VIERA, Fla. - Fans of all ages jostle for position outside the Space Coast Stadium practice facility, hoping to get some of their favorite Nationals players to sign a baseball or take a selfie after team workouts. Most shout for Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman or Max Scherzer to stop for a second, but on Thursday afternoon it wasn't one of the Nats stars who became one kid's most valuable player. "Mr. Moore, can I have your autograph," said the youngster. With that the Nationals part-time...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Rich Hill on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. The Angels released Hill last summer after he failed to get an out in two relief appearances. The Yankees signed him to a minor league deal in July. He bounced back and forth from Triple-A to the majors, posting a 1.69 ERA over 14 appearances with New York. The 34-year-old Hill spent the early part of his career as a starter with the Cubs and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The date has been marked on manager Buck Showalter's calendar for a long time, an anniversary that he wishes did not exist, a day that he knows will bring back memories both warm and heartbreaking. Tears can moisten the eyes and cheeks no matter which thoughts rise to the surface. On the morning of Feb. 28, 2014, Orioles public relations director Monica Pence Barlow passed away after a courageous and inspiring 4-1/2 year battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. I received the...

A group of 38 Orioles minor league players began workouts at Twin Lakes park in Sarasota, Fla., on Wednesday. This early minor league camp allows these players to get in some extra work before the full minor league camp begins March 6. It also gets these players ready in case they are needed in early Orioles spring training games. But O's director of player development Brian Graham said it also provides the 20 pitchers at the camp a chance to build up more innings that might allow them to...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams said all of his pitchers are healthy and pitching well even after heavy bullpen sessions the past couple of days. The staff will get a day off tomorrow before throwing live batting practice beginning Sunday. "We'll do that for a couple of days and get them some hitters to look at," Williams said. "Everybody's on track. Everybody feels good about it. I think we're where we need to be at this point." It's unknown who will be on the mound in...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have announced their starters for Sunday's intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. The game begins at 1 p.m. and is closed to the public. Zach Britton, Ryan Webb, Mark Hendrickson, Tim Berry, Tyler Wilson and Chaz Roe are pitching for the home team. T.J. McFarland, Wesley Wright, Mike Wright, Jason Garcia, Logan Verrett and Hunter Harvey are pitching for the away team. The Athletics claimed outfielder Alex Hassan off waivers from the Orioles. He was taken off the...

VIERA, Fla. - This morning's workout began with the team singing "Happy Birthday" to center fielder Denard Span. "It was heartfelt man," Span said. "It felt good. Birthdays are birthdays. You start to get a little bit older and birthdays don't mean as much as they used to, but it was a lot of fun getting put in the circle and everybody singing." While in the circle, Span showed off some of his best dance moves as teammates clapped and shouted. "They told me to do the Carlton dance...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman will start the Orioles' home exhibition opener on March 4 against the Tigers. Ubaldo Jimenez already was confirmed as the March 3 starter against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. Gausman is among the six starters competing for five spots in the rotation. He could be moved to the bullpen or optioned to Triple-A Norfolk if he fails to win a job. The popup drill on the Ed Smith Stadium field was received favorably by players who liked the idea of simulating game...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles moved to the Ed Smith Stadium field this morning for popup drills, a day earlier than scheduled. Crowd noise from Game 2 of the American League Division Series, when Delmon Young cleared the bases with a three-run double, was piped into the ballpark. Infielders called off teammates to catch the ball as the noise level was raised. Outfielders chasing balls down the line were subjected to the same treatment. The noise was so loud, the resident of a nearby house filed...

SARASOTA, Fla. - When the Orioles take the field this morning for another spring workout under an overcast sky, infielder Everth Cabrera is expected to work out at his third position since signing his one-year deal. Cabrera took ground balls and made throws at shortstop on Wednesday and slid over to second base yesterday. Manager Buck Showalter said Cabrera probably will move to third base today and eventually will shag fly balls in the outfield. Though he's a candidate to wrestle the second...