NASHVILLE - A report surfaced late Sunday night that closer Jonathan Papelbon had filed a grievance against the Nationals for withholding his pay during a team-imposed four-game suspension at the end of the season. FOXSports.com reported this afternoon that the Major League Baseball Players Association actually filed the grievance shortly after the Nationals announced the suspension. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo announced Papelbon's suspension on Sept. 28, a day after the veteran...

NASHVILLE - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo isn't averse to trading for a shortstop, but if tomorrow was April 4, he's sure there's someone on the current roster who would be trotting out to the space between third and second bases in the bottom of the first inning on the final opening day at Atlanta's Turner Field. "I have a comfort level that if today were opening day, we have a shortstop on the roster. ... There are several of them," Rizzo said this afternoon in his suite at the...

Considering they have a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a third-round pick and a competitive balance pick, the Orioles already have a pretty good haul of draft picks for next June's First-Year Player Draft. If they lose Wei-Yin Chen or Chris Davis through free agency, they would get a compensatory pick for each player lost. Baseball America released today the current order for the 2016 draft through 106 picks. The Orioles have the 14th, 52nd, 69th, 75th and 91st picks in that group....

NASHVILLE - Cal Ripken Jr. has been named the new senior advisor to the commissioner on youth programs and outreach. Commissioner Rob Manfred will make the announcement later this afternoon at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Ripken stays busy with his youth baseball complex, ownership of the Aberdeen IronBirds, analyst duties with TBS, overseeing the charitable foundation named after his late father and sorted other endeavors. What's one more job for baseball's Iron...

NASHVILLE - The Nationals have reportedly made it to the final four in the sweepstakes for versatile free agent Ben Zobrist. The Mets, Giants and Dodgers are the other three teams contending for Zobrist, who won the World Series with the Royals this season after coming over from the Athletics in a trade deadline move. Multiple reports have the 34-year-old Zobrist seeking a four-year deal worth $60 million. He makes his home outside Nashville and is expected to meet with Nationals officials at...

NASHVILLE - He is a former Oriole and one of MLB Network's top analysts. When he got off the air this morning from co-hosting his "Hot Stove" show, Harold Reynolds joined me for a video interview. We discussed several Orioles topics. On Chris Davis and what contract he could get: "He's going to be one of those players that the demand is going to be there because of the power. The numbers, I'm not sure what position players are getting right now. The top-tier pitcher, yeah, you are going...

NASHVILLE - The Orioles' pursuit of a left-handed bat and a desire to improve their on-base percentage could lead them back to Neil Walker. Executive vice president Dan Duquette talked to the Pirates about Walker at last month's general managers meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. With the Orioles still unsure about Chris Davis, they maintain interest in Walker as a switch-hitting utility-type player who could get plenty of at-bats at first base and as their designated hitter. Walker is challenged...

NASHVILLE - For the second straight day, the Nationals appear to have lost out on a possible prominent bullpen target. FOXSports.com was first to report the Dodgers agreed to send two prospects to the Reds for closer Aroldis Chapman. The deal is pending a review of medical records, according to the report. The Nationals had reportedly been in trade talks for Chapman, who pitched out of Dusty Baker's bullpen when the new Nats skipper managed in Cincinnati from 2010-2013. The Nationals'...

NASHVILLE - Fifteen days ago, the Nationals tweeted a sweet happy birthday wish to Jonathan Papelbon, who turned 35. The felicitations seemed a bit bizarre from the Nationals, but they extend such nice sentiments to all their players. The move wasn't popular with the fan base that wants Papelbon's brief tenure in Washington annulled like a weekend Vegas wedding. Just forget about it and move on. The harmonious message apparently wasn't recognized by the disgruntled closer either. Papelbon...

NASHVILLE - As an anxious fan base waits to see how this offseason will develop for the Orioles, dare we say it is off to a good start? The Orioles have a Plan B at first base with the addition of Mark Trumbo. It looks like two of their six free agents will be back with the team at a time when we saw predictions that the Orioles would go 0-for-6 there. Matt Wieters took the qualifying offer and will return, and Darren O'Day has reportedly agreed to terms. Although as we learned yesterday,...