallardo's arrival later this week are favorable. Players are excited to add a veteran starter with a track record, someone who can provide wins, innings and leadership. Here are some of the reactions, beginning with J.J. Hardy, Gallardo's teammate for three seasons in Milwaukee: Hardy: "He's an awesome guy....

If the Orioles wind up losing their top two draft picks for the second time in three years, they could wind up in better shape this time. The O's will lose their No. 14 pick when the team's agreement with pitcher Yovani Gallardo becomes official. They could lose a second pick if they sign outfielder Dexter Fowler, who they are pursuing. They parted with two picks to sign Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz before the 2014 season. In the following draft that June, the Orioles' first selection was...